Hi, I have recently got back into riding after an enforced absence due to health issues, it’s taken nearly five years to do it but I have. The bike was bought just before Covid and only has 7k miles on it. I love the bike and always thought it was a keeper but if I am honest it is a handful when pushing it around at home (slope into garage and gravel drive) now I am using it. I looked at getting a Diavel v4, brilliant fun, lower and more manageable but I am not entirely sure I would not be hooning it around just having fun and collecting points. So I delayed making any rash decisions and carried on riding the multi and enjoying getting back into to riding and increasing my endurance. I have started thinking a change might be a nice way to celebrate overcoming my medical challenges and resuming my life. I have tried the ms 950 and and found it did not meet my power/thrill requirements, my last three bikes have been multis so I started to look at V4S MS. It’s pretty big these days so a bit more intimidating than the 1260. Then I thought it might be fun to have a boxer so started looking at GS 1250’s but cannot get a decent test ride so started looking at the r1300gs. I am ok with the looks and find it more comfortable than the 1250 and more like my MS. Going to test ride one and see what’s what. Not entirely sure why as it is big and heavy so is still going to be a handful moving it around. It does have a load of tech but I am not sure it is all sorted but it might be fun - or not! My dilemma is I am concerned I could potentially be making a mistake by changing and ending up with a bike that I dont enjoy as much. Has anyone on here been in a similar dilemma? Any of you have ot owned a r1300gs? How have you found it? Head says change heart says keep the 1260. Any thoughts/insights would be appreciated. Cheers
If part of the reason for the change is weight and moving it around then why not look at smaller options. What is it you are going to use it for? Is it touring, longer rides, camping, Sunday rides? What about a Hyperstrada if you want or need the panniers, a fun ride and want to stay on brand? BMW S1000XR, Honda CB1000GT or even the Triumph Tiger Sport 800?
Yamaha Tenerererrr or a Ducati Desert X maybe?.. My 1260 has pinned me against the garage wall once when having a maneuver malfunction, Yes they are a weighty beast.
I hope to be able to tour again and comfort is more important than it was because of my shoulder (need a full replacement) and the stent in my groin create challenges just getting on and off and sitting on the bike. I have tried the 1250rs which was great with sitting/feet on floor but leaning forward position screwed my shoulder. The adventure riding position is the most comfortable but is offset by the height and width of seat. The gs1300 is like the multi position wise and is very comfortable. The electrickery is helpful but boy there is a lot of it and its reliability is a concern. The Mrs has a monster 1200 which is great height wise but the peg height and knee angle is the spoiler. I am a sucker for the power/torque of a big engine and this seems to rule out many smaller bikes. I am talking myself into a corner here…..
I'm always going to fight for the 1260. Have you thought of putting in some stepping slabs in said drive to help you as you wheel it? Maybe those with grooves/lips. Additionally, I've struggled with shoulder issues for years, having gone through some physio and medical treatment, it still wasn't great. What really helped was riding with shorter bars, I've made posts on the subject using LSL bars and gilles bar risers. It may be worth looking into as it may also make it a little more manageable moving around. Good to see you're back in the saddle
I don’t like the gravel but it is as compacted as I can get it now, it’s the 20 slope into the garage that is the big challenge, I can ride it out but have to man handle it down the slope back end first. Slabs are a good idea, I will investigate that. The width of the bars is actually ok for me, it’s the height and reach that needs refinement - I have ordered some delrin to machine some spacers up, first delivery was lost, replacement was delivered today but the end of the bag it was packed in was open and no bar was inside! Asked for a refund and reordered from another supplier. I really need about an inch up and an inch rearward. Was looking at Rox risers but might go the more expensive route if I don’t change the bike. I am having a new garage built but whilst it will have a shallower slope it will still have one. The 1260 is narrow at the front which helps no end. The BMW is not too bad but has a bit more flexibility on ride height.
I had some Rox risers but didn’t like them, too big and bulky. The simple risers were better. On my V4 I have the risers that also bring the bars closer to me which solved my shoulder pain (I bought cheap ones on Aliexpress)
The Diavel will have a considerably lower seating position than the Multi. I have a short but steepish ramp into the lock-up where I keep my bikes. And it's gravelly. I find it far more secure to paddle the bike out sat astride it than trying to wheel it walking alongside. The lower seat height of the Diavel will make this a doddle in comparison to the tall Multi. As for Beemer boxers, I find them horrible to wheel around walking alongside because the cylinders get in the way. But as long as you can flat-foot when astride them they're relatively easy to taxi around because the weight is carried low down. I think you need to do some test riding and see how your options compare to the 1260 you have now. if there's not much in it and you still love the 1260, save your self a wad of cash and spend it on petrol riding what you've got.
Thanks for your comments. I have ridden the Diavel and agree it ticks the boxes re seat height, it is not light but is more manageable, it is very exposed when having fun or knocking out some motorway miles. I love the looks, performance and handling. It’s a blast bike that can be used for touring but it is not the most comfortable when getting a move on. Did not have a screen fitted though. Yesterday I tried a v4S multi. Low seat, in low position. Quite a revelation. A very different proposition to my1260, the v4S has less “character” than my 1260 but it is a very acomplished, polished easy to ride bike. I missed the Termi sound track but enjoyed the convenience of the lowering suspension, performance and appreciated it not attracting much attention on the noise front. It’s put the cat amongst the pigeons that’s for sure. I did find I could reach the floor comfortably but found the cockpit a little cramped as a result. The dealer suggested getting a factory lowered suspension option and using a standard seat to improve comfort but preserving foot to floor geometry. Has anyone done this? I test ride the r1300gs tomorrow and that has very elaborate suspension and seat options. I will be very interested in how it rides with its weight distribution greater torque and lower rpm delivery. I think I am getting more bike fit as I seem to be able to ride for longer and not suffer too badly on the pain front! This doesn’t change how heavy the bikes are but it does give me more confidence at moving them in and out of the garage. It will be very telling how I feel the day after riding the bmw. When is the next update due for the multi - the dealer suggests one is due………
