Need a bike again.
Discussion
Currently have a Vespa 300 after a few years with a Street Triple. Been riding since I was 17, 37 years ago, gulp.
Vespa was a revelation when I lived in London and commuted through it but now I'm about 30 odd miles out, I barely use it. Problem for me is that I normally finish very late or start very early, or both, and although the Vespa is ok on long A-Road stretches, it feels very unsure of itself on dark, slippery, gravel strewn country lanes.
Also the fact that other car drivers, myself included, use the country lanes like Rally stretches.
I keep fancying the R1200GS, which I have test ridden in it's various guises, but I can't justify the cost, even at a few years old, and the width of the engine means I can't satisfy my younger self (Motorcycle courier back in the 80s), when plummeting through city traffic.
So I'm in my 50s, my fingers get cold very quickly, even in the summer, thanks to heart meds thus needing a bike that's fun, comfortable and easy to flick and filter through traffic, oh! and good on petrol.
My Street Triple did 30mpg average thus was not much of a saving over my car.
I did think of the Tiger 800, but the one I tested handled very oddly, probably thanks to it's larger front tyre.
Cheers.
Vespa was a revelation when I lived in London and commuted through it but now I'm about 30 odd miles out, I barely use it. Problem for me is that I normally finish very late or start very early, or both, and although the Vespa is ok on long A-Road stretches, it feels very unsure of itself on dark, slippery, gravel strewn country lanes.
Also the fact that other car drivers, myself included, use the country lanes like Rally stretches.
I keep fancying the R1200GS, which I have test ridden in it's various guises, but I can't justify the cost, even at a few years old, and the width of the engine means I can't satisfy my younger self (Motorcycle courier back in the 80s), when plummeting through city traffic.
So I'm in my 50s, my fingers get cold very quickly, even in the summer, thanks to heart meds thus needing a bike that's fun, comfortable and easy to flick and filter through traffic, oh! and good on petrol.
My Street Triple did 30mpg average thus was not much of a saving over my car.
I did think of the Tiger 800, but the one I tested handled very oddly, probably thanks to it's larger front tyre.
Cheers.
tjlazer said:
surely the new Mt07 tracer is worth a look. Nice and light like your old street triple, punchy engine and a bit more weather protection and practicality than the standard naked mt. Very good on fuel vs a street triple too although I don't know how you only got 30mpg, mine does at least 42 in stop/start London traffic...
Non of my bikes or cars have done very well on petrol, no idea why 
The problem with the GS is suddenly coming down from being a filtering God to being the one holding everyone up.
Loved how they feel on fast A and M and even B roads but they just don't feel nye on £15k.
Gonna try to get a demo ride on a 700 Tracer, as this thread suggested, seems an awful lot of bike for the money.
Loved how they feel on fast A and M and even B roads but they just don't feel nye on £15k.
Gonna try to get a demo ride on a 700 Tracer, as this thread suggested, seems an awful lot of bike for the money.
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