Author Topic: Long journeys? You'll need a tourer mate! (Read 14421 times)

Frosties · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 May 2015, 11:56:09 pm »

Quote from: sinto on 12 May 2015, 09:07:14 pm

Quote from: slappy on 12 May 2015, 09:04:17 pm
I'm glad someone else admits to doing that with their head, every time I watch a bike video I find myself doing it.

Your not alone slappy, your amongst friends here, you can talk openly about your problems

Same here........fell over at one stage

purplebear7 · « **Reply #26 on:** 13 May 2015, 07:46:06 am »

Hi Guys,
I don't do much post these days ... but the words about Long Haul trips caught my eye. Distances have never been a problem for us and we (Mrs Polar Bear and I) covered some very big numbers of miles over the years on all kinds and everything on two or three wheels (I've had over 50 bike in more than 60 years)

The Gen One, Fazer FZS 1000 was by far the very best total all-rounder that I have ever thrown my good side gammy leg over. We had three of them ... 2001, 2003 and 2005 ... bad case of more money than sense.

At one stage I thought I would go for a Big Fat Tourer and of course the Honda Pan European loomed bright on the horizon

) Well ... we got a new one and right after the first service we set off to ride down to Mallorca ... only about 750 miles... call it two days easy

) I gradually realised that I had dropped one hell of a clanger ... in short the Pan was 12.5 STONE heavier than the Gen One ... without putting a single Hair Dryer in the Port Side wardrobe!

I struggled on ... for 23.000 miles in eleven months before doing another straight swap for another Gen 1 Yessss ! joy at last ... and I could even get it up onto the main stand by myself

)

For the record I'm not a little bloke ... in those days I was 5'11" and 16.5 stone on my socks ... but these big Tourers really are a handful to maul around ... any doubts ... go and ask a Bike Cop. Think On peeps ;o)

Stay Safe Trev The Polar Bear in Mallorca.

stevierst · « **Reply #27 on:** 13 May 2015, 10:26:56 am »

Thanks Trev, much appreciated there buddy.
Looks like that ever distant touring horizon isn't quite as rosy and comfy as first expected.
And yep, I've picked up a fat police bike once or twice, 300+kg of BMW1200 RT. There's a knack to it, but my chiropractor has never thanked me for it!
That's one reason why the big comfy BMW is off the list to be honest.

So short list has got a little shorter.
Fjr1300.
1200gs.

All the rest are a bit Lardy and single minded.

maddog04 · « **Reply #28 on:** 13 May 2015, 10:46:32 am »

Stevie.....loads of lads in my Rospa group have the GS and swear that they're the best bike they've ever had.......it does everything.
I just can't get on with the aesthetics, I think they're dog ugly

a few points to look at

1. if you're going to get one, go for the adventure for the massive tank range (think its about 400m)

2. beware the finishing.....one lad has one that's less than 12 months old and the welds on the engine bars are rusting

3. check out the tyres and if buying new then insist on the tyre of your choice at no extra cost, if buying used then fit Pirelli p4's (lads swear by them, unsure of the tyres on some of their bikes but listening to the talk, they have no confidence in them on the bends (try a GS site for more info)

if you're buying private fine, if you're going to a stealer then let me know and I'll ask the lads were they go for theirs and chase up the tyres question

stevierst · « **Reply #29 on:** 13 May 2015, 01:25:07 pm »

Cheers maddog, against all my preconceptions of the BMW stigma, it's pointing more and more at the GS as the days go by.

Going to have to dig deep for one though, cheap they aint!

hairnet · « **Reply #30 on:** 15 May 2015, 07:53:15 pm »

cbf1000

f800s/gt/st

800xc

Billy Balthorpe · « **Reply #31 on:** 15 May 2015, 11:09:44 pm »

As a matter of fact my CBF1000 is on EBay right now!!

sinto · « **Reply #32 on:** 16 May 2015, 08:14:52 pm »

How about this?

fazed · « **Reply #33 on:** 16 May 2015, 08:51:37 pm »

had a triumph gt1050 comfortable fast good value and frugal and you can pick early ones up for good value with panniers etc. Lighter than the buses that pass for Tourers with good handling ....If I was going to do lots of 2 up touring again I'd have another.......

stevierst · « **Reply #34 on:** 16 May 2015, 10:20:58 pm »

Quote from: sinto on 16 May 2015, 08:14:52 pm

How about this?

What the Hell is it? Looks like it's powered by clockwork!!!!

sinto · « **Reply #35 on:** 16 May 2015, 10:31:24 pm »

Quote from: stevierst on 16 May 2015, 10:20:58 pm

Quote from: sinto on 16 May 2015, 08:14:52 pm
How about this?
What the Hell is it? Looks like it's powered by clockwork!!!!

Only info I've got is... "Custom motorbike fitted with a Ferrari V8 engine"

the cueball · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 May 2015, 04:17:30 pm »

just got myself a pan European for my Euro trip this year.

ChristoT · « **Reply #37 on:** 18 May 2015, 05:02:03 pm »

Have you considered VFR 1200 and 800? Supposed to be pretty good machines.

stevierst · « **Reply #38 on:** 18 May 2015, 05:12:33 pm »

The 800 is a bit small really, and its an s/t.
And I've only got £4k, so the 1200 is out of the question.

