Advice please. Choice of bike for trip

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by stephen.packer, Aug 8, 2010.

  1. So, I'm planning a trip to Sicily for a few days.

    I don't have a lot of time so I need to do the UK-Sicily route in about
    2.5 to 3 days. I don't want to completely trash myself doing it,
    especially on the way back.

    I plan to camp on the way down and back. However hotels could be an
    option. I'm sure that I will use a lot of motorways.

    So... what to take?

    K1100:
    Pro: lots of luggage capacity. Happy to eat mile after mile.
    Comfortable. 200 mile tank range. New tyre on it...
    Con: not so much fun in alpine passes (but OK)

    GSXR1000
    Pro: Much more fun. Need to use it to justify recent service...
    Con: Not so comfortable. Tank range.

    I don't think that the additional speed of the GSXR will show up over
    the trip since the K1100 cruises at 110-120 if I need it to and is
    stable enough. It's a question of license and liberty...

    I'm riding on my own so as much as I hate to say it I am leaning towards
    the K1100. Can someone convince me this is the wrong choice?
     
    stephen.packer, Aug 8, 2010
    #1
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  2. stephen.packer

    Thomas Guest

    Fun is a function of comfort. You won't have much fun if you're in
    pain halfway through every day.
     
    Thomas, Aug 8, 2010
    #2
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  3. stephen.packer

    Hog Guest

    The K1/2 is remarkably comfortable, I found it kinder to the lower back than
    the Beemer.
    Both offer some great arguments my only observation from a similar
    trip/bike/season was that I cooked behind the Beemer fairing. It wasn't nice
    and if the fan cut in around towns it was miserable, so I ended up hooning
    around in cargo pants and T-shirt.
     
    Hog, Aug 8, 2010
    #3
  4. stephen.packer

    Krusty Guest

    It would be an absolute no brainer for me, having been to Sicily -
    GSXR. But I suppose it depends on whether you're going to look around
    the towns or blast around the roads.
     
    Krusty, Aug 8, 2010
    #4
  5. stephen.packer

    wessie Guest

    wrote in :

    leave the tent at home, blag a night at Ace's[1], use F1 type hotels
    elsewhere and take the Gixxer. The hotel will save you 2 hours a day
    faffing about (un)packing and even F1s are infinitely more civilised than
    sleeping under a rag. You'll enjoy the ride more without the camping
    paraphernalia.

    [1] although, as you know, this is not conducive to an early morning start
     
    wessie, Aug 8, 2010
    #5
  6. stephen.packer

    Nige Guest

    Having never met you, how big are you? I'm a big chap at 6' 3" & I recently
    did 649 miles in one day on the R1, i was tired, but i would have been on
    any bike & the fact you need to stop for fuel every 130-150 miles means you
    can stretch you legs.

    Take the gixxer you poof.

    :)

    --


    Nige,

    'Candygram for Mongo'

    R1
     
    Nige, Aug 8, 2010
    #6
  7. stephen.packer

    Nige Guest

    I would always go for the more powerful bike on a trip like that :)

    Also, i find touring bikes of any kind with massive fairings creat really
    odd turbulence & filtering in rain at low speeds you cant see **** all.

    I had that on the Pan i had & the K11

    --


    Nige,

    'Candygram for Mongo'

    R1
     
    Nige, Aug 8, 2010
    #7
  8. Hate to say it, but I'd take the Gixxer. Simply more fun, if you're on
    your own. And how much luggage do you need, solo?

    If I was travelling with The Doctor, I'd take the K, no argument.

    Sod camping - use a cheap hotel. It's hardly more expensive once you've
    factored in food, hassle etc, especially given the price of some
    Mediterranean campsites in high summer.

    And that's another thing - it's August. The campsites will be full, and
    stuffed with screeching kids and chavvy Brits in vests.

    PS - yours cruises at 110-120? Bloody hellfire. Mine's definitely
    getting a bit weavy and breathless at those speeds, and the fuel range
    plummets to 130 miles before the light comes on.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Aug 8, 2010
    #8
  9. stephen.packer

    Ace Guest

    Hah! It was you who insisted on drinking the ywo bottles of burgundy
    you'd brought. On top of the three and a half bottles of white. AISTR
    I'd had a couple of beers to start as well.

    Anyway, we were up by 9:30 or so, which is pretty early in my book.
     
    Ace, Aug 8, 2010
    #9
  10. stephen.packer

    wessie Guest

    I didn't leave until gone 11am though. Thought I did quite well, getting to
    Reims by 4pm without using autoroutes apart from the Nancy ring road.
     
    wessie, Aug 8, 2010
    #10
  11. I'd echo this. Of course it depends on the bike - even on the K, the
    footpegs take some of the weight. I've done big miles in a day on my
    Ducati, and still been able to walk and talk at the end of it.

    OTOH, I remember the Guzzi California that turned my arse numb in an
    hour...
     
    The Older Gentleman, Aug 8, 2010
    #11
  12. Am a short arse.

    I've done 600+ mile days on the GSXR. I've done more on the K1100.

    Having just been out for a ride that's what I'm thinking of now.
    Whatever they did at the service to the exup valve gives it more stomp
    in first, it's lofting under acceleration which it never did in the
    past.

    Shame really because I do enjoy camping.
     
    stephen.packer, Aug 8, 2010
    #12
  13. Hmm... A very good point.

    110 is comfortable. 120 is often done. It's *generally* not weavy. The
    Pirelli Sports Demons (140/80/17 rear) do a good job. Fuel range does
    plummet but really only to about 140-150.
     
    stephen.packer, Aug 8, 2010
    #13
  14. Well rear's done about 500 miles max. Front about 5k and 2/3 worn. I
    think I need to change the front but the rear will hopefully be ok...
     
    stephen.packer, Aug 8, 2010
    #14
  15. stephen.packer

    ogden Guest

    I find sports bikes hideously uncomfortable on the first day of a trip.
    Arse aches, wrists sore, neck creaking, back screaming. And I wonder why
    the **** I put myself through it.

    By day two my body seems to have got used to it (or the booze has numbed
    the pain) and it's all hunky dory from then on.
     
    ogden, Aug 8, 2010
    #15
  16. stephen.packer

    sweller Guest

    Although I'd be hard pushed to describe my Guzzi as a Sports bike it does
    have extreme rearsets and clip ons.

    It's also jolly comfortable over distances.
     
    sweller, Aug 8, 2010
    #16
  17. stephen.packer

    sweller Guest

    heh
     
    sweller, Aug 8, 2010
    #17
  18. stephen.packer

    sweller Guest

    They're idiots though.
     
    sweller, Aug 8, 2010
    #18
  19. stephen.packer

    wessie Guest

    he should head for the Stelvio: it's 5C & snowing there so it will feel
    normal, unlike Naples which is 30C in the day & 20C at night
     
    wessie, Aug 8, 2010
    #19
  20. stephen.packer

    RichardA Guest

    I rode my son's SV1000 today and I too suffered the aches you
    described [1]. I did however prefer it's response over the Divvy.

    So, I'd be looking for a bike as comfortable as the Divvy but with a
    bit more poke.

    [1] Probably more age-related in my case
     
    RichardA, Aug 8, 2010
    #20
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