Buyers Remorse..advice appreciatted

[marksamuelcohen]

I reluctantly sold my '03 K1200LT two years ago so I would have some extra cash to pick up a bike for my son. ('99 Honda VFR) I "downgraded" to an '06 Concours that I had for two years and 30,000 miles. Nice bike and great value, but lacking in many areas. Having recently paid off my house, I decided to bite the bullet and get back into a full dresser. Long story short, I went for an '08 Goldwing with nav and ABS. Impressive motor, but it just doesn't connect like my BMW (or even Concours) did. It's mighty comfortable, but I feel more like I'm driving a two door Civic than a motorcycle. I only have about 3k on the clock and am curious if I should give it more time to grow on me, or just go with my heart and get back into a BMW. (Probably RT this time since I do very little two up riding) Any advice is appreciatted.

[ranks]

If I were in your shoes, The only question would be could I afford to switch.

If yes, it seems you know where heart is.

[motorhead]

Never owned a GL Honda, but done some miles on my buddies 1800 a time or two.
Can't say riding the GL was thrilling ? ... But that engines STUMP power is impressive !
Biggest thing I notice is the general feeling of sitting "IN" the bike with the GL honda, Yet more "ON" the bike with the LT. That in turn makes the GL easier to more around when bikes speed is slow, Yet hinders it when really crankin in the twisties.

If I were more of a SLAB rider or just more open roads the GL would be a valid choice. But I live in Northern California where twisties and mountain roads are the norm ... The LT excels in these riding conditions IMO, and riding my buddies GL just does not offer the GPM that my LT does. ( GPM = Grins Per Mile )
* The GL's MPG is also down 8-10 from the LT *

[dandiver]

I hardly ever ride two-up and have thought about a smaller bike, but every time I get close to making a switch, I come back to the LT and am glad I didn't switch to something smaller. There is so much about the LT that I can't find elsewhere and It still makes me smile. Mine is an 02 and it's even hard to justify a new one with all that I've done to this one. Maybe when the new 10 comes out.........

[ben1364]

Never owned a GL Honda, but done some miles on my buddies 1800 a time or two.
Can't say riding the GL was thrilling ? ... But that engines STUMP power is impressive !
Biggest thing I notice is the general feeling of sitting "IN" the bike with the GL honda, Yet more "ON" the bike with the LT. That in turn makes the GL easier to more around when bikes speed is slow, Yet hinders it when really crankin in the twisties.

If I were more of a SLAB rider or just more open roads the GL would be a valid choice. But I live in Northern California where twisties and mountain roads are the norm ... The LT excels in these riding conditions IMO, and riding my buddies GL just does not offer the GPM that my LT does. ( GPM = Grins Per Mile )
* The GL's MPG is also down 8-10 from the LT *

I think I can appreciate your position. I recently decided that I wanted a trike for a change. On "paper" the big Honda (GL1800) looks better as a trike platform than the K1200LT.

I test rode several trikes based on both bikes including the same basic trike kit on both platforms (Hannigan). I found nothing about the G-W that I did not like and I was favorably impressed by it's low end torque. In the end however, I knew that I would be happier with the K LT because it "feels right". The ergonomics are what I am used to and I love the sound of the brick.

[messenger13]

If I were in your shoes, The only question would be could I afford to switch.

If yes, it seems you know where heart is.I second that!!!

[HornHonker]

I think I'd hang onto the Wing until it and the LT are upgraded in a year or so.

[ddking]

If you want to make that 1800 fun, you have to get a new suspension. The stock suspension stinks. I just got back from 450 miles in the twisties on mine today and it's a load of fun. It wouldn't have been except that I've got a Traxxion system on it and that puts it in a whole 'nuther catagory. [Anyone who says the 1800 is only good for the slabs hasn't tried one with a good suspension.] It ain't cheap, but it transforms the ride.

www.traxxion.com

Go to www.gl1800riders.com and check out the forums. Do a search and ask suspension questions and you'll get a lot of responses.

[hallzee]

I say to each his own.... But the GL pictured on this page (http://www.gl1800riders.com/) just reminds me of why I went with the LT. That thing just looks like a truck... And, yes, I prefer my LT hands down in the twisties!

[RonKMiller]

If you want to make that 1800 fun, you have to get a new suspension. The stock suspension stinks. I just got back from 450 miles in the twisties on mine today and it's a load of fun. It wouldn't have been except that I've got a Traxxion system on it and that puts it in a whole 'nuther catagory. [Anyone who says the 1800 is only good for the slabs hasn't tried one with a good suspension.] It ain't cheap, but it transforms the ride.

www.traxxion.com (http://www.traxxion.com)

Go to www.gl1800riders.com (http://www.gl1800riders.com) and check out the forums. Do a search and ask suspension questions and you'll get a lot of responses.

