So. Does the "one bike does all" holy grail exist? What would your pick be?

[Red Mist_imp]

I have heard nothing but good about the vfr 800.

I have heard bad. VTEC bad, comes on hard suddenly like a turbocharger mid-corner. New one is supposed to be better, and a little lighter. I had four of the earlier VF and VFRs and they were great. Once it became an 800 touring bike I crossed it off my list and never owned another Honda V4. It used to be a sport/racebike but morphed into a touring bike.

The KLR crowd might suggest that their bike might be the one. As an
owner, I'd have to disagree. The big single just can't cut it on the hwy.
I've never owned a BMW GS1200 Adventure, but I've read about them,
seen them in movies, and have a friend who owns one. I bet that
bike would be the 'one ' you'd want for the one bike garage.

Agree, have owned a few KLRs. Too anemic to really take on a long ride with any authority in traffic, not bad on a fire road, suspension sucks. F700GS, well, no comparison at all. The 1200 is heavy, very heavy.

Do everything bikes exist. They're just not that exciting. The NT700 and NC700X are good examples. Very capable bikes that are flexible, just no "personality."

Problem with those bikes is they really have low-grade suspension and brakes. Not much in the way of motor either. They are commuter bikes or for entry or near-entry level riders.

One bike that can do it all MUST have excellent suspension and brakes and a good, flexible engine with a broad, usable power band.

Do it all bike, needs 80-120 HP at the rear wheel. Should be between 450-550 pounds, with high-quality, adjustable suspension for preload, compression, and rebound damping at both ends. Riding position should be reasonable. Fuel tank capacity range should be around 175-200 miles to fumes. Some adventure bikes fit the bill (F700/800GS), some naked bikes as well (CB1000, R Nine T, and FZ8 come to mind), some sport-tourers even (VFR800).

The R1200GS weighs 15 lbs. LESS than the CB1100.

I have heard nothing but good about the vfr 800.

I have heard bad. VTEC bad, comes on hard suddenly like a turbocharger mid-corner. New one is supposed to be better, and a little lighter. I had four of the earlier VF and VFRs and they were great. Once it became an 800 touring bike I crossed it off my list and never owned another Honda V4. It used to be a sport/racebike but morphed into a touring bike.

The KLR crowd might suggest that their bike might be the one. As an
owner, I'd have to disagree. The big single just can't cut it on the hwy.
I've never owned a BMW GS1200 Adventure, but I've read about them,
seen them in movies, and have a friend who owns one. I bet that
bike would be the 'one ' you'd want for the one bike garage.

Agree, have owned a few KLRs. Too anemic to really take on a long ride with any authority in traffic, not bad on a fire road, suspension sucks. F700GS, well, no comparison at all. The 1200 is heavy, very heavy.

Do everything bikes exist. They're just not that exciting. The NT700 and NC700X are good examples. Very capable bikes that are flexible, just no "personality."

Problem with those bikes is they really have low-grade suspension and brakes. Not much in the way of motor either. They are commuter bikes or for entry or near-entry level riders.

One bike that can do it all MUST have excellent suspension and brakes and a good, flexible engine with a broad, usable power band.

Do it all bike, needs 80-120 HP at the rear wheel. Should be between 450-550 pounds, with high-quality, adjustable suspension for preload, compression, and rebound damping at both ends. Riding position should be reasonable. Fuel tank capacity range should be around 175-200 miles to fumes. Some adventure bikes fit the bill (F700/800GS), some naked bikes as well (CB1000, R Nine T, and FZ8 come to mind), some sport-tourers even (VFR800).

