Great choice. THE bike.

THE bike is a strong thing to say.

Its all personal choice isnt it.

THE bike is a strong thing to say.

Its all personal choice isnt it.

It is, but it is hard to beat a bike that does everything so well....

 

Boxes off, screen down low and ESA to sport, it can be scratched pleasingly down the B-roads with the best of them

Side boxes on and ESA on normal, it is fabulous on the A roads and motorways.

All the boxes on, screen up high, radio, nav, heated seat and grips on and ESA on comfort you can cross continents on it

 

All seasons, all roads, all reasons-then simply jetwash it off and carry on

 

It may not be everyone's choice, but it is as near as THE bike as it gets, I'd say-a perfect blend of sport and tourer that can be used every day-and get respect from most bikers too.

It is, but it is hard to beat a bike that does everything so well....

 

Boxes off, screen down low and ESA to sport, it can be scratched pleasingly down the B-roads with the best of them

Side boxes on and ESA on normal, it is fabulous on the A roads and motorways.

All the boxes on, screen up high, radio, nav, heated seat and grips on and ESA on comfort you can cross continents on it

 

All seasons, all roads, all reasons-then simply jetwash it off and carry on

 

It may not be everyone's choice, but it is as near as THE bike as it gets, I'd say-a perfect blend of sport and tourer that can be used every day-and get respect from most bikers too.

For everything else there's always the GS...... These were my short list of 2 that's currently on hold...as I dream on

It is, but it is hard to beat a bike that does everything so well....

Boxes off, screen down low and ESA to sport, it can be scratched pleasingly down the B-roads with the best of them

Side boxes on and ESA on normal, it is fabulous on the A roads and motorways.

All the boxes on, screen up high, radio, nav, heated seat and grips on and ESA on comfort you can cross continents on it

All seasons, all roads, all reasons-then simply jetwash it off and carry on

It may not be everyone's choice, but it is as near as THE bike as it gets, I'd say-a perfect blend of sport and tourer that can be used every day-and get respect from most bikers too.

Its a lovely bike. I agree.

Its no alrounder though.

I dont think a true alrounder exists tbf.

Not in the way that its the best at everything anyway.

Some say the vfr 800 is the best alrounder motorbike every made.

Its comfy, its quick enough, it handles well etc etc. but tank range is much less than a true tourer, it wont handle as well as a 675 Daytona, and its not as quick as a true sports bike either.

Its more. Jack. Jack of all trades.

I dont think the r1200rt ticks enough boxes to be called a true alrounder IMO. Its too big and bulky.

For everything else there's always the GS...... These were my short list of 2 that's currently on hold...as I dream on

Its too big though. Its good at what it does, but for backroad blasting, its too big and heavy.

If it cant go backroad blastin, its not an all round bike IMO.

I still dont think a true all round bike actually exists.

I agree, which is why two bikes. 

I'm not interested in trail riding for now. 

But I want something high revving for fast road and possibly trackday use and really fancy a ZX6 for that. 

And a reliable stable comfy long distance cruiser for touring, the BMW seems about right for that task.

The ER6 I have now is a respectable all rounder as much as it can be but I feel like I want more 

performance sometimes on a sunny B road blat, and on a run I feel I want a bit more

comfort and more effortless performance with a passenger and load. 

Hopefully around an 08 registered example Mender to answer your question.

I agree, which is why two bikes.

I'm not interested in trail riding for now.

But I want something high revving for fast road and possibly trackday use and really fancy a ZX6 for that.

And a reliable stable comfy long distance cruiser for touring, the BMW seems about right for that task.

The ER6 I have now is a respectable all rounder as much as it can be but I feel like I want more

performance sometimes on a sunny B road blat, and on a run I feel I want a bit more

comfort and more effortless performance with a passenger and load.

Hopefully around an 08 registered example Mender to answer your question.

2 bikes is the only real answer mate.

Like i say. The vfr 800 is well known to be the best all round bike you can get, but trust me, its still not awesome at everything.

Although its not as quick as a proper sports bike, i dont find the power lacking.

Its more the comfort. Sports bikes are crouched down, touring is a straight back idea, for comfort.

The vfr is in the middle. I find it ideal for everything other than days longer than 400 miles tbf.

Naked, green laner, sports bike, scooter, supermoto, tourer, I want a dedicated tool for each job

THE bike is a strong thing to say.

Its all personal choice isnt it.

Yes, on both counts.

Edited 17 December, 201411 yr by kevberlin

Naked, green laner, sports bike, scooter, supermoto, tourer, I want a dedicated tool for each job

I want a tourer and a sports bike.

