The RT is a tarmac eater, point it at tarmac and it will just go and go, fast A road and Motorway are its home. In slow urban traffic it is not at home at all.
25 miles each way, I'd say serious overkill looking at an RT, what else will you do? It'll take you and yours fully loaded across from one side to the other and 2-300 mile days at 80+ MPH are its happy place.
I'd not bother with much more than a scoot for that mileage. But if their's lots of slow traffic then 650/800GS
I think you might find an 1100RT for 2.5k, if I was looking for a bike to do a 100 mile commute each day with your money, that’s what I’d be looking for.
And I’d rather have the 1100RT over the 1150, not least because I never was that keen on the smiley face, the potentially dodgy gearbox input spline issue and the perhaps unnecessary twin spark fitted to later models…
Mind you, if you are a monster, you really need an 1100GS don’t you…
P.S. the above really is good advice, especially the line above
P.P.S. Firefox 13 has a spell checker built in!
Good luck mate
Fair points - the problems I have is that I have limited budget (around 2.5K) and I'm freakishly tall, and can't get on with most bikes.QUOTE]
Just gone from an F800GS to an RT - am 6ft4 - don't know whether that counts as 'freakish' but I have had loads of difficulty finding a comfortable bike. On my RT I've added footpeg lowering kit and bar risers and its fine for me.
On the commuting issue - the RT will not fit into some of the gaps that the F800GS would - big surprise! If you're bothered about width either remove the panniers for commuting and use a top box or look for a 'P' (ex police/authority) version which has narrower panniers.
It's much better on the open road (especially when its persisting down) than the F800GS.
And whatever it is - its way better than car!
Just my 2p!
Also look at a V Strom 1000, roomy and grunty and a great fun commuter.
I've seen some belters come up on here around 2.5k, you just need to be patientETA £2.5k will get you on a 1100GS if you look hard enough...
I have a RT and a Transalp for communting. The TS is as roomy as the RT, just doesn't have the weather protection. With a K&N and open pipe, the little 650 has some grunt (not mega loads), but ok for overtakes. Also look at a V Strom 1000, roomy and grunty and a great fun commuter.[/QUOTE Stonehenge,]Fomb ,you might also want to look at a Honda Varadero as well. Goes very well, and slim enough to get through most traffic gaps.Mind you the one I'm riding at the moment has air horns on it, and it parts the traffic wonderfully, cos they are SOOOO LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I THINK they are air horns,it matters not what they are they are still extremely effective at warning of my presence....