Bernard, certainly ABS is a must.
And I did like DCT too when I had the chance to give it a try!
To be honest, I don't think Consol and I make any more long trips
... At most, extended weekends like the great one we had last May at VCIM
With 208kkm, I believe my Vara will soon need an expensive investment (disks, clutch, valve adjustment,...), so I believe it'll be soon the time for her replacement. As a used bike is out of question, I narrowed down to an DCT equipped either CT or AT.
Let me summarize my points of concern:
-Weight. CT owners claim that it's not that much more than a Vara, and lower placed. But 30 kg less increase noticeably the off road capabilities and thus a number of tracks of my vicinity I used to enjoy years ago.
-Power. When I bought my Vara, I thought I had too much power on my wrist. Now I feel I'd appreciate a briskier throttle response... On the other hand, all my bikes have had more power than their preceeding ones.
-Tyre choice. There are not so many choices for AT's unusual 150-70/18...
-Chain. A nuisance, but a bearable one when you live in a dry climate.
-Ergonomy and comfort. No problem with CT. About AT, I don't think I have any with size, but its seat design and protection against wind are to be checked...
We'll see.
Regards,
Josep