What FJR-lite tourer

[BaugetteauFromage]

Former lurker, turned to poster.

Sold a Honda Pan European about a year ago due to going overseas, now back in the market for a touring bike. Maybe something a bit lighter than the 300+kg Pan European. Always liked a Yamaha FJR, but these are still pretty heavy and even 4 year old ones are pushing £10k.

I'm also a bit short, so the seat height must be 810mm at the most. Bzzzzzt to the many bikes out there with 840+mm seats.

Any ideas?

So far I've come up with:
- An FJR.
- Honda CBF1000 GT with the panniers
- Moto Guzzi Norge. Always wanted an Italian bike, but there are only 3 for sale in all the UK so even if I bought one, it may be hard to unload it later and parts might be hard to find.

[Dr Jekyll]

Honda Deauville?

[Chipchap]

BMW R1200RS. I did almost 12000 miles on mine. Most of them on Euro Tours. Loved every mile. Now on an R1250GS Adventure.

[Jazoli]

I'll do the BB thing and recommend my own bike, a '17 on Z1000SX Touring.

Fast, all day comfy, low seat, great fitted luggage (no topbox though), all the latest toys (except cruise control), 50mpg, cheap at under £10k

They only weigh around 240kg's which is pretty light compared to full on tourers.

Edited by Jazoli on Tuesday 20th August 12:56

[thatdude]

Yamaha Fazer 1000 (carbureted) or Yamaha FZ1 do anything for you?

The fazer is a bit better on fuel, apparently. Plenty of luggage options.I have an FZ1, it is pretty light for the sort of bike it is.

[FazerBoy]

Chipchap said:

BMW R1200RS. I did almost 12000 miles on mine. Most of them on Euro Tours. Loved every mile. Now on an R1250GS Adventure.

This is the one...

[black-k1]

K1300S with low seat. Good ones available from £5k upwards. Blistering performance, 200 mile range, 50mpg, hard luggage and lots of extras (heated grips, ESA etc.)

ETA I did 54k miles on my first, a mix of Euro tours and long range commuting. I then bought another and did 48k miles on that before Bambi wrote it off!

Edited by black-k1 on Tuesday 20th August 13:47

[A993LAD]

black-k1 said:

K1300S with low seat. Good ones available from £5k upwards. Blistering performance, 200 mile range, 50mpg, hard luggage and lots of extras (heated grips, ESA etc.)

Good call

Or Honda VFR1200F - cheap as chips, plenty fast and handle well. More touring orientated than the K1300S but a bit less sporty. DCT version is even cheaper than the manual and works well.

Both of the above way more sophisticated than the FJR which is heavy and agricultural in comparison

[anonymous-user]

Chipchap said:

BMW R1200RS. I did almost 12000 miles on mine. Most of them on Euro Tours. Loved every mile. Now on an R1250GS Adventure.

If he struggles with seat height on an fjr I want to see him get on a r1200 :-)

[Chipchap]

keirik said:

If he struggles with seat height on an fjr I want to see him get on a r1200 :-)

I have a 29" inside leg and sat flat footed both sides on an R1200RS. It's an RS not a GS.

[anonymous-user]

Chipchap said:

keirik said:

If he struggles with seat height on an fjr I want to see him get on a r1200 :-)

I have a 29" inside leg and sat flat footed both sides on an R1200RS. It's an RS not a GS.

Nope, but the seat is still 820mm high, and he's already said he struggled with 810

Personally I think he should grow a bit, I loved my gs :-)

[itcaptainslow]

CBF1000 is a good left field choice and cheap too. They’re quite inoffensive and unremarkable to ride, which is both a blessing and a curse. Ended up buying the VFR800 I test rode next, which sparkled in comparison, but was more uncomfortable and needed caning to make progress.

Definitely a case of what you value more with those two-sport or tourer...

[mikal83]

I love my FJR only 26k miles and bought it 4 yrs ago for 2500, full luggage and FSH. I have been told you can get a lower seat.

[trickywoo]

V-Strom is a cracking bike. Don't discount the 650 version of it.

[Nyarlathotep]

The CBF1000GT option seems a good one, however why not try a middleweight? Unless you need to take a pillion, something like a Ninja 650 with a rack and panniers would be ideal - low, lightweight, still fun.

[vonhosen]

BMW F800GT?
They do an extra low 765mm seat & fairly light at 214Kg fully fuelled.

[EarlOfHazard]

BMW R1200RT? Height adjustable seat.
BMW (post 2005)K1200GT or its successor the K1300GT? Both very quick with loads of luggage capacity.

[FazerBoy]

keirik said:

Nope, but the seat is still 820mm high, and he's already said he struggled with 810

Personally I think he should grow a bit, I loved my gs :-)

The R1200R and R1200RS have standard seat heights of 820mm but the ‘standover height’ is low. Lower than one would expect.

Furthermore, there is an optional low seat of 760mm available from BMW.

[wa16]

zzr

seat height 800mm loads of luggage options

sts on that poncy supercharged thing with half the service costs/insurance - cheap to run, 180/210 mile per tank full
30 - 180+ in top at the twist of a wrist

go on you know you want to

[black-k1]

wa16 said:

zzr

seat height 800mm loads of luggage options

sts on that poncy supercharged thing with half the service costs/insurance - cheap to run, 180/210 mile per tank full
30 - 180+ in top at the twist of a wrist

go on you know you want to