12-05-15, 12:54 AM
Ive ridden the following.
Pan European. Tourquey, smooth, stable and comfy as long as you fit, some people have problems with where to put their knees, apparently when sitting on the bike people of a certain height/leg length have a lump of fairing just in the natural position for their knees to be in. Test ride one first.
Fjr1300. I couldn't get on with the FJR, maybe it was a bad one, It was comfy enough but I never felt confident in the handling, it always felt vague. I'll have to borrow another one for a few days.
BMW 1150/1200 rs/gs/rt. 1150GS, not impressed with the boxer motor, at 85mph I felt like I was stressing the engine, drop down to 75 and it felt much happier. Maybe it was just me and I'm used to having a lot more revs in hand at that speed. My mate has got one and he swears by it. They handle well enough though.
ZZR1200. Too much of a sports tourer for me and the wife, legs a bit cramped, bit too much weight on my wrists, went like a Foccer though!! But maybe that's why my wrists ached.
Tiger 1050. Nice bike, not as comfy and neutral as the 955, but better than the post 2011 Tiger/sport which was bloody uncomfortable. Id have a late model, low mileage 955i Tiger and spend the cash saved over the 1050 on another tour.
Overall, I would choose the Pan. I fitted no problem, the wife loved it, it can hustle when it needs to, good tank range, comfy and quite cheap really.