But i have room for only 1 bike in the garage

I suppose the RT and GS are not wieldy to me, as I'm way over 20st-they are light and accurate to me!  A CBR can be lost in the folds of my leathers  :peek:

 

The RT is 2 bikes in one (sport, tourer) with the optional ESA electronic suspension adjust and detachable boxes, ok not as sporty as a true sports bike, but with the linear Telelever/Paralever set up and ABS, when ridden well by a competent rider will keep up with them easily.

 

The GS is also 2 bikes in one (trail, tourer) with the right options.

 

The problems with having two bikes is that you spend 30%+ time wishing you were on your other bike on many rides!  A quick switch of the ESA and screen height adjustment and you lose the need for 2 bikes and get 80% of the capability of both bikes, hence my purchase of the RT way back.  It was a truly capable bike (though mine had LOADS of warranty repairs) and was the bike for all reasons for me.  The fact the service intervals were 6k miles and it had shaft drive and could be jet washed were the cherry on the icing on the cake for me.

 

I still prefer my old MZ Saxon Tour over anything and wish they still sold them new, I'd choose a 500 Rotax engine and keep it forever.  Definitely not a sports bike in any way, but a good green laner, tourer, commuter, plodder, pootler and winter bike.  More character than many other bikes.  I miss it dearly.

Maybe its just me that finds em abit too big for any real sports riding. I'm 5 foot 10 and about 12 stone, so i fit nicely onto a sports bike haha.

I always think the RT is a lot more tourer than sports.

Yeah the ESA is good.

I've got to disagree on it being to big and heavy, it's all relative and mostly down to the rider.

 

Put the same person on an R6 and a GS and the R6 is going to be faster 99% of the time. But different riders are different matters. On the Umbrail pass this year, I was right on the arse of a KTM 690 SM, probably one of the best bikes available for that road, but he didn't shake me (I''m no riding god either, just confident and know how far I can push the GS)

 

What you have to put into context is the quality of some of the Roads, a really good mate of mine has an S1000R and an S1000RR, he is a riding god but we were heading up a lovely stretch of road in Germany near Stolberg Castle and whilst it was tight and twisty, I was right behind him, and eventually he waved me past, only because the road was just to bumpy for the S1000RR's suspension to cope, the GSA I had at the time soaked it all up, and that was ferckin big and heavy.

 

They are a perfect all rounder, but so is every other "Adventure" style bike out there. One of the most underated is the Versys 1000, but go to the Harz and meet my mate Greg Niven, turn up on whatever you like, he will hand you your arse on his Versys, and to look at him you would never know how fast he is

 

My current GS has the Gear Assist Pro, posh name for a quickshifter, the clever thing is, it does downshifts to. Everyone says "Why do you need a quickshifter on a GS", then I let someone ride it (That I trust) and they come back grinning like a Cheshire cat.

 

Each to their own though, I'm nearly 50 now, and after a few injuries picked up while I was a squaddie and from bike accidents make the bones a bit old and creaky, it also dictates that something "like" a GS is the perfect all rounder for me as it "fits". Younger, less creaky and more supple, go for a sportsbike, it will fit, and you are only here once. My GS is "fast" but nothing like the kind of "Fast" my GSXR1000K5 were or ZX12R (In a straight line, the 12 did not like corners )

 

The only time I've found my GS A Handful was 2 up, with luggage, heading up the Stelvio this year in rain that turned to snow part way up (In bloody August)

It is largely down to rider, i agree.

Nothing's the best at everything though is what im tryna say. Theres always certain areas where its not as good as another bike. Nothing's perfect for everything.

The GSA is good for long trips, big tank range, kind of alright off road i suppose and not that good at hooning around. Cos on a decent road, its just easier to throw a smaller bike around.

They are quick yeah. Very flat power delivery isnt it. Redlining at 8.5k. Not a very revvy engine

Each to their own though isnt it.

Id rather take the viffer for anything up to the longest of trips. Then perhaps something abit more comfy might come into it.

Edit: in traffic aswel. Getting the GSA through is like trying to filter in the car aha.

I want a tourer and a sports bike.

But i have room for only 1 bike in the garage

K1200 then.... I'll get you on a beemer eventually!

I had a VFR and found it to be a jack of all trades, but master of none. I had that for 5 years and a Blade for the same period after that. For 2 years in succession me and a mate went to the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. We did around 300 miles per day and I actually found the Blade less tiring to ride because of the weight difference which surprised me. Yes it was more wristy but surpriingly confortable.