This is a man who knows

his stuff about the 1800 - listen to him - he's been there and done that. :thumb:

You CAN turn a motorhome into a sports car.... :D

[Torch]

Dude there's nothing wrong with the wing, I had a 2001 and it can be pushed hard, when it comes down to it the light tank has an adjustable windshield, so be it. The 2001 had it's issues but never let me hang on the side of the road. The 05 LT has a bunch of quirks the wing didn't have like when you start it it blows smoke(be sure to keep it uprite for 15 seconds before you start it), weird noises from the tupperware(which I can't get rid of), easier hook ups of aux stuff, more torque, wet clutch,no fd failures. Yes it sounds like I'm bitchin but so far my 05 has not proven it self. I knew I could jump on the wing and do a 4k mile trip with no angst. I will find out this week how the light tank does on it's first long trip for me. I hope I can get used to her. The decision to purchase the light tank was my wife's comfort level. So far i know the LT handles great. We see..

[rattler50]

Check out this Goldwing.............http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Goldwing-in-the-mountains_8250.htm

[katnapinn]

Check out this Goldwing.............http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Goldwing-in-the-mountains_8250.htm
Kewl video. Looks like he was draggin bags a few times.

[ddking]

Kewl video. Looks like he was draggin bags a few times.

That's Yellow Wolf before he added a Traxxion suspension.


You CAN turn a motorhome into a sports car.... :D

That's just mean. :histerica

[NascaLT]

You've got good advice already, go to where you are happiest. The GL is a great motorcycle, just as the LT. They're different from one another, as they are suppose to be, and your preference is the key. And you should ride what you like. I notice you mention that since you don't ride 2-up very much you may go to an RT. Not to offend our fellow RT riders I recently rode a new RT while my bike was being serviced at the dealer. I figured the same as you, I usually ride alone, the RT was handsome, light, sporty and had good power.
I rode it for all of 2 minutes and couldn't wait to get off of it. I'm not slamming the RT at all, it's just a bike that is not for me. It seems that you kind of feel the same was about the GL. Make sure you take a good ride on whatever you are looking at and then decide. For me, the LT is the way to go.

[TouringProf]

If you want to make that 1800 fun, you have to get a new suspension. The stock suspension stinks. I just got back from 450 miles in the twisties on mine today and it's a load of fun. It wouldn't have been except that I've got a Traxxion system on it and that puts it in a whole 'nuther catagory. [Anyone who says the 1800 is only good for the slabs hasn't tried one with a good suspension.] It ain't cheap, but it transforms the ride.

www.traxxion.com

Go to www.gl1800riders.com and check out the forums. Do a search and ask suspension questions and you'll get a lot of responses.

I was going to mention the Traxxion suspension upgrade when I started reading this thread, and then decided it wouldn't be received very well; then I read your quote which is EXACTLY what I was going to write!

Anyway, I came off of two LTs (both of which I really liked and never had any problems with) onto a GT. I tour with the GT on shorter (~2000 miles or less) trips. I went with the Wing for my longer tours during the summer (e.g. Denver-Atlanta-Washington, DC-Montreal-Denver), especially those that require long slab riding (Kansas, Nebraska, etc.). On my first trip to Atlanta, I went to the Traxxion folks and got their suspension upgrade (referred to as the 'Full Monty'). While it was not cheap, the suspension upgrade plus what I paid for the bike when new was about the same as the cost of a new LT of the same year. What I got was a Wing I could rdie in the twisties like I could the LT, but without the high COG that frankly made the LT such a PIA in gravel lots, and at low speeds (never dropped it under those conditions - just got tired of having to worry about it). If and when they redesign the LT for 2010, I could very well be back. I still think that the LT is the most beautiful luxury tourer produced, and the Wing is not nearly as good looking; but I ride 'em, and cross country comfort, safety, etc. is more important to me than how it looks. The LT had a lot of features the Wing doesn't have, but one of the features you can't fix on the LT with an aftermarket fix is the size of the dealer network. Anyway, I believe that the Wing and LT are the premier choices in the luxury touring category, nothing else comes close, and you can't really go wrong picking either one.

YMMV, and probably does and will.

[pickerbiker]

Dude there's nothing wrong with the wing, I had a 2001 and it can be pushed hard, when it comes down to it the light tank has an adjustable windshield, so be it. The 2001 had it's issues but never let me hang on the side of the road. The 05 LT has a bunch of quirks the wing didn't have like when you start it it blows smoke(be sure to keep it uprite for 15 seconds before you start it), weird noises from the tupperware(which I can't get rid of), easier hook ups of aux stuff, more torque, wet clutch,no fd failures. Yes it sounds like I'm bitchin but so far my 05 has not proven it self. I knew I could jump on the wing and do a 4k mile trip with no angst. I will find out this week how the light tank does on it's first long trip for me. I hope I can get used to her. The decision to purchase the light tank was my wife's comfort level. So far i know the LT handles great. We see..

Mark...looks like this might be a potential trade for your 'Wing.

[VernRuth]

I too had buyers remorse when I went from a Valkyrie Interstate to a 2002 K1200LT. I have about 16K miles on the bike and it's a nice bike but I have decided to sell the bike and look for a Valkyrie.

[marksamuelcohen]

Thanks to all for your thoughts and suggestions. Although the "Full Monty" by Traxxion is a bit pricey, it's certainly no more expensive than taking the depreciation of trading it in. Thank you all again for your input. Greatly appreciated. I'll probably go that route.