As I mentioned a couple weeks back, the forest rat mafia attempted another hit on me. While I survived, the BMW did not. Sadly, Allstate dragged their feet totaling it, so I missed the bike I wanted, a near new 2025 FJR 1300. After this 3rd deer (or 4, if you count the one I hit at the end of a power stop. Broke it's leg but no damage to the bike) my wife has requested that I no longer commute on a motorcycle at 4:30 in the morning. I have agreed, so I am more open to chain drives, that I have always avoided for maintenance frequency reasons.
Currently in consideration (unless an FJR drops into my lap):
Honda NT1100 DCT
Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT
Though I am open to other suggestions. However, I have eliminated BMW for several reasons but mostly because the nearest dealer is an hour and a half away.
So does anyone own or have experience with these bikes? Good, Bad, Ugly?
The world's your oyster, but no, I have no experience with any of these.
Lots of really sweet bikes out there, including the used market.
You can find a dedicated forum to just about any bike, over on the ADVrider forums.
advrider.com
You'll likely know most of those cretins about as well as you know most of us...
There are those here who have lots of experience with the Honda so hopefully they will chime in. I rode one for a couple of weeks recently through Normandy, Belgium and NL. It was my firt experience with the DCT and I was a bit apprehensive (old habits die hard) but I came away with a whole new respect to the gearbox. It functions very well and it seems to be able to tell which gear you need/want nearly all the time. It is also a godsend in city stop and go traffic (did the periferique in Paris during rush hour). The bike has more than adequate power, surprisingly decent weather protection and handles quite good.
I don't have first hand experience with the Kawi or Suzuki but, if you are considering a Suzuki, I wouldn't rule out the V-Stroms. And if you are considering Kaswi's, the Versys 1000 is decent as well.
As was said earlier, there is a plethora of choices.
