Mile muncher options

[Jag_NE]

Evening all. Looking to pull the trigger on a mile muncher that will be used for one up touring in the main.

Im mainly into sports bikes so have no direct experience in this area.

I’m 6’2” so presume this means I’m ok on the bigger stuff.

Price wise I’d like to top out at 12k, 2018 onwards as I want something pretty mint with low mileage with a view to keeping it indefinitely.

Stuff I’ve been looking at below, input welcome. The sports rider inside pulls me toward the ZZR or H2.

Honda: vfr800, 1200 crosstourer, Africa twin
BMW; 800/1200 GS, R1200RS
Suzuki: V strom 1000
Yamaha: Tenere 700/1200, z as mT10 touring
Kwaka: z1000sx, ninja1000sx, ZZR1400, H2 SX
KTM: 1290SA, SuperdukeGT
Triumph: explorer 900/1200

[Jazoli]

For me it would be the Ninja SX (I owned a Z1000SX) or the MT10 or one of the KTM's (although I've never ridden one), they are definitely more 'sporty' than the others but still complete all round bikes.

The ADV bikes are all a bit soft to me but it depends what you want really.

[Jag_NE]

Jazoli said:

For me it would be the Ninja SX (I owned a Z1000SX) or the MT10 or one of the KTM's (although I've never ridden one), they are definitely more 'sporty' than the others but still complete all round bikes.

The ADV bikes are all a bit soft to me but it depends what you want really.

Thanks. I gravitate more to the sportier stuff too, just wondering if for touring the pros outweigh the cons.

[Jag_NE]

I can’t wait for ZX10R NIN to pipe up.

[Krikkit]

I think on paper a 1290 SDGT would tickle my fancy the most.

[Lee540]

I use my 2020 ZX10R for this and I got a great deal on a new one, just shy of £12k. I’ve done a couple thousand since September, 500 miles in a day and no aches or pains.

I traded in my ZZR1400.

[black-k1]

1290GT is definitely the best thing that meets your requirements.

But only because you can't yet get an H2 SX SE for £12,000

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 18th December 09:57

[jjones]

What sort of touring?

Mega miles staying in hotels?
Mega miles camping?
Minor roads staying in hotels?
Minor roads camping?

[Jag_NE]

jjones said:

What sort of touring?

Mega miles staying in hotels?
Mega miles camping?
Minor roads staying in hotels?
Minor roads camping?

Hotels. The ability to do some camping trips would be welcome should I ever get into that. I presume camping will mean adventure bike, hotels a sportier option?

[Iminquarantine]

Forget anything under 1000cc. They are not mine munchers.

[archie456]

Iminquarantine said:

Forget anything under 1000cc. They are not mine munchers.

What a load of bks.

[Jag_NE]

archie456 said:

Iminquarantine said:

Forget anything under 1000cc. They are not mine munchers.

What a load of bks.

I must admit I thought 1000+ is only needed for two up and stacks of luggage

[Iminquarantine]

archie456 said:

What a load of bks.

They do not have enough torque. If you want to rev the nuts off a 600cc on a 12 hour day, that’s up to you. <1000cc is not a mile muncher.

[anonymous-user]

Personally, I love the ST1300 Pan Euros.

I know they've been around forever, but they are rock solid reliable, comfortable, and the V4 has a bit of character. They handle much better than they should, too.

A proper 12 hour day bike.

[Iminquarantine]

Jag_NE said:

I must admit I thought 1000+ is only needed for two up and stacks of luggage

I’ve done 2-up with luggage on a 125, so you could say more than 125cc is not needed. Just because it isn’t needed, doesn’t mean it is well suited.

[Jag_NE]

Iminquarantine said:

I’ve done 2-up with luggage on a 125, so you could say more than 125cc is not needed. Just because it isn’t needed, doesn’t mean it is well suited.

So the man saying 1000cc is essential is rattling round two up on a 125...make your mind up mate.

[Iminquarantine]

Jag_NE said:

So the man saying 1000cc is essential is rattling round two up on a 125...make your mind up mate.

Are you being deliberately argumentative? I said I had done that on a 125. II did not say it was comfortable and I did not say a 125 was a mile muncher. I suggest you just go buy a Honda CBF125 with a top box. You don't seem to be interested in anything bar arguments; a 125 will do it, so just go buy that. You have all the answers already.

[underwhelmist]

That's why I like this bit of PH, it's less argumentative than the other sub-forums

A lifetime ago (last year), I attended (and introduced) a talk by Lois Price who has ridden all over the US and Iran on a 200cc trail bike. There was that bloke who rode from Australia to the UK on an ex-post office 150cc bike. Having said that, I'd be looking for something a bit bigger.

Jag_NE, I reckon any of the bikes you mentioned would fit the bill. I can't see that you've mentioned what sort of mileage you'll be aiming for in a day, on what sort of roads, or how much gear you'll be wanting to carry. All bikes have the same luggage capacity, you just need more bungees and gaffer tape with some of them.

edit: If I was planning to do big miles, I'd be looking at ST1300s as Landcrab says.

Edited by underwhelmist on Friday 18th December 01:21

[Tardigrade]

Jag_NE said:

The sports rider inside pulls me toward the ...

Suzuki GSX-S1000F?

[the cueball]

Landcrab_Six said:

Personally, I love the ST1300 Pan Euros.

I know they've been around forever, but they are rock solid reliable, comfortable, and the V4 has a bit of character. They handle much better than they should, too.

A proper 12 hour day bike.

For longer tours I still use my 30 year old St1100 @ 100k it's just worn in..

Does everything I need and is rock solid, even had to ride 40 odd miles in heavy snow once.. kind of wished it had a wiper on the touring screen for that day!

Mates keep telling me to get a better, newer bike... but can't come up with a reason apart from "it's old"... or now it's more "it doesn't have any electronics, you'll die"...

I honestly can't justify changing it.