One bike to do it all--So which one then ?

One bike to do it all--So which one then ?

Author
Discussion

LordFlathead

9,641 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
LordFlathead said:
+1
Been there with the ZZR1400 and it doesn't come close to doing it all. Test rode the Multistrada and it sounded like farm machinery plus the build quality wasn't particularly good.
That's your opinion and this was mine, but like 3DP I think this is the ultimate bike and I've previously owned 149. I use it for work most days, it returns nearly 50mpg, you don't have to thrash it, it doesn't care what gear it is in and it is comfortable. Last week I rode down to Cornwall and back in a day. The next day I used it for work.

I do like the Duke's but as you say they are agricultural.

I don't want a BMW because the image sucks and they don't have anything that floats my boat either.

I like a bike which is comfortable, fast, good on fuel, can carry a lot (Le Mans every year), is reliable, I can work on it, has street cred.

These are the reasons it is for me, the perfect bike. Now what are you trying to sell me? smile

spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
Take a Multistrada, reduce width of handlebars by 2", drop overall height by 1", add shaft drive, and I suspect that would be perfect. smile

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
CBR JGWRR said:
feckdeamon said:
Or just buy a CB1000R? Comfy enough for 500 mile days, plenty go to keep up with sportsbikes, tank range a bit low at 100-120 miles though.
Because a Blade is special, an iconic bike, and the CB1000R, capable as it may be, just isn't.

Of course, re-reading what I wrote in the first place would lead to a Blackbird as a better starting point...
Once you've done all the mods you suggested though, and turned it into some quasi-tourer, you don't have a Fireblade any longer.

IforB

9,840 posts

228 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
I went through exactly this thought process before I got my Multistrada.

Basically it'll eat up motorway with no issue, is great in the twisties, is absolutely epic on fast, sweepig roads and I've even had it off road.

I can't ever remember being dropped by other bikes in terms of power, alright an S100RR would monster it in a straight line above 100mph but how often on the road is that really an issue?

Properly quick, all day comfy, my wife is happy on the back, you can lob plenty in the panniers for a week or two of touring, or you can go out for a proper brain out blast when you feel like it and you definitely won't be embarrassed by anything.

Stonking bikes. The new KTM Adventure 1190 is pretty epic as well though.

CBR JGWRR

6,518 posts

148 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Once you've done all the mods you suggested though, and turned it into some quasi-tourer, you don't have a Fireblade any longer.
Put the standard bits back on. Problem solved.

smile


Or do the work to quality levels above and beyond Hondas own effort, but I suspect that would be harder.

graham22

3,293 posts

204 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
GSXR1000 K3/4 - last of the full size 1000s, nearly as fast as a ZZR14 or Hayabusa, ok two up, still able to use throwovers, sports rack & tank bag plus it's still a managable good handling bike.

That would be my choice if I was to go to one bike, my old 1000K2 was a competent all-rounder which did all of the above.

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
LordFlathead said:
Silver993tt said:
LordFlathead said:
+1
Been there with the ZZR1400 and it doesn't come close to doing it all. Test rode the Multistrada and it sounded like farm machinery plus the build quality wasn't particularly good.
That's your opinion and this was mine, but like 3DP I think this is the ultimate bike and I've previously owned 149. I use it for work most days, it returns nearly 50mpg, you don't have to thrash it, it doesn't care what gear it is in and it is comfortable. Last week I rode down to Cornwall and back in a day. The next day I used it for work.

I do like the Duke's but as you say they are agricultural.

I don't want a BMW because the image sucks and they don't have anything that floats my boat either.

I like a bike which is comfortable, fast, good on fuel, can carry a lot (Le Mans every year), is reliable, I can work on it, has street cred.

These are the reasons it is for me, the perfect bike. Now what are you trying to sell me? smile
Agreed - I guess it depends on your sort of riding for a do-it-all bike, but a 275kg, 127bhp bike with a 19" front wheel wouldn't come close for me. Even the Pikes Peak Multistrada I rode (which is as far away from Agricultural as you can get in my view!!) lacked enough front end feel for me to truly enjoy, but Adventure style bikes are far more comfy than sports tourers.

I wouldn't say a ZZR is my ultimate bike, but certainly my first choice for a do-it all bike as it can still boogie with sports bikes in the 90-140mph range TT type roads where an Adventure bike or tourer would be long left behind. If this isn't important to you, then the adventure bikes make a lot of sense with the new batch having decent poke.

Hayabusas just aren't comfy and in my view, offering nothing over a the more practical litre sportsbikes but include the disadvantages of the ZZR/K1300S of weight and long wheelbase. I like them, but not as a serious 'do-it-all' proposition.

black-k1

11,887 posts

228 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
3DP said:
LordFlathead said:
Silver993tt said:
LordFlathead said:
+1
Been there with the ZZR1400 and it doesn't come close to doing it all. Test rode the Multistrada and it sounded like farm machinery plus the build quality wasn't particularly good.
That's your opinion and this was mine, but like 3DP I think this is the ultimate bike and I've previously owned 149. I use it for work most days, it returns nearly 50mpg, you don't have to thrash it, it doesn't care what gear it is in and it is comfortable. Last week I rode down to Cornwall and back in a day. The next day I used it for work.

I do like the Duke's but as you say they are agricultural.

I don't want a BMW because the image sucks and they don't have anything that floats my boat either.

I like a bike which is comfortable, fast, good on fuel, can carry a lot (Le Mans every year), is reliable, I can work on it, has street cred.

These are the reasons it is for me, the perfect bike. Now what are you trying to sell me? smile
Agreed - I guess it depends on your sort of riding for a do-it-all bike, but a 275kg, 127bhp bike with a 19" front wheel wouldn't come close for me. Even the Pikes Peak Multistrada I rode (which is as far away from Agricultural as you can get in my view!!) lacked enough front end feel for me to truly enjoy, but Adventure style bikes are far more comfy than sports tourers.

