Advice please. Choice of bike for trip

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?

 

Fun is a function of comfort. You won't have much fun if you're in
pain halfway through every day.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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...

 

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.

 

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.

 

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...

 

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.

 

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.

 

heh

 

They're idiots though.

 

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

 

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