Touring options
Discussion
I'm going to southern Germany, the alps and the nurburg ring in May. I've got a Speed triple which will be no fun at all on the autobahn sections (I'm going with mad people, just slowing down is not really an option) but good in the alps and probably ok on track.
So as I see it I have three options.
1. Man up, take the Triumph and use the time before the run to build up neck muscles.
2. Buy a small fairing and hope it gives some relief from the wind while accepting it may be a £150 piece of s
t that will partially eject at high speed making the bike unstable while whipping one of my arms to death.
3. Buy the 98 Blackbird i saw today for £2300, probably involving an argument with the wife, use the uber tourer to hammer down the autobahn and hope it's ok for the alps.
The lads I'm going with will mainly be on 1000cc sportbikes, and are prepared to use them properly. I'm a not slim 6ft 2, and like my comfort (so no sportbikes because they kill my wrists and back). I'm also not fond of being left behind!
Thoughts?
So as I see it I have three options.
1. Man up, take the Triumph and use the time before the run to build up neck muscles.
2. Buy a small fairing and hope it gives some relief from the wind while accepting it may be a £150 piece of s
t that will partially eject at high speed making the bike unstable while whipping one of my arms to death.3. Buy the 98 Blackbird i saw today for £2300, probably involving an argument with the wife, use the uber tourer to hammer down the autobahn and hope it's ok for the alps.
The lads I'm going with will mainly be on 1000cc sportbikes, and are prepared to use them properly. I'm a not slim 6ft 2, and like my comfort (so no sportbikes because they kill my wrists and back). I'm also not fond of being left behind!
Thoughts?
4) Plan a route that keeps you off the boring Autobahns as much as possible. Once you get out of northern France there's some fantastic roads, though depending on your holiday plans an extra day travelling each way might not work for you.
5) look at putting your bike on a train and getting back somewhere nearer to your destination. Costs a few quid but less fuel and wear and tear on the bike, and far less boring than a motorway.
I'm guessing the Speed Triple will be more fun than the Blackbird once you get to the alps. I'd be inclined to try the screen option, though the BB's not exactly going to be boring. Knew a bloke had a little aftermarket screen on a CB1300 and he reckoned it made a hell of a difference on the motorway.
5) look at putting your bike on a train and getting back somewhere nearer to your destination. Costs a few quid but less fuel and wear and tear on the bike, and far less boring than a motorway.
I'm guessing the Speed Triple will be more fun than the Blackbird once you get to the alps. I'd be inclined to try the screen option, though the BB's not exactly going to be boring. Knew a bloke had a little aftermarket screen on a CB1300 and he reckoned it made a hell of a difference on the motorway.
It's not me that's planning the route, we're going on the Newcastle to Ijmuden ferry (I live in Aberdeen, most of the lads live around middlesbourgh) then hoofing it through Holland and Germany.
I won't have time between getting home from offshore and leaving for the trip to do trains etc.
Once I get to the alps if there are fast roads we'll probably still be doing silly speeds, I think the autobahns are a big attraction for some of the group. One of the lads has just bought an 08 gsxr1000 for this trip as his dragstar would probably blow up! He's in his 50s.
I won't have time between getting home from offshore and leaving for the trip to do trains etc.
Once I get to the alps if there are fast roads we'll probably still be doing silly speeds, I think the autobahns are a big attraction for some of the group. One of the lads has just bought an 08 gsxr1000 for this trip as his dragstar would probably blow up! He's in his 50s.
RizzoTheRat said:
4) Knew a bloke had a little aftermarket screen on a CB1300 and he reckoned it made a hell of a difference on the motorway.
we must know the same bloke 
he used to put it on to get down to Italy / France , then remove it once there as he didnt like the look of it .
As for the bike OP , if you are looking at a blackbird etc , at your height a zx12 would be perfect , a year 2001 with 25k on is presently selling for 2k on the 200mph site!
sjtscott said:
Believe me a Blackbird and Autobahns were made for covering distance together and FAST! Most of Germany was dispatched in Sept on my 2 week tour this way in order to get to Austria and the Alps
Just be careful on the autobahns to stick to the speed limits when they are posted. The German traffic police use lots of unmarked cars with video cameras to show you how you were "driving" by the side of the autobahn when they stop you 
I've had the Triumph up to 140 and it was pretty painfull, certainly not sustainable for any length of time. My wife is attempting to vito the blackbird, I may need to man up for it too!
I'm struggling with this because the Triumph is only a year old and will be amazing on twisty roads, on the other hand I don't like being last and enjoy the afterburner effect of big bikes with good fairings, paticularly where I could use it without being banned. But the honda is 10 years old and not perfect.
I'm struggling with this because the Triumph is only a year old and will be amazing on twisty roads, on the other hand I don't like being last and enjoy the afterburner effect of big bikes with good fairings, paticularly where I could use it without being banned. But the honda is 10 years old and not perfect.