The R1200GS you commented on meets every one of your criteria (which I agree with, but would expand to include good wind protection, cruise control, and shaft drive). The R1200GS Adventure even more so. It has cruise control, excellent wind protection, heated grips, excellent load carrying capacity, a huge gas tank, and can go way, way off-road. IMO, the R1200GS Adventure is the DEFINITIVE "do everything" bike. Especially in 2014. I am well aware of the "problems" BMW bikes have had over the past few years (most revolving around the new K bike). Just about every one of the issues has been resolved, and the BMW's carry a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, so you're protected a lot longer than most other brands. Granted, the seat height of the R1200GS is a bit high, so the height-challenged probably would not like this bike all that much, but I know that people barely over 5' tall own them and ride them at the stock height and love them. The Ducati Multistrada is also a contender here, depending on whether you more highly favor being able to go off-road, or go fast (although it has no cruise control, there is an aftermarket solution). As is the Super Tenere (which is now available with cruise control).

Other than the BMW R1200RT (which is more of luxury tourer), no current sport-tourers meet all of your criteria (they all go over your weight restriction by at least 100lbs) (FJR is 637 lbs, Concours 14 is 688, K1600GT is 732). I wouldn't call the VFR800 a sport-tourer (it has to come with panniers to get that designation, in my opinion), however, once you put the panniers on it, it's coming perilously close to the upper limit of your weight restriction (it's 529lbs without bags).

The R1200GS weighs 15 lbs. LESS than the CB1100.

The R1200GS you commented on meets every one of your criteria (which I agree with, but would expand to include good wind protection, cruise control, and shaft drive). The R1200GS Adventure even more so. It has cruise control, excellent wind protection, heated grips, excellent load carrying capacity, a huge gas tank, and can go way, way off-road. IMO, the R1200GS Adventure is the DEFINITIVE "do everything" bike. Especially in 2014. I am well aware of the "problems" BMW bikes have had over the past few years (most revolving around the new K bike). Just about every one of the issues has been resolved, and the BMW's carry a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, so you're protected a lot longer than most other brands. Granted, the seat height of the R1200GS is a bit high, so the height-challenged probably would not like this bike all that much, but I know that people barely over 5' tall own them and ride them at the stock height and love them. The Ducati Multistrada is also a contender here, depending on whether you more highly favor being able to go off-road, or go fast (although it has no cruise control, there is an aftermarket solution). As is the Super Tenere (which is now available with cruise control).

Other than the BMW R1200RT (which is more of luxury tourer), no current sport-tourers meet all of your criteria (they all go over your weight restriction by at least 100lbs) (FJR is 637 lbs, Concours 14 is 688, K1600GT is 732). I wouldn't call the VFR800 a sport-tourer (it has to come with panniers to get that designation, in my opinion), however, once you put the panniers on it, it's coming perilously close to the upper limit of your weight restriction (it's 529lbs without bags). The 1200GS can go way, way off road, but it can't do what the F800GS can do, way, way, way off road.

Actually neither of those bikes can go anywhere near what I consider "way" off-road. We need a bike that weighs about 200 pounds for that. The last great dirt bike I rode was the Yamaha WR250, early 1990's, a two-stroke. The new WR250R or even the WR250X can easily leave any BMW or other adventure bike far, far behind...as can a venerable Suzuki DR650.

Even an expert cannot really ride the 1200GS the way we see it being done in the ads, and the F700/800GS series are pretty capable, but even those are really pork when the going gets rough.

However I do agree that even though the 1200GS falls a bit outside my personal criteria, it makes a hell of an all-rounder. Ironically, though, the only area in which it exceeds the F800GS Adventure is on the superslab, where effortless cruising speeds near or even above triple digits are possible.

The 800GS Adventure can certainly zip right along at 80-90 if one desires, and the 700GS can do the same and is lower and lighter yet.

Either of those fit the bill for the "ONE" bike, which by necessity cannot really excel in any one given category, but must needs be quite good in all of them

As far as the weight of the 1200GS compared to the CB1100, as was pointed out, by the time you get it outfitted it'll be the same or more, but...the GS has drastically better suspension and handling. It would not be my choice but neither would the CB1100. The CB1100 in fact is not even close or even on the list of my possible "one and only" bikes.