K16

[spm0912]

Buying a bike to entice your loved to travel as a pillion is more about 'comfort zone' than actual real comfort on the bike. Everything from "I look stupid in this bike gear" to "I can't get my hairdryer in the panniers" has to be addressed.

To a certain extent the bike itself is irrelevant though a huge heated and padded seat with a backrest will help your cause

Short trips, in good weather to places she wants to go, ideally with others she is friendly with to start with, then you can build up the mileage, get her a heated vest for when it's colder, intercom to make her feel included on the ride.

This could be a costly process Bill have you thought about taking her to Bilkos talk at ABW today? Might make her see what she's missing out on?

 

[tanneman]

My missus likes the GSA, the K16 is good but the wind gets her a bit more than on the GSA. But that is not why you buy a K16

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Once again you've nailed it in your opening paragraph Steve. Sarah and Judith aren't related are they?

As for it potentially being expensive, it already is. So far I've shelled out on a new jacket, trousers, gloves, waterproof jacket and crash helmet for her but if it makes her feel better about being on the bike it will be worth it.
I'd love to have gone over to Manchester this weekend but it's clashed with something else unfortunately.


Interesting to see what you say about the respective bikes Tanneman.

 

[GreatScot]

Good luck with finding the right K16 - there are certainly plenty out there and you should be able to strike a good deal. I had one as a loaner last year and loved it and I would love to have one in the garage. I had a K13GT which was the best tourer I've owned, then went from that to a GSA. My girl loves the GSA as a pillion but I miss the sheer thrill of touring on the K13 (and my day on the K16 was a real blast). If I can swing it I'll definitely try and change to a K16, maybe next year.

 

[Black Rooster]

i just bought a Red K1600GT SE (62 plate 9 k miles ) on monday hope to have it by the weekend its going to be a stablemate to my R1100GS

 

[septikangel]

OK, I'll accept that. But, then you'd might as well buy a Goldwing and go the whole hog.

Uhhh?? 'might as well' .....???? You ever ridden a Goldwing??

Had my GL1800 for 9 years now, tried everything else including the GTLE for my missus and she won't entertain anything other than the heated seat and backrest of the 'wing. You CANNOT beat the GL1800 for two up comfort, NOTHING comes close. Other bikes are great if you primarily ride alone, but if you're gonna seriously tour two up..... well, that's why I'm keeping the Goldwing and the GSA LC is mine (mostly)
Timaloy, try one before you commit, it may not have the punch of a 1600, but the back box doesn't bounce around, weather protection and seat comfort is better, service is easier/cheaper, reliability is far superior (it's well sorted since it's initial introduction back in 2001) although for best spec. go for an '06 or later. Personally recommend the 'comfort' model with no sat.nav/airbag which was the'06 / 07 model (about £9-11k)

 

[septikangel]

As for it potentially being expensive, it already is. So far I've shelled out on a new jacket, trousers, gloves, waterproof jacket and crash helmet for her but if it makes her feel better about being on the bike it will be worth it.

Don't forget heated waistcoat - essential to keep her happy - if she's warm, 'specially with heated seat and waistcoat, then I get no complaints and we can tour the likes of Scotland in minus temps, no problem. Wouldn't go without, ever.

 

[tripleblack]

clutch rumble

just taken delivery of my 62 plate k1600 11000 miles and i love it i find the clutch rumble quite loud is this normal ?

 

[Rick 1600]

Mine doesn't .

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

OK, I'll accept that. But, then you'd might as well buy a Goldwing and go the whole hog.

Uhhh?? 'might as well' .....???? You ever ridden a Goldwing??

Had my GL1800 for 9 years now, tried everything else including the GTLE for my missus and she won't entertain anything other than the heated seat and backrest of the 'wing. You CANNOT beat the GL1800 for two up comfort, NOTHING comes close. Other bikes are great if you primarily ride alone, but if you're gonna seriously tour two up..... well, that's why I'm keeping the Goldwing and the GSA LC is mine (mostly)
Timaloy, try one before you commit, it may not have the punch of a 1600, but the back box doesn't bounce around, weather protection and seat comfort is better, service is easier/cheaper, reliability is far superior (it's well sorted since it's initial introduction back in 2001) although for best spec. go for an '06 or later. Personally recommend the 'comfort' model with no sat.nav/airbag which was the'06 / 07 model (about £9-11k)

Thanx for the suggestion, we did try a Goldwing a few years ago but it didn't suit me. It was a sunny day & I just got far too hot with the heat coming through the screen & up from the engine. Riding through town I thought I was going to melt but on the motorway the top of the screen was right in my eye-line, I either had to hunch up slightly to look through it or stretch to peer over it. It was disappointing as I'd always fancied one but in the end it wasn't the right bike.
The beauty of the GTLEis that it seems to tick all the required boxes for Sarah & the electric screen is a must for me.

