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BMW's Too top heavy for older riders?

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same thoughts. I'm past sixty and lately have begun thinking it's time to downsize. Twice as of late my R1100RT, which I really like, has started to tip and been a real back straining exercise to get it upright. It's 500+ pounds that just wants to very quickly fall over.The newer BMWs, past the airheads, seem to be designed to be top heavy. Mine certainly is, especially with a full tank of gas. Just a few degrees past vertical, and they just want to go right on down. All it takes is a mishap with the kickstand, some loose gravel under foot, too sharp a slow turn, and you've got a real problem with this big thing laying on the ground, probably with several very expensive plastic parts broken. Much as I like my bike, I think I am ready to shift to a much smaller, easier to maneuver (and possible pick up) machine. I don't know how you ever get those fully loaded GS models off the dirt by yourself. I don't recall my 1976 R60 having this problem. Is it just BMW that likes to put all the weight high up, or are they all like that now?
 
I put front and rear crash bars on my 07RT for that reason. The first time I had a slow drop and almost blew my thigh muscle out trying to save it. The second time I just let it go. After having to repaint each side bag I opted for the crash bars. I am a slow learner I guess.
 
"Do you even lift Bro?"

I lift and they are still heavy as hell.

While I'm kidding about this, that R60 was 463 lbs and you were stronger then. My GS is 538lbs wet. Not great not bad. A Sportster is heavier than my bike. That center of gravity is lower on the Harley than the GS, and way harder to pick up if dropped. I find it easier to put the GS on the center stand than the wife's G650GS (the tank is under the seat). I believe the position of that centerstand is an issue. I've picked up a dropped G650 for the wife and that thing it harder to pick up than the R1200GS.

Even a light bike can feel heavy in the right (or wrong) circumstances.

You can have fun any any bike and enjoy it. I like the G650GS. The 310's would make great commuter bikes. One woman is touring on one. There's a lot of great non BMW bikes that are cool and don't weigh a ton. I hear the KTM 390 is nice and light.

Think how much heavier a bike would be with metal instead of plastic parts. The good news is the tech is getting better and people are realizing they don't need huge expensive bikes.

But still it's a matter of getting older. I hope you find a bike that's right for you. I'm 55, I might be getting there soon. All bikes are too heavy after being dropped.
 
The 310's would make great commuter bikes. One woman is touring on one.

In 2018 we rode our 310s from Texas to Washington to New Mexico to Des Moines to New Mexico to Duluth to New Mexico. And local riding. In 2019 we rode New Mexico to Tenessee and then Virginia and back to New Mexico and then to Nakusp, BC and back. Indeed a person can tour on a 310.
 
In 2018 we rode our 310s from Texas to Washington to New Mexico to Des Moines to New Mexico to Duluth to New Mexico. And local riding. In 2019 we rode New Mexico to Tenessee and then Virginia and back to New Mexico and then to Nakusp, BC and back. Indeed a person can tour on a 310.

Paul, maybe a little off topic but have been meaning to ask you how they handle in heavy winds (the kind one gets on the east side of the Rockies in the US and Canada)? I ask since some more top heavy bikes are a beast to ride in side winds.
 
Paul, maybe a little off topic but have been meaning to ask you how they handle in heavy winds (the kind one gets on the east side of the Rockies in the US and Canada)? I ask since some more top heavy bikes are a beast to ride in side winds.

They handle cross winds as well as my F650s did. Almost as well as my K75s. Not as well as either Voni's R1100RS or my R1150R. Bothersome but not scary.

They do not like stiff headwinds (say 20 mph wind) in 6th gear but motor on in 5th without much effort.
 
I dropped my RT a couple of times, but I find my R1200RS much easier to handle. It’s lower, lighter and skinnier.
 
In 2018 we rode our 310s from Texas to Washington to New Mexico to Des Moines to New Mexico to Duluth to New Mexico. And local riding. In 2019 we rode New Mexico to Tenessee and then Virginia and back to New Mexico and then to Nakusp, BC and back. Indeed a person can tour on a 310.

I have a KTM 390, and it's a hoot to ride, but taller/older riders will find the legroom rather lacking (at least on my 2016). The handle bars are great, the engine is amazing but the gas tank is small and my legs cramp on linger riders. I've sat on, but not ridden, the KTM Duke 790 it's not a lot heavier than the 390, but it's roomier.
 
I'm with you.... had a F700GS and with the gas tank under the seat, it wasn't too bad. Was going to upgrade to the F850GS and over 500lbs. was just too damn heavy.

