Indeed. My first “street” bike was a used 1974 MT250. Dirt tires with tubes, drum brakes front and back. Man, how did I survive that!
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RE: “Over 100HP bikes…” I’m still convinced torque is king. Horsepower comes along for the ride (product of torque and rpm) so you don’t have to use it to be an a$$hole. I also strongly believe in having plenty of reserve when needed to avoid a bad situation. My BMW R1200RT has about 125HP and doesn’t feel overpowered for it’s size and weight. And, when riding two up with luggage you better believe the 90 lb-ft or so of torque can be “necessary”.
As with cars, HP sells bikes but we ride torque.
One of the many reasons I enjoy Ducatis - both HP and torque. For example, the 1199 Panigale produces 200 HP and 100 lb/ft at a lithe 362 pounds (and no room for a passenger).
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Depending on the year, the engine in the RT is pretty close to the same as the RS. Different flywheels, gearing, or other minor things. It has plenty of torque. I can’t say better than my VFR/Interceptors, but different. It’s definitely better suited to me at this stage of my life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXQ86q8MfWm/
Sorry. For the interested, this is a Lego 1/5 scale BMW M1000RR kit to be introduced in the new year. Their largest motorcycle kit to date.
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If they made a model of the RS I’d have to have one!
It does resemble my RR.
A friend of mine and his son love these expensive, one purpose, LEGO models. They spend $175.00 on a Ferrari LEGO, put it together in a short bit of time, and it then sits on a shelf.
It makes my hobbies look exceedingly practical.
Edit: $229.99 for the RR model.
And I think Lego cleared $1.5B in sales last year. Working from memory so consider that little issue 
So I am not sure how many of you motorcycle lovers have done an iron butt ride of 1000 miles or more in a day. I have a variety of them (1000 miles in 24 hours, 1500miles in 36hrs, 2000 miles in 48 hours, 50 national parks or historic sites in 20 states in one year). It is a fun challenge if you are on a decent bike. I used my 2004 Bmw 1150 RT for all of the above.
Last weekend while @angen was picking up some gear for me from our audio drug dealer, I was riding a 1000 miles from LA to Denver on my girlfriends smallish Harley. Temps were mostly around 95 to 100 until the end of the day at Vail pass at around 47. The bike and it’s controls were way to small for me and my ass was killing me after day 1.
Three days later I went from Denver to Minneapolis. These three different car air seat cushions lifted me into a more comfortable rising position…and helped save my butt. Safe riding boys and girls
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Have read many Iron Butt stories over the years and enjoy living vicariously. Not sure those marathon rides are my thing. The best I’ve managed in one day is about 550 miles on my former BMW K1200RS (sadly died along with a deer in 2013). Fortunately I’m still riding (now a BMW R1200RT).
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I wouldn’t want to tow a motorcycle that far let alone drive one.
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BMW makes some uncomfortable seats, but I’m totally satisfied with the “comfort seat” that I bought as an option on my 800GT. Granted, I’m almost exclusively a motorcycle commuter vs a long-distance rider, but I ride to work almost every day 9-10 months of the year in Ohio. Supposedly the GS is a very comfortable ride, but I doubt I’ll ever upgrade to an actual boxer. The GT suits my mission really well-comfortable, reliable transportation 20-30 miles every day. No-fuss belt drive. Boxer-like motor. 24,000 miles between valve checks…this is my endgame bike.
And my Aerostich roadcrafter. If I ever wreck and destroy it, I will probably get another suit before I get another bike. American made. Pricey. But the design is a work of art. When they say “design is how something works”, nothing I own beats the Roadcrafter.
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I forgot to mention I was wearing the new version of the roadcrafter from Aerostich on the trip. Wore essentially a swim suit underneath with a camelback filled with ice to cool me down on my core then drink cool water before each gas stop.
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I think I paid $750 for it when I got it like 10 years ago because it was a customer return. When the zipper failed, they said “oh, that’s one we sold with a crappy zipper. Send it in and we will put the good kind that we use now in.” For free.
Even at the current $1500, it’s worth every penny. I adore it. The ability to wear nice work clothes under it and still get in and out it in 10 seconds is unmatched. I use their elk skin ropers too as my daily glove. I have a pair of nice Held kangaroo skin gloves a guy I worked with gave me that are far more fitted, but I generally default to the ropers. Aerostich is a lot like PS Audio. High value, not the cheapest, but some of the best stuff, and their top end stuff made in America. Just awesome to deal with.
I wish they would bring back their combat riding boot, but apparently Sidi refused to make them all leather anymore so they haven’t found a new supplier. I lust after those.
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Uhaul rents a motorcycle trailer. Just sayin’
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It’s how I purchased my first bike. I didn’t have a license yet so we towed it home.
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My first Van didn’t have an engine so it was towed home as well. I had fun in that 64 Chevy Van. I had to put two more engines in it myself. When I sold it it had a dead engine. They towed it home.
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We then towed the bike to the Illinois DMV where I proceeded to basically fail my first try on the tight U-turn. This being rural southern Illinois, the evaluator said “you want a couple minutes to practice?” and went in to get a cup of coffee. After a couple tries I nailed it and left with my license and rode the bike home. F650CS. The same bike I’d borrowed from the base motorcycle safety officer to take the MSF course. She was so generous to let me use her bike.
That was the only motorcycle model I’d ever ridden for almost two years until I test rode a Honda 919 that I should have bought. That’s my “one that got away”. I didn’t want to add/switch to a second bike right before I deployed so the missus could use the entire garage. Still breaks my heart a little every time I see one. $3,500 and I didn’t take it. I was such an idiot.
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The day I turned 16 I went to get my motorcycle license in PA on my Honda 125. I had been riding around on the roads for two years prior. When the tester said “Take it out in a straight line in first gear only with smooth acceleration. Execute a u-turn and come back in a straight line and up shift to third. gear”. I asked if he wanted me to do it on the rear wheel only. He was not amused. I passed in spite of my sarcastic nature.
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