I appreciate the input though, thanx.

 

[boxer]

just taken delivery of my 62 plate k1600 11000 miles and i love it i find the clutch rumble quite loud is this normal ?

Pulling the clutch lever on mine took away what little vibration there was but I'm not sure I'd describe it as a rumble.

 

[tanneman]

Remember these machines have a slipper clutch.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Remember these machines have a slipper clutch.

Forgive me. What does that mean?

 

[Packer]

Gold Wing, if you want comfort and pillion cosseting surely that is the item you need.

 

[Max]

Honda Pan European/STX1300

This is not the right bike for the job. Having had one there is a very good reason why the police stopped using them. They have an inherent instability which has not, as far as I know, been sorted. On anything but the best roads the rear wheel starts oscillating. It feels like its weaving around the front end. Mine always did it and it was very very scary. Sold the bike because of it. Never had that issue with a K16.

 

[Swissdoc]

Timaloy - if you haven't already made your mind up, here's something a bit left-field...

I have a K16GT - had it from new for the last 3 years and it is the most fantastic bike I have ever owned. If I could only have one bike, this would be it. Back roads to Switzerland in a day - piece of cake. Commuting to London - takes it in its stride etc..etc.. you get the picture.

However, Mrs Swissdoc is and always has been anti-bike. She tried the pillion on the K16 but it terrified her. Last year I also had a HD Fatboy in the garage... she tried that and couldn't stop giggling. So I took her to France on it last summer. This holiday HAD to work. We took 6 easy days to cross France from St Malo to Annecy, the deal being that we detoured to anything she thought looked interesting. By the end of the trip she was sold. I now have a Road King (much better for touring) and she is already looking forward to the Pyrenees this summer.

Touring at 50mph, on the back roads in France (no traffic), stopping every hour and a half for a coffee. That was the key to winning her over.

....and she's still not interested in going on the K16GT.... but the Road King is also a great bike (so much better than the Fatboy, even if it doesn't look quite as much fun). Touring on the K16 will be with mates who also like to go a bit faster than 50mph...

 

[GADGET]

Just a thought Swissdoc, do you think it might have worked with your Mrs on the K16GT if you hadn't gone above 50

 

[Swissdoc]

Just a thought Swissdoc, do you think it might have worked with your Mrs on the K16GT if you hadn't gone above 50

Nah! What would have been the point in that? Having said that, you are probably right and me thinking that she would admire/appreciate the acceleration on the K was probably misplaced - that's the trouble with that bike, it's just so awesome that you can't resist opening the throttle...

Seriously though, the Harley is a great change of pace and every bit as much fun in the right circumstances - when you don't have to get from A to B in a hurry.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Update:
First of all thanx to everyone for your input which is very much appreciated.

I lined up a reasonable deal with one of the guys at Allan Jefferies on a K16 they had, subject to Sarah & I being able to take it for a long test ride to see how it felt for Sarah in comparison with the GSA. A weekend to Malham was organised & the hotel booked, test ride to be done over the course of the weekend.
Unfortunately the week before we were due to go Sarah was taken pretty poorly culminating in a hospital visit, the cancellation of the weekend break and ongoing hospital treatment being required.
We were, however, able to go to France for the week on the GSA & had a great trip, despite the inclement weather.
Whilst Sarah didn't particularly enjoy being on the back of the GSA she didn't hate it either, fortunately the people we were travelling with had organised some relatively short mileages with nice hotels/restaurants/champagne tasting at the end of the day - this & the excellent company is what made the trip for my wife. In essence the bike was simply a mode of transport that she had to take to get the 'nice stuff'.

As we won't be doing any long trips together on the bike this year, though we will hopefully be doing some long weekends, we now have more time to test a K16 & decide conclusively what to do.

On reflection I think (think) the France trip proved that the GSA is not the right bike for us both to enjoy the whole experience.

 

[Wapping]

Good idea to wait until your wife is fully well and, not least, until you've got a decent holiday journey ahead of you.

The 1600 is not a cheap bike to buy nor to run, not least in the tyre department. 10-1 says that come December thro' February 2017 there'll be some good discounts around and / or some secondhand bikes up for a very decent saving. The rumour of a new Goldwing might spur some price cutting, too.

Have some more test rides (not least as they are free) and see what you make of the bike. Be sure and only then buy.