As a pressie for my 50th Birthday my lovely wife has booked us a week away next spring on a hired bike. We have the choice of a multi, a GS or a S1000XR. I don't normally carry a pillion and I'm wondering which bike would be best for the Mrs (notwithstanding the fact that one of them is a Ducati!). I'll try to get us some test rides but wonder what folk on here who have had GSs would say?
Nice! If your wife isn't that experienced on the back seat, I'd go for a GS personally. Mrs T has very much enjoyed being on the back of the Multi however.
If you want a spirited ride still a multi. If you want plush soft ride GS. Bear in mind all talk bikes...my16 multi would be best as even I can get 2 feet down in urban with passenger onboard!
Just got back from a 2k tour of the Pyrenees with Mrs SP on my GS. Riding 2-up is about comfort (she was very comfy even on our longest 440mile day), huge torque to power out of the bends, and unperturbed handling with all mod cons and luggage capacity. These are all the forte of the GS. Write up here - Catalunya MotoGP and the Pyrenees (pics) - PistonHeads
I was on the back of a mates MTS for 50 miles and I thought the foot pegs too high,seat not comfortable or at all supportive, I felt I was going to roll off at any time,horrible!
My wife Mrs Duke sat on the back of my bike for over 8 hours a day last year riding 4200 mile around the lakes and mountains of Europe, not to mention the trip to dover and back from up north. and her arse was nowhere near as sore as mine. I wore the skin off my inner thighs. By the 4th night I had her putting lotion on them for me....oh the pain the pain of it all........ full credit to her she didn't throw up one watching my wave my legs in the air whilst fully naked. Eww yuck. :Vomit:
And definitely do not even consider the XR. It may be a good solo tourer, but there simply isn't enough room for 2 in comfort over distance. And that's before talking about the S1000 engine that isn't suitable for road touring.
From a pillion point of view and having only pillioned on an R1 and the Multi, I have no problems with the Multi. The R1 left me walking like John Wayne but loved it all the same though Anyways, im a short arse and not the most dainty lass so it kind of depends on the weight of you both plus luggage. For me and my better half, the spring wasn't good enough on the multi so he had a better one made. Once I took my stupid winter liners out of my three layer pants, I found getting on and off the bike with full luggage fine. As said, toured Europe, Ireland and various long weekends away in Uk all with no problems of being uncomfortable. And he doesnt take it easy when I am on the back which I have no problems with (he's a good boy really). Can you not test ride the bikes before you go away? pretty sure you would be able to tell from doing that which is the better choice for you both?
Well, Mrs B loves the back of the milti, most tome spent im saddle hr and half but fell asleep and didnt need to stretch when she got off. 5'1 and pegs and seat perfect
I had 3 1200 GS's on the trot (no2 was an adventure) and then. 2014 multi, my mrs has been a regular passenger on all of them, she would tell you that the multi is by far her favourite. I think the GS is built for bigger people and normal people end up with space between the rider and pillion which causes buffeting for the pillion, whereas the multi is designed for the more normal size rider. By the way we are just normal and not skinny things
The LC GS is a world apart from the WW2 airhead. The Multi is a great solo tourer, but it's not a patch on the New GS for 2-up touring. And yes, I've toured 2-up on the Multi before. The GS is superior in just about every way in that scenario.
Just got back from a tour round Europe on the Multi 2010. 10 days in the saddle with the wife on the back. I'm 6 foot and she's 5.4. She did need to stretch her legs every couple of hours but managed it without needing us to stop; although one time she decided to do that as I went for an overtake and I ended up with a bit of earache as a result. She found it very comfy and no wind buffeting whilst at the same time wasn't crammed up against be so we didn't end up bashing helmets every time I hit the break hard. The panniers on the Multi are set level with the pillion seat so they do get in the way a little when she gets on board. I think the GS panniers are further back. Personally I would take the Multi because you can really go for the overtake when you want to and it corners so well.
I pillioned on the multi 1000 ds which I found very comfy apart from wind buffering after the 80 mark Even better with a top box Many a time I watched the world go by with my hands in my lap rather than holding on Think I may have closed my eyes a couple of times
