One bike to do it all--So which one then ?

[Chipchap]

Eventually it dawns on you that you are paying out for 2 or maybe 3 x Road Tax/Insurance/Tyres/Servicing et al just so you can have a shiny sports bike for sunny days, an upright for normal days and a tourer or Adventure bike for distance. You decide to consolidate your 1st World Problem into just one bike.

So the great & the good of PHBB which one can offer the best compromise between :--

190 BHP Sleek Sports Bike

130 BHP Uphandlebar

125 BHP Tourer / Adventure Bike


I await the input and suggestions.

[Chipchap]

SWMBO thinks that I should keep the MV and sell the Speed Triple, replacing it with an R1200 GS TU "Rallye" so there you have it.

A

[Chipchap]

spareparts said:

You could. If you wore 5" stilettos

cheeky wker

[Chipchap]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Who is Chrissie? We are all not on first name terms.

Chrissie is my Fiancee


A

[Chipchap]

3DP said:

The point is digressing though - the OP (Chipchap) asked this question.


So the great & the good of PHBB which one can offer the best compromise between :--

190 BHP Sleek Sports Bike

130 BHP Uphandlebar

125 BHP Tourer / Adventure Bike


Clearly a VFR1200X is not a compromise between these as it sits firmly in the 3rd category. It's not knocking the bike - it's where it sits. Honda's competition for the R1200GS and Triumph 1200 Adventure. A VFR1200F would be closer to the mark.

I'm not sure if you had a duff ZZR or an 06/07 one without the butterflies mod, but I'm not sure how you can think a bike weighing 275 kg with a 19 inch front tyre, no weight on the front wheel and a detuned version of the already weakest sports touring engine, is somehow more effective and better handling, point to point than a ZZR or K13 for the OP's criteria.?? In fact, having ridden a couple of Adventure bikes, unless it was a potholed narrow B road, I cannot think of any road where it would be quicker than a ZZR/K13 with a decent rider aboard.

This isn't a thread for the best 'all rounder'. The OP has a Speed Triple and a modified 190bhp MV Agusta F4 1078 and was considering a VFR1200F a short while ago. He's looking for a bike that will cover those 3 bikes' USPs to a degree, which means loads of power and torque, wind protection, touring and scratching ability. There are only really a hand full of bikes that can do all of those with some success without compromising too far other aspects and anything adventure tourer does not cover the power and sporty handling side of the equation. Only the KTM 1290 Adventure and Multistrada get close. In the same way, a Fireblade or R1 does not cover the comfort, tank range or easy hard luggage side of the equation.

A VFR800 might be a good option, but for the OP, it has sub 600cc super sports level of power and is still quite porky, so I wouldn't recommend that either in spite of the fabled V4 torque which in reality is one of the most over-used cliches going these days.

Chipchap - another bike coming to mind is the Kawasaki Z1000SX. Not mega power, but light enough to offset the deficit compared to other bikes mentioned.

Pete
You are correct in all of your assessments above. VFR800 looks good but 106 BHP is not liable to get my adrenal glands flowing.

It looks certain that I will be doing our Euro Trip on The Speed Triple suitably altered to suit and we will see how it gets on after 8 countries and 12 days/3200 miles.

After that I will go and actually ride a VFR1200 DCT. This may actually be a good all rounder for me. The ZZR is awesome but is even more fugly than a red VFR1200. The K1300S is equally awesome but its that damned DCT that keeps tugging at me with my gimpy leg.

A

[Chipchap]

I think that I may have found my "Best Compromise Bike"

BMW S1000 F 1st pic is a render I think. 2nd is it spied testing complete with pannier mounts and rack etc.





Only downside is it still has a gearlever but will have the BMW shift assist.