One bike to do it all--So which one then ?
Discussion
Wedg1e said:
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 
Of course many people will dispute the street cred. bit but just tell them to go and f
k themselves, what do they know? I bet they've never driven a Skoda either 
Granted 140-ish is about your lot but be real: how many owners of Hyabusas do 200mph everywhere?
I would still consider one but not for another 20 years as I'm only 50
Wedg1e said:
Granted 140-ish is about your lot but be real: how many owners of Hyabusas do 200mph everywhere?
It's not about the top speed though.It's about having stonking performance in the 90-140mph range in 3rd and 4th gear which the big top speed allows.
Something like a 1200GS or Cross tourer tops out in the 130s, probably feels properly crap up there and takes a fair while to do the last bit.
Something like a ZZR or K13 will do 90-140mph in under 5 seconds and feels a s
t load more stable and safe when you introduce some lean angle into that too.3DP said:
It's not about the top speed though.
It's about having stonking performance in the 90-140mph range in 3rd and 4th gear which the big top speed allows.
Something like a 1200GS or Cross tourer tops out in the 130s, probably feels properly crap up there and takes a fair while to do the last bit.
Something like a ZZR or K13 will do 90-140mph in under 5 seconds and feels a st load more stable and safe when you introduce some lean angle into that too.
Sure but the thread is about the best do-it-all, which bikes like the ZZR1400 are not, I owned one for 6 years. The adventure bikes have plenty of power left in hand on the motorway, especially if they have a 4-cyl engine with great torque, again, I actually own one and it's far more of a do-it-all as it will take Alpine roads with ease both up & down, unlike the ZZR for example. It is far more comfortable on long journeys, can take lots more luggage if you want to. The ZZR was great for straight line acceleration but that's only one narrow aspect of enjoying a bike.It's about having stonking performance in the 90-140mph range in 3rd and 4th gear which the big top speed allows.
Something like a 1200GS or Cross tourer tops out in the 130s, probably feels properly crap up there and takes a fair while to do the last bit.
Something like a ZZR or K13 will do 90-140mph in under 5 seconds and feels a s
t load more stable and safe when you introduce some lean angle into that too.RizzoTheRat said:
Tiger 800 or Multistrada 1200 if I wanted more power
I suspect that the Tiger 800 might be my ideal bike and possibly my next one.The TDM was successful internationally, although never fashionable in the image-conscious UK. I'm not sure why Yamaha didn't build on what they had.
Silver993tt said:
3DP said:
It's not about the top speed though.
It's about having stonking performance in the 90-140mph range in 3rd and 4th gear which the big top speed allows.
Something like a 1200GS or Cross tourer tops out in the 130s, probably feels properly crap up there and takes a fair while to do the last bit.
Something like a ZZR or K13 will do 90-140mph in under 5 seconds and feels a st load more stable and safe when you introduce some lean angle into that too.
Sure but the thread is about the best do-it-all, which bikes like the ZZR1400 are not, I owned one for 6 years. The adventure bikes have plenty of power left in hand on the motorway, especially if they have a 4-cyl engine with great torque, again, I actually own one and it's far more of a do-it-all as it will take Alpine roads with ease both up & down, unlike the ZZR for example. It is far more comfortable on long journeys, can take lots more luggage if you want to. The ZZR was great for straight line acceleration but that's only one narrow aspect of enjoying a bike.It's about having stonking performance in the 90-140mph range in 3rd and 4th gear which the big top speed allows.
Something like a 1200GS or Cross tourer tops out in the 130s, probably feels properly crap up there and takes a fair while to do the last bit.
Something like a ZZR or K13 will do 90-140mph in under 5 seconds and feels a s
t load more stable and safe when you introduce some lean angle into that too.An adventure bike will never make a "do it all" bike for me for, despite some there being some very capable adventure bikes, they just don't make my heart beat faster and that, for me, is a very big part of doing it all.
MC Bodge said:
The TDM was successful internationally, although never fashionable in the image-conscious UK. I'm not sure why Yamaha didn't build on what they had.
That's an interesting point. On the continent, adventure type bikes have been popular for the last 15 years. A mate of mine in Austria had a TDM in 1998. Having lived in mainland Europe for the last 20 years, it's always a surprise to visit the UK and see the type of bikes people have, mostly sport bikes. Maybe it's because relatively few go any distance compared to those on the continent (as it;s easier there, no channel tunnel to organise, just get on and ride to any country). I've also noticed that when you do see UK bikes on the continent, they generally are sports bikes with soft luggage and ill-fitting bags bungeed to the back rather than go for the more practical hard luggage which you tend to see abroad from the UK.When on earth is 90-140 time relative to a perfect all round motorcycle.
