How are you choose what motorcycle(s) to keep when you don’t have room for all of the dozens that you want?
Photo above is my 2009 k1300s, set up for long distance touring. I’ve ridden it to both coasts. It’s amazing to ride in good weather on good roads. But when it rains, or when you have to spend all day on the interstate, or when you are choosing what to pack and what to leave home, it’s not the best bike.
I have room for two motorcycles in my life. I’m 100 miles away from some okay riding, but 1000 miles away from great riding. I like to go for a week-long ride, camping every night, but that requires a ton of storage space. And I want to maximize how much fun I have on great roads when I finally get there.
So, what does everyone think? What’s the right motorcycle purchasing philosophy? The best bike for the best roads and suffer on the way there? The most comfortable bike for rain and packing and highways, even though it’ll be less fun in the mountains? A compromise machine that’s great at nothing?
Sport tourers are just the way to go unless you do a lot of track days. You can get one that does pretty much all that you want while still being very versatile and comfortable
But that’s still a pretty wide spectrum, right?
K1300S/R1250RS --> GSX-S1000GT/Tracer 9GT --> R1250RT/FJR (Obviously lots more bikes in each of those categories)
How do you choose if you want a SPORT-tourer or a sport-TOURER?
I’m starting to suspect that age has a lot to do with it. I’ve owned that k1300s for over 10 years, and the knee angle and lack of cruise control makes me a lot less excited to ride it now than when I bought it.
Thats the beauty of it though. You get a bike that if its not exactly what you want its close then make a few modifications to bring it that last 10% and you still have the utility and passenger capability of a sport tourer. I actually just picked up a new Tracer 9 GT and while it has all the touring amenities it Feels like a peppy MT09 or XSR900