Dave, have you considered a Miata? Or, any little two seater?

I'd be interested to here how a test ride goes on one of those Honda 700's.

I hear you Dave; on the 750 lbs. part. I've got no desire to wrestle with a big bike anymore myself. Not from any standpoint.

JOG:

I think a 600 - 800 twin is plenty of engine for a sport touring bike, or small touring bike that can carry  two people.  I have a friend that traveled all over the Rockies on a BMW K75 about 20 years ago, and he said it had plenty of power.  He said you may not be able to blow past 6 cars at a time when passing - but it had plenty of power for normal riding.

I am starting to think the NT700 might be a good bike for my wife and I, and one that is reasonable to load on a trailer.

Dave:

Used to ride all over the western U.S. and Canada on a 1984 BMW R80RT air cooled opposed twin, loaded with now-ex-wife and camping gear. True, we weren't "blowing the doors" off cars we passed but I never felt the urgent need for Tim Taylor-esqe MORE POWER!! lol

What I liked about the Beemer is what I like about the S40: simplicity, light weight, and ease of maintenance.

(Ummmm...anybody interested in a very well maintained Vulcan 1500FI?   )

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 03/18/16 at 19:18:14:


It is not just the loading scare that is putting me on a weight reduction mission to replace the ST1100.  It is also the fact that I can just barely reach the ground on the bike, even with a seat that has been lowered by removing some padding.  And it is the fact that when you are height challenged, any dip when you stop can be just the place you set your foot when you come to a stop....and once the brute starts over (bike...not wife) you can't stop it from falling.  With careful riding and planning you can most often avoid those tip-overs - but not always.  And if you happen to set your foot on a little bit of gravel or a slick spot....it can make it impossible to hold the bike up.  Since I am just barely able to touch the ground - my legs pretty much have to extend straight down alongside the bike - and this give me very little leverage against the weight of the bike......my size 10 outriggers just can't get very far away from the bike to help lever the bike upright.

We also have a problem with the seat being so long.  Since my short arms and legs make me sit right up against the fuel tank - I am a long way in front of my wife who is sitting at the back of the seat leaning against the top box and pad.  There is about a foot of space between us, and the wind gets between us and beats her up badly.  Her head is in constant turbulent air, and she is exhausted from fighting the wind.  We are going to try a taller windshield, and I imagine that will help....currently the short windshield allows the air to just touch the top 1/3rd of my helmet, and then the airflow drops and hits my wife from the neck up.  She can't slide forward on the seat as her sitting space is a couple inches taller than mine, and the footpeg position would be uncomfortable if she were to move forward.

The ST1100 is a great motorcycle, and for someone 6' and above it is an ideal  Sport Touring bike.  I am just a bit too small to use it as our "dual up" bike as I approach Senior Citizen status.

I looked at a BMW F800 bike today and it would be great for me as a solo rider - but the rear seat doesn't look comfortable for a rider.   It is not nearly as bad as the sport bikes that put the rider up on a perch with their ankles 6" below their butt.....but it is not a touring bike seating position.

That's why I did not purchase one Dave...

I have a 31-32" inseam and with the seat being anywhere from 5" in front to about 12" in the back, it shortens my legs a bit to probably about 27", so I had to tip toe a bit.

And it was a little top heavy to boot.

http://www.airtow.com/flatbed-model-specs/

I Really thought Dave was taller.