Lardy German tourers

This summer I might get around to doing some touring. Fucking finally. I'm
probably going to look for something that won't break the bank. I don't have
enough room in the stable for a lardy tourer, and besides what am I going to
do with it in London, so I'll be wanting to sell it on after a few months. I
can probably lay out about 1.5K, 2 if I absolutely have to.

This seems like a good time to try a BMW - I don't want to own one long term,
but I'd like to give one a go, just to add to life's experiences. I know ****
all about them. What's the ballpark for something cheap that won't break down
too much? LT? RT? I don't understand these designations at all.

If I can't find something suitable, I surely have to procure a SOPan,
preferably with blue lights.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
1993 Eunos Roadster (supercharged)
Could want: something more comfy, sprots or not
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

We've just done this with SteveH. To sum up: you've gotlittle chance of
getting a really nice K1100LT (see sig) for that sort of dosh, but a
K100RS is certainly do-able.

Or a ShiteOldBoxer R100RT.

 

RT is BMW's usual designation for a sit-up-and-beg fully faired tourer.
LT generally means 'luxury tourer' and so is more of the same, with
added fatness, as it were.

The K100RT is worthy: the LT got lots of extra kit. The K1100LT has
leccy screen, all sorts of stuff, but there's even an SE version that
has built-in stereo.

The old airhead boxer RTs will top out at maybe 110-115 (the
twin-shockers are a bit more pokey and paradoxically, more economical)
but will drone along forever at 80-90, in superb comfort.

The K1100LT is a fair bit quicker - maybe 130-135 - and will cruise at a
ton, but still, 80-90 is its comfort zone.

Both types will offer fabulous weather protection, comfort, decent fuel
capacity and lots of luggage space.

 

Yes, I think I already asked him for a link to his "experience" thread. But
it would seem that I'm shit at searching Google Groups, and it doesn't help
that I don't archive my own posts. *shrug*

Will investigate, thanks.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
1993 Eunos Roadster (supercharged)
Could want: something more comfy, sprots or not
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

(SteveH) wrote in :


don't those Macs automatically alter their clocks?

 

This is why those of us Who Know buy older BMWs, not younger ones. The
older ones are more reliable. Fact.

 

Nah, get a Guzzi - it's like a BMW but with soul.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

Having done this recently, I'd say you're looking at pretty much £2k for
something nice, a bit less for something scruffy but usable.

Having gone for the R100RT and ridden a K1100LT, I'm glad I went for the
RT.

No less comfortable than a K1100LT, but the equivalent of a lardy
pillion lighter. Obviously slower, though, but they drone on for hours
on end with no fuss at all.

I couldn't find anything at a reasonable price that hadn't been to the
moon and back or was ex-plod.

 

Ahhh, this happens every year.

I need to quit and re-launch my newsreader.

 

He's not wrong. Old-style Guzzis are great.

 

*looks at sig*

And it could fill two holes[1].

I might have found something to tour on, going to have a look at it tomorrow
night.

[1] Oo-er missus.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
1993 Eunos Roadster (supercharged)
Could want: something more comfy, sprots or not
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

Three.

 

I couldn't see anything suitable, as they were also on my list of things
to own.

 

**** me, I think I've seen the light.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
1993 Eunos Roadster (supercharged)
Could want: something more comfy, sprots or not
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

There's a Nevada & a Cali, both with luggage, on biketrader for under £2k
http://tinyurl.com/guzzi1
http://tinyurl.com/caliguzzi

Sedate tourers, but capable of huge distances if you can adopt the mindset.

 

That's very, erm, 'chromosexual'....

No, that's just fucking horrible.

Cruisers don't do it for me, generally - the Nevada is especially
gutless and ugly. I'm slightly undecided on the Cali, though.

I was thinking more of the Spada - and the new-ish Norge may well be on
my list in a few years.

 

The thing about the Cali is - with older ones like that, certainly - the
frame and running gear is the same(ish) as the T3/Le Mans/Spada, so they
handle in a most uncruiserly way.

 

(SteveH) wrote in :

I want to have a go on a Norge. My nearest dealer is Worcester and they
only had a demo bike at the launch. The closest demo bike seems to be
further north. Although, I'm unlikely to change/add a bike in the
forseeable future. Far too many variables in my life as it is, and the
current R-GS is adequate for most trips.

 

That older one looks horrible, though. Probably specific to that
example, I'd guess.

The later Calis look 'ok', I certainly considered them.

 

I can see myself being happy with the Ducati / BMW combination for a
long time - both bikes suit my rather sedate riding.....

Which reminds me, it's about time we got together for a ride out one
weekend - seems like ages since we last did it.