Full Size middleweights....

Davey B

Davey B

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Hard to describe for a title.....I am bikeless at present and looking for what to buy when we get the new house. I've always fancied a Ducati 1260 MS...but like all the big stuff...they're 250kg plus. I'm prone to rapidly losing a chunk of weight and strength and putting it back on slowly (a stone off in a week, 3 months to go back on....the joys or regular pancreatitis) so I figure trying to find a 200-220kg bike but one that is fine for 2 up riding with luggage....Mrs B reckons our Africa Twin was the best for her (previously had GS/GSA/Bandit 1200)
What do you good folks think fits the bill. (My aim is to narrow it down to what I like the look of and go and test ride one or two, rather than traipse round dealers) I'm 6ft and 13st, wife is 5ft 7 and about 9.5 st.
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro, BMW F900GS, Ducati V2s - although they seem to be close to 1260 levels of weight (Left-field thought was an F800GT from 2019/20)........
 
Ta, sat on the Tracer 9 in a dealer in Limoges, a little tight as a pillion...so I'd imagine the 7 will be the same or worse. I had a Tenere 7 for a week a couple of years ago and would happily have one if I was solo, won't work with a fussy wife who oddly wants a little space and comfort...WTF is all that about? Same with the Transalp, (same Limoges dealership) she sat on the 'alp after arriving on our Africa Twin and said it was a little too cramped.
Maybe I need to man up and just say 'They're all tight nowadays madam'
 
I was trying my hardest to avoid another GS, wouldn't need the low chassis or lowered version but 'wanted' a middleweight...few seem to do anything genuinely middleweight anymore. 230kg for an 800 or 900cc bike seems mad.
I'll look at the Guzzi range, never had one, cheers.
 
I had a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It was just about 200kg. I’m 5’8” and could flat foot it with the luggage on and almost without. It’s far more bike than the GT Pro.
It has better wheels, better suspension, more riding modes, better bash plate, more ground clearance, better aluminium inserts and costs very little more than GT version.
I did just over 18000 miles I just under three years of ownership. Touring France twice, Germany, Italy including the Col de Somellier, Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Scotland twice and many day rides. A very good middle weight bike.
The only negative is the high cost of servicing. Nearly £1000 every other year for the valve check, around half that for the smaller services in between.
 
Davey B said:
Ta, sat on the Tracer 9 in a dealer in Limoges, a little tight as a pillion...so I'd imagine the 7 will be the same or worse. I had a Tenere 7 for a week a couple of years ago and would happily have one if I was solo, won't work with a fussy wife who oddly wants a little space and comfort...WTF is all that about? Same with the Transalp, (same Limoges dealership) she sat on the 'alp after arriving on our Africa Twin and said it was a little too cramped.
Maybe I need to man up and just say 'They're all tight nowadays madam'
Click to expand...
Well your talking left field and the mrs is talking her own space; i have a kawaski sx that covers just that with the higher seperate pillion seat; she says she is more comfy on the SX than my GS or my ZZR;; and no helmet bashing either;; the downside is 235 kilos ; give one a try you never know; :beerjug:
 
OnHellas said:
Moto Guzzi V85TT ??

Looks great, rides lovely and has a fair amount of space on the seat.
Plenty of aftermarket stuff available, luggage etc.
Click to expand...
Seriously thinking of getting one of these; I did a comparison yesterday between the V85TT and the V85 Travel. The Travel comes with panniers, heated seat, some multi-media package and air deflectors (whatever they do?). Seat height is 830mm for both, one extra riding mode for the Travel, both have the 23l tank which should be good for 250-280 miles, weight are 230kg for the V85 and 243kg for the travel but that is due to the panniers.
 
@MikeH101 Funny you should mention that....I've long hankered after a Mikeyboy special...R100CS perhaps
@glenn2926 I'm a hater of spoked wheels for starters, the GT Pro would be the one I'd pick
@snelly in the day and age of big adv bikes...anything else feels left-field but when I had a Bandit, albeit 14-20 yrs ago now, I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was. A non pretentious, capable bike that did all I wanted. I sat on a mate SX a few years ago, he had 3 or 4 on the trot..(but he never takes pillions) maybe time to sit us both on one...
In fact....maybe trtying to do it this way is totally opposite to what we should be doing...actually trying them all out (she hates that but tough titties I suppose....want pillion space and comfort? come and test em!)
Thanks chaps
 
+1 for the Moto Guzzi V85TT . I think the quoted weight is with a full tank of juice best part of five gallons. I regularly get around 60mpg which gives a decent range. If you do your own maintenance it's a doddle, very similar to the old airhead BMWs, screw and locknut valve adjustment, one throttle body so no balance requirement. Superb bike for the knarly bumpy back roads, comfy as well.
 
Lord Snooty said:
Seriously thinking of getting one of these; I did a comparison yesterday between the V85TT and the V85 Travel. The Travel comes with panniers, heated seat, some multi-media package and air deflectors (whatever they do?). Seat height is 830mm for both, one extra riding mode for the Travel, both have the 23l tank which should be good for 250-280 miles, weight are 230kg for the V85 and 243kg for the travel but that is due to the panniers.
Click to expand...
I went through a similar train of thought. I ended up with a standard bike leaving me to choose what to add to it.
A secondhand Givi top box plate came up and then a mate donated a top box.

I’ve not ridden it anywhere near as much as I’d liked to have done but it is a super bike.
 
The dealer advised me against the MG multi media add on. He claimed they had lots of issues with it. So, like OnHellas I bought a standard V85. To address the buffeting issue I added a cheap screen extension, 'Mickey Mouse ears' deflectors, and Givi hand guard extensions. It is now super comfortable to ride. I then bought the TT panniers cheaply from a TT owner who wanted 'proper' metal ones. Loads available on FB forums. I am always amazed at how well this bike rides. I never ride two up though. The old adage 'it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast rather than a fast bike slow' applies to me...
 
watch out for GHT guzzi headed tosser

wing? i know theyre big and chunky but theyre low and comfy for passengers no?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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