Awesome video Joe! So the 'good road' is called the Black Spur its a very popular motorcycling road. When you were on Lake Mountain you actually werent far from Reefton Spur which is another iconic motorcycling road and even twistier , definitely save that for next time 😉
Nice vid. I know these are torquey engines but try being in one gear lower than you think you should be ..ie in 3rd not 4th…get the revs up to halfway on dial….it changes everything for the better…best tip a police biker instructor ever told me.
One thing I would say is, don't aim for high lean angles. To ride faster you'll lean off the bike, and keep the bike more upright (so you reduce risk of low siding.)
Joe would be great to see you on a BMW s1000xr since you are in Aus and could ride up to Mount Panorama. That would be the right bike to test that track. Great to see you riding bikes mate, keep them coming
Looks like some great riding down under. What is your take on the design brief of the car vs motor bike divisions? It seems that the bike customers are more enthusiasts than the car people. Many buy an M car for the badge and that is why they offer so many M sport models. Also M products seem to be appearing on the bikes now. Imagine what would happen if the team that developed the WSB 1000R were allowed to build a proper M3? Obviously with a bike designing a new chassis is not the same as having to share a platform with many other models. Mini did some extreme versions of the new car in its day.
You should head up to Cairns and the road up to Kuranda. Quite a slow road in a car, but sure would be fun on a sports bike!! You may know it anyway as it’s where the World Cup DH course is 😊
I used to live in Melbourne and know all of the roads that you were on. Good riding but everything within an hour and a half of Melbourne that used to be fun now has an 80kmh speed limit and is heavily policed by an overzealous police force that act as a revenue raising arm of government. I now live in NE Victoria. The riding is superb with beautiful scenery and the best roads in the state...maybe Australia. Even better they are much quieter than near Melbourne and there are fewer speed cameras and police. If you have a chance while you're over here have a look. The Omeo Highway and Great Alpine roads are superb but are only a couple of the fantastic rides in the area.
Hi there, which Quad Lock mount did you use to attach to the handlebar - I have a 2020 RS (with SOS fitted) and it doesn't look like there is space for a handle bar mount.
A After decades of riding sport bikes and doing more racing than street miles most years, I finally decided to act my age (68 at the time) so traded in my S1000RR for an R1250RS. Best decision I made in years. Finally I can ride on the street without pain and suffering, and without the frustration of operating a liter bike on the street. The R1250RS is by far the heaviest bike I’ve owned, but it hides it well and it is lighter than most of the competitors in that dying breed of sport touring bikes. The ergos are good but probably designed around a big German guy, so at 5’7” and 150 pounds, the unadjustable bar angles and levers are just a shade awkward for me. The biggest issue I had was learning how to adjust for the massive engine braking. I believe there’s a slipper clutch but it still catches me out. Maybe would have been easier if I had not spent the prior decade racing a Honda RS125 (155 pounds and 2-stroke zero engine braking). Like Joe said, the 1250 steering is surprisingly quick and light. The electronic suspension is competent in a German sort of way. Not playful, but buttoned down compliance that is very confidence inspiring. The brakes are also up to the task. For me, this is a near perfect street bike. The only thing I might have liked better would be converting my long-departed GSXR-750 to a sport tourer, but I couldn’t find a way to make that work.
I have to agree. When I hit 60 I went from the last of a series of Fireblades to an S1000R. Loved it so I got another one last year. I then changed my Tiger 1200 for an R 1250 RS. It's the best bike I have ever had . The S1000r might be quicker but for road riding the boxer engine is punchier and the RS is just so much more comfortable while still being fun in the twisties.