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One of the coffee klutch guys as a VFR1200 and rides the snot out of it but recently picked up an older (2004?) SV650 and that is pretty much all we see him on now.I'd have you take a look see at the CB1100. She is a sleeper, very low key when out and about and super easy to ride in town. Get the rpms up and the frisky red head comes out. Being a true standard, she does a lot of different things.
Great variety of responses- thank you! Once again, this group shows a great depth of experience as well as a willingness to accept all types of machines. I'm on a road trip for work (in a Ford🙁). Pulled into the motel and there's an older guy on an F800GS with Iowa plates. Totally experienced road warrior. The bike has serious wabi and Caribou /Pelican bags.
Not sure where the Sport part of a Sport Touring bike is for the NT700V
Good handling in town (low speed) suggests light bikes, while stability on the highway is heavier bikes.
Ducati ST- I had an ST4s. Brilliant bike, but the turning radius was a full two lane street. Hard to work on the bike because the fairing is a pain to take off. The range was too low for that bike also, just over a hundred miles if I recall. Super fun to ride, though and it sounded glorious.
I'm not sure I accept this premise.
OK- so I have the itch. I feel like I have too many bikes (I know, silly me). I'm hoping to sell two and replace them with one. So, I have Gina the V50- may keep just for sentimental reasons- but selling still a possibility. There's the 1200 sport. Great bike, but not much wind protection and no real options to improve that. Then there's the Shiver- great bike, but doesn't fill the spot for highway use. I'm trying to find a mid sized sport tourer that will be planted on the highway with some windscreen- yet nimble enough around town. It has to be able to mount hard cases. I'm not sold on the gigantic ADV bikes. Seems a bit much to me. I am OK with working on my own bikes- but I really don't want to go through another Guzzi "re engineer 12 things so the bike works the way it should have originally from the factory" experience. I would like to have nice suspension over high horsepower (the suspension is what I miss most about the Griso).Yes- I know about the Norge - and it's not on the list. I've narrowed things down to the latest version of the Honda VFR 800 and the BMW F800GT. Seems like the BMW ergos may be easier around town. The Aprilia 1200 caponord is much larger- but certainly seems capable.Anyone have experience with the VFR or F800? Any thoughts on other candidates?Thanks!
I'm not sure I accept this premise.I will admit that I think it's EASIER to make a heavier bike feel stable on the highway as it seems to be a factor, just like center of gravity and wheelbase.But our 696 is extremely stable on the highway and it is a very light, short wheelbase bike without a particularly low center of gravity.I think therefore that there must be other, more important factors in stability.I would guess that quality of suspension, along with frame/steering architecture, and possibly even tire size/type/compounds play more important roles.
Clearly the best option available to you, is a Motus. I recommend the MST-R. All the beautiful engine characteristics of the Guzzi, but with a bit more...."muchness".
Me, either.My 485 lbs Sport 1100 is one of the most Stable motorcycles I've ridden at speed. I think a big part is aerodynamics.