K1600 goes on extensive heated-seat test

Aaa Haa... I know how you feel for you, I really do. I first noticed this pernicious phenomenon back in the ferocious winter of 2008/9. I was commuting 15miles to Gloucester in sub zero temps, having to stop on the outskirts of the city every day to warm my hands on the engine enough to regain some feeling before proceeding. As the winter weather progressed unabated day after day, I gradually found myself not lusting after crazy blown streetfighters or expensive Italian exotica with shiny race bread brakes & suspension and epic engines, but sensible bikes with heated grips, heated saddles, ABS and an electrical system robust enough to run thermal sock & bodywarmers. I started looking favourably on my mate’s dad’s K1300, thinking “yeh... that’d do nicely”. I felt my prideful maintained all year/all whether biker persona was under siege by the forces of advancing age and reasoned sensibility. But in the end I needn’t have worried. The freezing weather eventually broke, but even if I’d succumbed to the temptations of two wheeled heated convenience I realised that its still cool to ride a bike all year round whatever the weather, regardless of how warm you decide you need to be in order to do it. So next year I fitted a pair of brush guard to keep the wind off my fingers... Job’s a good ‘un!

Posted: 25/10/2011 at 16:45