It was a "cool" 34 degrees as I started my 130 mile journey to the dealer this morning. That snow flake icon kept flashing at me from my '13 RT's bank of gauges for the first 60 miles. The sun never really came out as promised, but I made it. I tell ya, my 65 year old joints do not like 34 degree weather, especially at 75 miles per hour. Anyway, got there and the Quartz Blue '14 was waiting. So the ride home evaluation...
Rode the entire distance home with ESA in one helmet/one luggage and road selections. I'm no suspension geek so I found the number of options available more then adequate and bike confidence inspiring. It was 45 to 50 degrees going home, but fired up the 5 level grips for some heat...five bars is on par with high setting on the '13. Weather coverage wise I thought this fairing gave me a little more coverage on my feet than the '13 did. Otherwise about equal with the '13.
The throttle is certainly sensitive...there's not much, if any, lag in the system. Took a few miles adjusting to the throttle/clutch interaction, but I thought an improvement over '13. I didn't exceed 5K rpm, but fueling seemed even smoother than the '13. I'm sure the power is there, it certainly sounds and feels stronger at all points used...thus far. Did note the '13 at 4,000 RPM did 75/76 MPH. The '14, at 4,000 RPM is doing 73.
I found the controls fairly intuitive. One thing I consider a step backwards, is turning on the grips or seat heat. On '13 you just push an easy to see button for activation. Now '14 requires a Menu button push (multiple times) to the grips and seat separately and then spin the wheel to the level of heat desired. Don't think the extra steps makes for an improvement.
Kick stand is more difficult to reach. Its "lowering peg" sits in front of the foot peg now and not as easy to activate. Seating position doesn't seem much different to me, at least with seat in lower position. I'm 5'10'' with a 30" inseam and I was pretty much flat-footed. Not sure seat is an improvement, but I didn't mind the '13's stock seat so...
I varied speeds and shifted quite a bit with good half throttle or tad more and averaged 46 MPG. I was in the 65 to 80 MPH range for second half of trip. More stop/go and 45/50 MPH in first half. Temp gauge sat at 5 bars throughout the trip. Filled up when I got home and the red/orange plastic/rubber insert in the fueling neck on my '13, is now black on '14...in the shade at least, it wasn't as easy to see in that filler area.
Dealer activated SAT radio while we went over the bike. I told him of some static on forums regarding SAT people balking at setting up the BMW one-year "free" subscription, but he's never encountered a problem.
Given the no valve check (12,000 mile service intervals), no injector sync, no transmission fluid changes service cost might be lower over all. The 600 mile check amounts to an oil and filter change and once over inspection...so hopefully it will be reasonable. Mine is free as part of the purchase, but dealer said that it's about $150.00 now.
Only two metal keys this time (no plastic third), but key is a little classier with an aluminum highlight and tiny Roundel on the head.
One last item, while no high rpm overly heated exhaust yet, the exhaust (chromed stainless) has yet to start bluing or even yellowing at this early juncture. All the BMW's I've owned, with chromed exhaust headers have always started to tint right off the bat. Time will tell if there's something different going on here, due to water-cooling or whatever.
That's all for now as NCAA beckons and I need to get under a blanket on the sofa.
Rode the entire distance home with ESA in one helmet/one luggage and road selections. I'm no suspension geek so I found the number of options available more then adequate and bike confidence inspiring. It was 45 to 50 degrees going home, but fired up the 5 level grips for some heat...five bars is on par with high setting on the '13. Weather coverage wise I thought this fairing gave me a little more coverage on my feet than the '13 did. Otherwise about equal with the '13.
The throttle is certainly sensitive...there's not much, if any, lag in the system. Took a few miles adjusting to the throttle/clutch interaction, but I thought an improvement over '13. I didn't exceed 5K rpm, but fueling seemed even smoother than the '13. I'm sure the power is there, it certainly sounds and feels stronger at all points used...thus far. Did note the '13 at 4,000 RPM did 75/76 MPH. The '14, at 4,000 RPM is doing 73.
I found the controls fairly intuitive. One thing I consider a step backwards, is turning on the grips or seat heat. On '13 you just push an easy to see button for activation. Now '14 requires a Menu button push (multiple times) to the grips and seat separately and then spin the wheel to the level of heat desired. Don't think the extra steps makes for an improvement.
Kick stand is more difficult to reach. Its "lowering peg" sits in front of the foot peg now and not as easy to activate. Seating position doesn't seem much different to me, at least with seat in lower position. I'm 5'10'' with a 30" inseam and I was pretty much flat-footed. Not sure seat is an improvement, but I didn't mind the '13's stock seat so...
I varied speeds and shifted quite a bit with good half throttle or tad more and averaged 46 MPG. I was in the 65 to 80 MPH range for second half of trip. More stop/go and 45/50 MPH in first half. Temp gauge sat at 5 bars throughout the trip. Filled up when I got home and the red/orange plastic/rubber insert in the fueling neck on my '13, is now black on '14...in the shade at least, it wasn't as easy to see in that filler area.
Dealer activated SAT radio while we went over the bike. I told him of some static on forums regarding SAT people balking at setting up the BMW one-year "free" subscription, but he's never encountered a problem.
Given the no valve check (12,000 mile service intervals), no injector sync, no transmission fluid changes service cost might be lower over all. The 600 mile check amounts to an oil and filter change and once over inspection...so hopefully it will be reasonable. Mine is free as part of the purchase, but dealer said that it's about $150.00 now.
Only two metal keys this time (no plastic third), but key is a little classier with an aluminum highlight and tiny Roundel on the head.
One last item, while no high rpm overly heated exhaust yet, the exhaust (chromed stainless) has yet to start bluing or even yellowing at this early juncture. All the BMW's I've owned, with chromed exhaust headers have always started to tint right off the bat. Time will tell if there's something different going on here, due to water-cooling or whatever.
That's all for now as NCAA beckons and I need to get under a blanket on the sofa.
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