Soon to have 16XR

[Salish1000]

I'm delighted that I will soon be taking possession of a 16 XR. Great condition bike with many extras. Can't wait. My favorite bike of many has been my Concours 14, and yet I've found I prefer the more upright style of ADV. I'm thrilled to have another inline 4 that cranks out the HP like the Connie but is lighted and more comfortably upright. I'm a DIY guy, so I will use this forum a lot to learn from. Thank you all in advance.

[Colin]

  I also went from the GTR 1400 and the change was dramatic, obvious points are lighter, lot better brakes (had to throw an anchor out with he kwack, faster pick up, dont have to line it up so much on corners, you will love it I’m sure!

[Salish1000]

Originally Posted by Colin

I also went from the GTR 1400 and the change was dramatic, obvious points are lighter, lot better brakes (had to throw an anchor out with he kwack, faster pick up, dont have to line it up so much on corners, you will love it I’m sure!

Glad to hear. That's my hope. I've had several bikes between the Concours 14, great in their own way, but I miss that inline 4 and power. I recently sold a Tracer 900 because as great as that motor is, it was just not as strong as my Connie had been. I'm expecting the XR to be everything I need in terms of power, and yet more comfortable than my FJR or Connie. I'll miss shaft drive, but don't mind a chain.

[Salish1000]

I'm home with bike after a wild 300 mile from Bend, Oregon to The Dalles and through the gorgeous Columbia Gorge and up slab to home in Olympia, WA. I've thought about how this bike differs from other fast bikes I've had in the FJR and Connie. Best I can do is say that if the FJR/Connie are like Apollo 11 rockets, incredibly fast, stable, mechanical, then the XR is like the Millenium Falcon, highly maneuverable, light, and goes light speed. Bike is so light and fast. PO put full titanium Akrapovic exhaust on her and it sounds incredible. Just amazing.

One happy guy and have already gone out this morning and given her a once over with ACF 50 and checking everything over.

[Mareng1]

 

I had to google the ‘Connie/concourse’  - yes, the XR would be a lot more nimble.

‘Up slab’ - is that concrete slab highway?  Thankfully we do not have those in the UK.

Enjoy the bike!

[wessie]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

‘Up slab’ - is that concrete slab highway?  Thankfully we do not have those in the UK.

We used to have loads and still have some. I think the A40/A449 from Monmouth to Newport was one of the first. Constantly being repaired from 1980 as it was built in the 1960s and suffered concrete cancer. Now tarmac.

The newer part of the A40 from Raglan to Abergavenny is still concrete slab https://goo.gl/maps/vyJse7uqnV8XWpr9A - more robust as built in the 1980s but has a lot less HGV traffic than the A449 section that links to the M4 so has not fallen apart.
Less traffic so it has stood up to the

[Mareng1]

Not sure I have ever seen one - maybe in the distant past around the motorways around Southampton docks, but otherwise I've been fortunate to miss the few stretches you've seen.

Up slab would on the face of it - be North on a concrete slab highway.

[af1-windy]

M180 to Grimsby, makes a right old racket when you drive on it.

They used concrete on the A1/M1 link road from the M62 to Weatherby but it was so noisy the local housing estate complained and they replaced it with tarmac.. the road surface, not the housing estate.. 

 

[Salish1000]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

I had to google the ‘Connie/concourse’  - yes, the XR would be a lot more nimble.

‘Up slab’ - is that concrete slab highway?  Thankfully we do not have those in the UK.

Enjoy the bike!

A fun part of this forum for me will be doing the translation from different versions of English and idioms and all that! Here in the States, being on "slab" refers to interstate or highway of any type. Just boring straight, multi-lane travel. As opposed to nice country roads with twisties and such.

And thanks! I sure will enjoy this machine. Thinking of a name for her. I'm a sailor so my machines are always female.

[af1-windy]

Apologies, joined your thread and didn't say hi.. 

  on board.. enjoy the new ride. 

  windy