Cheers Pleiades.

Hi Dan,

Many will argue over my decision but for me the only downside of the big GS is exactly that, with the big comes the word heavy, also being the 1150 it's heavy enough to start with plus kit and it's very bloody heavy.

Going RTW on your lonesome means when you come off it's up to you to lift it. Whether going up a muddy track to visit a volcano, being pushed off the road with oncoming traffic and sliding down a riverbank or hitting bull dust and losing it in the outback. The first lift is ok but when it happens more than once you know about it.

My poor old body has had 22 years of military abuse and 5 years in the saddle so now I'm not so fit. When I saw this little beauty on Ebay I went for it. My good friends James and Emily went RTW on an XT without any snags and most people I meet going RTW are on smaller bikes.

You see I waffled a lot on a simple answer, I hope this helps. The GS is a great bike, more comfort, speed, reliable, great for two up and would out last me on the road but for off road and weight the XT wins.