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Which bike for world Trip? (R1200RS or Tracer 9 GT) Which bike for world Trip? (R1200RS or Tracer 9 GT)
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 25 Jan 2022
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Just throwing it out there, but how about a super tenere? You get the shaft drive, and size for 2up with Japanese reliability.
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Old 25 Jan 2022
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Go to the showroom, sit on them, and buy the one that strikes your fancy.
Hopefully you can get in a test ride...
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  #3  
Old 26 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by frameworkSpecialist View Post
Just throwing it out there, but how about a super tenere? You get the shaft drive, and size for 2up with Japanese reliability.
Haven't thought of it, but I like the idea of the shaft with Japanese reliability. Probably won't handle as nice as the RS in the twisties, but will check it out.
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Old 26 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by Chasingthesun View Post
I like the idea of the shaft with Japanese reliability. Probably won't handle as nice as the RS in the twisties, but will check it out.
Hello

I too would recomend the XT1200Z, IF I didn't have one.
It is bad designed, not the japanese quality one would expect.
The two big flaws are rim/spoke and starting, nothing you want outside the first world, on a level worse than the hearsay of BMW or KTM.

Don't focus on the performance of the bike on twisted roads, focus on the comfort of your backseat and the suspension of the bike.
Even paved roads can be very bad, would not take one of the two bikes you mentioned in the first post.

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  #5  
Old 26 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by Chasingthesun View Post
Haven't thought of it, but I like the idea of the shaft with Japanese reliability. Probably won't handle as nice as the RS in the twisties, but will check it out.
I agree with the comments about the size of the bikes you are considering, even using only tarmaced roads you can go thousands of km without exceeding 80-90 kph and with potholes and the unexpected you would not find in Canada around many corners caution in the twisties will be the order of the day and manoeuverability will be more important than handling.
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Old 26 Jan 2022
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As someone who's done a month-long road trip on a VFR800, I would advise against the RS purely on the ground that your spine will thank you for a vertical seating position. I loved everything about the bike except the seat position and the fiddly fairings, so I got a VFR800X Crossrunner, which is exactly the same thing but with the things I hated changed. In your case, the R1200GS is available, so makes sense to go for that one.

All that said, the most important thing about the bike you ride on your trip is that you are excited to get on it every morning. If you love the RS, stick with it. Even if other bikes might be incrementally better for some aspects of your planned trip, your RS will be able to handle it just fine.
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  #7  
Old 26 Jan 2022
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The GS or GSA looks huge and intimidating - but looks deceive. It is far more nimble on Twisties and offroad than many bikes that are "smaller". Much of the girth is just volume and not much else. It gives you and the pillion more comfort. Also the suspension, the breakers, the transmission, the power... it is all made for a VERY easy ride! In fact, I seriously doubt there are any other 1200 overlanding bikes that are easier and more comfortable to ride. I guess you get what you pay for - because it is expensive.

That much said. For the price of it, you could afford two smaller bikes, a licence for your better half, the added bike shipping costs, the extra fuel... With that, she might not be so hard pushed to go the entire distance?
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  #8  
Old 27 Jan 2022
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FWIW:

Re your comment on height:

Jocelyn Snow, 5' 1" and 118 lb, rides a 1200GSA - and in the BMW GS Challenge she did well on the US Team. See https://www.advpulse.com/adv-preppin...elin-snow-bmw/

Tiffany Coates is taller, guessing 5'6, and tour guides on a 1200GS happily.

And on a bumpy twisty PAVED road, my money is on the GS for the win against an RS - with ease. Ride one.
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Old 27 Jan 2022
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Thanks for all the comments. All good points for me to think of. I'll give the GS a try and then decide. For my RS, I have Heli risers on already and although it's not straight back, it is much more comfortable. But yes, there is something to be said for a straight back on a long trip.
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