An honest review of my factory low down version 2015 F700GS. This could be long but I think you could justify the length of this.
I am 160cm tall with a rather short inseam. My previous bike with a similar capacity was a harley sportster 883. My view on the GS is largely derived from the comparison between 883 and GS. By the wall all riding was done solo with full pannier set up.
I have ridden a 1000km so far, just breaking in. As you can see from the photo, sitting with one leg down i could reach the ground completely. This is a good news to vertically challenged novice rider like me.
I have installed the rotaxx handle bar extender so the ergonomics is much better compared with stock. The stock windshield is better than having none, but at my height it sends all the wind towards my face, from chin and above. It doesnt create a turbulence but the wind is certainly hitting my head and shoulders. I would say wind protection is meager with the stock screen.
Another let down is the stock extra low seat. Of course it wont be fair to say this seat offers limited cushioning performance since it is indeed an extra low seat. To give it her due credit, with a leather jacket on i could endure about an hour of pain free riding, then the seat reminds you that shes there, all the time. Changing to a better seat could be a real investment.
As for the engine, it is a piece of orchestral instrument. It rattles, whines and puffs. Even a honda cb400 super four with twice as many cylinders do not make as much mechanical noise. However coming from a HD it is bearable to me. Not so sure for those who come from a japanese bike.
Performance wise, it is a mile behind the 883 in terms of low down torque. I have stalled the GS countless times whereby i could hardly remember if i did stall my 883. People say the F series GS is very learner friendly but i really doubt it, with such output characteristic. Below 2000rpm, it will lug along, below 3000, it is practical. However to keep myself happy i will gun it above 3000rpm. The sweet spot to my taste, seems to be around 3000 to 4500 rpm. At 6th gear 4500rpm returns about 120kmh. Plenty enough for my riding style.
The engine does feel very smooth, lacking the pulsey exhaust note of some other inline twin engines out there. The GS also churns out very hollow exhaust note. Pairing that sound to a fast building and dropping rpm, i find it quite entertaining. Most of the time i can just keep the gear at 5th (6th being top) and when she judders i just twist the throttle and shes good again.
The head lamp is plenty bright and wide, although at times i do hope if it were brighter. The high beam does not enhance the lume range of the low beam but just simply shines the area above. Conclusion, for better lighting, using high beam is not good enough, a pair of fog lamps would be needed.
Fuel mileage is good. A full tank returns about 330km with two bars remaining on the meter. Personally i am very happy with a range of more than 300km per tank, coming from a sportster. 300km is very important for my style of riding and touring.
Overall, i dont think the GS could do something that another bike couldnt. Yet i like the GS very much, because of the confidence inspiring handling and the emotional value I attach to it. Does it come with a premium price? At the place where i bought it, the answer is no. It is simply a choice of personal preferrence, and I chose this over the suzuki v strom or yamaha mt tracer or triumph tiger.
I hope this review will be helpful for anyone who is interested in getting a GS. I for one, think I have found a keeper.
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