I love my GS and will keep her - particularly for commuting. I'm thinking of getting a second "big" bike, for longer distances, weekends, touring with a pillion. I like the idea of two relatively simple, inexpensive bikes rather than trading my GS to get one bike that will have to do everything. Does anyone else have this set up, and if so, what is your "other" bike?
I relinquished my GS in favour of a new 650 Bandit a year back and it's a great tourer. I would go for a 1200 or 1250 bandit for pillion touring as they are very adaptable, like the GS, all-rounder bikes. In UK you can get a 1250 "GT" version fully kitted out for touring which comes with Satnav and hard luggage and is relative to other touring bikes very cheap. If money is no object get a Beamer, a neighbor of mine and his Mrs have done a couple of big trips on his. They are of similar age to me (early 60s) so a bit of comfort does not go amiss.
If you go in for long distance rides with a pillion avoid asking them to back-pack anything and get as much practice in riding two-up as you can first as the dynamic of the bike changes quite a bit. You may need to adjust tyre preasure, chain tension, mirrors and headlight angle.
I personally believe in ONE bike for touring/long distance riding. VFR. fine machine for cruising and just generally reliable touring. Suzuki makes some great stuff, dont get me wrong, but I think Honda is the way to go for a long distance tourer. alternately, I personally would want an FJR1300 with the electric clutch.
An older GS850,1000,or 1100 would match nicely.They are simple,reliable,less mainainence than the GS500.Shaft drive for low maintainence and noise.Good fuel milage and will carry 2 in decent comfort. http://www.thegsresources.com/index.htm
Ninja 636..you won't regret it! :cheers:
A Ninja 250 is enough bike for a real biker to travel coast to coast the long way. :laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxoVEMTXp8
Wow. And all I'm dreaming to do is a week on the Blue Ridge parkway (via Deal's Gap).
Quote from: gsJack on July 28, 2008, 07:32:03 PM
A Ninja 250 is enough bike for a real biker to travel coast to coast the long way. :laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxoVEMTXp8
heya jack, what would you recommend for a decent long distance tire. say on a gs or ninjette? , i ask you cause you are our resident tire god here :bowdown:
Quote from: gsJack on July 28, 2008, 07:32:03 PM
A Ninja 250 is enough bike for a real biker to travel coast to coast the long way. :laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxoVEMTXp8
Sweet! :thumb: I vanna do that one day.
Quote from: Paulcet on July 28, 2008, 07:50:15 PM
Wow. And all I'm dreaming to do is a week on the Blue Ridge parkway (via Deal's Gap).
I frequently ride the BRP and there are some sections closed due to storm and fire damage.I have traveled the parkway end to end by auto.I hope to go from the north end of BRP all the way down and out the other end of the Smokey Mountains National Parkway.
Here's a link to BRP road closures. http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
Quote from: gsJack on July 28, 2008, 07:32:03 PM
A Ninja 250 is enough bike for a real biker to travel coast to coast the long way. :laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxoVEMTXp8
Very cool! That makes me want to go on a long distance ride even more than I already did. I just have to find some time where I can take off for weeks without anyone noticing...
Quote from: fred on July 28, 2008, 11:29:38 PM
Quote from: gsJack on July 28, 2008, 07:32:03 PM
A Ninja 250 is enough bike for a real biker to travel coast to coast the long way. :laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxoVEMTXp8
Very cool! That makes me want to go on a long distance ride even more than I already did. I just have to find some time where I can take off for weeks without anyone noticing...
Put a mannequin in your seat at work,that looks like you,and take off on the journey. :laugh: :laugh:
other than my gsf I have a2003 Z1000 that is awsome :icon_lol: