| Author | Message | ||
     Bigeasy |
I love my Buell and wish they would make a sport tourer. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. So I would like to add a long distance sport touring bike to keep my buell company in my office. I don't want anything like a goldwing with the huge backend and bags o plenty. A couple of saddlebags and a tank bag will do. So my question is do any of you have any thoughts on the bmw r 1200 gt or maybe a suggestion on another type sport tourer? Thx Art | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
The BMW leans more towards the TOUR end of the spectrum. I'd look at the Yami 1300....or the Aprilia Futura if you want that exclusivity(and a hott twin). | ||
| Shorty_ii |
I'll add to the good suggestions from Ben the new Ducati ST3, which is priced attractively for a Ducati and features a new 3 valve, liquid cooled engine based upon the 1000DS block. And you'd love sound of the Duc 90 degree V-twin. | ||
| Bigeasy |
Didn't know yamaha made such a bike! That one looks very promising indeed. The price is right and I have owned yamahas before, dam things are bullet proof. I like the other two you guys mentioned also but don't I have to get expensive valve jobs on the duc? I just want to be able to jump on and go for a couple thousand miles and still have fun in the speed and handling department aalong the way. | ||
| Sdbuell |
I own both an XB9S and a Yamaha FJR1300. The FJR is probably the best performance touring bike made. As a bonus, it wears the same size shoes as the XB9S, so I can buy in quantity. After riding the XB, the FJR feels like a Gold Wing, but after riding a Gold Wing, it feels like an XB. Seriously, comfortable, fast, handles, great touring range and reliable. Tough to beat for 2/3 the cost of a K1200GT.} | ||
| Pcmodeler  |
I agree with the FJ. Both sporty and comfortable. I remember my old FJ600. Man, you could just whip that thing around. It was so light and snappy for it's size. Corners were a blast with that bike and it was comfortable for long distances as well. I wish they would make a smaller FJ again. | ||
| Tucsonxb9s  |
Have you looked at the new Triumph Sprint ST? Re-designed this year and looks very sweet! New 1050cc triple with 123 hp at the crank.  | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
I didn't even think about that new Triumph...that's a pretty sweet bike and I hear triples sound beastly. The Yami's won some sport-tourer roundups, and I appreciate it's more sporting approach as opposed to the Honda, BMW, and aging Kawi Concours... | ||
| Shorty_ii |
Big, I withdraw my recommendation of a Duc ST3 after I looked at your remark about jumping on and riding a couple of thousand miles. Valve adjustment is going to be pricey despite their claim that this new engine is easier to maintain. Go with the FJR1300 -- Shaft Drive will keep you from cleaning and lubing the chain about four times on that 2,000 mile romp. Valve adjustments? As soon as you reach 26,000 miles. | ||
| Bigeasy |
Yea I like the idea of a drive shaft for a long distance bike. Dont know much about the Triumph, will take alook though. I'm leaning towards the yami! Thxs ben. art | ||
| Signguy |
Never heard of a R1200GT. Did you mean K1200GT or the R1200GS? R series bikes have opposed twins, K series have inline 4's. (Message edited by signguy on January 03, 2005) | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
The new K series BMW I'd recommend in a heartbeat....if you have a lot of money. At 17K+ they're more than a lot of passenger sedans cost. But the gadgets that thing has on it. I've watched a 9 minute test video of one absolutely tearing up the Nurburing course in Germany as well, and was blown away by just how capable it was..considering it wasn't even a full-out sportbike...more of a SPORT-tourer. It's solid. As far as that opposed bmw twin. I think it's silly. Aesthetically it's garbage, mechanically it's reliable but absolutely unexciting. Especially when mated to such a heavy bike. Changing plugs is a cinch though... | ||
| Bigeasy |
Well I rode down to the yamaha dealer today to see if they had a 1300. Nope, guy said its a special order bike. Bummer! I would really like to see it in person before buying it. I check some other dealers around here to see if they have one. art | ||
| Baybueller |
Owned a 1998 k1200rs for 2 years. 35 years of motorcycle ownership with many brands and the k was the "best" machine I have owned. Test ride it for 50 mi. I sold mine because the riding position was a little low and the machine prefered speeds above 80mph. great bike! | ||
| Geoffg  |
