Alright, one bike for the rest of your life...

What'll it be?


You can modify it within reason.

Right now, I gotta stick with my Bonneville, despite the small tank (which is replaceable). I have hard bags, a 1/4 cafe fairing for the summer, big fairing for winter. Mild ds tires for fire roads. Corbin gunfighter and lady with removable sissy bar. It's underpowered enough to not get me in too much trouble, but handles the freeway and 2 up well enough and is fun in the twisties. Once I'm uncomfortable with balance or the knees can't handle it, on goes a sidecar.

Although, the new Duc Scrambler... hmm?

So... what do you pick if it's only one for the rest of your life?

Who makes a larger tank?

135,000 km on it now. Might have 250,000 or 300,000 by the time I hang up my helmet.

well this is Road warriors, but if it's only one for the rest of your life then it has to be more ADV to handle some dirt too

For the type of riding I do, the new Ducati Scrambler seems like a good fit. It's reasoably light, got decent power, good ground clearance and ride height, and seems versatile.

Before it was released, my top pick was a 883R Sportster with mods.

For a road warrior I'd have to go with a Goldwing. Ample power, 43 mpg, cruise control, shaft drive, TPMS, ABS, heated seats and grips, I can stand on the pegs, it doesn't mind gravel roads and 50,000 mile tire life.

Kawasaki Versys 1000, 2015 version. It's such a VERsatile SYStem. It can do anything I would ever need it to do.

R1200GS Adventure...

Next question...

Been asking myself that question for a while now (Or, "If I could only have a couple of bikes."). Pretty settled on the 1290 Super Adventure R. The only real kink in the plan is the lack of a dealer w/in a half hour. That's a bit of a drag. The bike, however, suits me and my riding almost perfectly.

R80G/S .. 33 years old and still lightest of the beast. able to cruise at highways speeds and handle gnarly trails.
no high tech electronics to break down .. no weaknesses in the drive train .. final drive typically last lifetime of bike .. wheel bearings are good for next to forever ..

50,000 mile tire life? On a GW? NFW

Unless you mount a CT :eek1

CT's are for idiots.

moar like 25 mpg too.

That kick ass new BMW K1600 would be awesome.

Nope, Bazaaz fuel tuner...43 mpg every fucking day.

R12gs.

Zuke DR650.
The bike for the apocalypse.

Def a BMW GSA. It does everything well.

It may be possible but you lost some credibility with the claim of 50,000 mile tire life.

GSX 650 F.... It's the Bandit dressed like a Gixxer. (Unfortunately looks like a Gixxer to cops too). Parts & service all over. (it's a Bandit) Surprisingly effective wind management, light & nimble enough so I can ride into my dotage, low 12s quarter mile & somewhere north of 135 on top, carries 10-12 days of camp gear with throw-over bags, honest 5 gal tank & 48 - 52 mpg, so 250 mi. range. just under 500 lbs with tank full. Cheap tax & insurance, cost me $4888 + my 11 year old Connie, out the door, tax, reg., everything. Sport-standard ergos, even comfy for my senior knees & wrists. No special off road cred. but I did 80 miles of wet logging road in Maine without damage to man or machine. (on Mich. PR3s) Only drawback? No longer sold in USA. If it ever dies I can't replace it. Buy Canadian maybe? Honda now has a very similar 650, more expensive, but with pretty stainless pipes & ABS. I'll worry about it in another 5 years (when I'm 70).