Forgot to mention in my last post, I got a new motorcycle; a 2018 BMW R1200GS Adventure. The Kawasaki Concours 14 was still fun to ride, but I got the itch for a new bike. The BMW has all the bells and whistles I’ve wanted for a while; cruise control and a lot of storage (113L) being the primary ones.
2018 BMW R1200GS Adventure
The BMW weighs 110 LBS less than the Kawasaki and gets better gas mileage (49mpg vs 44mpg). It handles better and has a tighter turning radius so is more maneuverable at slow speeds. The only downside is cost. BMWs and Harleys are in the same price range. The Kawasaki is about 1/2 the cost. If Kawasaki offered one with factory cruise control, I’d be riding a new one today.
Another selling point for me is that I now have the option of going off-road. Granted, at 600LBS+, the BMW is not a dedicated, or nimble, dirt bike. It’s more of a “Swiss army bike”. It will do just about everything competently, but is not the best any one thing. I’d need way more bikes and much bigger trailer for that. 😉
Ken and the Art of Mobile Retirement 