Hello again, and sorry for the delay in replying; I've been working double shifts this week.
throttlemeister and hjr1100s,
With regard to the raised 'bars, screen and panniers, I'd like to clarify that I'm not trying to turn my bike into a tourer. That's not to say I won't tour on it, but I realise it will never be comparable with the likes of an RT. I just wanted to make it a little more practical and comfortable.
I broke my back a couple of years ago, and have neck problems from an MTB accident before that (Not that I'm dangerous, or anything like that....), so felt that the 'bars would be a good idea.
Also, I've always liked the look of street bikes with raised 'bars, such as the old Eddie Lawson replica Kawasakis, etc.
I did consider buying an RT, and also a GS. If I'm perfectly honest, I suspect the GS would be a more 'useable' bike for me in standard trim, at least from an ergonomic point of view. I imagine that it would be more comfortable and ultimately more practical too.
The fact is that I like the look of the 1200S (although not as much as the mandarin / graphite 1100S), and I fancied something a bit more sporty looking than the R1200R. I don't doubt that the R1200R is an excellent bike, but I think it looks rather dull. Oddly enough, I've never been too bothered by what a particular bike looks like, and have tended to go for function over fashion. I'm not sure why I was so keen to go for the 1200S; perhaps I'm having a mid-life crisis?
Who knows HJ, perhaps I would enjoy an R1200R more, but I have to say that I'm happy (so far) with my choice, and look forward to spending more time on it.
I've never been bothered by what other people ride, or what modifications they make to their bikes; that's their business. I tend just to do my own thing, and I can't see why it should bother or offend other bikers. That's not to say I haven't made mistakes with bike purchases, builds and modifications in the past - I certainly have, but that's all part of the learning process.
Incidentally, I've been riding (on the road) for 24 years, and have had more bikes than I care to remember, so I consider that I have a good idea of what works for me now.
Don't be surprised if you see my bike up for sale this time next year though!
AJ,
I bought the stand on eBay recently, from this seller -
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Motorcycle-Stands-And-Spares (I think he's the same person PBBoxer referred to)
The seller lists a stand for the BMW, but it costs approximately £30 more than my (identical) model, for no apparent reason (perhaps because it's for a BMW, and their owners are made of money, aren't they....?!) I bought the cheapest single-sided stand, plus a 'pin' (as the seller describes it) to suit the BMW hub.
So far I’m generally pleased with it, but when it arrived three of the six bolt holes for the support arm were untapped. Fortunately, I had the correct size tap at home, and was able to correct the problem quickly. The pin to support the rear wheel was also a few thousandths of an inch oversize, and I had to have it turned down by a friend with a lathe. That probably makes the stand out to be really bad, but I am happy with it; the manufacturer stated that the BMW axle pins are normally turned out on a CNC machine, but that he had run out on this occasion and made it by hand. He didn’t have a BMW around to gauge the size, hence the discrepancy.
The bottom line is that I would recommend it, but be aware that it is fairly bulky if space is an issue. The BMW folding stand may be better if that's the case.
budman 200210,
I normally fit a Baglux cover as a matter of course when I buy a new bike, as I think they're ideal for protecting the paintwork. (They're also handy for attaching a bag to) I don't have a matching bag, and probably won't bother buying one. I also bought a BMW waterproof tank bag via eBay last week, and am keen to see what that's like. I plan to store a 2-way radio, mobile phone, MP3 player, etc in my tank bag, so would imagine the BMW one will be better for that purpose.
julian,
Yes, that's my tortoise. His name is Beavis, and we believe he is in excess of 85 years old. We can't be certain of his age because, as you will know, the only way to be sure with a tortoise is to cut it in half and count the rings.
steve*mac,
I also have a Baglux on my VFR -
It fits far better than the one on my BMW (and looks better too), but the shape of the BMW tank / fairing doesn't really lend itself to fitting a cover as well as a conventional tank does.
Thanks for all the comments, good and bad.
Must dash, as the baby needs feeding....
Cheers for now,
Iain
. It won't make it look any better, but it will become a proper touring machine. 
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