Ponch1
Ponch
All of the replays have merit. What it boils down to.... I want a BMW that weighs no more than 500 pounds, has a conventional swing arm and shaft drive, ABS, 100 hp, 80 pound feet of torque, two air and oil cooled cylinders, basic fuel injection without all the fancy mapping, heated grips, hydraulic valves, tubeless tires, NO electric windshield, 6 gallon fuel tank, NO ESA, NO traction control, wet clutch, external fuel filter and pump, NO full coverage plastic, choice of touring and a sport windshields that actually work, 3 year UNLIMITED MILEAGE warranty, no seat as the stock seats are a waist of my money (I will furnish my own), simple basic headlight, and knowledgeable sales people just like the folks at Eurosport in Asheville. Is this too much to ask for? Or do the manufacturers continue the horsepower, gadget, and electronic war until it kills the pleasure of actually enjoying the ride and maintaining ones own machine? Honda may be on to something with their new line of simpler bikes that BTW have hydraulic valves with no maintenance, limited horsepower, and a reasonable cost to own. I love my GS but please stop with all the latest and greatest crap.
If you wait long enough, Ural will have something.
On the other hand, Motoguzzi comes closer in some ways, not in others. I am not sure anyone makes the bike you want. Harley's and Victory's cover some of the bases too, but too heavy.