71 here and over the last few years have become very fond of Triumphs. I own a couple water cooled triples ('99 Thunderbird Sport, '15 Tiger 800 XRx). My first Beemer was a '70 R75/5 that I took cross country in '76. Took a 35 year lay off and when I got back into riding bought a K100LT and briefly owned a GS thumper. In the interim I tried a few others but that triple motor is very sweet: smooth linear power from just above idle. I was/am satisfied with the Tiger.........
But, a couple years ago a friend offered me his R12 to take for a spin. I never forgot the torque rush. With room in the garage for another bike and some cash, my eye wandered, as it has a habit of doing, to discover the R1200 is offered in a"classic" version- and in the same black/white color scheme as my first slash 5. That was too much! The rest, as they say, is history. A lovely, low mile, pristine '11 is getting farkled up in the garage as we speak. Just about a month into ownership, it now has peg lowering (Suburban Manufacturing), Madstad windshield, accessory port and Xgrip mounted on the Madstad bar, Motech crash bars and a Sargent seat soon to come.
The bike isn't without flaws. The rumble strip phenomena I've posted about is greatly reduced since re-balancing the wheels but now I'm sensitized to it and being only 170 lbs and below the weight the bike is set up for, even with ESA set on "comfort", is still not plush like both of the Triumphs. The hard seat is the only other complaint and that is soon getting sorted.
Still, the bike is getting all my attention. Yes, its the "new" bike but the torque is exhilarating and there's the emotional connection to the slash 5 and the boxer motor. I guess it is really possible to be in love with more than one bike. For me, 3 is just right (and that's not counting my KLX351) And, when riding season resumes here in W. Mass, and I can't abide with the suspension, I suppose I'll dive into shock upgrades....