The K1600GT sure looks like it provides a good view for the passenger....but I betcha it sure would be windy being way up there:
(This motorcycle is too big and heavy for me).

The last week I noticed the foam on the passenger seat of the NT700 was only about 1.5 inches thick.  We have helmet radios, and when I hit a bump on the Honda I would hear "Ugggh!" from my wife.  The BMW has a much nicer back seat, and on our 2 days on the rental R1200RT I never once heard any grunts from my wife - some of that is likely the result of Tucson not having a lot of potholes.

We only had one issue with the BMW.  We were riding through the city and my wife was looking over at the side of the road, and traffic suddenly came to a stop and I had to get on the brakes hard.  She slid forward on the seat and came to a stop when she collided helmets with me....and she ended up on the lower front seat with me!

The Infinite Quest for ......     the very best Barcalounger !!!                            

It is a rite of passage that all males must go through .....

MMRanch wrote on 02/27/18 at 20:11:34:


MM:

There is no doubt that the bigger bikes have to ridden differently.  When we rented the bike in Tucson I was careful to stop in places where I could put my feet down on good footing, and I would have to turn the bike around and get it headed in the right direction before Deb climbed on board.  The first time we stopped on Mount Lemmon the kickstand side was downhill and the bike was leaned over pretty far - it took a pretty hard pull to get the bike and Deb back upright when it was time to leave.

There is little doubt that if I ride the bike a lot - I will have a tipover at some point.  I intend to add the guards for the cylinders and saddlebags to help prevent any serious damage when it occurs.

Don't watch the following video if you are sqeumish or easily uspet!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a4Jtl_ehG8

It's odd that a post-drop inspection wasn't included. I don't doubt that the guards did their trick, but it would have been a strong sell with a pick-up and inspection of the (assuming) non-damage.

The hunt is over.......I found the "perfect" bike.

My wife and I drove north yesterday to come celebrate my mother's 90th birthday, and we made a planned stop at All Seasons Sports in Wooster.  On an internet search it showed they had a good selection of used R1200RT bikes from several years, and that would help to see if I wanted a 2014 and later bike - or an earlier oil head model at a bit lower price.

The bike that got my attention on their web page was a 2016 with 9,000 miles on it.  It had all the good options on it - but the best news is that the bike was owned by their mechanic and he buys a new bike every two years - and they said he is meticulous about maintenance and about half the mileage on it was from him riding to the BMW owners rallies.  One of the really cool things is that he took the keyless ignition switch off and installed a key - that is one feature I didn't want as I wanted the simplicity of a key.  The bike is a Champagne color and is pretty......and it already has brand new Michelin tires installed.

The only things that I need to add is a top box (I have a GIVI I can put on until I find a factory box at a reasonable price).  I also want to add the protective bars for the engine and luggage, and maybe a factory GPS.....and a gell seat pad for my wife.

It is about a 4 hour drive up to Wooster from my house, and I need to find a day when the roads are clear so I can drive up and get the bike.

A friend of mine was GLAD when a crossing deer took out his front end and finally let him get out of his ownership of a top-of-the-line K1600.  

I think the rash from elbow to wrist was less painful than the frequent shop visits.