Mick-H · « **Reply #39 on:** 18 May 2015, 11:18:35 pm »

As a bit of a wild card how about a ST1100, I had one for a few months, swapped my first Fazer in for one as I wanted to do a bit of touring, got shut as it was my only bike at the time and I didn't like/enjoy commuting on it. However as a mile muncher with pillion and loaded up it may be worth a look and for that sort of money or less you should be able to get a minter.

Robbie8666 · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 May 2015, 07:56:19 am »

Quote from: stevierst on 12 May 2015, 10:37:31 am

Appreciate all the feedback guys, this is good info!
Forgot to mention, it's going to be a sub £4k bike, so the goldwing is out of the question ^-^ and I've only got a normal size garage, so it won't fit:P

pity you you limited to £4k as there is a really nice pan ST1300 in bike shop where they just repaired my bike £4999 for an 08 with 44k on clock and well spec'd and extra's.

stevierst · « **Reply #41 on:** 28 May 2015, 10:33:59 pm »

Well I've been constantly studying, and asking about which one of these bikes will do us the job. Even been out today and swung a leg over a few.
Here's the list of today's bikes I had a look at.
R1200GS adventure.
Tiger 1050 and 955i
V strom 1000
Fjr 1300
Sprint GT.

The 1200 GsA is enormous! And I could barely lift it off its side stand!

Tiger 1050. The luggage was that big that there was no room for your pillions feet!
Same with the Sprint GT.

Vstrom was a bit lardy, and just looked wrong!

Tiger 955 looked too old hat!

Fjr. It felt Light even when stationary, loads of room for pillion and me. It's looking favourite so far.

Also went out with 17yo daughter for a ride to the lakes this afternoon on the gen 1. Her backside was killing her after about an hour into the 150 mile ride, and she seized up almost solid by the time we got there!

noggythenog · « **Reply #42 on:** 28 May 2015, 10:44:13 pm »

Stuff touring

Stuff pillions

It's your hobby...let them get their own hobby that doesnt involve moaning at you about pain lol

Get your daughter through her bike test & get her a

....then she wont criticise because she couldnt, being female, possibly be in pain that was self induced....jobs a good'ne

Buy an MT09.....you deserve it....take the pillion pegs off for weight reduction

Billy Balthorpe · « **Reply #43 on:** 28 May 2015, 10:59:32 pm »

Quote from: stevierst on 28 May 2015, 10:33:59 pm

Well I've been constantly studying, and asking about which one of these bikes will do us the job. Even been out today and swung a leg over a few.
Here's the list of today's bikes I had a look at.
R1200GS adventure.
Tiger 1050 and 955i
V strom 1000
Fjr 1300
Sprint GT.

The 1200 GsA is enormous! And I could barely lift it off its side stand!

Tiger 1050. The luggage was that big that there was no room for your pillions feet!
Same with the Sprint GT.

Vstrom was a bit lardy, and just looked wrong!

Tiger 955 looked too old hat!

Fjr. It felt Light even when stationary, loads of room for pillion and me. It's looking favourite so far.

Also went out with 17yo daughter for a ride to the lakes this afternoon on the gen 1. Her backside was killing her after about an hour into the 150 mile ride, and she seized up almost solid by the time we got there!

No ST1300 then? You can get 'em for less than £4K!

stevierst · « **Reply #44 on:** 28 May 2015, 11:02:49 pm »

Noggy, your a brutal man, but funny as f#ck

:D

And an st1300. I sat on one a couple of weeks ago, and it felt good even at a stand still. The competition is close!

unfazed · « **Reply #45 on:** 28 May 2015, 11:29:01 pm »

Quote from: noggythenog on 28 May 2015, 10:44:13 pm

Stuff touring

Stuff pillions

It's your hobby...let them get their own hobby that doesnt involve moaning at you about pain lol

Get your daughter through her bike test & get her a ....then she wont criticise because she couldnt, being female, possibly be in pain that was self induced....jobs a good'ne

Buy an MT09.....you deserve it....take the pillion pegs off for weight reduction

Billy Balthorpe · « **Reply #46 on:** 29 May 2015, 12:22:56 am »

The 955i Tiger may look a little old hat but just go for a 20 minute ride on one before you discard it as a possibility, you will be surprised how good they feel and how well they handle. The money you would save over some of the others could pay for the tour!

stevierst · « **Reply #47 on:** 07 July 2015, 10:33:32 pm »

Well I've only gone and done it. Bought myself another tiger 1050, complete with all the touring toys.

Anyone want to buy a gen 1 with all the tuning mods?

Offers of £2k will do it.

noggythenog · « **Reply #48 on:** 07 July 2015, 10:47:58 pm »

Forget sales

wheres the pics of the new bike?

lew600fazer · « **Reply #49 on:** 07 July 2015, 10:57:44 pm »

Avoid the CBF 1000 mk1 like the plague , unless you want to carry a spare stator, good bike but sadly let down by regular stator failures.
Ask on the www.cbf1000.com if anyone doubts me, if you can stretch your budget a bit you may find a CBF1000 Mk2 and they maybe boring but are bullet proof, nice comfy bike but not a rocket ship. Or look for a Mk1 Kawasaki Versy 1000, ugly as sin but comes with nice riding position , big comfy pillion seat and traction control.