Touring

Backstory: For the next few years, my wife and I will be out of sync when it comes to summer vacations. I'm a lazy-ass professor who gets all summer off. She's a pharmacist who has to work. (Being kept is cool.) Even though I have been riding motorcycles since I was 14 (I'm currently a LOT closer to 60 than 14.), I have never done the touring thing. So this seems to be the time to do it. You know, "on the road again" Charles Bronson and all that.

But I'm not into the bare bones approach. I'm old. I have already paid all the dues I plan on paying. Thus, I'm interested in your thoughts on what bike to get.

I already know what I don't want, which is a big fat Harley. Geeze Louise, I scared the piss outta me the other day helping out a friend. He brought one of those big-ass wedding cake Harleys (ultra glide?) and asked if I would drive it home for him. Those things are dangerous! I was on the beltway where it merged into another beltway. Imagine the 405 and 5 coming together. You know, where four lanes merge into five. I'm doing bout 70 in the far lane (the #1 lane? next to the retaining wall) and just trying to stay alive, when I see this mutha trucker bound for glory out of the corner of my eye. He was ballin da jack for all it was worth while sliding across the lanes and headed for me. Instinct kicks in, and I wack the throttle figuring to get out in front of this bad boy. Nuthin doing. The bike made more noise and started shaking harder, but that trucker and I stayed on a collision course. Physics being physics, I decided to bail and grabbed the front brake. WHOA MAMA! Sum-a-female dawg! Those forks had zero damping. I haven't rock n' rolled like that since my water bed days. Even worse, I wasn't slowing down. Fortunately, that 18-wheeler kept on going faster while I finally started going slower. I got the bike to my buddy, parked it, and made him swear to never ride it.

I don't think I want a Gold Wing. If I want to ride in a Lazy Boy, I'll buy a Buick.

Here are the bikes that have caught my eye:

1. Kawi Connie 14.
2. BMW GS 1200, or
3. Honda Valkyrie.

The big GS looks like my kinda bike, but I don't think it offers much rain protection. In East Texas, we get a LOTTA rain. Plus, it is expensive. Say $18k?

The Connie might be the ticket. I believe they go for around $14k.

But I have always liked the Valkyrie. It's hard to beat a Honda six cylinder. It looks like I can pick one up for around $6k and have money left over to buy a bigger windshield and whatnot.

Your thoughts?

Dale

 

My first suggestion is to narrow down the kind of bike you want. Right now you have 3 VERY different choices. You have a Sport Tourer (Kawi), an Adventure Tourer (BMW), and a Cruiser (Honda). For the best wind and rain protection you should look at the Kawi but it will have the most aggressive riding position too. The BMW will have the best riding position but lacks in wind protection. To be honest go ride a Goldwing before you judge it. It will offer you the best wind protection and comfort if you are going to truly be "touring". To me touring is trips of 2k miles or more type stuff. If you are thinking more like 500 mile trips then any of the 3 above will be fine. Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

Is Moto Guzzi Norge out of the equation?

 

You can get a leftover new Concours for far less than $14k

http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2008-Kawasaki-Concours-14-97886426
http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2008-Kawasaki-Concours-14-97901594
http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2009-Kawasaki-Concours-14-97547763
http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2009-Kawasaki-Concours-14-96792814

Other options would be the Yamaha FJR1300 and Honda VFR1200 for sport touring bikes. Yamaha has a new Adventure touring bike available for special order as well.

 

You mean in one day? Yeah, 500 miles is good. I ain't no Iron Butt (although I have been called a hard ass). My problem with a Wing is I come from the school that a motorcycle should weigh no more than 500 pounds. I know, I know, I'm old. Is the difference between a sport tourer, adventure tourer, and a cruiser just seating? Things were different back in my day. You had Bonnevilles, Sportsters, and fat Harleys for old guys. But now that I'm an old guy, I'm wondering if maybe the sit up and beg style might be the way to go.

Good point. We even have a Goose dealer here in Houston.

Interesting!

Keep those cards and letters coming folks.

 

Hey Doc, how about a Duc Multistrada?

Been considering one for myself. Very capable MC.


If you want something that stops, goes, handles and you can keep your butt on it all day.

 

Ducs always scare me. All those bits and pieces hanging off here and there...

 

Sport Touring bikes are essentially sport bikes with higher bars and lower pegs. More suited for 500 mile days on a twisty road. The. Kawi, Yamaha FJR, Triumph Sprint and Honda VFR. Adventure Touring bikes have even higher bars and lower pegs but no fairings because they are made to go off road from time to time. Fairings and trees don't mix well. BMW GS, Duc Multi, Triumph Tiger, and Kawi & Suzuki both have one too I think. Sorry didn't mean to imply 2k in one day. I have done many 500 mile days on my Duc 748 and will be doing a 750 mile loop on my Monster but I don't think anyone can do 2k in a day. I was speaking total trip miles. I definitely get not wanting the HD under powered and useless brakes with junk suspension for your $20k.

