Trading down - what say you?

[rastuscat]

+1 to the XB12X.....

Heh heh. Rode one before I bought the GS. Torque enough to overcome inertia 4 million times. Didn't like the vibration while stationary, but that's a huge vtwin.

[rastuscat]

Hardly trading down.

'
Yup, realize that all the suggested bikes are gems. I'm going down in size, definitely not quality.

[Ocean1]

'
Yup, realize that all the suggested bikes are gems. I'm going down in size, definitely not quality.

My brother has an R1200GSA... thing and he likes it for just touring. He reckons all BMWs are now not only manufactured but assembled in China. If true it says little about the quality, several manufacturers have done the same succesfully.

Best advice I've had is to test ride 'em all. It made a difference more than once.

Luck.

[Gremlin]

Thing is, probably 90-95% of my riding is one up, and commuting. Of that, 50 % is open road, and 50% city roads. I've put ST1300s, FJR1300s and Kwaka 1400s on my watch list, but I suspect they're all too big. I reverse my 1150GS into my garage each day, and that reminds me how bloody big it is.

Anything is going to be a trade off, unless you have a couple of bikes. Hell, some use a 50cc scooter for daily commutes. Punting the BMW around town for work is like taking a sportsbike to a go kart track. Handy I have the CB900 for work, but I wouldn't enjoy 1000km days on the CB900 like I do on the BMW.

You get something perfect for commuting, and its likely it won't be good for country trips, the needs are sort of mutually exclusive, and vice versa (depending of course, on how you define country trips/touring).

If you still love the BMW, then perhaps consider a cheapie for commuting. I can't imagine you'd lead a happy life with the perfect commuter, if your wife hated travelling the countryside on it.

I tell you what... finding the perfect bike to suit all your needs is damn hard... and I've been trying.

[Scouse]

Triumph sprint?

Buell Ulysses?

Triumph Tiger, (old or new model)?

Wat e sed especialy the Triumph sprint or Buell Ulysses seem to be exactly what you are looking for

[rastuscat]

I can't imagine you'd lead a happy life with the perfect commuter, if your wife hated travelling the countryside on it.

Maybe I should trade the wife...........

[rastuscat]

P.S. I case you read this Mrs Cat, I was only joshing.............

[CRM]

I had a VFR800 and loved it in many respects (the V-Tec was great in my opinion and I had staintune pipes which were awesome) BUT it wasn't very economical in terms of tyres or repairs when doing reasonable mileage or in gas - about 6 to 6.5 litres per 100km. My wife prefers two-up on my current Transalp over the VFR. So VFR's are great bikes - but I wouldn't say you would be gaining in any area over the BMW except maybe a little weight reduction.

[rastuscat]

I had a VFR800 and loved it in many respects (the V-Tec was great in my opinion and I had staintune pipes which were awesome) BUT it wasn't very economical in terms of tyres or repairs when doing reasonable mileage or in gas - about 6 to 6.5 litres per 100km. My wife prefers two-up on my current Transalp over the VFR. So VFR's are great bikes - but I wouldn't say you would be gaining in any area over the BMW except maybe a little weight reduction.

Yeah, dual sporters are great tourers two up. I've all but decided on an F800ST beemer. It's about 30 pounds lighter than a VFR. It has less power, but the power is very usable, and is uniform across the rev band. Had one before, probably should have kept it. Bloody Ewan McGregor convinced me I needed a GS to take on the world. We lost our house in the first quake, and that caused me to have a reassess of the direction life is heading. I realize that I'm quite happy in the South Island.

Harumph.

[raziel1983]

Yeah, dual sporters are great tourers two up. I've all but decided on an F800ST beemer. It's about 30 pounds lighter than a VFR. It has less power, but the power is very usable, and is uniform across the rev band. Had one before, probably should have kept it. Bloody Ewan McGregor convinced me I needed a GS to take on the world. We lost our house in the first quake, and that caused me to have a reassess of the direction life is heading. I realize that I'm quite happy in the South Island.

Harumph.

Just to complicate things further, do a bit of research on these beemers, when I was looking at getting one i came across a lot of rear axle failures, if i remember correctly it was a design flaw, something to do with the belt drive...?

[BMWST?]

Have a look at the TM listings for R1200STs. I thought it was a the perfect bike, until someone showed me a headlight profile on one. The TM listings normally show side on and rear shots, coz the headlight is butt ugly.

I have to admit that I'm not going to own a bike that repulses me. I ride an R1200RT for work (guess my job), and the bill for replacing a clutch makes me cringe.

I'm leaning toward an F800ST, used to have one, maybe should never have sold it. I watched a video of Charley and Ewan, and lost my marbles. The Lebben Fiddy has been cool, but doesn't really meet my needs. I love it, but it's time to let go.

Something about setting it free, and if it comes back, crush the f***er.

they are not ugly they are um distintive.One of the best headlights in motorcycling apparently.I wouldnt expect the clutch to need replacing as often as your work bike.

[BMWST?]

Just to complicate things further, do a bit of research on these beemers, when I was looking at getting one i came across a lot of rear axle failures, if i remember correctly it was a design flaw, something to do with the belt drive...?

belt drive?There is def a issue with the final drive support bearing and or seal.How significant the problem seems to be difficult to determine

[vifferman]

I'm tall, 92 kg. My wife is short, and 80 kg. That's what worries me, an 800 might struggle for go when fully loaded. It'd be a great commuter, and one ip tourer, but not too sure about 2 up touring.

I'm 83kg, and my wife is just under 80 (I think). We've only done a couple of long trips with luggage, one of which was a 5-day tour of Up North, and the bike was by no means struggling, despite having the two of us, two back packs, and a tank bag.
Having said that, it's still not a large bike, so bear that in mind. We weren't uncomfortable, but it was 'snug' on the bike.

[Edbear]

Not being too biased or anything... I know where there is a good Boulevard C50T for sale...

Hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, my wife and I have spent a lot of time on it and I used it for commuting in Auckland traffic as well as for a bit of fun solo.

In my 40 years of biking, it's been the best all-round bike I've ever ridden or owned for anything I wanted to do. Power? My mates can't believe it's only 805cc, two-up or solo! Room? the biggest of the middle-weight cruisers with plenty of legroom. Economy? An easy 60mpg.

[jafar]

The thing that will make or break a bike from the pillions point of view is the comfort of the seat & the distance from their ass to the pegs.... Many bikes these days are designed as a 1 + 1 seating setup, meaning that the pillion has to be a midget to ride on it for any length of time or feel totally cramped up. For this reason make sure you take any prospective bikes for a decent run with your better half on the back.
The seating position on the a lot of bikes is set up so the pillion sits higher than the rider, some like it ,some don't.
Think about the speeds you are likely to be wanting to cruise at, any mid sized bike will cruise at 100+ with little problem 2 up, it's in the passing that you will find it comes up short.