Before I Start...
I have ridden quite a few powerful bikes like the Busa, the CBR1000RR, the R1 etc, but not many know that I m a touring guy, and my dream Bike most probably is a ZZR1400 (Super-fast tourer) or a BMW R1200GS (demolishes himalayan roads with utter ease)...
I was in Delhi for a couple of days in 1st week of Sep and as usual dropped into KRP's office in Naraina for some usual stuff. What happened next made a dream come true for me!
As I was about to leave, my eyes got stuck on a HUGE machine - there it was, one of my dream bikes, the BMW R1150GS, and that too, the Adventure version, fully loaded with ABS, Projector headlamp, GPS and the works... I was drooling over the mammoth beast, when luck went my way.
I asked the KRP brothers if I could just sit on the Bike to have a feel, and voila, they handed over the keys to me! GOD... I didnt wanna act foolish by doing something wrong, and took things slowly. Lemme tell you, the GS is really a big bike. Im 6 feet and still had difficulty even touching the toes of my feet down and trust me, getting it outta the parking lane (by pushing it back!) was another task.
Thumping the unique kinda electric start button, the 1130cc mill came to life, with little vibs coming from here and there, but then, this aint a sports tourin bike, this is the Bike to have if you wish to ride thru continents!
Its difficult to pen down how I felt during my ten min stint with the GS but i will describe it best in three words - Torque, torque and yes, torque!! This beast pulls like anything. In 2nd, at around 20mph (equals to 32km/h, the kmh marks arent that prominent, this being a UK version) with just a little twist of the right wrist, she pulled hard, real hard, with the exhaust sounding purposely! The feedback from the ABS front brake was awesome too. I had the 10min ride in an industrial area, full of pot-holes (those who have been to KRP will know best!), and the awesome suspension took everyone with ease, actually, demolished everything with ease..
The GS (the new 1200GS) will cost around 13-14 lacs in India, remains one of my dream bikes, actually, tops the list now. Yes, the likes of the ZZR/Busa/Litre class bikes will lick it with ease, but only on open roads, and I dont like open roads , the Himalayas are my territory, and GS' too..
PS: it was getting dark, and hence the pics arent that great. LWR: Long way round, the documentary..