Latest Offering from Suzuki Australia

[loxsmith]

Click on the link below to get to the thread in Australia/New Zealand

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ustralia-28598

This should move them off the showoom floors!


Glen

[bruceontheloose]

This does look like a pretty good deal and I'm looking further into it for myself.

While this question has probably been answered elsewhere..
Those Givi panniers look good. How well do they hold up to a bit of a 'bashing'. eg a low speed tip over??
Any experiences? Advice?

Thanks,
Bruce.

[loxsmith]

I have had the same Givi panniers but a 52 litre top box for about 6 years and have ridden in snow, and on dirt tracks etc etc. They have been on two bikes, a CBR1100XX and a DL1000. I have never had and dust or water bypass the seals and they are very robust. The Blackbird fell over in a Ferry hold in the US and held the entire weight of a loaded bike with no problems.
I did have an instance when the seals worked too well and held the entire contents of a stubby that had bust in the luggage. The combination operated small lid on the panniers is very handy to open and dump the gloves in when needed.
They have now covered over 100000km and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any traveller.

[bruceontheloose]

All right!
Thanks for that Glen!
I'm on my way to the Suzi dealer this arvo to check it out..

[bruceontheloose]

Well, I've just gone a bought a DL650! Hopefully it will be ready to pick up from the dealer by the end of next week. Since I was planning to modify/add a few bits and pieces I thought I'd do it straight away before I picked it up. I've still got to work out how I get hold of the panniers - I've been told that I will have to deal directly with Suzuki Australia who will send them straight to me (ie not done through the dealer).

I feel like a kid just before Christmas.... just as well I can still burn around on my VFR for a while ('til I sell it, :-( )

Bruce.

[loxsmith]

"Silicon" my plumber mate has now left the pristine KLR (around 10000km) in the shed and purchased a new DL1000 from the local dealer. It's an offer to good to refuse!
Now we can drag race each other in a fair contest

[bruceontheloose]

price: 9000 AU$ plus onroad costs including licence($500) plus free panniers = bargain for a brand new bike!
Ok, I am spending an extra 2500 on extra bits that I thought I'd need straight away - bash plate, crash bars, knuckle covers, heated hand grips, centre stand, staintune exhaust system (complete) and Fuel Injection Unit (Ok, that last two weren't necessities but it sure does sound nicer ) I've also got some chunkier Heidenau k60s on order...

well, I bought this bike without actually test riding it, confident it would suit my needs and I would get used to riding it anyway. First impressions are good but its the long run that matters in the end. (I think i was a bit worried that after the VFR the little DL wouldn't be powerful enough and I'd opt for the bigger and heavier and (relatuively) more expensive DL1000)


Jumping off the Honda VFR onto the DL I realised it was still quite a big bike. The seating position is a lot more upright and comfortable. It is a cheaper bike and it shows in some of the small things. The VFR just felt a bit more of an all together package but it also costs twice as much. To be fair the DL doesn't seem to be really lacking in any way.

Riding:
Yes it is less powerful than the VFR but the DL still surprised me with a frisky engine (it seems to be getting better the more i ride it - either starting to 'run in' or I'm just getting used to it...)
The wide bars make it easy to flick it around and it seems quite comfortable on gravel
They seem quite high for me when sitting down but great when standing on the pegs
weather protection is ok with legs getting a bit wetter in the rain
that wind screen will need a few modifications but i expected that

The looks:
i"m even starting to like it

only two hundred kms so far but one happy customer

[loxsmith]

Originally Posted by loxsmith

"Silicon" my plumber mate has now left the pristine KLR (around 10000km) in the shed and purchased a new DL1000 from the local dealer. It's an offer to good to refuse!
Now we can drag race each other in a fair contest

He just dropped into work after picking up the new bike from the dealer and had a smile on his dial a mile wide. Now the fun begins!