Good post and thanks for resurrecting this thread!

This is why I haven't taken the typical short test ride offered by dealerships in many years: but I do take note of what folks are prepared to say about makes and models of bikes when they have owned them for a while.
'twould be of value to state your views about the F800 and the R1200 in the BMW section?

Both of these Beemers are "travel bikes" so it comes down to what you are looking for nowadays - the attributes of a bike that matter to you.

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Dave

Maybe I read this wrong but you come across as brand prejudiced. If you like brands buy a Honda and be happy with everything except the parts prices.

The v7 is a Piaggio. This in my experience (5000 miles so far on ) is very different from the what they made back in the day (my old man had a Nevada which was reliable until he had to try and buy brake discs for it and no one knew what year it really was) .

I very much like my V7 and think it is better built than any BMW or Triumph I've had this century.

Andy

no bike is perfect.
live with that fact and you will be happy .
it doesn't matter what anybody else rides or what they think.
"ride what makes you smile"

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Why do (some) people use these forums to switch the topic from bikes to amateur psychiatrist?
I am not whatever you said. If anything Guzzi is a cooler brand. Stop analysing people, you get it wrong.
Right, back to bikes.
Did three weeks in Goa before Christmas. Hired a bullet. Perfect bike for the job. Short trips, easy local fix, great "king of the road" feeling and everyone wanted their pic taken on the bike.
I got back and set off the next day to Spain with a mate for three weeks over Christmas snd NY as I find it a real damp anticlimax here (UK).
Went on my R12r, mate has R1150. We chewed through about two and a half thousand miles chasing sunshine and dry mountain roads. We had a real blast and both agreed we had the perfect bikes.
Why? Road only trip, super comfortable, brilliant factory luggage, alternators that powered everything (Gerbing xxxx) while charging everything else at the same time, wind protection limited but happy not to have the bedroom furniture bulk when running around town (check that R12 weight, lot less than you imagine and it hangs looooooow) but most of all they're ugly, quirky mounts but have buckets loads of character.
Can't wait to do it again next year, maybe Croatia. Same bike.

Why I didn't like the F8gs. I just never gelled with it basically. Technically for dirt it's way too tall and heavy especially with luggage and way too expensive and fashion fragile to drop. (what is it with all this plastic fashion furniture on new so called "adventure" bikes?) it also made a shoit road bike with a very narrow saddle and a 21" hoop up front that combined with a rear weight bias made high speed wet riding downright frightening. Plus, imagine an "unstoppable" adventure bike that required removing battery, battery holder, air box, ten sensors, a hundred bits of plastic (including the f***ing front mudguard!) and a thousand mini screws just to see the spark plugs. Now you did think to buy that special long unique plug extractor that doesn't come with the bike didn't you...? Honestly.
So I love my funky rare ugly R12 with a passion and would only maybe swap it for the fashionably beautiful RnineT as a long term keeper although would miss the extras and creature comforts.
I've realised that I personally need two bikes as I love road touring and weekend blasts (in comfort ) on proper road rubber however for things more third worldy I do need the ability to venture off road and mix it with the locals to get the best out if a trip and not chew up a thousand miles so something simple relatively small, light, simple and reliable is needed. You would still be a two wheeled God on a ten year old 600 single in most countries around the world simply by virtue of the fact that have the freedom and money to travel. That awards you that status, not the bike underneath you.

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have fun with your helmet!