The principal thing that comes to mind is that I planned too much. A combination of extreme heat (33-36C) and multiple alpine passes meant that it took real time to cover the distances planned. In such heat, we were sorely tempted to discard our riding gear and "go local" ; however, contemplating the consequences of even the lightest spill, ensured that we kept our boots, gloves, jackets and trousers "on" at all times. Next time though, I would propose a pipe through which I could take regular sips of water. I feel sure that much of our exhaustion was exacerbated by partial dehydration.
And the GT? Quite honestly, an awesome bike which proved its great capability in all areas of touring; from stretches of motorway/autobahn being covered at 100mph+; to twisty but fast "A" roads where the GT's poise, balance and steering made such riding very rewarding (helped of course by my new set of Michelin PR2s)!
As for fuel economy, Dave on his late 08 K1200GT believed that his bike was more economical than my K1300GT. However, we discovered that the K1300 is every bit as frugal as its sibling GT, giving 53mpg on touring runs (45-75mph using 3-5th gears); and only when I was hammering down motorways at speeds around 3 figures, did the mpg drop to a low of 38.5 mpg (these are imperial gallons you understand!)
The one aspect that did surprise us was the efficiency of the cooling system. When we were riding with "in the shade temps" of up to 36C, the "road" temperature (in the sun) was considerably higher. Never once did the GT's temperature gauge rise above its normal operating position and never once did it offer less than perfect reliability, fuelling and performance.
I can think of no better motorcycle - period.
Who's up for touring in 2011?
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