mokosai

How do you choose?

https://lemmy.world/post/72768

How do you choose? - Lemmy.world

How are you choose what motorcycle(s) to keep when you don’t have room for all of the dozens that you want? Photo above is my 2009 k1300s, set up for long distance touring. I’ve ridden it to both coasts. It’s amazing to ride in good weather on good roads. But when it rains, or when you have to spend all day on the interstate, or when you are choosing what to pack and what to leave home, it’s not the best bike. I have room for two motorcycles in my life. I’m 100 miles away from some okay riding, but 1000 miles away from great riding. I like to go for a week-long ride, camping every night, but that requires a ton of storage space. And I want to maximize how much fun I have on great roads when I finally get there. So, what does everyone think? What’s the right motorcycle purchasing philosophy? The best bike for the best roads and suffer on the way there? The most comfortable bike for rain and packing and highways, even though it’ll be less fun in the mountains? A compromise machine that’s great at nothing?

Jun 12, 2023 at 11:47amWeb
Show threadBenHM3Jul 14, 2023

You’re riding the best BMW GT so far. (I’ve had a K1200 and K1600GT.) As long as you’re comfy with the dropped handlebars, you’re at peak-smooth, max-power-to-weight, least heavy BMW product. Sure, the later K1300S got a different ECU with more HP, but honestly, you could already peel the paint off my 2016.

Further, I’m kind of in the “butts=motorcycles” quantity school. I have 1, so 1. Mainly because they can suck so much money/labor and the storage space is the same as a car. I do all my own work, so maybe I’m weird.

With those in mind, seems to me you’re next bike should excel at everything your current bike FAILS at. Or it should be a big experiment: which to me seems to scream “electric.” Watch some FortNine videos if your up for a nerdgasm: the bike reviews are fascinating.

You do you, but if we were talking about this over a burger, this is what this old guy would tell you.

Show threadLiv2themaxJul 26, 2023
Very hard to just have one. Any motorcycle is a compromise. The question is what you’re willing to compromise on. I personally like my R1250 GSA for luggage, comfort, and a reasonable good time in the corners if using dynamic mode. I ride two up regularly, or I’d entertain a 1000xr for those trips. I also have an s1000rr and KTM 350 EXC-F which have very specific charters. No bike that I can tour on in comfort will hang with the s1k in the corners or tackle true single track with the KTM. For a long time I had an fjr1300 which was a great middle ground before I could afford the GSA.
Show threadDeftdrummerJul 29, 2023

Sounds like you’re ready to take part in the latest craze sweeping the nation friend; ADV riding.

My KTM 1299 SAS is a monster of a tourer, with sportiness and touring built in.

Newer bikes are crossing category lines while still performing superbly in the respective categories.

I don’t even want to imagine the wet weight of that machine.

Show threadmokosaiJul 30, 2023

That might just be the ticket. The K1300S shown about his now for sale, since I’ve picked up a 2012 Multistrada 1200 S. It’s probably the least adventuresome ADV bike, but it seems to be a great compromise between the goals of:

  • fast, lightweight, good handling bike
  • comfort and luggage capacity for longer trips
  • enough suspension travel to go over rough roads, although not off-road

So far so good on the MTS 1200, although there are some annoyances: non-existent rear brake, iffy quality of buttons/display, annoying and expensive valve/belt maintenance.

Maybe I’ll pick up a newer V4 multistrada in a few years when they price into my price range.

Show threadDeftdrummerJul 30, 2023

Sweet congrats! Yes I agree that the mulistrada is more sport oriented, but that’s the case with my bike too - a little more off road oriented.

Both fantastic bikes that are in direct competition. Couldn’t go wrong with either.