Waiting to upgrade...

[chtucker]

I am glad I have waited... and I am going to wait some more. I started riding August of 2007... I have 7,000 miles on my 2007 F650GS that I bought used with 240 miles on it...

 

I have farkled it a bit... Happy Trails rack, Storm cases, Wolfman Tankbag, Givi top case. I have done all of my own service except for fork seals under warranty. I will have to replace the tires soon...

 

I am thinking of upgrading to more of a highway miler... I have test road a 1200 GS and an RT. I like the RT best, but prefer the mirror location on the GS..

 

If I was to keep the 650 for commuting (80 RT every day) and buy a touring machine...

 

I feel somewhat ready for an RT... but maybe not a K1300GT...

 

When did you feel ready for 100+hp...Is 160hp too much for a newbie like me? I like the ergos of both bikes... But I like the mirrors,larger altnernator, and longer wheelbase of the k1300...

 

When is the next upgrade going to be done to the RT?

 

This is going to wait till after the new year... My wife is due with twins in December

[KCB]

Twins??

That's appropriate!

Best wishes and there is no substitute for horsepower.

kc

[ArthurKnowles]

When did you feel ready for 100+hp...Is 160hp too much for a newbie like me? I like the ergos of both bikes... But I like the mirrors,larger altnernator, and longer wheelbase of the k1300...

 

When is the next upgrade going to be done to the RT?

 

If you have ridden a smaller motorccyle for a while and are confident in your abilities, then I'd say a larger motorcycle would be fine. So long as your ability to ride it goes. Bigger motorcycles have one or two issues that smaller ones do not. Some are physical related (like weight, manuverability, cornering, etc.) and soem are mental (like the adrenaline rush you get just before the cop pulls you over for speeding excessivly).

 

If you have concerns over the drivability of the larger motorcycle, take a riding course with your old, or new, motorcycle. You can learn a lot there and can practice on both motorcycles. The mental/maturity issues, well I'm 48 and I hadn't had a ticket in 20 years. But the first time I tried out the highway on a commute to work this year and merged on a different highway section and rolled it up to 80 while changing 4 lanes (it was a clear road and I thought the speed limit was 70 instead of 60) in preperation to getting in the HOV lane, well ... let's just say I am $400 poorer and will be going to a DMV class (more money too) to avoid the three points on my license. I shouldn't have been so concerned about being late for work either, but... So what can I say? If I had of been driving a K1300GT instead of an older 1100RT it might have been 100+. The new RT I have now might have done the same. It scoots along much better than my 96 RT.

 

I suggest you ask your SO about what model to get. If she will be riding on the back. My wife would not have ridden on the GT. The seat was ... shall we just call it unsuitable ... not condusive for touring. If you don't plan to have a passenger, pick what you like. Otheriwise best to get some input from whoever else might be riding on the back.

[Bill_Walker]

Only you know your own abilities and your own level of self-control. But if I were you, I'd put off the upgrade and spend the money on training. See, for example, California Superbike School (don't think it's not for you because you're not interested in racing), Streetmasters, Total Control, the Kevin Schwantz School, or Stayin' Safe. There are many other schools, but these are some of the ones I know of.

 

I've taken courses at the California Superbike School (aka Keith Code's) and the now-defunct Freddie Spencer school, and I learned a tremendous amount at both of them. I have no doubt that the skills I learned have saved my life. Your profile doesn't say where you're located, but that may influence your choice of school.

 

On the budget side, if you haven't already, I would highly recommend that you buy and read all of David Hough's books (the first three on this list at Amazon).

[SWB]

160HP is WAY too much.

 

I had a colleague at the office who went from a crotch rocket to a K1300GT, after some pro-BMW-proselytizing by me, and we went to lunch. We hit the freeway onramp in heavy traffic and both "hit it" to get ahead of traffic and find a merge spot. I glanced back at traffic to time my approach and then back to him measure his position, but he was already a quarter mile ahead of me. I was at full-throttle-acceleration ... he just ran away from me like I was sitting still.

 

Yep ... 160HP is too much, because I'd use every frigging pony.

 

Plus, my (21 yo) son has started to ride my RT to college while he's playing around with his Ducati 748 (his ride is a garage queen which requires constant tweaking, while mine just rides ). If I get the GT, then he rides it, then I'll end up divorced, even if he does live ... nope just can't risk it.

 

Besides, it's a couple of years before I'm "scheduled" to replace the 2005 R1200RT I just got last fall. So, I figure it's at least 2 more years before I get MY K1300GT, and my son should be out of the house and away from my GT by then.

 

Just too DANG much horsepower on a K1300GT, more than any sane man needs.

