Is there really any difference between the older B12's andf the newer ones?  I reamember looking several years back and I think that they only saw cosmetic updates...can't remember though.

Ive been pillion on both the VFR and the Bandit.

From looking at the bikes you would think VFR perfect tourer thats what its designed for, seat looks sculpted etc... etc.. I rode pillion on it for 40 miles to a bike show and had dead legs and couldn't wait to get off. Im 5'11' so you would think its just a height issue, my mum rode back on it and shes 5' and had dead tight legs. The pillion pegs are too high and your squashed too close to the rider, therefore cramped. I can definatly sympothise with those who say the VFR is a solo tourer. The passanger seat is more of a flat area for lashing more luggage bags when your touring. I was more comfier riding pillion on my dads Yam YZF600R thundercat and thats more sporty than the VFR.

Now onto the Bandit, i rode pillion on this with a motorcycle instructor once, he had aftermarket twin micron's on it so im not sure if they affected the position of the foot pegs but anywhos i found it to be the second comfiest bike ive ridden pillion on (after my dads FJR1300) The seat is wide and flat and very comfy with tonnes of room, the bike feels much larger due to its capacity it just seems to be a bigger bike to sit on, you could say it doesn't appear as touring focused as the VFR but it sure is a huge site comfier. Bonus' are great pillion and rider seat with tonnes of room, a simple motor (yes some problems did occur on a line of models a few years back but doing research will avoid picking one up) and you have bags of power, great aftermarket stuff meaning it shouldn't be too hard to pick up a set of second hand touring bags.

B12 gets my vote by a country mile. I wouldn't get on a VFR again.

If you're considering VFR why not consider Triumph Sprint ST ,that bike is perfectly balanced sport tourer ,no bad reviews of it

In every comparison it comes on top and it's cheaper than VFR me thinks  (maybe harder to find though)

The ST is more than the VFR...I won't spend over $5000 and I'd only spend that much for something 'perfect".  The Triumph is nice but it's more aggressive and morer demanding ono the wallet.

Thanks for the insight Kasumi.  However, that giant seat does concern me a bit....me and kalee are both pretty thin people, which leads us to trying to share the same seat ifi the pillion perch is too sloped.  Is the B12 set flat?  It's been too long since I've seen one in person.

Goldwing and get it over with. You can find the Older 1200's in that price range.

Don't say your too small either, friend of mine who got me into touring bikes at the time was 57 yrs old and stands 5'5" inches tall and had no problem with his 88 1500.

My stepdad bought it like that for 2000 pounds , so about 4000 Us , Bear in mind the bloke spent around 6000 pounds on it

if pillion were your primary criteria I would also steer you to a B12...

Goldwing's out...not because I'm too small, but because they're too big.  I'm not riding an 800lb bike.  If I wanted a car, I'd get another car.

She's not so much the primary criteria, but I'm trying my best to find a  bike that would suite my prerference of riding while keeping in mind that she likes to ride with me and that I really like her to be comfortable when she's riding with me.  Price of the Bandit isn't a concern, we see B12's running $2500 here on occasaion.

But again I'm wondering if there's anything to keep in mind with the older models...or if thata run of oil burners was the only glitch in the line?  Obviously, I'm going to buy as new as I can but when it comes to biting the bullet I'll buy the best deal for the money.

Also curious about those seats...I've seen B12's with sissy bars but are the seats really flat enough to utilyze one?  Not needing one so much, but the biggest problem Kalee had with the TL was that the perch was slanted to the point that she was always trying to slide into my seat.  Having a flat, fat pillion area wouold work wonders for that problem.

Any other models to consider?  I mean I'm asaking about B12's and Interceptors here, under $5k...basically comfy (alledgedly) sports and sporty standards.

Yamaha FZ1

Kawasaki ZRX1100/1200R

Yea , sissy bar was added after the pic , and it worked really well ,my mum said it was better than the grab bars before ,

You no u want a B12 . The FZ1 , Rough ,  Kaw ZXR 1200r , is also rough ,

u want to look good with the Gf .those bikes are horrable

That Kawi is ugly!

Anyone compared the insurance/maintenance costs of the SV1K and B12? Now I'm sorta curious...

of course the ZRX is ugly...it's supposed to be. That's why I want onoe...but they dono't suit my needs.  Pillion isn't adequate.

B12 runs  less than the SV in my case.(no tickets, male, 25, lonog runnning lilcense, ettc).  Liabillity for the 12 is $163/year and the SV $218.  This is through Progressive/.