so i want to get a second motorcycle to compliment my 2017 Ducati Supersport S. We want something that we can use for two-up riding and going for long trips a lot of which will involve highway slogs but also some nice two lane roads and going out into the desert for the weekend etc. etc. Something I could take out on to dirt roads by myself sounds cool too- although I'll probably never do that.
The bikes on my short list were the BMW R1200GS, the KTM 1090 Super Adventure, and the Triumh Tiger. I didn't really like the ergonomics of the Ducati Multistrada and their super expensive too- and I already have a Ducati.
Fast forward a bit- and I was lucky enough to get to ride a Moto-Guzzi Stelvio and a BMW R1200GS Adventure. I know the BMW is the benchmark for this type of bike, and Kate liked the seating position alot- which is great. She hasn't sat on any of the others- but that Stelvio was an amazing bike. I like the engine and the gear box better than the BMW- the clutch feel was better for me- and I think it looks cool and different- and it's literally $10,000 cheaper.
The KTM is a lot more capable a bike off road and has a ton more power- but something appeals to me about the Guzzi and it's shaft drive and the look and feel. I haven't been able to ride the KTM though so who knows it could blow me away.
Anyway- I was talking with my old man who is really into bikes. he has a Honda F6B that he's ridden from Florida to San Diego and back, ridden it to Laconia bike week from Florida etc. He is into riding long distances and he said that I should look at a Gold Wing or a cruiser because those are the best bike for two up riding long distances. Honestly, this kind of bike doesn't need to be cool- it just needs to be comfy for Kate, and comfy for me on long highway slogs. I'd never even thought about those kind of bikes. To me they were just a seperate breed of vehicle but I figured it was worth a shot. So yesterday, my awesome bike sho- GP Motorcycles, was having a Aprilia and Guzzi demo day and I signed up to ride three bikes. I picked the Stelvio and the big Guzzi California 1400 touring bike. I needed to pick a third but we'll come to that later---
Anyway- this is the California:
California 14 Touring - Moto Guzzi To me it is a sharp looking cruiser compared to most of what Harley, Indian, and the Japanese are offering in this category. It clicks all the boxes insofar as it is comfortable for two, has all the electronic bells and whistles, has ample wind protection, and it'll cruise at highway speeds. I rod it for about an hour on all sorts of roads- but a lot of hightway. Firstly, I HATED the floorboards and the way the shifting worked. I couldn't get comfortable with it at all. The bike is also so wide that I couldn't comfortably lane split but that's to be expected. It actually handled really well- it concerned fine- actually better than some standards. I think it would be a fine bike for our purposes with a different shifter and peg set-up- but I really don't want it and I'd never ride it without having too because Kate and I were touring.
Then I rode the Stelvio again. This thing is just a really, really nice competent bike. It's a shame that Euro4 killed it and I hope Guzzi replaces it with something similar. These big enduro bikes handle really well, they cruise nicely, and they can do some jeep roads and fire road stuff. Kate also likes the pillion position. Both the Guzzi and the R1200GS are kind of boring bikes- but once you get on an open road- you just don't want to stop. They're awesome at simply eating up the miles and they're real motorcycles. I rode the Stelvio for about 40 minutes and came away convinced this was the bike for us. I can get one for 11-12 grand vesus 18-25 for a comparable BMW- I have a great shop to support an off brand motorcycle- and I like the idea of being an Italian bike family! i need to sell a bunch more bikes so i can actually start paying myself and this purchase is probably 6 months to a year off- but that's ok. it gives me something to look forward to and i'm lucky enough to have a great "me" motorcycle right now.
The third bike I rode was the stupidest, biggest mistake I could have made. I decided to try the Aprilia RSV4. Holy fucking fuck was that bike a revelation. Everything about it- the cornering, the power, the brakes, the position, the weight and handling was beyond phenomenal- the bike was simply perfect. I have a quick shifter on my Duc and love it- I think I'd be hard pressed to own any motorcycle without one- if/when I get a Stelvio-I'll fit an aftermarket one for sure- but the way the quick shifter and the clutch and the gear box work on the RSV4 is simply amazing. I literally was able to take 25mph off ramps with confidence at whatever speed I wished. The only limitation was how far the bike would lean. Squirting in and out of holes in traffic was a revelation- my Duc has plenty of power (115hp) and is very small- but this thing has not only 100 more hp- but the bars are narrower, the bike handles so much better, and it just made me a far better rider. I could easily do things on this bike I had never even considered possible for me. It was like an extension of my body and almost behaved telepathically.
I can not believe a motorcle- nah- human built object could be this fucking perfect. i'm amazed and almost angry about it. I want this thing in a way that I have never wanted a material object before- and I get super obsessive about stuff and always want to own the ultimate or the best iteration of whatever I am into. But this RSV4 thing is literally SO much better than my Supersport I can't even begin to understand it. I love my Ducati- I am so much happier on it than I am doing just about anything else- but I can't believe what a difference there is.
I put low clip-ons on my Ducati and steepened up the head angle- I went with the Ohlins forks and shock, and that v twin engine is great. I test rode a 959 Panigale before I bought my Supersport- and I liked the engine and power band better on the Supersport for some reason- I'dalso never really lived with a high powered motorcycle before and maybe all real super bikes are this good- and I just didn't really know. I assumed they were too high strung for "just riding" and that my Supersport would be more practical and enjoyable for the street- but that 45 minutes I spent on the RSV4 was the BEST motorcycle ride I have ever done in my entire life and I was just riding on the 5 and the strand in Coronado. I used to track my old Ducati Monster and my old Honda Hawk- I go to Julian and ride on the some of the best twisty canyon desert roads in the world on my Supersport at least once a week- etc. etc. and a dumb test ride on a bike I wasn't even interested in just totally FUUUCKED me and my head. I can't believe how good that stupid bike is. I need to see how much I can get in trade on my Supersport.
Anyone want a nice Ducati Supersport S with 3500 miles on it for cheap?
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