I owned an 1150 version prior to the Ducati. It really was a great bike for touring - You could do 800 miles a day and have no aches across your shoulders or back. They are quite a heavy bike to move around but once you get going that disappears. The front forks and painted yokes are a weak point and will corrode badly over winter. I had mine powder coated to a much more durable finish. The brakes are excellent but again are very prone to seizing if used through winter youll need shares in brake cleaner or have to strip the calipers regularly. I found the engine to be really sweet - it's not the fastest out there but is extremely useable. Two top sites are
www.ukgser.com www.gsclubuk.org Hope this is of help