Spend my money, opinions on a new (to me) scooter

[Gucci Pilot]

You can ride the Natchez trace parkway, a coworker rides that every weekend. You can ride the windy back roads up to Huntsville.

Rode those quite a bit when I was at Columbus for pilot training as well as going up around TN. Definitely go do the dragon. There were some good roads down by Meridian but can't remember exactly where they were. I found them on motorcycleroads.com but it looks like they took the road finding feature out of the website. Liked to ride out to Starkville for lunch with the girlfriend. Have fun flying the RC-26! That thing looks like it's fun to fly and a cool mission. I've always liked those less well known Air Force planes like the RC-26, E-11, U-28, M-28, and C-146.

 

[FastEddieB]

A well-maintained BMW K1200RS can be had for around $5k and is still a fabulous Sport Tourer.

Recently posted to Pilot Spin:

Here is the best bike I've ever owned, and still own with about 82,000 miles on her...

As delivered in 1999:

After some light cosmetic enhancements:

A more major mod, details published in the BMW MOA magazine:

And, more recently, camping at an Airhead rally near Boone, NC:

About 17 years old now, but still feels solid, planted and swoopy fast - "all of one piece", as it were. Been all over the continental US and Canada.

As an aside, I think this was close to the best BMW ever. None of their current line appeals to me, mainly due to many, many reported reliability concerns. Too bad.

 

[vkhosid]

A well-maintained BMW K1200RS can be had for around $5k and is still a fabulous Sport Tourer.

Recently posted to Pilot Spin:

Here is the best bike I've ever owned, and still own with about 82,000 miles on her...

As delivered in 1999:

After some light cosmetic enhancements:

A more major mod, details published in the BMW MOA magazine:

And, more recently, camping at an Airhead rally near Boone, NC:

About 17 years old now, but still feels solid, planted and swoopy fast - "all of one piece", as it were. Been all over the continental US and Canada.

As an aside, I think this was close to the best BMW ever. None of their current line appeals to me, mainly due to many, many reported reliability concerns. Too bad.

Best thing about those is the center stand. Get a few small bricks, and tire changes become almost effortless...

 

[bigred177]

Rode those quite a bit when I was at Columbus for pilot training as well as going up around TN. Definitely go do the dragon. There were some good roads down by Meridian but can't remember exactly where they were. I found them on motorcycleroads.com but it looks like they took the road finding feature out of the website. Liked to ride out to Starkville for lunch with the girlfriend. Have fun flying the RC-26! That thing looks like it's fun to fly and a cool mission. I've always liked those less well known Air Force planes like the RC-26, E-11, U-28, M-28, and C-146.

I'm really excited about it. Cool airplane, cool mission, and get to fly all the time.

A well-maintained BMW K1200RS can be had for around $5k and is still a fabulous Sport Tourer.

Recently posted to Pilot Spin:

Here is the best bike I've ever owned, and still own with about 82,000 miles on her...

As delivered in 1999:

After some light cosmetic enhancements:

A more major mod, details published in the BMW MOA magazine:

And, more recently, camping at an Airhead rally near Boone, NC:

About 17 years old now, but still feels solid, planted and swoopy fast - "all of one piece", as it were. Been all over the continental US and Canada.

As an aside, I think this was close to the best BMW ever. None of their current line appeals to me, mainly due to many, many reported reliability concerns. Too bad.

That is a sharp motorcycle.

 

[rundogdave]

I've got a 2012 BMW K1600GTL. Love it!! The GT or the GTL are loads of fun. Lots of power, 160 hp, fairly nimble for an 800 lb bike. Decent storage in the saddle bags, and more if you get the top case. I've done several 500 mile days and 1 1000 mile day with little to no discomfort.

 

[DeeG]

Moto Guzzi Norge. Fun to ride, and Guzzi's are easier to do maintenance on than any of my BMW's.
You can find gently used ones in your price range.

 

[bigred177]

Alright, unless someone talks me out of it in the next couple hours, I'm going to do a Triumph Trophy. Go...

 

[SoonerAviator]

Nothing wrong with the Triumph Trophy. Lots of praise on them, and they compete well with the FJR's and BMW K's. They have a pretty wide fairing and a tall windshield, so if you like to feel the wind on you, it's not the bike for you. Also, I've heard that even in the lowest position, you still have to look "through" the windscreen as opposed to over it. That bothers some people, others don't care.

 

[bigred177]

Here at the dealership now. New, unsold 14 model. She is mine. I'll do a better report on a real computer.

 

[FastEddieB]

I think you'll love it!

I had a modern Triumph of some description as a loaner once and liked it quite a bit.

Now just head east and we'll run Deal's Gap together!

 

[Bill]

Congrats, the Triumph triple motors are fun, most of the down low torque of a V-twin, most of the high end power of an inline 4, with that oh so cool sound.

Nice bike, I hope you enjoy many happy safe fun miles!

 

[simtech]

Nice looking bike!

 

[Sac Arrow]

I have a friend with one of those. He likes it. The triple engine runs more smoothly than a four.

 

[Jimmy cooper]

Years ago I had an old BMW. I bought it when I was in the airforce. It was an R67 and had quite a few miles on it. The bing carbs were a pain in the azz sometimes but I liked it and took care of it. Later on , much later on , I bought a Honda shadow, drove it quite a while then bought a truly great bike used with five thousand miles on it. It was a kaw ZL 1000 which was only built in 1987-88. It was their answer to BMWs touring bikes.it was a great bike, smooth, good looking and plenty of power. I rode it 20,000 and sold it for what I paid for it. I had it dealer serviced, it looked great when I sold it. If I bought another I would look for another ZL 1000. Wonderful bike.