I wouldn't say a ZZR is my ultimate bike, but certainly my first choice for a do-it all bike as it can still boogie with sports bikes in the 90-140mph range TT type roads where an Adventure bike or tourer would be long left behind. If this isn't important to you, then the adventure bikes make a lot of sense with the new batch having decent poke.

Hayabusas just aren't comfy and in my view, offering nothing over a the more practical litre sportsbikes but include the disadvantages of the ZZR/K1300S of weight and long wheelbase. I like them, but not as a serious 'do-it-all' proposition.
I have to agree. Horses for courses but for me an all rounder is a sports bike that can tour comfortably, with easily detachable hard luggage and a decent tank range.

Richyboy

3,739 posts

216 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
Test ride the s1000r and get them to put in the dynamic pro plug, maybe your views on image will change. Its an animal in dynamic pro mode and a pussycat when in road/dynamic mode. Put larger screen on with cruise control, quick shifter, suspension in soft mode and long rides will be easy. Put small screen back on for the short fun stuff perhaps. LOL I'm trying to sell it to myself.

spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
I think we've already talked about this bike... I'm waiting for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
spareparts said:
I think we've already talked about this bike... I'm waiting for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...
Call me cynical, but the IL4 layout and bore and stroke dimensions of that particular engine make it the opposite of what I reckon a good adv would need from an engine. Will be interesting to see if BMW manage to work some light weight, cam and short gearing magic to make it good. They seemed to have managed it with the S1000R.

spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
3DP said:
spareparts said:
I think we've already talked about this bike... I'm waiting for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...
Call me cynical, but the IL4 layout and bore and stroke dimensions of that particular engine make it the opposite of what I reckon a good adv would need from an engine. Will be interesting to see if BMW manage to work some light weight, cam and short gearing magic to make it good. They seemed to have managed it with the S1000R.
As you say, they've already done it with the S1000R, so it's more than likely that they could do it for the 'GS1000'. You say 'a good adv would need from an engine'. I look at it differently - a do it all bike needs the heart and chassis of a sports bike with ergonomics of an adv bike. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between... the Multistrada was a good effort, but it's not quite perfect. Likewise the ZZR14/K13S, but also not quite perfect. Maybe the GS1000 is it?...

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
spareparts said:
I think we've already talked about this bike... I'm waiting for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...
Interesting!

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
For me, one bike to do it all would need to be some sort of adventure sport bike with suspension that can cope well with lumpy, bumpy, tight roads like the Trough of Bowland, but not too heavy.


bitwrx

1,351 posts

203 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
Question from the uninitiated: the FJR has not been mentioned. Too big and tourer-y, making it a handful round town? Or too big to be quick/handle on the bends? Or just not as good as the others?

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
spareparts said:
3DP said:
spareparts said:
I think we've already talked about this bike... I'm waiting for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...
Call me cynical, but the IL4 layout and bore and stroke dimensions of that particular engine make it the opposite of what I reckon a good adv would need from an engine. Will be interesting to see if BMW manage to work some light weight, cam and short gearing magic to make it good. They seemed to have managed it with the S1000R.
As you say, they've already done it with the S1000R, so it's more than likely that they could do it for the 'GS1000'. You say 'a good adv would need from an engine'. I look at it differently - a do it all bike needs the heart and chassis of a sports bike with ergonomics of an adv bike. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between... the Multistrada was a good effort, but it's not quite perfect. Likewise the ZZR14/K13S, but also not quite perfect. Maybe the GS1000 is it?...
The S1000R is still very light though. If the GS is lacking in torque in pure terms, the weight will punish that. As there is a weight penalty for any Adventure style bike, plus they are shorter geared and have lower top speeds, then a larger, torque layden engine is the way forward, with a decent top end. KTM and Ducati have it right and Triumph could do if they redesigned that dynosaur of a 1050/1200 unit with modern sportsbike topology.

Unless BMW can make a really light adventure bike with the S1000GS, I think it's a square peg in a round hole.

The trouble with any Adventure bike is front end feel. If you worship at that altar, nothing can be engineered in to fix that, so for that reason for a do-it-all bike, I'm oot.

JacquesMesrine

329 posts

133 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
KTM 1290 Superduke?. Its possibly a Multistrada without the old man front end.

robsa

2,254 posts

183 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
If it was me buying something, the Honda Blackbird would be right at the top of the list. They can be picked up quite reasonably now, you can ride all day on one, they go well, can carry a pillion in comfort, just a great all-round bike.

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
LordFlathead said:
I like a bike which is comfortable, fast, good on fuel, can carry a lot (Le Mans every year), is reliable, I can work on it, has street cred.
Clearly, you need an ST1300 smile
Of course many people will dispute the street cred. bit but just tell them to go and fk themselves, what do they know? I bet they've never driven a Skoda either wink
Granted 140-ish is about your lot but be real: how many owners of Hyabusas do 200mph everywhere?

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

238 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
spareparts said:
As you say, they've already done it with the S1000R, so it's more than likely that they could do it for the 'GS1000'. You say 'a good adv would need from an engine'. I look at it differently - a do it all bike needs the heart and chassis of a sports bike with ergonomics of an adv bike. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between... the Multistrada was a good effort, but it's not quite perfect. Likewise the ZZR14/K13S, but also not quite perfect. Maybe the GS1000 is it?...
Honda VFR1200X Cross Tourer has those attributes, has the 'heart/engine & chassis' from the VFR1200 but with the ergonomics of an adventure bike. It also as a V4 engine config which I think suits the adventure style better than an IL4 and definitely better than any 2-cyl for any kind of long distance trips.