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[FLHTCUSE7]

Just finished up two days training with Rawhyde riding a BMW R1200 GS Adventure through sand, rocks, mud, and difficult terrain.

I have not had this much fun on a motorcycle in years!!

I am seriously considering selling the CVO and buy the GS instead. I will take a week to think it over since it's a pretty drastic change and I only have 900 miles on the CVO.

Anyone else had these un-pure thoughts after running off road bikes?

[King2013]

My younger years of riding was mostly on dual sport bikes. I still have thoughts and just started shopping for an off road bike recently.
Off road riding is a lot of fun no matter what your riding but the dual sport let's you get to the off road areas you want to ride legally without the need for a trailer.

[owl893]

No such thoughts here, but I have to admit off roading with the right bike is a hoot.  That said, when you bought the Limited you were aware the one thing is wasn't, was a dirt bike. Trade if you want, the BMW is a fine machine, but for a long road trip I would stay with the HOG.

OWL

[Puzzled]

Just finished up two days training with Rawhyde riding a BMW R1200 GS Adventure through sand, rocks, mud, and difficult terrain.

I have not had this much fun on a motorcycle in years!!

I am seriously considering selling the CVO and buy the GS instead. I will take a week to think it over since it's a pretty drastic change and I only have 900 miles on the CVO.

Anyone else had these un-pure thoughts after running off road bikes?

 

One bike doesn't do it all. When and if possible add the other bike to the stable.

[danner55]

You can't have too many motorcycles!

Even if they aren't all Harleys! :thumbsup

[2k]

I agree with the concensus. While the BMW is a great all around machine, it is what it is. No way it will match the Limited on the open road. Let your adrenaline subside before you make a $huge$ mistake.

[05Train]

I owned a 2012 GS Adventure for about a year (19,000 miles of riding) between my FLHTK and FLHTCUSE7.  Were it not for the fact that I had one that gulped oil and my bum knee, I'd still have it.

The GS/A is a great bike, and as you said, it put a smile on my face every time I rode it.    It's really hard to argue with 9" of suspension travel, and no limit to the lean angle (you run out of tire before you drag anything).  The Boxer twin is a beast of a motor.  It sounds somewhat agricultural, but it pulls like a freight train and gets reasonable fuel mileage.  The Paralever/Telelever suspension is just amazing....There's no front-end dive in corners, and you can trail brake the piss out of it.  It'll flat out whip some serious machinery on a winding road.  No slouch in a straight line either, but it's no 'Busa either.

And it's damn comfortable.  The wind and weather protection is stellar.  The suspension eats up rough roads.  The riding position - once you get it tailored to you - is all day comfortable.  My wife and I rode from MD to Utah and back, and would have happily done it again.  All I needed to do was add a better seat (stock one's horrible), bar risers, and a pair of highway pegs.  It's a different highway ride than a Batwing Harley, but I'd be hard pressed to tell you which one was "better".  My GS/A didn't have cruise control.  That was literally the only thing I missed.  The kicker for me was my right knee.  It got crushed in the wreck, so after a few hours it'd start to ache.

On top of all that, there's no bodywork to speak of, and it's built like a tank, so you can bash it around off-road without worrying about destroying it.  It's too big and too heavy for serious off-road use, but for running down fire roads and two-tracks it's great (assuming you have the correct tires).

And maintenance is a breeze.  Valve checks/adjustments take no time at all.  The oil filter is pointed straight down as God intended.  Transmission and final drive oil take no time at all.  You can have the rear wheel off in less than 5 minutes, and you can do that with the bike on the center stand.

They're great bikes.  When the 'CUSE7 is paid off I'll be looking for a used Waterhead Adventure to add to the mix.

[TinSpinner]

Sell something else then you can have both. I have an '08 R1200 GS in the stable that is a hoot to ride when I want to get off the beaten path, that bike will do anything I ask of it. I would like to have a GSA but the seat height is a little too high for me to be comfortable with. As great as the GS is it doesn't compare to the comfort and style of the SEUC though.

It's funny how different the typical riders of BMW and Harley are in terms of attitude, performance, and safety. I rode my CVO to a local BMW riders event once. At first they scoffed at my "blinged out noise maker" and questioned my veracity as a Beemer enthusiast but after they admired it for a while they warmed up to it, acknowledged that it was nicer than they imagined and some even came out of the closet that they had a Harley as well. My Harley buddies know better than to chide me about the beemer, they do poke fun at me for all the gear I wear though.

[Phantom309]

Lol, you sound just like me after I took a spin on a '13 Multistrada last fall ... long story short my Road Glide got traded for it. Life is short so do what puts the biggest smile on your face. When I twisted the throttle on that Duc and felt 150 hp, that's all it took to change my mind plus the great handling. I could pop the panniers and top box off and take this down the trail, but I didn't buy it to beat up in the dirt. I have a couple KX 500s for that which are just collecting dust now.

The only regrets my decision left me with were giving up cruise control, tunes and a cigarette lighter for all that power and handling ... all three really don't bother me so much anymore. Sure I miss my RG once in a while, but I'm happy I made the switch. I've never been loyal to any one manufacturer, a bike is a bike to me and provided it keeps me grinning from ear to ear all is good.   I say go for it, you could always go back to HD if the BMW starts to bore you.

I had a really tough time deciding what to do last year for me it was one or the other, I couldn't have both. If it were a perfect world and I had deep pockets I would still have the RG too. If I had to do it all over again, I know I would still be looking at a Duc in my garage over a HD any day of the week. Something tells me if you tried out a Multistrada the BMW and your CVO would be faded memories. 

[FLHTCUSE7]

Stopping by a BMW & HD dealer this Friday to see what deal if any they might be interested in making. 

Easy come easy go, but I have not decided yet

[FLHTCUSE7]

Darn!
Stopped by the dealer today and looked at the Adventure version. Will ride it in the am.

I definitely will buy the GS, now I have to decide if I am going to keep the HD.

Time for a beer to ponder the dilemma 

[mjb765]

Keep the HD if you can..at least for a little while. Be sure the BMW keeps you happy before you make a quick decision. You can always sell later, but sell too early and regret will cost you more in the long run.

[FLHTCUSE7]

Keep the HD if you can..at least for a little while. Be sure the BMW keeps you happy before you make a quick decision. You can always sell later, but sell too early and regret will cost you more in the long run.

That is probably what I do. I like both MCs and time will tell what is getting used.

[FLHTCUSE7]

Bought a GS today!!  Will take six weeks before I have it but worth the wait.

Will give it to end of July to see what's get used before I consider selling the HD.

[mjb765]

Bought a GS today!!  Will take six weeks before I have it but worth the wait.

Will give it to end of July to see what's get used before I consider selling the HD.

Congrats and good luck with it!!!