Exactly my point mate. Consider that you'd have to pay around the same for a Harley that you'd pay for a BMW bike then it becomes a no brainer from a purely motorcycling perspective. They're not cheap to run either though I guess those that can afford one are not overly bothered about that. After the disappointment I experienced on that test ride as I really fancied one I bought an 1150R beemer. With ABS and the telelever front suspension it handled brilliantly had loads of character and was far more capable than the Harley for loads less money and it was cheaper to run too. I nearly bought another Beemer this year, but in the end realised I just don't have the time to ride a bike at the moment so have decided to wait until I retire in a couple of years time and try again.

And built better!

Ahh get a bike. You know it makes sense

Dropping Mrs to work shortly, no frost, sun out and dry.....charged GoPro last night.....mmmmmm

...charged GoPro last night.....mmmmmm

I've got a Drift Ghost S coming from Santa.

He might be a fat kiddy fiddler with an odd penchant for fluffy red clothes.

But he knows how to keep me happy 

Nice! You'll have to give us a review of it. I went for a spin, might knock up a quick clip later if the footage comes out ok

Just had a look around and i cant seem to find out where theyre made or if theyre any relation to a Akrapovic.

The office in stoke is the warehouse for the uk as far as i can gather. Its quite big and its clear things are delivered there, then they distribute across the country.

Thats all i know (: haha (:

Late reply time

Delkevic are D&K motorcycles in Newcastle under Lyme, they picked the name for exactly the reasons above, cash in on the Akrapovic style name. I know the guy who makes their development exhausts, Wayne Jackson at JAC Exhausts in Nottingham. Wayne used to be chief fabricator at ART before they went pop.

D&K send Wayne a bike in a van, he templates it and makes everything by hand, then his work is shipped off to China for mass production.

The Chinese interpretation on the original design work caused some problems at times, I remember years ago a van turning up with 100's of cans and link pipes in that the Chinese had got wrong, so Wayne was having to tweak each one by hand.

Things have gotten better though.

I fitted my full Akrapovic system to my GS today, and it is a work of art, the welding is just a thing of beauty. Delkevic cans are not like this but that's why the Akrapovic is over £1100 all in, because it's beautifully made, fits perfectly and has been designed and flow tested for the intended bike.

Racefit are a UK outfit, and some of their work is titanium pornography, I had a race fit system in my old z1000 and GSXR 1000 K5.

Late reply time

Delkevic are D&K motorcycles in Newcastle under Lyme, they picked the name for exactly the reasons above, cash in on the Akrapovic style name. I know the guy who makes their development exhausts, Wayne Jackson at JAC Exhausts in Nottingham. Wayne used to be chief fabricator at ART before they went pop.

D&K send Wayne a bike in a van, he templates it and makes everything by hand, then his work is shipped off to China for mass production.

The Chinese interpretation on the original design work caused some problems at times, I remember years ago a van turning up with 100's of cans and link pipes in that the Chinese had got wrong, so Wayne was having to tweak each one by hand.

Things have gotten better though.

I fitted my full Akrapovic system to my GS today, and it is a work of art, the welding is just a thing of beauty. Delkevic cans are not like this but that's why the Akrapovic is over £1100 all in, because it's beautifully made, fits perfectly and has been designed and flow tested for the intended bike.

Racefit are a UK outfit, and some of their work is titanium pornography, I had a race fit system in my old z1000 and GSXR 1000 K5.

Thats interesting! Cheers

Akrapovic is a lot better made I've no doubt, but they dont even do one for my bike. Infact, only a hand full of companies do.

Isnt an akropovic system an optional extra when purchasing a new GS?

How do you find it sound wise? The standard cans are quite fruity on the GS arent they

They are optional, BMW HP Akrapovic for the can only at a dealer is £850. I got the BMW HP branded one used but boxed, never fitted for £600 and £450 for the headers from Germany .

I'm not minted btw, just saved for a while

I'll stick a sound clip up at the weekend, just on the way to work in Scotland, left the bike behind, weather is to crappy even for heated gear.

GS is pretty fruity as is when the exhaust valve opens, but the Akra has a lot more bass and growl to it without being ott

The GS is mapped as well so this tops it all off nicely.

Not everyone's cup of tea GS's but I've had 4 now, 1100GS, 1200Twin Cam, 1200 GSA twin cam and a 1200 WC (with lots of others in between) Just great all rounders, this will be my last though as they are to common now

KTM 1190 or 1290 Super Adventure next time I think.

