It's nice to stop other places then petrolstations, but the important part is that when you drive in the third world and want to get away from the main route and explore exotic places you will not find fuel (and water and food) everywhere. For me range is necessary!

I also use my long range back home. Last year I was going to a town 500 km away, I chose to follow gravel roads and 900 kms and 3 days later I got there. On my way I saw two petrolstations, it was a marvelous trip! For my this is freedom!


There might be some situations like overtaking and getting out of a problem. But most of all it's because I enjoy driving powerful bikes. I travel for my own pleasure and a powerful bike increase my pleasure. I'm not saying that this point (or anything else I write) is important for other people but a lot of people like to have some extra power (air-filter mods, different exhaust etc)

A bigger bike will normally have a stronger frame, better rims, better brakes, better suspension and more comfort then a small bike. For me this is safety-factors. I don't find it fun or safe to travel with a overloaded bike.


Sure, if you enjoy it then do it!


I'm not the kind of guy who rides RTW at all, I haven't found a nice route.
But yes I've had trips longer then RTW and I think I enjoy the trip more when I relax and watch the scenery then when I'm cramped on a small bike with a sore arse.


Sure, but in general I think twins are more reliable then singles. There are a lot of exceptions to this but basically I think a twin should make at least 150kkm without major problems and I don't expect that from a single.
My bike has 235kkm (it has been rebuilt). Some people like to change bikes often, I prefer to keep mine for a long time.



Well, I think there are a few other factors, but the factors you listed are important (to mee). I always try to reduce my luggage, but it ads up.

1043cc to be exactly.
Personally I'm not a big fan of the 1200GS, but if you look at the routes many people takes (95% tarmac, 4% fast gravel) I think it can be a sensible choice (for some). IMHO it's a machine for covering long distances on most kind of roads- but as other bikes it has weak spots.

Sure, that's why I don't see the point in topics like this

I think you may have misunderstood my reason for this topic.
My question in this thread/topic isn't about a competition between small and large bikes but I just want to know if somebody has a good reason for me to switch from my small bike to a large(r) bike.

Thanks a lot for your answers!

Only you can know this.

Reasons for "needing" a bigger bike to replace a smaller one will vary from the entirely believable as circumstances change (see Alibaba and co above), to the honest to the honestly strange.

I used to believe that a certain badge meant I didn't need to learn mechanical stuff. I've reasoned that if 652cc allowed me to get to the top of Norway, 1085cc would obviously be required to go further, would wear better because it was less "stressed" and would give me more time due to less maintenance (shaft vs chain ). My local BMW dealers were pleased to confirm this (twice). A couple of years later I "needed" a 21-inch front wheel as I was going to become an off road God of some type (Yamaha agreed). This all pretty much wasted petrol money at the dealers and in the TT catalogue and didn't really achieve any more than I could have done by sticking with the first bike and learning how to use it. I blame Chris Scott for my stupidity, he obviously didn't know what I wanted to do when he wrote that book. .

I did sell an Enfield Bullet and buy the brick while shuffling jobs from one with a company car to one without that's 20 miles down the motorway. This verges on the sensible although I do miss kicking the green swine on sunny days.

If you want to hear real daftness find some bloke with a huge bike who's bought his wife a smaller one. Go ask if it doesn't make sense to have two the same..... .

Andy