It's interesting to read Menders experiences about about the RT as that was the one I was leaning towards between that and the GS. My personal experience is that any beemer ridden by a half decent rider will have no problems keeping up with a sports bike through the twisties as the better visibility offered on the german tank together with the combination of the telelever suspension, ABS and rock steady handling make them easy to ride once you get used to them. Very often I would get overtaken on the straights only to catch the sports bikes up through the bends which would continue until they had some decent straights to do silly speeds down, and that was on a R1150R. I've seen GS's ridden round Cadwell park on a BM day and I have to say it was impressive just how far over they will go and how late you can brake on them. If you've not done so give one a test ride as all BM dealers will have 1 on demo, which is something you often struggle to find unless you want a go on a Harley.....

GSA Panniers are no wider than the bars, filtered through 14 miles of stationary traffic on the A14 last December without any problems on my old GSA

 

WC is a different matter, totally different power delivery, rev's to a whole 9K to Mines mapped and makes just over 120bhp at the back wheel and a fraction over 90ft/lbs Torque, honestly, it's pretty quick and makes my Twin Cam's feel like snails. With dynamic mode on, and the traction control off it will lift the front in 3rd under hard acceleration (And yes, I can still hoik a minger ........even at my age )

They are nice bikes. I like em, and i would have one. Just not convinced its the be all and end all. If you know what i mean?

They arent slow by any means, agreed. In a way a Bentley isnt slow though. Just abit feckin big to be ducking and diving around the lanes around here i think.

Its difficult to say about speed though. Cos so much of it is rider ability isnt it.

I've caught up with big sports bikes on the viffer too, which shouldnt really be happening. But then some are riding gods and as soon as you get chsnce to see em theyre gone again haha.

Commitment is a big thing isnt it. I can never commit too much, cos i never have trust in whats around the corner. Not to say i hang around, cos i dont. But some people dont bother and just go flat out everywhere aha.

They are nice bikes. I like em, and i would have one. Just not convinced its the be all and end all. If you know what i mean?

They arent slow by any means, agreed. In a way a Bentley isnt slow though. Just abit feckin big to be ducking and diving around the lanes around here i think.

Its difficult to say about speed though. Cos so much of it is rider ability isnt it.

I've caught up with big sports bikes on the viffer too, which shouldnt really be happening. But then some are riding gods and as soon as you get chsnce to see em theyre gone again haha.

Commitment is a big thing isnt it. I can never commit too much, cos i never have trust in whats around the corner. Not to say i hang around, cos i dont. But some people dont bother and just go flat out everywhere aha.

 

 

Look into my eyes, not around my eye's.........when I snap my fingers, you will say Gelande Strasse

 

Ahaha.

Either way. Its that time of year again when i wonder why I've got money tied up in a bike. lol.

Ahaha.

Either way. Its that time of year again when i wonder why I've got money tied up in a bike. lol.

I'm the other way, that's why I sold the Superb and bought a Fabia, why have money tied up in the car GS / W800 and on the look out for a Guzzi to tinker with at the moment.

I'm the other way, that's why I sold the Superb and bought a Fabia, why have money tied up in the car GS / W800 and on the look out for a Guzzi to tinker with at the moment.

Haa. Sounds brill! What kinda guzzi? I like those v7 ones i do.

My problem is, when buying bikes im super picky. Takes me ages to find one tidy enough that id be happy with it.

Then comes winter time and i darent ride it cos i dont wanna ruin it haha.

The vfr is immaculate tbf. I seem to spend more time cleaning than riding in winter.

It all makes sense when summer comes round though (:

Mrs has got me this for xmas, got it on ebay for a billy bargain price of £60. 

 

Mrs has got me this for xmas, got it on ebay for a billy bargain price of £60.

Single sided swing arm isnt it? What does it go onto on the other side? Or doesnt it?

Looks good!

Nothing, just goes in one side, I *think* you can take the wheel off with it too. 

 

 

I want an Adda stand eventually but this will look cool even just to store the bike in the garage. They were over £250 new! People were offered them cheap when buying the bikes new, cheapest I've read is someone getting one for £120 so I'm fairly happy! It was collection only so rules it out for a lot of buyers. 

Nothing, just goes in one side, I *think* you can take the wheel off with it too.

I want an Adda stand eventually but this will look cool even just to store the bike in the garage. They were over £250 new! People were offered them cheap when buying the bikes new, cheapest I've read is someone getting one for £120 so I'm fairly happy! It was collection only so rules it out for a lot of buyers.

Looks good that does mate! Very good!

Probably find out about wheel removal before you whip it off haha.

Bargain at £60!