11-14-2018, 05:11 PM
For a wander-lust moron like me, this is quite literally the most emotionally dangerous, financially disastrous question imaginable. Doesn't matter whether it's bikes or guitars, this question has always been the bane of my existence.
Once upon a time, back before my neck had to be reconstructed and I was able to ride even full-on race bikes all day in no-problem comfort, I had no difficulty in answering this question: a 2000 (yellow) or 2001 (red) VFR, with removable hard luggage. To this day, my '94 VFR and 2000 VFR remain my all-time favorite bikes, and I was happy doing all my riding on them.
Now? Gah. These days, I have to prioritize a decidedly upright seating position, which rules out 90% of what would otherwise be my favorite bikes. Among the current crop of bikes, money-no-object, I'd probably go for one of these: Super Duke GT, R1250R with hard bags, R1250RT, or maybe a Ninja 1000. Each of these options have negatives for me. The SD GT is seriously ugly, and I probably wouldn't get along with its windshield. The R1250R is kinda ugly too, especially the headlight, and it still weighs too much. The R1250RT is much bigger and heavier than I would prefer now. The Ninja 1000 might be too buzzy, the windshield might be too noisy, the seating position might be a hair too aggressive for me, and the bike is a bit tall and unwieldy for me.
Probably the R1250R with bags and no windshield is the safest bet for me as a do-everything, one-bike-only choice.
Otherwise, my Holy Grail could easily be my 2017 CB1100 EX, with these (admittedly impossible) revisions: 125 fewer pounds; 25 more hp; 10-ft-lbs more torque; 17" wheels with standard-sized, tubeless tires; 5.5-gallon tank; shaft drive; quick-detach hard bags.
Yep, the R1250R comes the closest, with the Super Duke GT and Ninja 1000 vying for the silver medal. The thing is, even though the BMW comes the closest, it really doesn't come very close.
Okay, this would do it. Take the new KTM 790 Duke. Give it shaft drive. Give it hard bags, heated grips, less hideous mirror stalks, and a conventional-looking exhaust pipe. Fix the low-speed fueling. Get the seat height down to Z900 territory. Somehow convince me of its long-term reliability.
Bam, that would work. Or, simply lower the tailsection of the Z900 to where it's in line with the seat, add hard bags, shaft drive, heated grips, and light up both headlights on low beam. Maybe pull the bars back a bit, so there is less forward lean. Move the pegs a skosh forward.
Yep, thusly modified, either the KTM or Kawi would cover all my bases. Since neither of those bikes will ever receive shaft drive, I suppose the R1250R is the best I can hope for in the real world. I just wish it was lighter and prettier. Since money is always an object for me, cheaper would be great, too.
Once upon a time, back before my neck had to be reconstructed and I was able to ride even full-on race bikes all day in no-problem comfort, I had no difficulty in answering this question: a 2000 (yellow) or 2001 (red) VFR, with removable hard luggage. To this day, my '94 VFR and 2000 VFR remain my all-time favorite bikes, and I was happy doing all my riding on them.
Now? Gah. These days, I have to prioritize a decidedly upright seating position, which rules out 90% of what would otherwise be my favorite bikes. Among the current crop of bikes, money-no-object, I'd probably go for one of these: Super Duke GT, R1250R with hard bags, R1250RT, or maybe a Ninja 1000. Each of these options have negatives for me. The SD GT is seriously ugly, and I probably wouldn't get along with its windshield. The R1250R is kinda ugly too, especially the headlight, and it still weighs too much. The R1250RT is much bigger and heavier than I would prefer now. The Ninja 1000 might be too buzzy, the windshield might be too noisy, the seating position might be a hair too aggressive for me, and the bike is a bit tall and unwieldy for me.
Probably the R1250R with bags and no windshield is the safest bet for me as a do-everything, one-bike-only choice.
Otherwise, my Holy Grail could easily be my 2017 CB1100 EX, with these (admittedly impossible) revisions: 125 fewer pounds; 25 more hp; 10-ft-lbs more torque; 17" wheels with standard-sized, tubeless tires; 5.5-gallon tank; shaft drive; quick-detach hard bags.
Yep, the R1250R comes the closest, with the Super Duke GT and Ninja 1000 vying for the silver medal. The thing is, even though the BMW comes the closest, it really doesn't come very close.
Okay, this would do it. Take the new KTM 790 Duke. Give it shaft drive. Give it hard bags, heated grips, less hideous mirror stalks, and a conventional-looking exhaust pipe. Fix the low-speed fueling. Get the seat height down to Z900 territory. Somehow convince me of its long-term reliability.
Bam, that would work. Or, simply lower the tailsection of the Z900 to where it's in line with the seat, add hard bags, shaft drive, heated grips, and light up both headlights on low beam. Maybe pull the bars back a bit, so there is less forward lean. Move the pegs a skosh forward.
Yep, thusly modified, either the KTM or Kawi would cover all my bases. Since neither of those bikes will ever receive shaft drive, I suppose the R1250R is the best I can hope for in the real world. I just wish it was lighter and prettier. Since money is always an object for me, cheaper would be great, too.