Need a new bike....
Discussion
Ok… Advice time…
I’m sitting here humming and harring over a potential new bike. At the moment I have an R100 GS, which is just great, love it and will never ever sell it! But… As I do 100 miles or so a day (mainly M4) it isn’t really the bike to do the trip on! Also, have an Aprilia Caponord which was bought mainly with the work drag in mind. Problem is I don’t like it! It’s been a bit unreliable, nothing serious and more unlucky than anything else but doubts are there! Also find the handling a bit soft and it feels really top heavy. So, thinking about biting the bullet and going for a new bike.
I’m not into sports bikes, really more big trail / touring bikes having ridden my old KTM half way round the world. So options… I have about 10 grand plus the Aprilia. So far I’ve got as far as considering:
BMW R1200 RT
BMW K1200 GT
Pan Euro
Moto Guzzi Norge
Triumph ST
That’s about it really… I’m going to go test them all but nothing is really standing out! So has anyone else any suggestions… If I can’t find the right bike it’s going to be down to shiny Porsche garage so I need to help preserve the bank account!!!!!
I’m sitting here humming and harring over a potential new bike. At the moment I have an R100 GS, which is just great, love it and will never ever sell it! But… As I do 100 miles or so a day (mainly M4) it isn’t really the bike to do the trip on! Also, have an Aprilia Caponord which was bought mainly with the work drag in mind. Problem is I don’t like it! It’s been a bit unreliable, nothing serious and more unlucky than anything else but doubts are there! Also find the handling a bit soft and it feels really top heavy. So, thinking about biting the bullet and going for a new bike.
I’m not into sports bikes, really more big trail / touring bikes having ridden my old KTM half way round the world. So options… I have about 10 grand plus the Aprilia. So far I’ve got as far as considering:
BMW R1200 RT
BMW K1200 GT
Pan Euro
Moto Guzzi Norge
Triumph ST
That’s about it really… I’m going to go test them all but nothing is really standing out! So has anyone else any suggestions… If I can’t find the right bike it’s going to be down to shiny Porsche garage so I need to help preserve the bank account!!!!!
From the Trumpet ST side of things. Here's my view on that one.
I've nowhere near the mileage you have under your belt but I've put in about 9000 miles on it over the last 18 months including 2 euro trips.
Performance: Good enough for me, the triple really does pull all the way from 2krpm to the redline in every gear (although I haven't tried 6th to the red). It's a blessing on the motorways as I rarely need to change gear, just get into top and it's fine. The torque curve is completely flat and you barely notice how much acceleration you really have. On the other hand if you fancy some twisty stuff it's a bit heavy compared to the sports bikes but it's still a lot of fun and due to the torque it's forgiving if you find yourself in the wrong gear.
Brakes are ok without being outstanding and do what they are supposed to do.
Suspension again is ok and standard settings out the box seemed ok for me. The rear shock is very exposed and it didn't come with a hugger as standard so get an aftermarket one. My rear shock is in a bit of a sad state now due to the punishment it took last winter, a hugger would probably have really helped.
Cosmetics: Probably not as good as some of the Jap/German stuff but if you keep on top of it it should hold up. I've got some furry bolts and stuff but it's probably as much due to my laziness when it comes to cleaning.
Costs: Apart from a new rear due to a puncture it's been a service and a couple of hours labour. Service is 6k and was about £140 I think. The labour was for a breakdown....
Reliability: The alarm got a bit confused when I parked up next to a radio mast and cost me a few calls to the dealer to figure out what was going on. Wheeled the bike round the corner and all was ok again.
I had a breakdown in Slovenia. Bike wouldn't start so I was recovered to Ljubljana where a race team garage looked after me. Nothing would get it to start so we called Triumph UK and spoke to the Technical Manager who said it sounded like low compression, 'drop a bit of oil down each throttle body and crank it over for 40 secs, it'll be fine'. Sure enough, it fired up and off we went. 40Euros for labour. Apparently my filter was quite dirty and it was running rich which left some carbon deposits on the valves stopping it getting a good seal. The ECU picked it up as low compression and wouldn't let it fire when it was cranking over. I'll change my filter every 6k instead of the recommended 12k now.