While I'm bored

My old 1200 Twin Cam, 2 up with luggage in Germany a couple of years ago. Does not get interesting until around 6:20 when we hit Kyffhauser.

With a fully loaded GS and a passenger I had Arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger at the bottom.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10150842067782396

Fluff,

 

Whats the W800 like?

 

If I could fit another bike in the garage I would quite like one of those or a scrambler :peek:

Quick test vid with the GoPro/CB/Editing software. Wanted to see if you could hear the bike over the wind noise much. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpMbwoZe_iI

 

Nothing exciting happens at all so dont expect anything interesting Being a relatively new rider constructive criticism on my riding welcome. Weather was a bit damp hence my taking it easy. 

Quick test vid with the GoPro/CB/Editing software. Wanted to see if you could hear the bike over the wind noise much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpMbwoZe_iI

Nothing exciting happens at all so dont expect anything interesting Being a relatively new rider constructive criticism on my riding welcome. Weather was a bit damp hence my taking it easy.

Is that on top of your helmet then? Looks high up haha.

I'll be honest, i didnt watch it all. Riding looks good from what i saw though. Leaving plenty of room, plenty of checks etc. nice one .

Yeah I have a mount on the top and the offside of my lid. That was another thing I was testing, see which is better. I think I prefer the view on the side (or at least I did on the old bike) but I dont like the extra weight on one side. Think I need to invest in a drift camera, with the GoPro I dont think the weight is the issue, more the scaffolding on the side to stick it to the lid

Yeah I have a mount on the top and the offside of my lid. That was another thing I was testing, see which is better. I think I prefer the view on the side (or at least I did on the old bike) but I dont like the extra weight on one side. Think I need to invest in a drift camera, with the GoPro I dont think the weight is the issue, more the scaffolding on the side to stick it to the lid

If i get one, i want it to be on the bike.

So it sweeps and turns with the bike. I think thatd be cool

I've watched a few videos of bike mounted ones, not that keen on them, maybe if they did move with the bike they'd be a bit better. I like the riders point of view of the helmet mounted camera. I think mine needs tweaking down a bit as well too. 

I've watched a few videos of bike mounted ones, not that keen on them, maybe if they did move with the bike they'd be a bit better. I like the riders point of view of the helmet mounted camera. I think mine needs tweaking down a bit as well too.

Hmm just have to play with it i guess.

I like the idea of having the speedo in it. But i dont think fhats a good idea for legal reasons haha.

I like the idea of having the speedo in it. But i dont think fhats a good idea for legal reasons haha.

Stick a bit of masking tape over it and leave the rev counter visible. 

Stick a bit of masking tape over it and leave the rev counter visible.

I like to know how fast im going myself though haha

That's why I've started with my camera pointing so high

That's why I've started with my camera pointing so high

Its hard to judge the speed, but some of those overtakes look abit, cough haha.

Slightly off topic, in running an open invite trip down to Austria late May bank holiday 2015 if anyone fancies tagging along. Going down through France, Belgium without autoroutes, through Germany to Berchtesgaden then a few days stop over in Austria before heading back. Bikes wise there's me in the GS a ktm 950 SM, 990 SMR, S1000R, Guzzi 1100 sport and a fazer 1000.

Slightly off topic, in running an open invite trip down to Austria late May bank holiday 2015 if anyone fancies tagging along. Going down through France, Belgium without autoroutes, through Germany to Berchtesgaden then a few days stop over in Austria before heading back. Bikes wise there's me in the GS a ktm 950 SM, 990 SMR, S1000R, Guzzi 1100 sport and a fazer 1000.

Maybe if I have something bigger by then.

My mate Phil is undecided about if he's taking the fazer or his ER650. He took the ER a couple of years ago and it handled everything we threw at it.

Maybe if I have something bigger by then.

Why? I dont think youll need anything bigger.

Aslong as you're comfy on your bike, youll be fine. You wont be lacking power, big touring groups dont race around usually.

Depends how far the group plan on travelling each day. Thats the important info tbf.

I can do 400 mile days on the viffer, but im sure Fluff has topped that easily on his GS. My dads done 900 in a day on his and only stopped cos he got home. The rest of the group wont be up for that though

Plans to upgrade next season anyway... 

And from one bike to two too!  

Plans to upgrade next season anyway...

And from one bike to two too!

Bigger? More power?