Bigeasy, there is a Yamaha dealership not too far from me where I was allowed to test-ride the FJR1300--actually, they almost made me ride it! Not an organized demo, either, they just gave me the keys and said, "See ya later." If I wasn't planning to buy a Buell (from a HD dealership which also allowed me to test-ride) I'd be dealing with these guys and getting a Yammi--a very cool dealership. The bike was a very nice ride, although since I haven't ridden any other big tourers I have nothing to compare it to. Like some other Yammis I've ridden, it is so smooth and competent that it seems completely without character; however, in the middle of a 2,000 mile tour, "character" might not be what you want in a bike. I had fun sending the electric windshield up and down--up high enough, and it sucks you forward! I did not bend the bike through the twisties, though...hey, I really wanted to return it in one piece, and besides it was not the bike I was there to test-ride. I was looking at the YZF600R, but they sent me out on the Road Star ("You gotta ride this bike!"  as well as the FJR1300, and hey, like a lotta guys I love riding someone else's bikes! | ||
| Bkw_bmw  |
Choosing between the FJR and the K12GT is totally dependant upon your sport touring intent. The BMW is a long term commitment to realized the initial investment. If you normally rotate bikes two years or less, then the Yamaha is the better value. In a nutshell, the Yamaha is the more (short-term) reliable bike. Beemers are more about durability over the long haul. My '03 K12GT recently rolled through 55K miles. I intend to keep it till approx 150K and then move onto the K12S. Recent BMW incentives take $2500 off retail - $15K is closer to the FJR price and - to me - heated grips and seat, electronic cruise control, and power-assist ABS brakes is worth the couple of thou extra. BTW, the Beemer is my all-weather daily commuter, my Hayabusa is what I use for sport-touriing.    Plus, if it matters, the K-Tank has not required any valve adjustments yet. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I am also a Kawasaki Concours rider and I take umbrage at her being described as aging...LOL Look at this thread from www.concours.org and read the third post. It is the definitive treatise on the Concours. http://www.concours.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=6368 It is an old design (essentially the same for 20 years), but for the price and the performance you CANNOT beat it. Valve adjustment is easy. Reliable as a stone ax. It is not unusual to see people with 200K miles on theirs. And there is a support network that is second to none. I'll race anybody on a Buell with it, provided the race is from here in NY to CA and back.  There are a lot of things that can be done to update this bike, and the upside is you can find many lightly used ones with updates already performed. **preach mode off** (Message edited by JohnnyLunchBox on January 06, 2005) | ||
| Bigeasy |
Thanks guys! You all have come up with some great bikes. I will take my time look around and choose the one I think is best for me. I'm in no hurry yet as I have my lightning to fly around on. Bkw great looking bikes btw! Come on Erik make a sport tourer with all the imagination used on your Xbs! Are you out there?  (Message edited by bigeasy on January 06, 2005) | ||
| Bigbird  |
BMW makes some great bikes. They also make some expensive bikes. I should know, I currently own 3 of them and have owned 5 total since the year 2000. They are not necessarily the most reliable bikes on the road, but they are typically the longest lasting by far, provided their owners maintain them correctly. They are not the best performing bikes on the road compared to sport bikes, but they typically provide good to great performance with unmatched comfort. I purchased an '05 K1200 LT a couple of weeks ago. The girlfriend and I wanted a touring bike. We haven't had one since I sold my '00 RT a couple of years ago. I briefly considered the K1200 GT as well as another RT. The RT I used to own was a fantastic bike. But I decided that with the Firebolt and a Suzuki V-Strom in the garage what I really wanted was a tourer, not a sport tourer. So I bought the LT and haven't regretted a moment of it. The KGT will not perform quite as well as the FJR, but with heated seats, heated grips, cruise, and ABS it will be unmatched in comfort and safety. Also, the K engine (which first debuted in 1985) has proven itself many times over to run 300,000 + miles without a rebuild. I don't know if that is important to you or not, and I'm sure the FJR will live a long life too. But having witnessed BMW K bike odometers that read in excess of 400,000 MILES at a BMW rally it is a hard track record to challenge. Probably in the end when it comes to tourers or sport tourers you should buy whatever you are most comfortable on, because the more comfortable you are the more you will ride it. And isn't that what it's all about? |
