If you're not careful with this regression Chris, you know where this path will take you.... 21-sportsbike, 24-Multi, 28-Deauville, 32-Goldwing, tassels, chrome and a moustache!
It is a really interesting question and thread. Thing is, the biking landscape is a lot different now to when I was Freshage's age. (This is going to sound boring old fart - God!). In the early 80s, most bikes didn't handle very well, they didn't have fairings and they weren't that powerful compared to now. It was natural to want a sports bike, because they had more power, better handling and a fairing. Equally, the roads weren't so infested with cars and they hadn't invented the Gatso. Fast track 25 years or so and things are very different. The Multi puts out, what, about 140bhp? It has sticky rubber but doesn't have to be ridden continually like a loon to have fun on. Stuck in traffic or in some endless built up zone, it will still be comfortable. I can relate to finding cutting edge sports bikes a constant frustration - one reason why I have no real desire to upgrade my 999. As bikes have become fragmented into so many market segments, the point of them has been lost. For me they were always about going places and seeing stuff and people, but having a hoot on the way. So I don't see "touring" as a separate thing, unless it means going away for a fortnight with your other half. But as traffic and the law reduce average speeds on the roads, you need to have a tool that doesn't make every journey a misery and a frustration. Getting a Multi doesn't make you a BOF. When I had my 916 on some track days I suddenly found it an irrelevancy on the road. All that handling and power that I couldn't really use there. I wouldn't want to give up my 999 but I'd be more likely to add a Multi than swap it for a Panigale. If the Multi looked as sexy as a 1098, there wouldn't be a whole heap of 1098 riders, I suspect.
+ 1 on that. I still have my 950SM and it's a decent bit of kit. Hoons around with the best of them. That and a sportsbike would be pretty near Nirvana. Now, I may be fortunate enough to have more than two bikes, but if I only had one, it would be the KTM.
I loved my 640SM and would have another Katoom at the drop of a hat. Freak had a 950SM and rated it highly.
It's a good bit of kit. Mine is less reliable than the Ducati, but, TBH, if I rode the Monster in all the cruddy conditions that the KTM goes through, it would be as tatty and maybe less reliable. I'm thinking of doing a trip to the Alps this year and it's a hard call on which bike to take - the KTM or the Monster.
Ha, your right in some respects, a utility bike was an old xt500 when I was a lad!! But, the OP is asking for the comparisons and the like for like differences, and opinions, nobody is trying to sell him the bike!! Its his choice, I regret selling my GSXR1000, but would I have it back? Yes, but aswell as the Multi, not instead off!! He has to decide what he wants from a bike, lots of plastic fantastic with all the gear but no idea out there every day who wobble round road and track, but that is there choice, I have no problem with anyone's choice!!
I think you've bought the wrong 1098S fresage! The naked ones don't mind all season riding and are happy going on tour You're too young for a 'Strada and I'd have thought the pillion seats would be similar, so long as your GF will fit on a postage stamp. I'd have thought the grin factor would be equal if not greater, but hey we all have different tastes... I'm with higgy748, you ought to give the 'Fighter some thought. If you need any more convincing, PM me & we can meet at half way at Box Hill perhaps?
Err, me. Had a Transalp in my teens and early 20's, and and a 1200GSA for a couple of years when I was 26. Along the way there's also been a Speed Triple, Laverda Jota, Pan Euro, Bandit 12 amongst others. A sports bike has never been my ride of choice, and never will be. Here, your slice of pie :wink: I'm definitely with the 'fighter suggestion, but for one thing - no fairing is a right pain in the neck if you've got some M-way mileage to batter.
And you can pretty much guarantee it'll be me :biggrin: Not my fault they only design sportsbikes to fit midgets :tongue:
I could say, maybe he fell asleep at the bars, but I think the multi men are already getting uperty. It's not like I've got owt against them, I quite like them and would probably own one.....in a few years. :wink:
He's probably still riding round in circles trying to find a high kerb or a step ladder to stop next to
If I could reach the floor confidently I would have on tommorow Bet you got one tucked away already Anth ;-)
Being 5' 6" in my stilettos, I'd be the same as you, doing as Doodle said...:wink: I wouldn't discount having one....but just not yet for me.
Sports bikes are brilliant, but as time goes by I find myself getting more frustrated. In the end I'm using my old mans bike more that the 848 as it's far more practical.
