Bike recommendation

After a while off, I'm thinking of getting back onto a bike and I'd
like to poll the group for your opinions. I'll have around 7k to spend
in May and I'm looking for something that will handle my commute
(which doesn't involve lots of filtering) but will also be good for
long distance two-up touring. Pillion comfort will be pretty critical.

I've been considering a second hand R1200GS (although it looks like a
decent one will stretch my budget) or R1150GS. The 1150 has the
advantages that it's cheaper and simpler to maintain, but it is a
heavy lump.

Can anyone suggest anything else or offer advice on what to look for
in a GS?

Cheers - Adam...

 

<mode=recommend what you own>
Sprint ST 1050

The 1150 seems to be the one to go for apparently, but I've never owned
one (or ridden one fo that matter).

Serveral people who know will be along shortly - ignore Lozzo )

 

When it comes time (as it surely will) for me to get another bike, I
reckon I'll be looking around for a second-hand K1100 LT. I loved my
K100, and TOG's positive comments about its big brother here (as well as
(IIRC) ogden's and Simian's) have sealed the deal, IMO.

D.

 

But so ugly.


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Thirded. My 08 Sprint ST is the most comfortable and smoothest ride bike I
have had.

Alan

 

Thanks CT and Catman - it is a lovely looking bike. Is it comfortable
for long (> 300 miles) journeys? more specifically, is it comfortable
for a pillion for long journeys?

Fugly indeed, although I don't mind it so much. The 1200 is fuglier,
IMO (although I don't mind that either). My main worry, I think, about
the 1150GS is that it is *so* heavy.

Thanks for the advice - Adam...

 

I didn't know we'd met!

 

Hmm. I do 120 mile per day on mine. The biggest issue I have is with
knees, and my knee armour pressing on them. I am 6'4" though, and have a
34" inside leg. More normally proportioned humans would probably not
suffer that.

I've done longer runs with no other issues.

I've never had a pillion, nor ridden as one, so not really able to
answer, however ISTR someone commenting that the pillion seat is rather
high, which may expose them to buffeting.

****, that is a bit lardy innit.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Bollocks, it's a*much* nicer bike in *all* respects.

 

Doesn't matter. Just wait a couple of weeks and you'll get a different
answer from Nige anyway.

 

No, the 800 is better than the 1200 in all ways

 

Probably because of reasonably talented actor Ewan McGregor and
.... the other bloke - lead singer of Nickelback or something.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
1993 Eunos Roadster (supercharged)
Could want: something more comfy, sprots or not
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

If the cap fits.....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

And a different bike.....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

The Ewan and Charlie effect is still strong with this one .... the 1200GS
that is

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
BMW 330Ci
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

<snip>
Perfect - a Ural Combination is what you need.

Steve

 

Because being the best of its genre isn't the only reason people buy
bikes.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

To paraphrase:
"I cannot think of the question in today's climate to which the answer
is 'a Ural Combination'"

 

One needs more imagination Sir.

 

I can.

what motorcycle should you never consider buying.
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/

YZF-R1 : FZ1 : GPz 750 turbo
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11