I can get, or test ride, the Guzzi and KTM from Fowlers in Bristol. The Ducati from Riders in Bristol and the BMW from Lovett's in Bristol. When the time comes, I'll visit and ask for test rides. Depending upon how the bikes feel to me and whether I feel that I want to do business with the retailer - Riders will be OK and I've bought from them twice before, but I'm not sure about Dick Lovett as they are really a swanky car retailer but Fowlers are OK, although I've never bought a bike from them, I have dealt with them for spares, kit, and their café for years. Also, MotoCorsa in Gillingham do KTM and Guzzi, so if Fowlers pee me off then I have an alternative.
I should be doing tax returns, exercise, and garage tidying. Instead, I've been busy falling asleep and researching bikes - as you do - well, I do! Pretty sure it will be a BMW F900 XR Not 100% sure that I will part-ex any Ducati, though. They are all paid for and worth virtually nothing. I have to get them both roadworthy, anyway, because I want to ride them before buying anything else. The only thing will be space in my garage. I can't stomach the KTM wraparound the engine fuel tank and I think that the Guzzi "adventure" looks are pathetic. I prefer the honesty of the BMW over a Ducati Multistrada. It's a road bike and nothing else, with 17" wheels and no desire to find that perfect gravel road, or worse. It's European, road-orientated, and I can get it with factory panniers and all the stuff I want for around £12,500. I haven't researched it yet, but there are other BMW dealers, rather than the Dick Lovett car dealership, where you go to buy your swanky car. Should be able to go to Gloucester or Cheltenham, I hope.
only Cheltenham or Lovett in Bristol. Although Cheltenham is further, I know that I can train it home easily as I'll have to get the bike serviced while under warranty - and there is an independent BMW specialist in nearby Stroud. I think that I'll keep the ST3 and part-ex the ST2. There - simple. Thanks for all your help, everyone. You all really helped me to get to the bottom of it! Now, family, hmmm, that's a tough one....
I'd like to get the BMW for a change and I've never owned one before. It will be different because it's a parallel twin rather than a v-twin with no desmo to mess about with. I only bought the ST2 because, for touring, the Monster (which had the best engine) had such a pathetic range meaning you where looking for petrol after 100 miles. It's only space that makes me want to part-ex the ST2 now. I'd happily keep it if I had the space.
Hmm.. blonde or brunette. I do fancy that R1250RS or the new RT. But I'm afraid they can give me that coldness in feeling. Its not easy to replace my ST3.
I have the perfect solution: I'll keep my ST3 and gain a BMW, losing an ST2 - I can live with that! The BMW F900 XR TE has 105 bhp that is about right for me. Enough to make cruising at 70mph (approx.) with luggage easy but not stupid enough to guzzle fuel, get you nicked, and be a track day hero - whilst needing a van to transport it between race tracks. Very untrendy, I know, but so seems to be international touring, rather than track day heroics.
I planned a year ago to go for a long touring last summer, but Covid you know. I work at schooltime as chauffeur and has nine weeks free in summer. Hopefully this summer I can go, but maybe not with my old ST3, to risky maybe 63000km now. So another newer bike is in sight, maybe a MS 950 or MG 85TT. Its not what I like in style but there is no solution, a new 1250RT or 1260/V4 is twice the price. I can tour a long time for that money. There is a lot of choices in that segment 850-1000cc
It took me a while, but I finally got there. I wanted to buy European and got put off by all this adventure shit with 19" front wheels crap - like the Guzzi V85 is "adventure" weighing God knows what and having shaft drive. That ruled out Ducati, Guzzi, and KTM. The Ducati Supersport S would have been n the frame but 1) it is expensive with the extras that I want, but not much more than the BMW. Really, I was pissed off with them dropping desmo (or finally admitting that it's shit) whilst I am in the middle of one desmo adjustment with another to come - all very awkward and done in the knowledge that Ducati drop it because they think that it's crap!
Trouble is, I'm still not sure. My nearest bike dealer is Frasers in Gloucester and this still interests me: When I get mobile, I'll visit Frasers and the BMW shop in Cheltenham and try to get test rides. I know I said that I don't really wanna buy jap but I've got good history with Kawasaki - and it is about £3k cheaper than the BMW, which has a Chinese engine, so it's not that European. Anyone ever tried the BMW or Kawasaki?
Mr Undecided here is still not sure. Only test rides will do. The BMW F900 XR TE still appeals even though it has a Chinese engine and with a dealer some way away, or a car dealer (really) nearer. The Kawasaki can come out quite expensive with the options and the BMW is well-competitive with the options I want.
And just had a look at used stuff at BRM and Cotswold BMW in Cheltenham - which is as far as I wanna travel. There's plenty about that would suit and as I'm not going to be earning and want to do multiple tours, it makes sense not to spend too much. Cheltenham is as far as I wanna go and I do want to part-ex one of my Ducatis. So, used BMW from a dealer up to 25 miles away and if I buy used, then I'll replace it whenever I feel like it.
@PerryL I bought this, a BMW F800ST, to ride through the winter on this year. Belt drive, ferociously hot heated grips, decent weather protection and good visibility with the upright riding position. A forerunner of the 900 you are looking at I think. It seems a good bike for the cold weather and is very competent but totally lacking in character, soul & spirit. If I was looking for a bike to keep, do tours on and enjoy owning it wouldnt be one of these. Your ST3 or the Guzzi V85 would be my choice based on everything I have read but luckily for you it is your choice not mine so you have the fun of all those test rides to look forward to.
The Guzzi V85 is almost certainly out because I can't stand the raised front mudguard adventure bike crap - like you need extra clearance under the front mudguard to stop loose mud and stones getting stuck between the front wheel and the mudguard when you are doing your off-road stuff. What crap, like you are going to take a big, heavy shaft drive bike off road to mix it with the trials riders and moto crossers. When I ride to Cirencester (as I used to do most weekends) on the A4135 you cross the Fosse Way just before Tetbury. I never had the urge to peel off the tarmac and hit the dirt. Obviously, I'm not on-trend. Oh dear, what a pity, never mind..... Oh yeah, got it now. You have to be a journo flown out to nice warm Spain, where it rarely rains, to show everyone what an off-road God you are are on a bare hardened dirt road that hasn't seen rain in nearly a year. Take some pics. Get flown home and rave about the bike in fear of not being invited out to the nest jolly. I'll get my ST3 back on the road, fit cameras, and see how I get on. If I am happy with it then I might just get the engine worked on to improve torque and spend money that way. I'm sure Rich at Lougi Moto could help.
We are both good thanks. Sally has been working at the local covid testing centre and was told today to expect to start vaccinating in place of testing any day now. Makes sense to me. I'm lucky as I have been working right through so my life is much the same. Get up, walk the dogs, go to work.... How are you two? Did your relative ( niece?) get herself a little monster?
