Like all of us things are changing and for me that means that I need to downsize for numerous reasons, but here is where I am at and here is where I want to go. My wife and I full-time RV and haul two motorcycle with us. Hers is a 2014 F700GS mine is a 2016 Honda VFR1200X. The majority of our riding is pavement with the occasional dirt road. We have not done any fire roads, two track, single track, etc. So the VFR for me is a great bike and does mostly what I ask of it and on pavement it is fabulous. But I am 68 and it is time to move to something a little lighter. The VFR comes in at 608 which seemed light when I came from the ST1300. But the wife's F700GS feels like a kids toy as compared to those two bikes. So where am I headed is I have narrowed things down to either a F700GS or a F800GS.
I have ridden the wife's bike a bit and it is fine but I must say I feel a little crowded on the ergonomics. I am 5'10" by 215lb. Even with an Air-hawk seat on my VFR I can flat foot as a measure so on the 700 with the comfort seat knees a really bent. I only use flat foot as a measure because that's what people think they need to do. I normally only have one foot on the deck when stopped. Meaning that a taller bike is not an issue. So I have a couple of questions since some research I find difficult to find answer for. FYI I am budget restricted to about $9k.
From 2014 until the 750 and 850 came out were there years of the F700GS and F800GS where there were significant differences and if so what?
Between the 700 and the 800 is there a major difference in handling on the pavement? We ride typically less traveled roads with you know this things they called curves and avoid slabs.
Lastly I have seen articles on going tubeless on the 800 for pavement riding. Are there issues with the standard front rim and tubeless tire on pavement? Those article that I have seen don't seem concerned as long as standard tire pressure is maintained.
Thanks
I have ridden the wife's bike a bit and it is fine but I must say I feel a little crowded on the ergonomics. I am 5'10" by 215lb. Even with an Air-hawk seat on my VFR I can flat foot as a measure so on the 700 with the comfort seat knees a really bent. I only use flat foot as a measure because that's what people think they need to do. I normally only have one foot on the deck when stopped. Meaning that a taller bike is not an issue. So I have a couple of questions since some research I find difficult to find answer for. FYI I am budget restricted to about $9k.
From 2014 until the 750 and 850 came out were there years of the F700GS and F800GS where there were significant differences and if so what?
Between the 700 and the 800 is there a major difference in handling on the pavement? We ride typically less traveled roads with you know this things they called curves and avoid slabs.
Lastly I have seen articles on going tubeless on the 800 for pavement riding. Are there issues with the standard front rim and tubeless tire on pavement? Those article that I have seen don't seem concerned as long as standard tire pressure is maintained.
Thanks