I opted for a S1000R and recently weighed it at 435lbs.... nice and light to move around in the garage and with bar risers is really comfortable.
 
I was RT for couple of decades, but switched to a F750GS this summer. It's a little over 100 pounds lighter than my last RT (2018), but is much easier from moving in garage to road work. I have standard height seat, but they also come in low chassis and varying seat heights. Smooth shifting, plenty of power and 56 MPG. Plus they can come with all the extras (cruise, heated grips, auto-shift, ESA (rear) and more). Only drawback (some would say an advantage), from years of RT's, is chain drive...which I'm readjusting to.
 

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I'm with you.... had a F700GS and with the gas tank under the seat, it wasn't too bad. Was going to upgrade to the F850GS and over 500lbs. was just too damn heavy.

I opted for a S1000R and recently weighed it at 435lbs.... nice and light to move around in the garage and with bar risers is really comfortable.

Bruce:

How much fuel and oil was in your S1000R when you weighed it? BMW lists the S1000R weight as 476 lb. The listed weight includes full fuel and oil. The weight of 5.2 gal of fuel and 4 quarts of oil is ~ 39 pounds which is close to the difference between what you measured and BMW's listed weight.

None of which changes the fact that your S1000R is about 150 pounds lighter than my RT. Looks like you've got a fun ride!
 
Just wondering if anyone else has had the same thoughts. I'm past sixty and lately have begun thinking it's time to downsize.

I am 72 years young, now down to 5'6", weighing 150 pounds, with a short inseam and I am quite comfortable on my R1100RT (even though a set of crash bars might be in the bike's future).

Having said that, a friend, the same age as me, but 6'2" and weighing in at 225 or so, found his R1100RT to be too heavy when he was 67. That's when he moved to smaller bikes.

If you are thinking that the bike has become too heavy and the thought to downsize has happened, then, in my opinion, it is time to downsize.
 
I just changed to a r9t Urban due to the weight issue from my previous Yamaha STenere. Well over 600 lbs when equipped, I am Noe at 500 lbs and much better distribution of weight. I learned of the ease of picking up the 1200 gs’s While wrangling at a past Giants event. Figured the niner hopefully will be even easier, but haven’t had any events yet but know they are coming. Mt 700 gs was a bear to pick up compared to the 1200, even though weighing less. I loved the Tenere but reality set in this summer on a lonely backroad where if a farmer hadn’t been going by and graciously offer to help, my ego would have taken a hit by having to break out my bike jack. So smaller is better, although I still need to do something about my rock hard niner seat.
 
I switched from RTs to a plain R mainly to keep the weight down. I have had to pick it up three times. Once I was alone and with good footing, I picked it up, but it was right at the edge of what I could do. One time, I was in a group and 2 or 3 other bikes stopped to pick it up before I even got off it. The third time, it was on a cobbled city street and a driver stopped before I had time to think about it. All three were zero speed drops, well the first one wasn't exactly (longer story there).
 
I know this is heresy, butt.....

... BMW makes nothing like the Honda CB500X. At 425 pounds and 55-ish HP, it is an excellent steed. As long as you don’t want to cruise at 90mph, it will take you anywhere you want to go.

I store mine at Stefan Knopf’s in Heidelberg, Germany. Earlier this year, I rode it 9,000 km through Germany, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

A most excellent motorcycle.

Ian

 

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... BMW makes nothing like the Honda CB500X. At 425 pounds and 55-ish HP, it is an excellent steed. As long as you don’t want to cruise at 90mph, it will take you anywhere you want to go.

I store mine at Stefan Knopf’s in Heidelberg, Germany. Earlier this year, I rode it 9,000 km through Germany, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

A most excellent motorcycle.

Ian
Yes and very popular. I tried to purchase one on St. Louis back August and nothing available at the dealer. Only thing he could do was suggest ordering a 2020 but I didn’t wish to wait so went with the Niner....
 
I read these threads with an eye for a replacement for my R1200R. Been riding for 52 years, but the "R" has become a bit ungainly. I do have the low seat, BTW. The Honda shows promise.
 
In 2018 we rode our 310s from Texas to Washington to New Mexico to Des Moines to New Mexico to Duluth to New Mexico. And local riding. In 2019 we rode New Mexico to Tenessee and then Virginia and back to New Mexico and then to Nakusp, BC and back. Indeed a person can tour on a 310.


I use to tour on a Honda 305 Scrambler back in the day.

Bill
 
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