Comfort: No probs, done up to 1100 miles in a day. All the way from Slovenia to Leeds. It does get a bit cramped in my legs after a while but a walk at the fuel stop sorts me out.
Tank range is about 200 miles or so. Most I had was 250 miles on the Autobahn. I seem to get better mileage the faster I go
The luggage has been revised and Triumph replaced all the old style stuff. The new panniers are much better and I tested mine up to 1.3 leptons and through thunderstorms with no probs. The previous version would leak if you dripped a bit of water on them.
I haven't tried the other bikes so I can't comment on them.
Good luck with whatever you get
I've nowhere near the mileage you have under your belt but I've put in about 9000 miles on it over the last 18 months including 2 euro trips.
Performance: Good enough for me, the triple really does pull all the way from 2krpm to the redline in every gear (although I haven't tried 6th to the red). It's a blessing on the motorways as I rarely need to change gear, just get into top and it's fine. The torque curve is completely flat and you barely notice how much acceleration you really have. On the other hand if you fancy some twisty stuff it's a bit heavy compared to the sports bikes but it's still a lot of fun and due to the torque it's forgiving if you find yourself in the wrong gear.
Brakes are ok without being outstanding and do what they are supposed to do.
Suspension again is ok and standard settings out the box seemed ok for me. The rear shock is very exposed and it didn't come with a hugger as standard so get an aftermarket one. My rear shock is in a bit of a sad state now due to the punishment it took last winter, a hugger would probably have really helped.
Cosmetics: Probably not as good as some of the Jap/German stuff but if you keep on top of it it should hold up. I've got some furry bolts and stuff but it's probably as much due to my laziness when it comes to cleaning.
Costs: Apart from a new rear due to a puncture it's been a service and a couple of hours labour. Service is 6k and was about £140 I think. The labour was for a breakdown....
Reliability: The alarm got a bit confused when I parked up next to a radio mast and cost me a few calls to the dealer to figure out what was going on. Wheeled the bike round the corner and all was ok again.
I had a breakdown in Slovenia. Bike wouldn't start so I was recovered to Ljubljana where a race team garage looked after me. Nothing would get it to start so we called Triumph UK and spoke to the Technical Manager who said it sounded like low compression, 'drop a bit of oil down each throttle body and crank it over for 40 secs, it'll be fine'. Sure enough, it fired up and off we went. 40Euros for labour. Apparently my filter was quite dirty and it was running rich which left some carbon deposits on the valves stopping it getting a good seal. The ECU picked it up as low compression and wouldn't let it fire when it was cranking over. I'll change my filter every 6k instead of the recommended 12k now.
Comfort: No probs, done up to 1100 miles in a day. All the way from Slovenia to Leeds. It does get a bit cramped in my legs after a while but a walk at the fuel stop sorts me out.
Tank range is about 200 miles or so. Most I had was 250 miles on the Autobahn. I seem to get better mileage the faster I go
The luggage has been revised and Triumph replaced all the old style stuff. The new panniers are much better and I tested mine up to 1.3 leptons and through thunderstorms with no probs. The previous version would leak if you dripped a bit of water on them.
I haven't tried the other bikes so I can't comment on them.
Good luck with whatever you get
Thanks for that!
I really do like the look of the ST and when I had my Daytona I really liked it but it was just too cramped! That was my major worry with the ST - along with how it would stand up to 500-600 miles a week in all weathers. I'll have to go and have a look / see!
I'm in a real dilemma! When I drive up (only in my little 205) I like the fact that its warm and dry, but then I get stuck in traffic and see all the bikes just sail by... Buggar, why didnt I come on the bike...! Oh well there are worse dilemmas to have!!!!
