I'm a new rider. Just put down the d/payment for a 6 years old R1100RT after searching/contemplating/thinking/hesitating for 2 months. I must say it was a mixture of encouragement/discouragement. ha ha. But I saw it, I fell in love with it, and now I've bought it. Have I tested it? Well, I rode it alone around a carpark when I went to meet the owner. The swaying from side to side when idle is true. After that, requested the owner to bring me along ( I went as pillion) and speed to 100 km/h along AYE just so I can have a feel of it. The owner was very obliging. The ride felt stable and the bike seems willing to go. Didn't sound like it's working very hard. (Why didn't I ride it myself? he he, new rider, scared cannot handle the bike that still belong to someone else at that time). After that, took the plunge, paid the dpayment. If my loan is approved, I will be one proud owner. As to whether I will face positive or negative experience with it as I start to ride it regularly, I guess I'll never know until I own it. Different people will have different opinions. Different machines of the same model may even behave differently. So, wish me luck, and may I have many many happy and satisfying riding years!