Replace my Nt700 Deaville?

[pekingduck]

Hi, folks. It's been a while since I've been on the CB1100 Forum. Thought I'd chime in on this topic.

I'm thinking you might want to try a middleweight Adventure Tourer. Let me first say I'm not suggesting you go back 25 years to an airhead R100GS, just using it to point out its why I like this size bike. I still own and ride my 1991 model, purchased 29 years ago this month. Nothing like as overwhelming in size and weight as the new R1250GS. In today's world, it would probably be classified as a middleweight, in comparison to current large ADV Tourers.
Things I like about a bike the size of the R100GS:
- It's a roomy bike. Once up in the saddle, it has been an all day ride for me many
times (has 160,000 miles on the odometer.)
- I'm short, and the bike was always a bit tall for me.
- Not all that heavy. Dry wt is probably in the neighborhood of 475 pounds.
- Plenty of room for a passenger, but it can be difficult for them to mount up.
- Long travel, cushy suspension. Replaced stock fork springs with aftermarket for slightly firmer fork.

Maybe someone else here could speak to the 2010 - 2011 Triumph Tiger 800. My thoughts are .... It was made in the tall GS style, but wasn't overly heavy feeling. A lower version was also offered. I only rode one, a demo, for an hour or so, but I remember being impressed with the sound and feel of the triple, and it seems to have a quality ride. Thoughts on that?

Someone else mentioned a V Strom 650. Buddy had a 2006(?) we toured together form Cleveland Ohio as far West as the Four Corners, then headed north to Cody WY and back home. I was on a Guzzi 1200 Sport which ran quite nicely the whole trip, but i can tell you, the Strom was loaded with bags and camping gear and didn't have any issues the entire trip. They seem to punch above their weight.

Hope everyone is weathering the current health issues ok.

Bob

I owned two SV650's, but they were the early oval-framed, carbureted models (a 2000 standard and a 2001 S model). Fabulous bikes and quite capable engines. Plenty quick, too, if that's important to you. The fueling worked well until I brought the bikes to Colorado. Above 10,000', I could feel the drawback of not having fuel injection. That said, I rode a fuel injected '05 SV650S in Spain and thought the throttle was hair-trigger. From a rideability standpoint, at least at lower elevations, I felt the carbureted bikes were better. I'd love to have another.

Know what you mean about riding a carburetted bike jetted for lower altitudes. Your post made me recall riding my R100GS on I-70 thru the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado. At roughly 12,000 feet (I think) the old gal was certainly down on power.

Bob

I had the chance to put a hundred miles or so on a 2010 Tiger, with my friend swapping onto my 650 V-Strom. Immediate impressions were that it was more top-heavy, taller and wider (the bags made it very wide), and had more power.

Drawbacks were a particularly touchy throttle off idle/low speed that took some getting used to. What I couldn't get used to was the annoying amount of engine heat that cooked my legs. I remember it was an 80 degree+ day, but couldn't imagine what it would be like if it was hotter.

Last thing about it was that at about 14k miles, he had intermittent starter problems that necessitated starter and starter clutch replacement that cost almost $900. He had wanted to sell it, I was interested, but the heat killed it for me.