I really do like the look of the ST and when I had my Daytona I really liked it but it was just too cramped! That was my major worry with the ST - along with how it would stand up to 500-600 miles a week in all weathers. I'll have to go and have a look / see!
I'm in a real dilemma! When I drive up (only in my little 205) I like the fact that its warm and dry, but then I get stuck in traffic and see all the bikes just sail by... Buggar, why didnt I come on the bike...! Oh well there are worse dilemmas to have!!!!
I've ridden the K1200GT and it's a great bike - and I believe there's an upgrade to cure the snatchiness at lower speeds.
I ride the R1200GS and it's agreat bike but you may want more wind protection for motorway commuting. You might even try the new R1200GSA, which has better tank range and a better screen.
Personally, I prefer the upright riding position and all round improved visibility of a trial type ride.
On a motorway covering 100 miles a day though, the buffeting might get tiring.
You could try a Pan European for that sort of mileage. Not my personal cup of tea but probably very practical, especially if you buy white with white panniers etc....
I ride the R1200GS and it's agreat bike but you may want more wind protection for motorway commuting. You might even try the new R1200GSA, which has better tank range and a better screen.
Personally, I prefer the upright riding position and all round improved visibility of a trial type ride.
On a motorway covering 100 miles a day though, the buffeting might get tiring.
You could try a Pan European for that sort of mileage. Not my personal cup of tea but probably very practical, especially if you buy white with white panniers etc....
Edited by Davel on Wednesday 15th November 16:12
twit said:
So far I’ve got as far as considering:
BMW R1200 RT
BMW K1200 GT
Pan Euro
Moto Guzzi Norge
Triumph ST
That’s about it really.
BMW R1200 RT
BMW K1200 GT
Pan Euro
Moto Guzzi Norge
Triumph ST
That’s about it really.
I'd put a Ducati Multistrada and Ducati ST on that list as well.
If youre a big traillie fan the 'stada may be more up your street than the more sports oreintated ST's.
The 'strada, while not the best in the looks department is still a stonkingly good bike.
The Strada I have ridden and didnt get on with... Seemed to be a sports bike with high suspension... V odd!!!!
I had thought of a 1200 GS but seeing as I have the 100 GS fancied something different. One of my mates is riding one round the world now so I know all about them. I think at present the 1200GT or RT are on paper the favourites but I'm kind of intreged by the Norge! Has anyone ever ridden one? I've seen one and its not ugly...
I had thought of a 1200 GS but seeing as I have the 100 GS fancied something different. One of my mates is riding one round the world now so I know all about them. I think at present the 1200GT or RT are on paper the favourites but I'm kind of intreged by the Norge! Has anyone ever ridden one? I've seen one and its not ugly...
Davel said:
You could try a Pan European for that sort of mileage. Not my personal cup of tea but probably very practical, especially if you buy white with white panniers etc....
Edited by Davel on Wednesday 15th November 16:12
LOL.....but if commuting into London, the Met have more RT1200's than Pan Euro's....
Steve_T said:
Just an aside - what problems did you have with the Capo?
Nothing really serious... The slave cylinder in the clutch went leaking all the fluid so no clutch. That was repaired and then the master cylinder went with same results! Had some running issues, over revving etc, but that was due to the clutch not fully disengaging.
The real issue is I just dont really get on with it, difficult to put a finger on. Its a bit top heavy, not too bad and if it wasnt for 10 miles of filtering a day on the M4 it probably wont be an issue, but for me it is! It is also pretty wide at the bars / top so judging gaps can be a bit of a game, especially when allied to the slight top heaviness!
I also seem to find that the speed of my trip in and out of work sits beautifully between gears so its either thrashing or laboured so just not relaxing. Its not a bad bike, on an open road the engine is brilliant, it handles Ok and the brakes are good. It is Ok two up and the riding position isnt bad. Finish is a bit iffy but not as bad as some say. But I do have a concern about running it all year in all weather and whether it will stand up to it!
All in its not a shocker, particularly when you consider the price, I just think there are probably better bikes for me and my use. But they come at a cost!!!
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