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Motorcycle conundrum

Will try to keep this concise.

-My 2015 BMW K1300S is the best all around bike I've ever owned (40 years of riding).
-One exception, it's not great for 2-up riding and on rare occasions my wife will ride with me. Too much wind, too fast, tight quarters, etc. Bottom line... Not gonna work for her.
-6 months ago I bought a Kaw KLR650 dual sport because I wanted to be able to explore gravel/fire roads, etc. Nice bike, reliable, etc., but simply put, it's not getting used. As far as dirt roads, 2 or 3 rides and, well, not my thing.
-So, I'd like to replace the KLR with something that will be comfy for 2up without spending a bundle, since it will probably see duty once a month at most.
-The KLR is probably worth $3500-ish. Less if a trade-in
-I don't care about looks. Just cheap-ish, reliable and comfortable.

A dealer nearby has a 19k mile 07 Electra-glide (FLHTCOGFTR...or something). Wants $8K plus my bike. Probably a good deal, but way overkill and too much $, although HD's hold their value better than most. Sold my RK for the same I paid 2 years earlier (should have kept it).

An 06 Japanese cruiser can be had for peanuts but at 10 years old, somewhat disposable.

Open to your suggestions. Shopping is half the fun.

Here's the KLR:


And here's the KS:


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Mike
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Old 08-28-2016, 08:44 AM
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Used R1200GS with bags and Tail trunk. My wife and i enjoy it for traveling... I pull the bags off and it does great for exploring backroads... not as rowdy as my KTM690 was... but it does long distance very well on the freeway or secondary roads two up.
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Old 08-28-2016, 08:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wswartzwel View Post
Used R1200GS with bags and Tail trunk. My wife and i enjoy it for traveling... I pull the bags off and it does great for exploring backroads... not as rowdy as my KTM690 was... but it does long distance very well on the freeway or secondary roads two up.
I second this. My wife and I ride my '06 almost every Sunday that we can. Rear spring is preload adjustable by turning a knob, and the headlight also has a lever that lowers both beams to compensate for passenger weight. Seems that they thought of everything.

She really enjoys it too. Sits her comfortably, especially with the panniers attached and the Storm Case on top. They're very effective resting surfaces for the passenger, and hold water bottles, extra clothing, a pic-a-nic basket, the knic-knack stuff we end up buying when we pass an antique store, etc...
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Old 08-28-2016, 10:12 AM
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Good suggestion but my only concern is cost. A 10 year old BMW ABS pump is on borrowed time. Replacement part alone (OEM) is $2400. Final drive?...$1700. Perhaps just paranoia, but for an older bike I'm more comfortable with lower tech. That's why I was thinking HD or Japanese. Will do some looking into an aging GS. I had an 04 years ago and it was bullet proof, but didn't like the helmet buffeting and soggy throttle response.
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“I wouldn’t want to live under the conditions a person could get used to”. -My paternal grandmother having immigrated to America shortly before WWll.
Old 08-28-2016, 12:00 PM
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I lucked out and found mine with low miles, and no add-ons except for the factory Vario-Case panniers for a very good price. I know those "not if, but when" items will be in my future, but worth it to me for the comfort, and ridability.

Maybe a 10 year old Kawasaki Concours, or an older Yamaha FJ1200? The Yamaha is a fairly simple machine that has got some power.
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Old 08-28-2016, 12:21 PM
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Thanks Yeti...I thought about those but concerned that they're not going to be much better than my KS...also classified as a sport-touring bike.

Looking through Craigslist, there's a 1998 R1100RT with 36k listed for KLR money. Sent him a note with some questions. If maintenance has been done and he has some history on the bike, it may serve the purpose. The oil-heads were pretty bullet proof and mileage is low for the age. By now a FD failure would have been addressed (hopefully). We'll see.
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Old 08-28-2016, 01:27 PM
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I would look for another Road King.. Or maybe a older Goldwing. If you're going to be riding two in the saddle make it comfortable.
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:46 PM
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The RT is a good choice. I've had a couple of opportunities to ride one, and it's a wonderful backroad bike. I'm pretty lankey, so they feel sporty, and fairly compact to me, but then again I've ridden a couple of Gold Wings, and one Electra-Glide that each seemed too compact for me. Different bars would have fixed that tho...

If possible, see if you can talk the missus into joining you for a test ride if you go to check out that Beemer, just to make sure the ergos suit her as well. IIRC, the rear pegs are a little closer to the passenger pillion than they are on a GS, but likely not as close as your KS.


Nice bike, BTW...
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:54 PM
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I had a k1200. We liked it two up, but yeah, its pretty aggro.

I had an RT. Second those suggestions. Parts is parts, and they're more reliable than the adv rider chatter would lead you to believe.

