Discovery Sport Pure Special Edition TO Pentland Perth Land Rover REPRESENTS THE PINNACLE OF LAND ROVER VERSATILITY AND CAPABILITY. THE ONLY PLACE FOR ALL YOUR LAND ROVER NEEDS WHEN YOU CAN'T TELL IT'S USED IT'S LAND ROVER APPROVED BOOK A TEST DRIVE EXPERIENCE LAND ROVER'S ALL-TERRAIN CAPABILITY FIRST HAND FIND THE PERFECT FINANCE PACKAGE FOR YOU, ACROSS THE LAND ROVER MODEL RANGE LAND ROVER ACCESSORIES ARE PERFECTLY DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT YOUR LAND ROVER'S STYLE, DESIGN AND CAPABILITYTHERE can be few things in life as enjoyable as riding a powerful motorcycle through some of North Staffordshire's most scenic villages when the weather is sunny, crisp and dry. My only wish is that I could have taken BMW's R1200GS off the asphalt and into the fields for a bit of senior Kick Start action to test out its off-road credentials! Remember, its big brother, the GS Adventure, was the bike that propelled Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman through 18 countries from John O Groats in Scotland to South Africa - some 25,000 km for UNICEF for celebrated TV series Long Way Down.And the GS was also the bike that helped usher in the adventure tourer class back in the early 1980s, and 32 years on remains BMW's best-seller world-wide.

Motorcycle roadtest: Kawasaki Vulcan S - Scott Faulkner Now I'm more used to contorting my six foot, 14-and-a-half-stone frame on sports bikes to soak up brain-numbing acceleration and spine crushing suspension, so this GS was going to have to be something special to get me onside. vintage bikes for sale puneThankfully the bike's delightful road manners, characterful presence and surprisingly sporty handling won me over, although its chiselled, angular looks and beak-like front (think Judas Priest's iconic Screaming for Vengeance cover) won't appeal to everyone. victory motorcycle dealers in denver coThis is a beast of a bike and its size really suits the taller, dare I say stouter, rider. motorcycle store williamsburg brooklyn

What impressed me was how manoeuvrable the GS was for such a mighty lump. With a full tank of fuel, it really doesn't handle or feel like a 238kg machine. honda motorcycle dealers aucklandThere are three electronic suspension adjustment settings - soft, medium and hard, which are simple to activate. The soft setting soaked up the bumps on 30mph ambles through Audlem and Woore, while two clicks of the left hand button firmed up the bike so much it felt like a sports tourer rather than an adventure bike.On the twisty 'A' roads it refused to wallow and inspired confidence in the corners. Frankly, 'normal' wasn't needed! The seat is so comfortable that after a two-hour ride there were no grumbles from my glutes and I felt fresh and able to power on for longer, while the two-setting heated grips were so toasty I could wear my racing gloves and avoid the first stages of rigor mortis. Plus, the excellent ABS (as standard) meant I rarely dabbed the rear brake, while the double front disc Brembo anchors felt like they could stop a train.

I also fell in love with the bike's cruise control - a licence saver around these parts with so many fixed speed cameras In operation. It is easily the best I've used - as simple to activate and disengage as on one of the German's luxury barges. However, if you are more used to riding sportier Japanese machines then you have to adapt your riding style and gear changing to get the most satisfaction out of the BMW GS. Initially I felt I was in too low or too high a gear, but once you learn to tune into the bike's engine notes and trust in the torque available in fourth through to sixth, you are rewarded. The GS comes with a halogen main headlamp as standard, which is pleasingly bright, but many riders will wisely consider upgrading to the LED main headlamp with integrated daytime running light. While the R 1200 GS has optional riding modes (road, dynamic, enduro and enduro pro) I suspect most GS buyers will rarely get to test out its mighty muck-fighting qualities, in rather the same way that people hanker for a Range Rover.

Its high seat position affords a great view of oncoming traffic and makes you more visible on the road; even strong crosswinds on the A500 flyover didn't both me, which might have proved more testing on a full fairings two-wheeler. Power comes from a new two cylinder opposed twin engine design delivering 125hp, with combined air and liquid cooling and vertical flows through the cylinders. The engine is torquey (maximum 125Nm at 6,500rpm) and high revving in every one of the six gears gear, and is up on power on its predecessor by 13 per cent You can pick up one of these new for a shade over £12k for the standard motorcycle, which come in frozen dark blue metallic or racing red But you'll probably be better off coughing up an extra £2.5k or so for the R1200GS TE, which has heated grips, semi active suspension, preparation for GPS, on board computer LED headlight and chrome exhaust. The range-topping R 1200 GS TE Triple Black has a suitably mean hue and comes with off-road friendly cross-spoke wheels.

My 2015 test machine had about 13,000 miles on the clock, wore Michelin Road Pilot 4s, and came with most of the TE extras. It felt as tightly screwed together and sturdy as you would expect and judging by strong approved used prices you may be better off being the first owner if you can stretch your budget. Kev Bryan (pictured, right, with Scott), of Bryans BMW Rider Training (North), at The Britannia Stadium, said: "I've done 15,000 miles on my R1200GS and I really love the bike. I can't believe how comfortable it is - and how easy it is to manoeuvre for such a big machine, particularly when I'm demonstrating riding skills to my pupils. I use it every day in my job on the road as an instructor and the heated grips and adjustable seat are top drawer. I also like the way the rear suspension firms up at the touch of a button for twisty roads. This bike is a great all-rounder and would suit anyone who does long distance touring. It's easy to ride in cities and makes short work of motorways with its adjustable screen and big, torquey engine.