Did BRP Demo Ride Today, and...
I did a duel BRP demo ride today. The BRP truck was in Allentown, PA - not far from me. (Pictures attached.) They weren't crowded, so I went twice - once on a 2015 RT Ltd., and the other ride on an F3-S, both with the SE6 trans. The rides were long enough, and fast enough, to get some decent impressions. So here are my very recent impressions on this issue....
The 1330 engine does make a difference on the RT, but IMHO the difference is not as dramatic as some folks would have us believe. Yes, it is quieter than my 998, but I wouldn't say it is noticeably more powerful. It does have a little more low-end torque, but again the difference is not all that noticeable from my 2013 RT,
AFTER I removed the cat. The "quietness" comes from the lower RPM's I think. I immediately felt comfortable staying at 3000 RPM's, rather than 5000. The lower RPM's are nice, but then I don't mind the high RPM's on the 998 engine at all. It's just a matter of what you get used to.
Now the SE6 transmission is another story. It is VERY different than the SE5 on the 998. The transmission and hydraulic clutch is
noticeably smoother. This to me was the biggest improvement - other than the lack of excess heat, of course.
However, once I got on that F3-S, I began to REALLY appreciate that 1330 engine.
MUCH more torque there. It just wants to take off. And again the transmission was very smooth on the F3. I've ridden F3's with BOTH transmissions now, and have been equally impressed with the smoothness of both - though I have a strong preference for the semi-automatic, but that's just me. I wasn't as comfortable on the F3 as I was on the RT. I like the forward foot position, but the body panels hit my knees in an awkward place. However the F3 was loads of FUN to ride - all that torque, plus the greater sensation of speed on the smaller bike without the large windshield. I can see why folks here rave about them once they buy one.
But the bottom line on the 998/1330 comparison for the RT.... The 1330 is better - especially the transmission - but certainly NOT enough difference to make me want to trade in my 2013 RTL for one. As for the "heat thing", I think that between what I've already done, and the results that folks are
already starting to report after the recall, I'm fairly sure the heat won't be an issue for me any longer. (I'm very glad I didn't trade my 2013 up to a 2014/15 and take that monetary loss.) That's my impression - obviously others may disagree.
