concerted hunt to 8k rpm and beyond was out of the question . So what ’ s the trade off ? Well , oddly , it took a bit to find it And it ’ s that effortless endless bottom end torque that goes a little bit missing on the 2020 RS . Thinking further , it ’ s not that it goes missing , it ’ s just that the ‘ heave ’ is now more linear , over a longer arc . So it doesn ’ t feel quite as much ‘ big-wave surfer heaven ’ in the lower end . Yes , it ’ s quicker , a little more dialled in - a sporty bike with a steel frame and twin rear shocks . But ... I really liked the torque of the predecessor . One still has to take the RS into the corner , and countersteering rewards in just the way that the earlier model did . Being faster and nimble , it flicks from side-to-side in tight turns with smooth weight changes giving positive input and control . It probably comes down to longevity and familiarity of ownership , and it could be that nostalgia has coloured my thinking , but it doesn ’ t seem to offer quite as deep an experience as the original 1200 R .
WONDERFUL TRUTH The wonderful truth of both Thruxtons is that they are motorcycles that get the best out of you as a rider . The effort to
44 KIWI RIDER