Bike suggestions please

[black-k1]

McClure said:

Thanks for all of that, much appreciated. TBH while I am confident in my road craft after 25+ years of road cycling and 18 years driving, the thought of having all the power from a 1300 etc under my right wrist terrifies me at the moment! I've already said to myself thar if I end up getting a Z1000SX I'm going to keep it in the low power mode for a few months. Having said that I think the touring is when I'll have most fun so perhaps the bike itself being "fun" is less important than the touring ability., so I should probably man up and try a larger capacity machine. That BM is also lovely so I might well go and have a look.

Very often larger capacity bikes with good low down torque are easier to ride than smaller capacity "revvy engine" bikes as you can be lazy, short shift and rely on the torque to do the work for you. My K1300S will cleanly pull top gear from 25mph so there is no need to work it hard to get it going. I spend most of my time riding below 6000rpm. If, however, you do decide to "up the pace" then there is plenty of "get up and go" available!

ETA: And here's another one, this time slightly over budget but with all the goodies and the full luggage set (worth about £400 - £500)

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikes-for-sale/s...

If you're touring and want fun the ESA will make a HUGE difference. the ability to switch from comfort to normal to sport mode by flicking a switch on the bars makes making progress on a variety of different road surface conditions very easy indeed.

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 1st August 12:43

[EvoBarry]

My 2p - Fazer1000. Fun solo, competent two up. I loved mine, shouldn't have changed to an FZ1 really.

[Hooli]

McClure said:

Morebeanz - no fairing, which I'm told for 2x2hr daily stints is a must.

This is bks if you ride regularly.

People who ride twice a month to the local posing point will get a very sore neck if they tour on a naked, but ride it daily & do a decent annual millage & your neck grows so you don't suffer.

[cramman]

What about a triumph tiger.

Any of them really, my Dad has just sold his 1050 which I used to ride a lot and thought it was a brilliant bike, I never got on with the looks though.
I've just picked up a Tiger 800 XC and love it, granted it's not the fastest thing about but perfect road bike really. I've even had it off road and it seemed ok.

[SteelerSE]

EvoBarry said:

My 2p - Fazer1000. Fun solo, competent two up. I loved mine, shouldn't have changed to an FZ1 really.

Good call.

I ride a VFR800 which would do everything you want but I think you need to balance what's most important, touring or fun. If the two up stuff is really limited then something that does that really well (most of the larger bikes that have been mentioned) will be overkill most of the rest of the time.

I'd suggest that you go for something that will hold its value well in case you decide you don't like it or you end up wanting something sportier/touringier(SP?). My shortlist would be:

Fazer 1000
Triumph Sprint ST
BMW1150GS (yes the new ones are better - you won't lose much on an older one if you buy the right one)
Honda CBF1000
TDM 900

All of those will have plenty of choice in the 3-5K bracket and give you a range of styles and options that would suit you pretty well IMO. I've put them in my guesstimated order of which is sportier. I wouldn't recommend a sports bike for two up work but then there are plenty of people that do miles on R1s and Fireblades but then I'm assuming that they've made the choice that two up is a small percentage of their riding.

I'd happily recommend the VFR though some think that it's a bit dull being a Honda which does everything well. I disagree though. It would go 3rd on the above list.