Which bike?

[Zombie Master]

I'm taking a motorcycle tour of the alps in June. The company has only 2011 BMWs to choose from. After looking at all the available bikes I'm thinking F800R. I was considering the GS1200, but a little research indicated GPS daily speed averages @ around 30mph! The F800R comes with lower gearing and stickier tires than the other 800 cc models and is available with 3 different seats.

Which one would you choose?
http://ghostriders-thailand.com/forum/s ... anguage=ja

[vanzen]

Light and agile – the F800 seems to me to be a fine choice.

[Zombie Master]

Light and agile – the F800 seems to me to be a fine choice.

Can't really think of another BMW for that ride except the GS800, but considering the type of roads, I'm thinking I'll be better off with the 17 inch tires.

[moosehead]

Where you going riding in Europe? I'd take the lightest, nimbleminded, best braking bike you can get your hands on...F series might be the right choice...or an R1xxxR model .....other than a Duc...ha

[moosehead]

I just read my post..."nimbleminded"...WTF...I meant "nimble"....have to use preview more often!

[Garnet]

I just read my post..."nimbleminded"...WTF...I meant "nimble"....have to use preview more often!

We know that you where THINKING "simpleminded" and made that simple slip.

[Sibbo]

I'm taking a motorcycle tour of the alps in June. The company has only 2011 BMWs to choose from. After looking at all the available bikes I'm thinking F800R. I was considering the GS1200, but a little research indicated GPS daily speed averages @ around 30mph! The F800R comes with lower gearing and stickier tires than the other 800 cc models and is available with 3 different seats.

Which one would you choose?
http://ghostriders-thailand.com/forum/s ... anguage=ja

A 30mph average ?? I doesn't really matter does it , a 125 would suit !

A mate just did a very similar tour , he took the 1200 and regretted it , said the 800 would have been better . Personally I'd choose the F800GS ,but just because i like them .All of them are above spec for the job .

[Major Softie]

A 30mph average ?? I doesn't really matter does it , a 125 would suit !

Not really. A 30 mph average could still have some 70 mph sections.

I wonder what "30 mph average" actually means. If that is an average speed of the miles traveled (ever mile traveled at 45 mph is balanced against every mile traveled at 15 mph), then it really is a very slow tour. If, however, it is the average speed of the time spent riding (every hour traveled at 45 mph is balanced against every hour traveled at 15 mph), then there can still be plenty of higher speed riding.

[moosehead]

30mph average per day....thise guys must have been in the bistros too long and forgot to turn off the GPS! No way..

I've had the good fortune of touring in Europe a few times over the last few years...Italy mainly, primarily the Dolomites as well as the other Alpine countires....I can assure you they do not "average" 30mph per day!!

With regard to bike selection...light, N-IM_B__L_E, good brakes and lotsa power the way to go...F series street tuned would be a good one or any of the R xxxx r series from BMW. My first trip was guided and I enjoyed that...they looked after everything and you never seemed to get lost. I'll never forget when we arrived in Munich to meet and pick up the bikes...they gave us all R1150 GS,s!!! They were like riding a bus to a street fight...too big, too heavy, too fat, too underpowered etc etc however, one of the fellows ended up with a lovely F650GS...we all snikered...ha ha....guess who had the most fun on some of the fastest scariest roads I've ever been on...yep...light, N_I_M_B_L_E, power and stopping power is what you need.

On subsequent trips we rented through same company (Muncher Freihart, I believe) but went on our own trips...we selected R1200ST as well as the R model sport bike. Great machines but no way could keep up to the Ducs...they were everywhere and blew everything away that I saw. But we were touring so we relaxed and tried to enjoy the "ride" You will too!

I have relatives in Germany and my wife is from Austria so we could do these trips "on a frugal budget" and our oldest daughter was working for Air Canada at the time so we got some super deals on flights etc. Its a motorcyclist world over there...the cagers actually respect bike riders, IMHO anyways....but....they do ride extremely fast everywhere...be prepared! The Dolomites are not for the faint of heart! Have fun and enjoy the experience.

[Zombie Master]

A 30mph average ?? I doesn't really matter does it , a 125 would suit !

Not really. A 30 mph average could still have some 70 mph sections.

I wonder what "30 mph average" actually means. If that is an average speed of the miles traveled (ever mile traveled at 45 mph is balanced against every mile traveled at 15 mph), then it really is a very slow tour. If, however, it is the average speed of the time spent riding (every hour traveled at 45 mph is balanced against every hour traveled at 15 mph), then there can still be plenty of higher speed riding.

I don't plan to ride with anybody else, and I don't have to. I 'll be doing my own pace and just show up for dinner and hotel. I want to ride a bike that I can utilize full power of the engine.