Most disconcerting part is no dive under brakes and that dread that you wont stop. Only done 450 or so miles on mine so far so not used to it but it makes the brakes feel wooden
They have an impressive kick when you rev them as well almost like a powerband and the brakes are really good ( mine has the switchable ABS ). Feels faster than my ST4s and has more torque.
I`ve not had mine long and riding opportunities have been limited to work and back but I used a slightly different route today and did open it up a little. Quite a kick as you say, surprised me how easily it gathered speed. I`m very glad to have the raised bars , I think that will help hugely. I`ll be keeping an eye on Ebay for secondhand exhausts now.
I don’t have an issue with the telelever front on my GS. Nor did o have a problem with the leccy Ohlins on my previous 1200S Mutley. You just adapt and get on with riding. Was funny jumping off the GS onto a CRF 250 and braking hard up to a roundabout though. Thought the front wheel had collapsed while simultaneously diving front wheel first into a bog
That's the thing with them... the more you ride them the more you develop the feel for them and it creeps up on you, suddenly you find yourself taking stupid liberties and trusting them to take care of you. I couldn't work out what all the fuss was about. I initially just felt like the GS was BIG and I was SMALL and it all felt very scary... then I got over that, and started to get comfy and rode it and rode it and the whole while wasn't really realising I was becoming rather fond of the thing. Next thing I knew, absolute GS zealot. From a brake-feel perspective, I find I'm sitting on my bum and steering with my feet quite a lot on the GS and so there's very little upper body exertion and so my braking is more subtle and I'm also using more back brake. They do have feel, it's just different.
Countdown started to next weeks easing of lockdown...I hope. Bin shot attached. 1st time the GS has been cleaned since laat year.
Brakes are superb once bedded in. Lack of dive one of the big plus points, esp loaded up. Can take liberties with it and the bike stays more or less level
They're made by Hayes so they're decent kit still. What are you comparing them to? If anything reviewers seemed to be raving about the feel from the Hayes ones.
Both will feel quite different and perception could be linked to lack of corresponding bite / dive? Did you say you were only on @ 450 miles? Might be worth looking at some more aggressive pads like HH? Give them a whirl. I can't imagine the newer ones have worse brakes than the older ones and the 2010 brakes are pretty decent, but they do feel different to a bike with telescopic forks. Otherwise just swap with me and have a '19 plate XR.
I have to say with the brakes it was a piss poor decision with BMW using hayes its penny pinching on a premium priced bike ! And different caliper brands front to rear is odd ! 2 mates have the 1250,s and in fairness they haven't said they have noticed a difference !
There have been issues with the Hayes stoppers on the Panzer 1250. Strange the GSA kept with Brembo’s!!
If Ewan himself come and bought me that drink that @DucatiScud is so desperate to buy me, and handed me a free spankers GS, I'd still tell him to stick his 1940's engine'd, out dated, overweight pile of corroding crap right up his arris !!!