www.boxertrix.com

I will turn half-a-century in 2013 and am starting to convince myself I need to sell/ trade my R1200S in for a sit-up-and-beg style bike. My choices at the moment are 1. Triumph 800 Tiger 2. Kawasaki 1000 Versys 3. BMW F800GS

I would welcome any thoughts/ experiences or ideas about any of the above.

Thanks, & Merry Christmas to you all,
Rob & Gail

Hi Rob (& Gail)
Not on your list I know but try and get a demo on a R1200R, Think you might be pleasantly surprised If and when I retire the S the R is at the top of my list.

Peter.

Definately try all before you buy, but that`s all the fun of finding a new bike.
Only you can decide, one man`s meat etc....me, I`d go for the Triumph!

Have fun choosing

Steve

If your sticking to the road the Kwak would be best IMO. Isn't it just a sports bike engined supermoto (with a road sized front wheel)? Sounds good to me.

I can't get excited about modern Kwaks, I would have another z1 / z900 or a two stroke triple, but after the original ZX10 they lost me. That would leave the BMW and the Triumph. The only person I know who has tested both BMW and Triumph 800s found them underwhelming coming down from a higher capacity bike (Sprint 1050).

Test ride both, but be prepared to find them lacking that buzz you get from bigger bikes. The 1200r is a great call.

Herb wrote:I can't get excited about modern Kwaks, I would have another z1 / z900 or a two stroke triple, but after the original ZX10 they lost me. That would leave the BMW and the Triumph. The only person I know who has tested both BMW and Triumph 800s found them underwhelming coming down from a higher capacity bike (Sprint 1050).

Test ride both, but be prepared to find them lacking that buzz you get from bigger bikes. The 1200r is a great call.

That was around the time I left KMUK ..... and was the start of my K100RS ownership ... I know exactly what you mean I used to be 100% Kawasaki but little they do now inspires me, and I positively hate the successor to the z1/900/1000 .... the new z1000 just looks like a toy bike to me, perhaps it's age

I always said if they stuck another half of the 650 versys on the twin and made a 975 triple I would have one - loved the 650 but cannot get excited about the 1000 - just not a fan of 4s. Think I would go for the BM

If it has to be one of the three i,d go Triumph. But i would extend my choice to include the R1200R, just can,t see myself cleaning / adjusting chains.

What about something with a bit more poke, and road orientated?

Triumph Tiger 1050.

Ducati Multistrada

Or (in a colour other than this..... ) - The KAWASAKI 1000 SX



Al

Of your short list I like the Triumph, however you should definitely give the R1200R a try .....

or one of these, they have heated grips for 2013.



But it is not entirely necessary to sit upright over 50, my bikes still work for me.

If the ones listed are the only options I'd stick with the BMW. I had an F800s and know the engine is excellent. Being a parallel twin it's a bit buzzy but revs well and had enough power for me.

BUT I'd go with everyone else and recommend a R1200R. (I've just bought one!!!) You're already familiar with the 1200 boxer engine, you know it's going to be reliable and it looks good.

I'm over 60 and swapped the grey one for the red one this year...........comfy and one serous bit of kit

GRAgusta wrote:Of your short list I like the Triumph, however you should definitely give the R1200R a try .....

or one of these, they have heated grips for 2013.



But it is not entirely necessary to sit upright over 50, my bikes still work for me.

Remember these i Moffet last year quite taken by them.
Pete

After selling my much loved BCR AND changing to a GS this year I would go for a GS style bike great for riding all day very practical.

Pete

[quote="ned1"]I'm over 60 and swapped the grey one for the red one this year...........comfy and one serous bit of kit

[
What a handsome pair. (choose any 2 from 3 ) 50 you say? Pah I'm over 70 and the only thing that's stopping me doing what Ned's done here is the fact that I like my 1100s too much to let it go in P/X. In fact, I like it even more since Dai Whiskers and me put the bars underneath the top yolk. It's definatly a lot faster since we did that.
Mind you, lately, I've been geting this almost uncontrolable urge to buy the more affordable K1200s just to see if I could graft an underseat zorst onto it useing 1100s cans 'cos the only thing I don't like about the big BMW fours is that huge silencer stuck on the side.

Apparently it can be done .