Just added a fifth bike to my stable. I currently have my humble 2013 Savage S40, a 2022 KTM 690 SMC-R, a 2015 Yamaha V Star 950, and a 1967 Yamaha YCS1 180.

The Savage is my first bike, and even though I lately seldom ride it I will never let it go. We've had many occasions of very intimate copulation, I'd feel like a traitor if I were to ever sell it.

My YCS1 is an old bike, and it's an absolute hoot to terrorize the neighborhood. The two stroker is a screamer, Greta Tunberg seethes as she hears and smells it from across the ocean when I'm ripping it around my neighborhood.  

My KTM 690 is my daily bike. I bought it in October of last year, and already have 13k on the clock. An absolutely amazing machine, so versatile and capable. I take it to cut around the traffic here in NYC, I take if for long rides, for spirited rides, mild offroad rides, and several times took it to the track. Dropped it at the track back in July, and we both got up with no damage other than minor scratches, and continued the race.

And then my Big Bertha, the Yamaha Star 950. I mostly ride it two up with my wife, or when I'm going with a group of older riders, most of whom are riding Harleys. It's a somewhat boring machine, but it looks great and with custom seats and tour pack it's pretty comfortable for two people.

So to make a long story short, a couple of weeks ago my wife and I went for a ride on our Yamaha Star 950 with a group of friends, and stopped by a BMW dealership where one of our friends was shopping for a GS. While he was completing his transaction, we walked around just checking out random bikes and gear. We had no intention of getting a new bike, just merely looking around.

But then I hopped onto the BMW K1600 GTL. Wow. Just sitting on it the difference in ergonomics and overall feel compared to our Yamaha was striking. Despite being a good ~150lbs heavier it actually felt substantially lighter. The placement of the footpegs immediately released the strain from my back that I get with classic feet forward cruisers. When my wife hopped on the back, she started making vigorous orgasm noises. She was absolutely shocked at how comfortable it felt compared the Yamaha. And when we are riding our Yamaha two up, I can definitely feel her weight in the back, but on the GTL it felt as if she wasn't even there. Right there and then we have decided to sell the Yamaha and get the GTL.

The dealer had gotten a 2018 GTL with 7800 miles in their inventory, and I have just purchased it today. The bike is in excellent condition, the original owner had bought it from that same dealer and always had it serviced there. I have not had a chance to take it for a ride, it's been raining all day, so I will only pick it up from the dealer on Tuesday. I'm obviously anxious and can't wait to bring it home.




And if anyone is looking for a good deal on a Yamaha Star 950, PM me, I'd love for it to be in good hands when it sells.

Back in October of 2017 my wife and I took a 10 day trip to Tucson for a vacation (celebration of my first retirement from a full time job to a half time job).  I had never ridden a BMW and while we were there we rented a BMW R1200RT for 2 days.

If you had ridden it for an hour or two you would have said:  "Well that is a nice bike" - but after riding it for 2 days I started telling people:  "If I ever buy a luxury car........it will be that motorcycle!".  It was far more comfortable and nice to ride than any other motorcycle I had owned or ridden.  I guess there was a reason that the R1200RT was awarded "Best Sport Touring Bike" for 5 years in a row by Cycle Magazine.

About a year later one of our forum members (Engineer) told me of a nice used 2 year old (2016) bike at a dealer in Wooster, Ohio.  My wife and I went up and looked at it....and bought it!  It was owned by a dealer mechanic who buys a new one every 2 years - so it was in great condition and well maintained.

A couple of year ago a local Harley Owner friend wanted to ride my bike as he had heard good things about the BMW's.  He had been a die hard Harley owner and goes on long rides out west where they regularly put ride 500 miles a day.  He loved riding my BMW and bought one of his own......he told me he wished he had known about the BMW several Harleys ago!

Your K model BMW has a much more comfortable passenger seat than my RT - I am a little fellow and I don't believe I could reliably hold up your big bike, and my RT at 650 pounds is a bit of a challenge for me when the footing is compromised by uneven terrain or slippery footing.

Enjoy your new (used) BMW......I understand the need/want of multiple motorcycles!      

Too BIG for me but it sure is PERTY !  

Hope Ya'll stay safe .  

It is a big bike, but feels incredibly light for its size.

sjaskow - FSO wrote on 10/11/23 at 10:36:28:


The K1600 is about 100-150lbs heavier than my Star 950, but feels 100-150lbs lighter.