All these faults came at once. Had they come one at a time, I no doubt would have fixed them (myself) and soldiered on – as I have with many running repairs I've made on these venerable machines over the years.

I knew in my heart of hearts that the K 1100 LT was the best touring machine available and that, although there had been many advances in technology over the years (my last K 1100 was a 1999 - registered late), the K 1100 LT was so advanced when introduced, that it was still very capable and not worth spending the – not inconsiderable sum of money – needed to buy a different bike. Plus, I had tons of spare parts that would not fit the next bike I chose.

Well I may have been kidding myself because it didn't take long before I was seduced by a younger model: the R 1200 RT .

After some months of using my new bike for the daily commute, as well as going on a couple of tours, I can safely say I think I've chosen well. It lives up to, and exceeds, all expectations. But how does it compare to my older model, my trusted long-serving K 1100? Did I make the right decision?

The R 1200 RT certainly does look good and it's more modern. The downside is that it seems to corrode more (see my previous story: Wheelie Good, as an example). Whilst a lot of this is hidden under the fairings, I still know it's there.

My K 1100 fairing was a little more protective in cold and wet weather. It also had great road presence: being an ex-police bike, and had good gearing at low speeds, the bike benefited me greatly on busy roads, where people would quite regularly assume I was a cop and move over.

That wasn't the only good thing about riding the K 1100; it could also take a lot of weight – very handy during my many tours – and was fantastic in just about any weather, thanks to it superb fairings. Plus the mirrors gave a clearer rear view than the R 1200 RT.

The R 1200 RT, on the other hand, is not quite so good in the rain. It's not as protective (my arms seem a little more in the breeze) and, despite using all the right riding gear, I do tend to get a little more wet and colder than I was on the K 1100. That said, I can't fault the handling of the R 1200. It's lighter, faster and the saddle is comfier. The K 1100 was top heavy and I don't miss wobbling on it at junctions if the road surface was loose.

Another point to make about the cold: The K 1100 blew a lot of hot air out from the engine, which was probably why I felt warmer riding it in winter than I do the R 1200. But, what would benefit me in the winter, would certainly disadvantage my summer riding – I spent much time in Spain sitting in traffic in what us British people would call a heatwave, with lovely hot air blasting out onto me. The R 1200 doesn't do this, so it makes summer riding more of a pleasure. Winter, on the other hand...

The R 1200 is more economical and can do 48-55 mile to the gallon, compared with 38-45 MPG that the K 1100 used to offer me. It also vibrates less, which was a common problem with K 1100s, especially at cruising speeds.

One of the main reasons I held onto the K 1100 for so long was because of its storage capacity – very handy for touring fanatics such as myself. The R 1200 RT doesn't rate so highly on this. It only has one pocket (the K 1100 had two) which is maxed out with a radio. There's also less space under the seat. The panniers are slightly wider on it as well (3cm wider on either side, to be exact), which makes it a little more difficult to filter through traffic.

Oh but the kit! The kit is where the R 1200 RT really holds its own. I used to think that I didn't need accessories such as a trip computer with temperature, miles to the gallon, radio, traction control, ABS, heated grips, heated seats and tyre pressure information. How wrong I was! Having gotten used to the bountiful accessories of the R 1200, I can no longer imagine riding without them.

My R 1200 also came with a factory fitted Sat Nav – although I bought the bike second hand for around £3,000 (they are £15,000 new with an additional £1,500 for satellite navigation), I'm very lucky that the previous owner, and original purchaser of it, chose to pay the extra. The K 1100, being an older bike, did not have this luxury, and I had to buy and fit my own. Both bikes have an autocom intercom fitted - great for hearing the radio and intercom.

Despite being fully kitted I am aware that, being a more sophisticated bike, the R 1200 is going to be more expensive to repair, whereas there is a ready supply of (very reasonably priced) aftermarket parts for the K 1100 LT. After doing a few jobs on the R 1200, I can tell you it's also much less DIY friendly, and I feel already like I'm going to be spending more than I did before on occasional professional help. The only parts that were more expensive on the K 1100 were the tyres, as they were rarer than the ones on the R 1200 – and also less sophisticated. But then again, the R 1200 is more sophisticated in most ways.

There's no doubt that I will always have a soft spot for K 1100 LTs – they were a huge part of my life and I had many years of countless experiences and unforgettable memories out of them. But, despite my reluctance to buy a newer bike, and despite the possible increased repair costs and minor storage disadvantage, I'm very glad I bought the R 1200. It looks great, it handles great, it's cheaper to run; it's brought me into the 21st century of motorcycling, in a nutshell, and I love it!

The era of modern motorcycling has finally reached me – and there's no going back now!

Have you ever been torn between two bikes? Which ones were they and what was your verdict? Share your stories with us at [email protected].

09/12/15          Great story of love of machines!

10/11/12          Got best of both world CBR1100XX and a BMW K1200LT

10/12/15          Versys 650 and V-Strom 650. Versys Bonneville and W650. Bonneville

11/12/15          Only 2? Jeez, if that was the case, I,d be a wealthy man today! Lol Ps, would,nt change a thing if I could go back in time!

11/12/15           Gl1100 wing or 550 /4k .chose the wing

11/12/15           Get both now iv got 4

12/12/15          got Kawasaki LTD 1000 for cruising, Honda CBR 1000 F-M for keeping up with the lads and Yamaha FJ 1200 as a daily hack, all as good as each other when used right