R
Red Rhino
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I've got 2200 miles on the '12 GW. It's been mostly getting familiar with a new style of riding and an extra 400 pounds of machinery. So here are a few comments, not much different than others have posted.
1. The engine is amazingly smooth. I can't think of a better design for a cruising bike. The six cylinder boxer has enough torque to satisfy anyone and pulls like a mule. The flat six makes the 900+ pounds seem much less because the center of mass is very low. Even at low speeds it's amazingly well balanced.
2. The transmission with five gears is fine. I hear about 6 gears but with all that torque there are no dead spots that I could find. You might want 6 speeds with a "peaky" hi-reving engine but the GW flat six has more torque and than many car engines. It just pulls. A gear indicator would be a good addition and don't understand why the GW doesn't have one. Just nice now and then to look down. I'm getting accustomed to hearing the transmission clank now and then, it could use a re-desgin, maybe in the 2013. Like shifting with a ball peen hammer every now and then, but I'm hoping miles will smooth it out. :lol:
3. The windscreen needs to be electric. The wind protection is very good and in hot weather here in Arizona it's too good. It would be nice to be able to adjust it up and down depending on the weather.
4. The Nav contols were designed by an attorney or the village idiot. You can't turn it on while moving and then you have the dumb ass sign in notice when you do. You have to use the bar control to zoom in or out. Maybe it should all have been on the bar and left off the antiquated CB controls. Guess there are GW'ers out there who love and use a CB, so that won't work.
5. The suspension is great. I've ridden solo and two up and it doesn't fuss, just hauls down the road with plenty olf power to spare. An HD rider friend told me his bike was being shaken by a bad road we were on and he said he looked at the GW and it was glass smooth. He was impressed.
6. It's a good bike for what it's designed to do. It's not the ultimate motorcycle in the world but that's not taking anything away from it. At 900+ pounds and 130ft/lbs of torque it's not the "chubby girl you took to the dance" it's a rhinoceros. If it had body armor you could go to war on it.
7. I would like to see what Honda could do with the same engine and wrap a more modern bike around it. I understand the minor tweaks they did to the 2012 for a stop-gap, with taking it back home and the economy although it hurt us it makes sense for them. It will be interesting to see what they do for the next gen.
I'm enjoying a new style of riding, more relaxed and a lot more creature comforts. We're planning a trip in a few months when it cools off.
1. The engine is amazingly smooth. I can't think of a better design for a cruising bike. The six cylinder boxer has enough torque to satisfy anyone and pulls like a mule. The flat six makes the 900+ pounds seem much less because the center of mass is very low. Even at low speeds it's amazingly well balanced.
2. The transmission with five gears is fine. I hear about 6 gears but with all that torque there are no dead spots that I could find. You might want 6 speeds with a "peaky" hi-reving engine but the GW flat six has more torque and than many car engines. It just pulls. A gear indicator would be a good addition and don't understand why the GW doesn't have one. Just nice now and then to look down. I'm getting accustomed to hearing the transmission clank now and then, it could use a re-desgin, maybe in the 2013. Like shifting with a ball peen hammer every now and then, but I'm hoping miles will smooth it out. :lol:
3. The windscreen needs to be electric. The wind protection is very good and in hot weather here in Arizona it's too good. It would be nice to be able to adjust it up and down depending on the weather.
4. The Nav contols were designed by an attorney or the village idiot. You can't turn it on while moving and then you have the dumb ass sign in notice when you do. You have to use the bar control to zoom in or out. Maybe it should all have been on the bar and left off the antiquated CB controls. Guess there are GW'ers out there who love and use a CB, so that won't work.
5. The suspension is great. I've ridden solo and two up and it doesn't fuss, just hauls down the road with plenty olf power to spare. An HD rider friend told me his bike was being shaken by a bad road we were on and he said he looked at the GW and it was glass smooth. He was impressed.
6. It's a good bike for what it's designed to do. It's not the ultimate motorcycle in the world but that's not taking anything away from it. At 900+ pounds and 130ft/lbs of torque it's not the "chubby girl you took to the dance" it's a rhinoceros. If it had body armor you could go to war on it.
7. I would like to see what Honda could do with the same engine and wrap a more modern bike around it. I understand the minor tweaks they did to the 2012 for a stop-gap, with taking it back home and the economy although it hurt us it makes sense for them. It will be interesting to see what they do for the next gen.
I'm enjoying a new style of riding, more relaxed and a lot more creature comforts. We're planning a trip in a few months when it cools off.
opcorn:
