Well as you all know for the last six weeks I have been riding a 2014 demo bike. Well sadly it is time for the testing to end, and is over on 2/18/14. As a thank you BRP dropped off another 2014 RT Limited for me to ride for a couple weeks, or so. Do you think there is any chance that BRP will forget that I have the bike?
Likes:
I have to admit that the 2014 is so much better than my 2012 that I sold during the test. The seat is (for me) perfect, and even after going on a ride of 553 miles in two days the only discomfort I felt was in my thigh muscles, and just by moving the leg (left) a bit took care of that. The difference for me is night and day. The 2012 is curved and hard to the point that I feel like I am riding on the bike, but the 2014 seat is flat and soft so I feel like I am part of the bike. The passenger seat seems to be lower, as my youngest daughter (5'2") was able to reach the hand grips with just a stretch instead of having to slouch down. She also told me that her face was even with the back of my helmet, and not above it.
The front suspension is better than the 2012. With the 2012 the bike felt top heavy, like it was going to flip over (before my Ron Bar), but on the 2014 I did not have the same sensation. I found that on my way to work, a route that I have taken many times. That I was able to take turns faster, and with more control. To the point that I made miss nanny mad at me three times. Something I never did on my 2012.
I really liked the radio and speakers better too. I parked next to either a 2011 or 2012, set both radios to the same settings and station, and all three of us present agreed that the 2014 was better. One of the guys plays in a band, and was very impressed. I know I was able to hear the radio station that I Liston to on the 2014 better than on my 2012.
My feelings about the 1330 ACE motor, is I am impressed for my riding style, I don't think those that like to accelerate fast will like it. The 1330 just does not have the up and go that the 998 does. While once I got to second gear and up it had plenty of go, but I think the 998 was faster on the take-off. Yet there was plenty of power to pass other vehicles when needed, I was able to get up to 95 mph many times, and over 100 the three times I tried. The ECO mode light is not for me either, as I do not like that in cars either. I just shifted at 2900 rpm anyway.
As for vibration on the handle bars, and foot boards goes. It is still there at 75 mph, but it is so minimal that you can tell it is there, but not enough to numb your hands or feet.
Heat has been taken care of, as in riding this past week in 93 degree temps me head was hotter than my feet.
Rode in the rain (or just after it stopped) a couple times, and the bike handled great. Just like my 2012 did.
One experiment that I did was to run the tank empty. It ran out at 208.5 miles, and took 6.516 gallons to fill up. I think as condition vary that I could have gone further, but this tank was a low mpg tank. One good thing I found was that from the time the low fuel light comes on to when the tank is empty you can go about 35 (or so) miles. Read my post "I ran out of gas today" for more details.
I put on 3029.3 miles in the six weeks, put gas in 16 times (2 partial fill ups as was on a road trip), put in 86.106 gallons of gas, for 2770.6 miles (was given bike with 3/4 tank, and returned with 1/2 tank). my average mpg was 32.17 overall; 32.54 with ECO mode (5 tanks), and 31.97 without ECO mode (9 full, 2 partial tanks).
The time that you can restart the motor after turning off is longer for when you get gas.
Dislikes:
The area in front of the radiator fans catch too much road debris.
Did not like how when you shift out from reverse it goes to first automatically.
Seems like the time for the computers to start up is longer, but not by much.
Had to return the bike
Likes:
I have to admit that the 2014 is so much better than my 2012 that I sold during the test. The seat is (for me) perfect, and even after going on a ride of 553 miles in two days the only discomfort I felt was in my thigh muscles, and just by moving the leg (left) a bit took care of that. The difference for me is night and day. The 2012 is curved and hard to the point that I feel like I am riding on the bike, but the 2014 seat is flat and soft so I feel like I am part of the bike. The passenger seat seems to be lower, as my youngest daughter (5'2") was able to reach the hand grips with just a stretch instead of having to slouch down. She also told me that her face was even with the back of my helmet, and not above it.
The front suspension is better than the 2012. With the 2012 the bike felt top heavy, like it was going to flip over (before my Ron Bar), but on the 2014 I did not have the same sensation. I found that on my way to work, a route that I have taken many times. That I was able to take turns faster, and with more control. To the point that I made miss nanny mad at me three times. Something I never did on my 2012.
I really liked the radio and speakers better too. I parked next to either a 2011 or 2012, set both radios to the same settings and station, and all three of us present agreed that the 2014 was better. One of the guys plays in a band, and was very impressed. I know I was able to hear the radio station that I Liston to on the 2014 better than on my 2012.
My feelings about the 1330 ACE motor, is I am impressed for my riding style, I don't think those that like to accelerate fast will like it. The 1330 just does not have the up and go that the 998 does. While once I got to second gear and up it had plenty of go, but I think the 998 was faster on the take-off. Yet there was plenty of power to pass other vehicles when needed, I was able to get up to 95 mph many times, and over 100 the three times I tried. The ECO mode light is not for me either, as I do not like that in cars either. I just shifted at 2900 rpm anyway.
As for vibration on the handle bars, and foot boards goes. It is still there at 75 mph, but it is so minimal that you can tell it is there, but not enough to numb your hands or feet.
Heat has been taken care of, as in riding this past week in 93 degree temps me head was hotter than my feet.
Rode in the rain (or just after it stopped) a couple times, and the bike handled great. Just like my 2012 did.
One experiment that I did was to run the tank empty. It ran out at 208.5 miles, and took 6.516 gallons to fill up. I think as condition vary that I could have gone further, but this tank was a low mpg tank. One good thing I found was that from the time the low fuel light comes on to when the tank is empty you can go about 35 (or so) miles. Read my post "I ran out of gas today" for more details.
I put on 3029.3 miles in the six weeks, put gas in 16 times (2 partial fill ups as was on a road trip), put in 86.106 gallons of gas, for 2770.6 miles (was given bike with 3/4 tank, and returned with 1/2 tank). my average mpg was 32.17 overall; 32.54 with ECO mode (5 tanks), and 31.97 without ECO mode (9 full, 2 partial tanks).
The time that you can restart the motor after turning off is longer for when you get gas.
Dislikes:
The area in front of the radiator fans catch too much road debris.
Did not like how when you shift out from reverse it goes to first automatically.
Seems like the time for the computers to start up is longer, but not by much.
Had to return the bike
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