On Mon, Aug 7, 2023 at 05:50 PM, Dennis Grossman wrote:
... trying to decide which BMW models would be best for these rides. We like back roads along and live on the West Coast with mountains and coasts.?
... comfortable for 2-up riding over longer trips and varied landscapes.
?
Dennis, if you are doing paved roads then, in my opinion from riding the GS, RS, and RT models, the only reason to run a GS is if you are 6' or taller and don't want to adjust an RS or RT with aftermarket pegs and bars. Otherwise, the RS provides better weather protection than the GS?and the RT is far superior to both. That is both in cold and hot weather. I've ridden a GS for a few thousand miles in mountains with sub-50F mornings and 104F+ afternoons. I really wished I'd used my RT for that trip.
Any of the water-cooled RS/RT models will be the most mainenance-free and capable rides you could pick. Less issues and less work than pre-2013 GS or 2014 RS/RT. I've owned a 2014 R1200RT and a 2019 R1250RT. Either would be perfect for my sub-6' frame in the situations you describe. There are plenty of older ones available, but the price savings, increased maintenance schedules, etc., don't warrant looking older in my opinion unless you want to stay with an Airhead. If that were the case, I'd be inclined to look at the last generation R100RS or RT. I've got a 1983 R100RS and a 1986 R80RT, both are great bikes but for two-up riding with luggage, my lazy self would take my 2019 R1250RT (or my 2014 R1200RT if I still had it) and relax and "smell the roses". In 2019 when I bought the R1250RT I put over 6,000 miles on it in approximately 5-weeks of riding, mostly through the?Appalachian?Mountains from Nova Scotia down to Birmingham, AL and back. It was always a joy to get on and ride in all kinds of weather. Gave great fuel economy when ridden frugally or even reasonably, and it hustled like an RS when trying to outruns a hurricane that I spent three days avoiding. Don't be put off by the weight difference between the GS, RS, and RT. When each is outfitted for doing two-up touring, and carrying the same fuel load, there isn't a huge difference in their total weight, and most of that is improved weather protection. Having said all that, the best bike is the one you're most comfortable with. I've done a 5,000 mile road trip on a '73 Norton 850 Commando, a couple thousand on a Suzuki GS750, several thousand on a H-D StreetGlide, etc., and been fine with them all. However, if I were doing a 1,000 mile two-up run tomorrow and had to buy a bike today for it, then I'd be looking for a 2014+ RT. YMMV
AC53