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

[Mike Bee_imp]

My BMW K1600 comes very close. It's smooth & comfortable, fast, handles very well, gets good gas mileage, has a 7 gallon tank and has plenty of luggage that will hold a large helmet. It's a stunning motorcycle. The only downside is the cost of admission.

The price and the weight are both kinda not-so-great. Otherwise, it's an awesome bike. If I remove "going offroad" from my "one bike" criteria, the K1600GT is near the top of the list. Again, it's price kind of hurts it there, though, since the new FJR1300ES competes quite well for thousands less. I would have a hard time paying $28k for a bike when I can pay $10k less for a bike that delivers 9/10's the goods. But if money is no object, than this part of the equation obviously goes out the window.

The price and the weight are both kinda not-so-great. Otherwise, it's an awesome bike. If I remove "going offroad" from my "one bike" criteria, the K1600GT is near the top of the list. Again, it's price kind of hurts it there, though, since the new FJR1300ES competes quite well for thousands less. I would have a hard time paying $28k for a bike when I can pay $10k less for a bike that delivers 9/10's the goods. But if money is no object, than this part of the equation obviously goes out the window.
I too like Yamaha's new ES model. But I believe the price disparity is closer to $17K vs. $22K for the BMW GT. As far as the weight issue goes, my K1600GTL handles more lightly than my CB1100 does. The Beemer gets a more powerful 6-cylinder engine (you should hear it) and a more advanced suspension system. While both bikes are similar, you get what you're willing to pay for. I love my K1600GTL.

~ The Bee