It's maybe relative for a track bike, but you'll need a big circuit with some long straights even then for that range of performance to be important.
40-80 is about the most important and used everyday acceleration period for most bikers on the road.
It's maybe relative for a track bike, but you'll need a big circuit with some long straights even then for that range of performance to be important.
40-80 is about the most important and used everyday acceleration period for most bikers on the road.
black-k1 said:
But as I've said before, everyone's definition of a "do it all" bike is slightly different. As with 3DP, I wouldn't want anything with less than about 150bhp and a fat load of torque in the low and mid range. I rarely use all that power or torque but I want it!
An adventure bike will never make a "do it all" bike for me for, despite some there being some very capable adventure bikes, they just don't make my heart beat faster and that, for me, is a very big part of doing it all.
Of course there is no bike that will do-it-all otherwise we'd all be riding the same bike. However, I've had experience of a 1998 R1 (2 years), a ZX-12R (7 years) and a ZZR1400 (6 years). I make several long trips each year across Europe, often taking in the Alps/Dolomites/etc. Trips include quite a lot of motorway kms and then lots of Alpine roads. For me the Adventure style bike with a 4-cyl engine that has lots of useable torque where it counts i.e low down, is designed to carry some kind of proper luggage, has good tank range and is comfortable on long trips is much closer to the do-it-all threshold than a ZZR1400 or equivalent. It's much more fun and satisfying than the ZZR based on my experience with both bikes.An adventure bike will never make a "do it all" bike for me for, despite some there being some very capable adventure bikes, they just don't make my heart beat faster and that, for me, is a very big part of doing it all.
black-k1 said:
Silver993tt said:
... is much closer to your do-it-all threshold than a ZZR1400 or equivalent.
It isn't my idea of a do it all bike!Silver993tt said:
It's much more fun and satisfying than the ZZR based on my experience with both bikes.
but then again, you probably know why.Silver993tt said:
black-k1 said:
Silver993tt said:
... is much closer to your do-it-all threshold than a ZZR1400 or equivalent.
It isn't my idea of a do it all bike!Silver993tt said:
It's much more fun and satisfying than the ZZR based on my experience with both bikes.
but then again, you probably know why.So the great & the good of PHBB which one can offer the best compromise between :--
190 BHP Sleek Sports Bike
130 BHP Uphandlebar
125 BHP Tourer / Adventure Bike
Clearly a VFR1200X is not a compromise between these as it sits firmly in the 3rd category. It's not knocking the bike - it's where it sits. Honda's competition for the R1200GS and Triumph 1200 Adventure. A VFR1200F would be closer to the mark.
I'm not sure if you had a duff ZZR or an 06/07 one without the butterflies mod, but I'm not sure how you can think a bike weighing 275 kg with a 19 inch front tyre, no weight on the front wheel and a detuned version of the already weakest sports touring engine, is somehow more effective and better handling, point to point than a ZZR or K13 for the OP's criteria.?? In fact, having ridden a couple of Adventure bikes, unless it was a potholed narrow B road, I cannot think of any road where it would be quicker than a ZZR/K13 with a decent rider aboard.
This isn't a thread for the best 'all rounder'. The OP has a Speed Triple and a modified 190bhp MV Agusta F4 1078 and was considering a VFR1200F a short while ago. He's looking for a bike that will cover those 3 bikes' USPs to a degree, which means loads of power and torque, wind protection, touring and scratching ability. There are only really a hand full of bikes that can do all of those with some success without compromising too far other aspects and anything adventure tourer does not cover the power and sporty handling side of the equation. Only the KTM 1290 Adventure and Multistrada get close. In the same way, a Fireblade or R1 does not cover the comfort, tank range or easy hard luggage side of the equation.
A VFR800 might be a good option, but for the OP, it has sub 600cc super sports level of power and is still quite porky, so I wouldn't recommend that either in spite of the fabled V4 torque which in reality is one of the most over-used cliches going these days.
Chipchap - another bike coming to mind is the Kawasaki Z1000SX. Not mega power, but light enough to offset the deficit compared to other bikes mentioned.
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