price: 9000 AU$ plus onroad costs including licence($500) plus free panniers = bargain for a brand new bike!
Ok, I am spending an extra 2500 on extra bits that I thought I'd need straight away - bash plate, crash bars, knuckle covers, heated hand grips, centre stand, staintune exhaust system (complete) and Fuel Injection Unit (Ok, that last two weren't necessities but it sure does sound nicer
) I've also got some chunkier Heidenau k60s on order...
well, I bought this bike without actually test riding it, confident it would suit my needs and I would get used to riding it anyway. First impressions are good but its the long run that matters in the end. (I think i was a bit worried that after the VFR the little DL wouldn't be powerful enough and I'd opt for the bigger and heavier and (relatuively) more expensive DL1000)
Jumping off the Honda VFR onto the DL I realised it was still quite a big bike. The seating position is a lot more upright and comfortable. It is a cheaper bike and it shows in some of the small things. The VFR just felt a bit more of an all together package but it also costs twice as much. To be fair the DL doesn't seem to be really lacking in any way.
Riding:
Yes it is less powerful than the VFR but the DL still surprised me with a frisky engine (it seems to be getting better the more i ride it - either starting to 'run in' or I'm just getting used to it...)
The wide bars make it easy to flick it around and it seems quite comfortable on gravel
They seem quite high for me when sitting down but great when standing on the pegs
weather protection is ok with legs getting a bit wetter in the rain
that wind screen will need a few modifications but i expected that
The looks:
i"m even starting to like it
only two hundred kms so far but one happy customer