u/Dragobrath

A bit of backstory. I started on SFV2 (955), had it for a year. I was mostly doing track days, riding on the weekends on country roads, but to get to any nice locations I needed to go an hour on highway, and it was tough without any kind of wind protection. I live in a windy area, so constant gusts throwing me off the bike ruined any enjoyment I had from riding. Touring on it was out of question.

I spent summer trying out different kinds of motorcycles, and realized that I don't have fun on the bike unless I am properly engaged in riding. I need stiff suspension, the feedback from the road, to feel the front end.

I tested Mulstistrada V4S, and while I could see that it's a very capable machine, it still felt like I was detached and isolated from the road. I was glad to be back on SF after the demo.

Then I managed to get my friend to lend me an R1, and I fell in love with superbike ergos, the engine character. Though, on one hand it was even more of what I already loved about motorcycling, but on the other - it was pretty taxing on the body, so I still wasn't sure if I'd be able to adjust to the soreness and pain, and enjoy having a bike like this long term, especially since I was riding long hours.

I also tested a modded 22' Panigale V4, but it felt like it was "too much of a bike" for me at that time. It has beaten me up, burnt my legs, and I could not let it stretch its legs on the roads around the city. But I also heard that 25'+ model is easier to ride and is less hot. Some people told me that they commute on them and do track days without any issues, especially if you add heat shields, change exhaust, wear leathers instead of riding jeans.

I thought about getting one to see if I could adjust and get used to it, but BMW offered generous discounts on their bikes before the start of the season, so I got a well optioned S1000RR for €6k less than base V4.

Now after living with it for a while, I have a different perspective on superbikes. First of all, I reevaluated the experience I had with V4 demo. That bike was more refined, had better controls, was easier to lean and ride in general than S1K, and had an incredible engine character, which I hoped I wouldn't miss with inline 4...

However, in this season the roads also started to feel different. I usually go to the same national park every weekend, and this spring the roads just got terrible. Maybe it's because of the really cold winter (some roads within the city objectively got worse as well), or maybe the SF suspension was just softer, so I did not mind it as much. But on S1K it just ruins the enjoyment from riding. Some open sweeping curves with good asphalt are pure delight, some roads are just bumpy so you have to exercise restraint and ride carefully, while on some I try to not get my balls broken.

So I wonder if this something that electronically adjustable suspension on Pani V4S can solve? Or do I need to consider a different bike class altogether? My second option is Pikes Peak, but when I think about it, I get flashbacks to V4S, and how heavy and disconnected it felt. Does anyone have experience switching from sportbike to Pikes Peak? Did it still feel fun and engaging to ride the technical roads, or is it mostly marketing hype, and PP is still a heavy adventure bike with a bit more sporty feeling?

Are there any other bikes or bike classes that I am missing, which would fit my needs?