What bike should I buy?
It’s about time to retire the HondaPotomous. Most recently I finished the Covoid MD2020 rally on that bike (did just fine, thanks). But as I thought about the various things that could have gone better a lot of it came down to weight. All up in rally mode it has to be pushing 1000lbs. So now I am wondering how much better life would be if I could find a decent rally capable bike that weighs enough less to justify the pain of switching to a new bike…
My current bike: 2006 GL1800. Highly reliable and highly ‘farkle-able’. Pretty well dialed in.
Replacement considerations:
Reliability
Weight
Rider wind protection
Long distance comfort
Farkle-ability
Cost
When considering stuff I tend to think of the IBR as a test lab.
Shaft vs chain? Chains have improved in recent years. Maybe they are no longer a giant liability in LD situations. Not sure about this but if a chain driven bike checks a bunch of other boxes, I’d consider it.
A partial? List of contenders. Looking for input here. The IBA is the place where lots of people have solve this puzzle.
BMW: The 1600 bikes are out. While they are great bikes, why move from one 1000 pound bike to another?
The 1250 bikes are interesting. The R1250RT checks a lot of boxes but cost is an issue. The GS/GSA are similarly contenders but cost and protection are concerns. Also, not sure these bikes are enough lighter to justify the switch.
Note that there is an 850GSA. Interesting. Chain drive. Has some range without an aux tank.
All BMWs have maintenance interval issues and cost issues (both purchase and farkles). That said, since the bad old days of final drive problems, BMW has recovered favored status among IBR riders – statistically speaking.
Honda:
The NT700V (used obviously) looks interesting. Kind of a 400lb lighter Goldwing.
Africa Twin. Kind of a GS/GSA by Honda so less expensive and longer service intervals.
CTX1300 bikes check some boxes but they are heavy.
Yamaha:
FJRs are what they are. Solid LD bikes but really not that much lighter than a GL1800. Also, not sure they can easily be made comfortable for 6’1” rider.
Super Tenere. Another Africa Twin/GS/GSA type bike. Might get the nod for reliability and functionality over the Honda and BMW variants.
I’m sure there are other bikes and look forward to hearing how everyone else has solved this problem. While I hate to say it – keeping the HondaPotomous might be the answer. Thanks in advance...
It’s about time to retire the HondaPotomous. Most recently I finished the Covoid MD2020 rally on that bike (did just fine, thanks). But as I thought about the various things that could have gone better a lot of it came down to weight. All up in rally mode it has to be pushing 1000lbs. So now I am wondering how much better life would be if I could find a decent rally capable bike that weighs enough less to justify the pain of switching to a new bike…
My current bike: 2006 GL1800. Highly reliable and highly ‘farkle-able’. Pretty well dialed in.
Replacement considerations:
Reliability
Weight
Rider wind protection
Long distance comfort
Farkle-ability
Cost
When considering stuff I tend to think of the IBR as a test lab.
Shaft vs chain? Chains have improved in recent years. Maybe they are no longer a giant liability in LD situations. Not sure about this but if a chain driven bike checks a bunch of other boxes, I’d consider it.
A partial? List of contenders. Looking for input here. The IBA is the place where lots of people have solve this puzzle.
BMW: The 1600 bikes are out. While they are great bikes, why move from one 1000 pound bike to another?
The 1250 bikes are interesting. The R1250RT checks a lot of boxes but cost is an issue. The GS/GSA are similarly contenders but cost and protection are concerns. Also, not sure these bikes are enough lighter to justify the switch.
Note that there is an 850GSA. Interesting. Chain drive. Has some range without an aux tank.
All BMWs have maintenance interval issues and cost issues (both purchase and farkles). That said, since the bad old days of final drive problems, BMW has recovered favored status among IBR riders – statistically speaking.
Honda:
The NT700V (used obviously) looks interesting. Kind of a 400lb lighter Goldwing.
Africa Twin. Kind of a GS/GSA by Honda so less expensive and longer service intervals.
CTX1300 bikes check some boxes but they are heavy.
Yamaha:
FJRs are what they are. Solid LD bikes but really not that much lighter than a GL1800. Also, not sure they can easily be made comfortable for 6’1” rider.
Super Tenere. Another Africa Twin/GS/GSA type bike. Might get the nod for reliability and functionality over the Honda and BMW variants.
I’m sure there are other bikes and look forward to hearing how everyone else has solved this problem. While I hate to say it – keeping the HondaPotomous might be the answer. Thanks in advance...