Just a few days ago my wife and I returned from our 1st motorcycle tour. I rode the VFR and my wife rode the GS. In three weeks we rode from Brisbane in Queensland down to Tasmania (Australia) and back covering 6097kms with an average speed of 80kms/hr and over 74hours in the saddle.
The GS performed admirably only requiring a new clutch lever (riders fault), a new set of tyres, a new battery, an oil top up every 2000kms, and managed to handle the significant temperature and altitude changes along the way :) With the only mods been progressive front fork springs, timing advance and a F16 windscreen, she did a fine job.
The only shortcomings of the GS on this trip was we didn't want to sit on speed much higher than 120kms/hr on the open stretches, overtaking some of the road trains (long big trucks) at 100+ and substantial protection for the rider in the midst of a 100km long locust swarm - it wasn't pretty but at least we didn't have to frequently stop and clean the radiator :thumb:
So thumbs up to the all mighty GS.
Cheers
Conrad
Checking the oil is the only critical thing on a long journey. Ours requited a 1/2 quart every 500 miles. Otherwise air cooled motors are very trustworthy -especially now that the GS has an oil cooler.
Surely you took some pictures! :roll:
Sounds like a great trip. I'm starting to get in the mood for another one myself....
Woohoo! Air-cooled bikes rule!
Until you idle thm too long and melt your fender...
whoops did I say that? :o
ASLAM.