An FJ or an older Concours is way more comfy than the k bike, but not as shielded as the RT. But excellent suggestions both.
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:54 PM
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How about your wife getting her own bike to ride and you could ride together but on separate bikes?
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Old 08-28-2016, 05:00 PM
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good way to ruin a ride.
bring the wife/girlfriend along. on the back.
Old 08-28-2016, 05:24 PM
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I was in this spot almost 5 years ago......After 200,000+ miles on 3 of the Old style Concours, and now 132,000 miles on a ST 1300, she was never happy, not even with a trunk/backrest. If she wasn't happy, no one the trip was happy.

So, I let her decide....What she really wanted was a "Luxury Touring" bike to ride on the back of. As of 5 years years ago, That kinda meant a 1) HD, 2) Goldwing, or 3) BMW was just coming out with the 1600.

Long story short, I bought a pimped out 2007 Wing from a friend in Philly, PA area with 21,800 miles on it.....As I had other bikes to ride that summer, I started bringing it home in late April and 5 flights later, arrived in Late July. I covered 21 states and 7,000 miles.......Parked it twice with relatives and flew home, just to return a month later and ride some more.

Now, 4.5 yrs and 38,000 miles later: She's happy and I usually only ride it only on trips she goes on, sometimes she flies in a rides home like we did for Vegas this past May. The bike has many positive aspects, but just too damn big and heavy for my liking.......I took the ST on a 6 day trip in the spring, to Yellowstone in June and leaving Sept 8 for a 8 day ride....At 132,000 miles, it runs like new, but she never liked it.

Regarding the comment about being "lanky" and not fitting the Wing? UR knees are probably hitting the fairing. The seat and be reshaped to allow you to sit further back......Just my experience.
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Old 08-28-2016, 07:06 PM
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Have you considered the K1600? I'd take one of those six days a week and twice on Sunday over anything Harley offers. HD is junk, stick with the BMWs. They're way better bikes.
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Old 08-28-2016, 09:09 PM
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My 06 Electra Glide is great for 2up riding.
Old 08-28-2016, 09:20 PM
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I agree you might just explore a different model of K bike,

but if you really love your current K bike experience,

then maybe you might enjoy a current Harley with stock pipes.

The used Harley market is huge, so there's no lack of stuff to look at.

The big money dump has already happened to someone else if you're buying a used Harley.

Take her out on one and see what she thinks!


Also consider the possibility that she really doesn't like it at all and she's just trying to participate. If that's the case then you just buy her a really nice blender and go for a great ride on the K1300S and everyone's happy!!!!!
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Old 08-28-2016, 09:23 PM
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All good thoughts. She doesn't want her own bike and admittedly, I don't want her to have one. She's not an attentive driver and doesn't have passion for sitting up front. But she really does want to ride with me...it's not a forced issue at all.

Bob...I suspect you're spot-on. At 50, I think she's to the point where being comfortable is important. Can't blame her.

POP, would love a K16 but not willing to spend that much for a bike that may see 2000 miles a year. I have two kids in college.

I've never ridden a Goldwing, LT, or E-glide (although I owned and liked my RK) and suspect such a behemoth would never be my choice for solo riding. I have to disagree POP regarding HD. Have owned several and they've all been reliable, comfortable and easy to sell without taking a bath...that's important. I abhor the "lifestyle" so that's not part of the equation. No final drive to maintain, bonehead simple to work on and parts are cheap and readily available.

I much prefer the BMW's I've owned over the years but cost of ownership and resale value are serious considerations now that I'm writing big checks to GT and UGA every semester.
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Old 08-29-2016, 05:07 AM
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Lots of Rt1100's on fleabay for under 4k, and they're nice bikes. As yeti said, they're surprisingly nimble for an upright bike, and mechanically they're pretty sound. Buy one and ride it for 20-30k, and sell it for what you're into it for, and upgrade to a 1200 if you like it. With the screen and the backrest, they're plenty comfy. My non-m/c ex and I toured quite a bit on an old rt thru the eastern mountains and really enjoyed it.
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Old 08-29-2016, 05:27 AM
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1100rt FTW. Here is one of the aforementioned <$4k Rts. One meticulous owner before me, 31k miles on the clock, Ohlins dampers front and rear 5k miles ago, and full BMW hard cases. Surprisingly fun to ride in the twisties, but also very comfortable on the super slab.

I've spent 7k miles on this bike since pressing it into service as a daily commuter this past May. Final drive failed a month ago. $200 ebay used replacement is on there now and doing fine. Sending off the failed unit for rebuild and will keep it on the shelf...will have 2 FD units for much less than $1700.

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Old 08-29-2016, 07:29 AM
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How about a custom seat for the K1300S set up more for 2 riders and perhaps low-sets for the passenger pegs.
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:18 AM
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Good thought but her primary concern is wind and buffeting. I installed an MRA Touring windshield that helped her but took the wind pressure off my chest and aimed it at my head. I like the wind pressure on long slab rides as it takes pressure off my wrists. Also much louder up front with the MRA.

Bottom line, I don't think it will work to try and make the K into something it's not. That's why ya just can't have one bike. Different tools for different jobs!

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“I wouldn’t want to live under the conditions a person could get used to”. -My paternal grandmother having immigrated to America shortly before WWll.
Old 08-29-2016, 11:15 AM
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