 

Our resident lil squid and her hubby's dealership?

 

Are you sure?
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Ah, no. I'm thinking about Cliff, who is a brother that was once underground, if you know what I'm saying, but who made the transitition. Google British USA in South Houston. Cliff is a biker through and through. Pls don't ask me how I know this to be true.

Dale

 

Man, if that ain't sex on wheels, I don't know what is. Only problem is I can't see myself doing much more than an hour at a time in the saddle. Damn! Getting old is a female dog.

Dale

ps But you never know. I once was thinking about driving my Maranello to Alaska. Why? I dunno. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

You know, the GS really calls to me. I'm 6'2" so the height thing is no big deal. Plus, I raced dirt bikes as a kid. Moreover, I HATE riding in the rain. But... well sometimes you don't always have as much control over things as you'd like. Does anybody make a bigger after market windshield.

Dale

ps The Soft Thud of Name Dropping: I met Craig Vetter as a kid when he was based in Rantoul Illinois. Somehow, I doubt he remembers our meeting. Given the circumstances, I'm surprised I do.

 

D-A-M-N, that's beautiful motorcycle. I wonder if my health insurance covers chiropractors.

Dale

 

Check out advrider.com for the GS/dual sport. Check out a Victory Cross Tour. Victory engines are strong and the bikes handle well. They are well planted and do not wiggle around like HD. They have good ground clearance until they start dragging parts. Wind protection is good.
Get some good rain gear that will keep you dry.

 

KTM has developed a good reputation with their twins. Like you I am 6'2" and can fit on their adventure bike just fine. It has a very tall seat that most on the lower end of the anatomic scale find challenging.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/175/8458/Motorcycle-Article/2011-KTM-990-Adventure-R-Review.aspx

The Yamaha looks very cool and uses a novel way of simulating a V-twn with offset crankpins in a vertical twin. You won't see one everyday like a GS.
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/02/24february10stannounced/

The Ducati Superchicken in 'S' form is loaded with the most toys but is also the most expensive. Ducati made several changes to the desmo engine that allow valve adjustment intervals to stretch to 15,000 miles.
http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2011-ducati-multistrada-1200-s-preview

 

Honda Valkyrie Rune 1800cc- Goldwing powerplant smoothness w/o the lazyboy seat.

 

I have a Triumph Sprint, which is a great sport tourer. You might also look at the Triumph Tiger, which gets you the fantastic Triumph motor in a taller package.

Or, if you don't want anything fancy, how about a V-Strom? Everyone I know who has one loves it.

 

Did you even consider downshifting a gear on the Harley ? The 6th gear in it is very high , for cruising , not for rapid accelleration. Biggest irritation I would have with the goldwing would be the inability to look below the fairing , when negotiating tight turns in parking lots & such where the view down to the forks is blocked. Then again what do I know about bikes ? only ride 30K plus miles a year with 2 trips last year of being fairly long . One being drom Key West FL to Homer Alaska (8500 miles , the way it was routed) and one with a sidecar rig from San Diego to Tampa with my wife & then 19 month old son. Oh , the new Harley's have Brembo's that are supposed to have made the brakes MUCH better for those who don't know to keep safe space around them .

 

I totally forgot about the KTM bikes. They would be a great option too. The V strom was the Suzuki I was trying to think of. That would be a lower cost alternative to the BMW. There should be several windshield options for the GS if you decide to go that way though. I like the Adv bikes but I don't see myself on one just yet. Take a look at "Long Way Round" if you haven't seen it yet. It's a documentary of Ewan MacGregor's trip around the world.

 

Double Damn

It's too bad that Ducati stopped making this beauty and nice low-mileage examples are near impossible to find.

 

I almost bought a navy blue ST3 back in the day, really regret not doing so

 

OP~

I recommend the FJR 1300 Yamaha. Good dealership network. Bulletproof bike.

I don't recommend any Valk. (Honda & Dunlop aren't taking any responsibility in the rear tire debacle.) Not worth dyin' over.

I like the BMW. (There have been too many differential failures though. ) Especially during IBA events.

I like the Honda VFR. But I don't like the $16,000 price.

No Harley product.

The FZR is a comfortable bike. You'll need bags for cargo tho.

V-Stroms are great but getting hard to find.

Triumph Sprint ST is a great bike, but dealership network is "hit & miss."

Victory, see Triumph.

K has the Connie. Bulletproof and decent dealership support.

Ktm, Duc, Aprilia are all "boutique" brands and suffer from lousy dealership networks. Avoid them if you're "touring."


Oh, I'm closing on my first million road miles on bikes, so what do I know?

 

I would go with an adventure bike. That way you can cruise the highway as well as play on the dirt and gravel roads you find along the way...

 

there in Houston. MPH cycles. Leftover 2008 Norge around 10K, great shop. Talk to Mike Haven.

Good luck,

John