 

I want one!

 

Scott

[bridwell52]

If you want to tour, get the bike that is the most comfortable to you. Comfortable can mean a lot of things and is very individual.

I have a GT and love it. It kills my wife's tail on 3 hour plus rides and it kills my knees. I can find no way to add any secondary foot rests to this bike so it is up for sale. After 3 years of big grins, superb handling, and two tickets she has to go. You could probably ride my bike and be totally comfortable on a 8 hr ride, I cant.

I hate getting old.

 

David

[swfraley]

Pardon the wet blanket here, but I'm not sure I'd expect to do more riding if my wife was about to have twins.

 

Track school is a good suggestion. It'll make you a much better rider, plus it makes for some great stories: "There I was, setting up for the corkscrew...." It also gives you a relatively inexpensive way to stress test the schedule. If you can't figure out a way to schedule a weekend class, you won't be able to take a long tour, either. That's ok. There's a reason you see mostly old farts at rallys.

[rglassma]

Don't let the mirrors on the RT bother you.. You can get a second hand set of GS mirrors for less then a Cee Note and then you can do what many of us do. Install them in the handle bar mirror holes. They work great !!! I won't go back. Best 60.00 I have spent.

 

Love the R1200RT.. As long as you feel comfortable on it.. Handling?? Man oh man, you won't be disappointed.

[baggerchris]

I have a 650gs now; have had an RT.

 

If I didn't like to put my feet out in front of me on the hwy, I would buy the 1200 GS in a minute and still might, as I like the seating position on that bike very much.

 

Coming from a 50 hp 650 and going to a 160hp K bike is in my humble opinion a little too much, too soon.

 

Go for the RT or GS depening on what you want the bike to do. Ride both paying attention to the top heavy-ness (if you feel any) and go from there.

[chtucker]

Track school as in a Total Control Class?

 

As for time/twins... I know things are going to change... But one advantage is that I have strong marriage of 13 years already... We waited WAY to long to start. I am about to turn 39 next month. Second advantage is that Grandpa and Grandma live next door..

[chtucker]

Only you know your own abilities and your own level of self-control. But if I were you, I'd put off the upgrade and spend the money on training. See, for example, California Superbike School (don't think it's not for you because you're not interested in racing), Streetmasters, Total Control, the Kevin Schwantz School, or Stayin' Safe. There are many other schools, but these are some of the ones I know of.

 

I've taken courses at the California Superbike School (aka Keith Code's) and the now-defunct Freddie Spencer school, and I learned a tremendous amount at both of them. I have no doubt that the skills I learned have saved my life. Your profile doesn't say where you're located, but that may influence your choice of school.

 

On the budget side, if you haven't already, I would highly recommend that you buy and read all of David Hough's books (the first three on this list at Amazon).

 

I have at least two of Hough's books..

[EddyQ]

Congrates with the twins !!

Are these your first?? If so, you should run and get another bike NOW if that is what you are thinking. With a family, time is not your own. You will need to ride when time becomes available and it is very in-frequent (especially with new-born(s)). So, you should pick a ride that is great. You should have a bike and gear ready for any weather to make it great.

That's my 2 cents . . .

 

As for mirrors on the RT. I hated mine at first. Now that I am use to the lower location, no problem. But it is my only bike. You could put GS mirrors on the RT to make them higher. GT vs. RT, I can't help you much with that one. 160hp can scare you. But so could 110hp. My judge would be how smooth the power band is. If smooth, the control of huge hp wouldn't be hard. Be aware of the added weight of a 1200 vs a 650. If the seat height seems high when you sit on one, you should be even more concerned.

 

Good luck !

[swfraley]

Track school as in a Total Control Class?

 

Well, that's an option, but I was thinking more along the lines of Keith Code triple-digit-speeds-on-a-track school.

[chtucker]

Congrates with the twins !!

Are these your first?? If so, you should run and get another bike NOW if that is what you are thinking. With a family, time is not your own. You will need to ride when time becomes available and it is very in-frequent (especially with new-born(s)). So, you should pick a ride that is great. You should have a bike and gear ready for any weather to make it great.

That's my 2 cents . . .

 

 

Our first, and those were my thoughts...

 

I can and do ride down to 15 degrees.. My work is 38 miles away and I live at 10,000 feet. I have been riding (when it is not snowing) since the second week in April. The last few days were the first mornings above freezing.

 

I have no misconceptions... my wife will probably not ever ride with me. She has followed on short trips (colorado rally) to car camp with me. The 650 is not the highway cruiser.. I know people go around the world on them.... but its not fun to me when I have the throttle cranked all the way and I can't get in the left lane on Vail Pass...