After years on older bikes i fell in love with the looks of a thiumph speed four i was running a FJ1100 at the time i thought the triumph would be quicker lighter therefore better suited to me, i test rode a datona the same bike but with a fairing thought i liked it and bought the speed four and HATED it all revs no go 10.000 revs to pull away then out of steam by 12.500 so all my riding was done between those revs [no way to keep my licence] great fun but a pain in the ass when i wanted a bimble or when i had my Ann on the back , that is my only experiance of a modern 600
The R1100S will bimble, tour, scratch, the bl00dy lot one up or two up it don't care i don't have to mess about with suspension settings if Ann wants to come out for a run or if i am out scratching [playing with the sunday power rangers] [should i say pi55ing them off when they realise it's a rat bike with a walking stick bungied to the rack and a BMW at that]
Last year i was on a run to the lake district with two Fazer 1000's a Suzuki 1400 and a XJ 900 the only comments were F##k thats quick i was in the red line trying to keep with you on that overtake, i should at this time point out that the other bikes with me got home under their own steam i came home thanks to AA recovery the Hall sensor went but i saved a good few bob on fuel costs and was dry all the way home
Let's try to sum up the Fazer 600 will do everything you want it to but if your anything like me you will get bored of it very quickly.
The R1100S is a bit of a bitch, the gearchange is horrible, but you get used to it, handling is great, it's wide filtering will catch you out now and again
It has a soul it's the sort of bike you will fall in love with and you can fix it yourself [with a bit of help from this forum]
I bet you have guessed by now i would go for the BMW i have had mine coming up to 5 years now and don't feel the need to change
Hope this helps Dai
EDIT Got that a bit wrong the Triumph would pull away from lower revs but nothing would happen untill it was at 10,000 then all the power was gone by 12,500 with Ann on the back the front would come up at 10,000 in the first three gears