KevOriginally Posted by kevfromcoro
I've got a Pegaso, 2006 model bought as a low km demonstator in July 2007. I've ridden 48,000km on it since then. The reason it was a "low km demonstrator" is that fuelling was a real bitch. Too lean at 3,000-4,000rpm (i.e. around town revs) made it snatchy and surgey. A Power Commander has largely corrected that. Fuelling is improved on the current models (with exhaust oxygen sensor).
So am I happy with the bike? Well, it meets my needs just about perfectly. I must admit most of my miles are commuting in Wellington traffic - its upright riding position lets me look over cars in front. I fitted a low guard off a 2004 Pegaso (with the Rotax motor). This was a straight fit and keeps road water off me and the bike. It loves a blast over Hitcher's beloved Rimutakas and as a consequence, so do I. The 45mm Marzocchi front forks and the rear Sachs shock are great, which is just as well as there is no adjustment up front and only preload and rebound dampening at the back.
My parents live in Tauranga and its a load of fun to ride there for a weekend. I have a Givi topbox and Givi panniers, which have taken me on a campin trip around the North Island and will soon do the same for the South. Fuel consumption is consistently around 20km/l, so that gives me a range of around 300km/l, which is about the point my bum wants a rest. I am loathe to test the range, as Pegaso fuel pumps sometimes fail (which I think is due to running the pump dry) and they are expensive to replace.
Its a better bike on the gravel than I am. I have Michelin Anakees which give me the security I need on wet Wellington roads (I commute in all weather) albeit with some compromise in gravel (I like them better than the original Pirelli Scorpion S/T s and the Mitas E-08 I replaced those with). I fitted Givi engine bars (the waterpump is very exposed) and tested them only once (when the notorious Wellington breezes blew the bike over). Personally I find the 19-inch front is a good compromise between seal and gravel manners.
But the Pegaso is no trail bike. Its a little lighter than BMW's F650 single and Kawa's KLR 650 but significantly heavier than a DR650. So if you want a bike for single tracks, get something lighter. Seat height should not be a problem for most riders. But the motor is significantly more powerful than the DR and KLR, and its much more tourable than the DR. Although the BMW F650 single puts out a couple of ponies more at the top end, the Pegaso motor is much gruntier between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm, which is where you use it most on the trail. It will even pootle along at 2,000rpm in low gears.
Brendan, from Motorad, has enough faith in the Pegaso to take it with Gareth Morgan's next World-by-Bike trip through South America. Having ridden many of those roads, he's right, bar minor tweaks such as reinforcing the radiator and fan mounts.
The motor, being a SOHC, is easy to work on, but the valve covers are a pain to get to (needing to strip tank and body work). Other routine maintenance is easy. I find it very smooth for a single - as smooth (and as powerful) as a 650 Transalp that I had for 9000km.
Other stuff: headlight is brilliant. Side stand is too sort and in-board - even with a square of 7-ply added to the foot, it still blew over. The bike is physically a bit small and the motor underpowered for regular two-up riding. My mate's 650 V-strom is much better in this regard (but much more of a handful in rougher stuff). Plenty of underseat storage and room for a wallet, etc. in the cover above the petrol cap. The throttle position sensor and rear tail light were replaced under warranty (no hassles there). Changing suspension preload is a pain.
Would I get another? For my purposes it is worth the premium price over the Yam XT660R (similar motor), due to better suspension, screen, instrumentation (Yam does not have a rev counter) and it fits in between the X and R, which is what I want. I haven't ridden the KTM 640/690 equivalents nor the Yam 660 Tenere, but if I had that much dosh, I'd get the BMW F650 twin (800 motor) which suits my road/gravel compromise better.
But I'm very happy with the Pegaso and at this stage, I plan to keep it for another 48,000km (at least).
Cheers
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