Many many years ago I bought my first 1200 Bandit (then a one year old "N" reg) unfaired simply to slow me down a bit on motorways and dual carriageways. It worked a treat - I'm 6'2" and cruising above 85mph was HARD work. In wet weather with waterproofs it was truly HARDER work. I think you may need to experiment a little with what sort of cruising speeds you can sustain. Bear in mind also that if your mates are really going for it, they'll be stopping for fuel quite regularly which may give you the opportunity for some muscle relaxation excercises...
'Course the Bandit was followed by a brand new '99 TL1000R with a full fairing. Tucked in, high speed "touring" was acceptably comfortable.
HTH
'Course the Bandit was followed by a brand new '99 TL1000R with a full fairing. Tucked in, high speed "touring" was acceptably comfortable.
HTH
I've had a number of Speed Triples (3 Original without any wind protection) and a 955i with a bikini fairing. Had two of the original ones while living in Germany and regularly used to ride down to Austria from Monchengladbach (450 miles approx) in about 5-6 hours depending on traffic.
The small fairing does make some difference but really only over 100mph. In my opinion, you'd probably tough it out for the ride down as there will be a few petrol and food stops. If you are going well over 100mph on the autobahns, just duck down behind the clocks - worked for me (did add an extra inch on to my collar size though!).
The small fairing does make some difference but really only over 100mph. In my opinion, you'd probably tough it out for the ride down as there will be a few petrol and food stops. If you are going well over 100mph on the autobahns, just duck down behind the clocks - worked for me (did add an extra inch on to my collar size though!).
A small screen will probably make a fair bit of different to the comfort factor on any unfaired bike if speeds of over 100mph are to be sustained for any length of time. Having said that, you could just try to stick it out on the triple without any extra protection. It can be done but it may well be hard work and could turn an otherwise fun holiday into a feat of endurance.
I’m not sure why you think the Blackbird will not be OK in the Alps. It won’t be quite as easy to hustle as the sports 1000’s or your Triple but the old ‘Bird can still put on a reasonable performance on the twisty stuff and should easily be good enough that you’re not going to be embarrassed. Add that to the comfort of sitting at 150mph plus on the Autobahns with as much luggage as you could possibly want to carry and you are looking at exactly the sort of trip the Blackbird was designed for. My vote would go for the Blackbird.
I’m not sure why you think the Blackbird will not be OK in the Alps. It won’t be quite as easy to hustle as the sports 1000’s or your Triple but the old ‘Bird can still put on a reasonable performance on the twisty stuff and should easily be good enough that you’re not going to be embarrassed. Add that to the comfort of sitting at 150mph plus on the Autobahns with as much luggage as you could possibly want to carry and you are looking at exactly the sort of trip the Blackbird was designed for. My vote would go for the Blackbird.
It's the feat of endurance that I'm worried about. I've tried getting out of the wind on the Triumph with no sucess, lying flat on the tank just makes it louder and harder to see due to turbulence! I had a 1200 bandit before and it was far easier to ride fast, the clocks seemed to deflect more air than the little hat thing on the triumph.
The big fat blackbird should be a fair wepon and capable of criusing at much higher speeds, my main problem with it is that the Triumph is new (reliable and has good suspension and brakes) and I'm thinking about taking a 10 year old bike for a fairly severe blast. I do like my comfort though.
The point about divorce may also be accurate.....
The big fat blackbird should be a fair wepon and capable of criusing at much higher speeds, my main problem with it is that the Triumph is new (reliable and has good suspension and brakes) and I'm thinking about taking a 10 year old bike for a fairly severe blast. I do like my comfort though.
The point about divorce may also be accurate.....
Leathers for top speed runs, textiles make it hard to go in a straight line due to unexpected steering inputs. I once had a textile jacket parachute badly at high speed, almost pulling me off the bike! I always wear earplugs as I've got an Arai Corsair and it's properly noisy.
The last time I maxed out the triumph I had a ventura bag on the back that may have fecked the aerodynamics. The mor ei think about it the more a 4th bike in the garage seems like a good idea. Have yet to convince the wife though so if I suddenly go quiet send help!
The last time I maxed out the triumph I had a ventura bag on the back that may have fecked the aerodynamics. The mor ei think about it the more a 4th bike in the garage seems like a good idea. Have yet to convince the wife though so if I suddenly go quiet send help!
I'm also on a (much slower) naked and am curious about the whole fairing/screen thing. When I got my bike it had a small bubble screen which I had to remove because it made wind buffetting on my helmet worse. I'm 6'.
Pictures would be useful. When you guys talk about screens / fairings, how tall are we talking here? Can you post pictures / links?
Here's the one I removed on my bike...
Pictures would be useful. When you guys talk about screens / fairings, how tall are we talking here? Can you post pictures / links?
Here's the one I removed on my bike...
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