toys
The stock version had cast alloy wheels and they have now been replaced with spokes plus a 19 inch front wheel that is going to disperse a lot more impact pressure if playing with the Ukrainian potholes . Aluminium coated panniers come as stock and there is an optional extra of a aluminium coated top box if you want the complete set . Hugging the front is a set of engine crash bars and LED lights but very strangely a centre stand does not come as standard for this Rally model . You do get a choice of three colours . These somewhat minor additions play an important part in recognition for the would be buyer of what the Rally is selling – long cruising miles , gravel and grit capable with Italian styling .
Oh my god … the Rally is packed to the limit with just about everything electric , auto and semi auto thingy you could even dare think put on a bike . I ’ m not even sure where to start with all this ! Some nice touches like three riding modes and that includes ‘ rain ’ mode , good stuff to have I guess , I just tend to ride slower but hey ! Then there is touring mode of course that gives smooth play and power delivery and Sport mode .
There is a three stage traction control if you start losing it in the wet stuff or you ride like a plank and think you ’ re on a GSXR but if you ’ re going off road ( good luck to you ) you can turn the traction control off completely . This is the same with the ABS , so you can drag the rear wheel when it gets funky and you fancy throwing a 238kg dry weight bike around a forest fire road . Has it got adjustable suspension ? Well that ’ s another gadget as the Rally has a semi-active suspension front and rear . All you have to do is get on and go and the onboard computer takes care of the rest . It ’ s a real bonus to not have to keep poking around with knobs at service stations to find the right zone for the forks and shocks as this little beauty does all that for you , constantly making adjustments that you won ’ t even know it ’ s doing .
If you ’ re an iPhone fan then there is more good news as you can plug this in to show another dash readout set . It ’ s not my thing as I still have a Blackberry Curve with about four buttons missing but if you like that kind of thing then it ’ s there . In Blackburn it ’ s a good idea to keep your eyes on the road as 99 % of people there seem to be of the belief that using indicators drain your battery flat and so avoid using them at all costs … and that brings us to the brakes .