We'll I took the missus on a road trip on Sunday aloft the gen 1. A 150 mile round trip on a mix of roads into the lakes. When she got there, she could barely move her legs!
She's hinted over the last week or two that she wants to do a bit of European touring, and until Sunday I was hoping to use the big Fazer. Ain't going to happen really.
She said "why don't you get a tourer?" And then for the bombshell. "Dont sell the Fazer and the R1, let's just buy a tourer!!!!!"
I was gobsmacked! And in true man form I was straight on it, and I've been looking at a shortlist of potential distance machines.
The list so far is:-
Pan European
Fjr1300
BMW 1150/1200 rs/gs/rt
ZZR1200
Tiger 1050
ST1050 GT
If there's any personal reviews of these bikes, good or bad, I'd love to hear them
Pan - superbly capable, reliable, comfortable, handles well, great weather protection, strong motor. But doesn't stir the soul at all.
Fjr - rocket ship, definitely the sportiest of the ones I talk about here. Engine is blinding, riding position more forward than the others. Worst weather protection (and probably least pillion comfort). For the flagship model, suffers dreadfully with corrosion ( including on top of the motor, where you can't see it, and the rear suspension linkages wear fast if not stripped and greased each service).
RT - avoid like the foccing plague! Comfy, great weather protection, but ours had so many electrical failures, recalls etc etc, I lost all confidence...
One not on your list, triumph trophy. Great weather protection, comfy, unsure so far on longevity. Dead easy to ride, fast or slow, but does weigh a ton, and you can tell in the twisties. The weight is low though, it's easy and confidence inspiring when slow control is needed (unlike the RT!) Engine is grand, gearbox ok, unsure about the final drive. Have heard from a few folk that have had to have theirs replaced.
Only had 2 of your above list...
FJR...was only on loan for about 6 weeks, but I found it too heavy for general town work etc but when I took on the open road it was well up for it and pulled on twisties no probs what so ever.
R1200gs... Was my favourite bike I've ever had can't praise it high enough. Done everything I asked of it, although looked heavy, was very easy to ride anywhere and that boxer engine just went on and on and on. Could keep up with all those so called sports bikes on the bends and would just sit there cruising all day long, what more could you want. Can load hundreds of stuff onto it and it won't be fazed. if two guys can take it 1/2 way round the world with very few mishaps even after dropping them all over the place, what more would you want? Only thing I'd say is get a comfier seat, not that original is bad, just to 'sit' more into the bike if you know what I mean.
Colin
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Ride fast, ride a red bike :-)
Tourer?
There's only one.
That's my missus when we were in the Picos mountains 2013.
Heated seat/backrest kept her toasty in -3 degrees in Scotland too, no complaints.
Don't knock it 'till you've tried one.
Suspension mod's transformed it for me (progressive front and rear) and she won't entertain anything less.
And I can't blame her.
Neither will you.
Pan European. Tourquey, smooth, stable and comfy as long as you fit, some people have problems with where to put their knees, apparently when sitting on the bike people of a certain height/leg length have a lump of fairing just in the natural position for their knees to be in. Test ride one first.
Fjr1300. I couldn't get on with the FJR, maybe it was a bad one, It was comfy enough but I never felt confident in the handling, it always felt vague. I'll have to borrow another one for a few days.
BMW 1150/1200 rs/gs/rt. 1150GS, not impressed with the boxer motor, at 85mph I felt like I was stressing the engine, drop down to 75 and it felt much happier. Maybe it was just me and I'm used to having a lot more revs in hand at that speed. My mate has got one and he swears by it. They handle well enough though.
ZZR1200. Too much of a sports tourer for me and the wife, legs a bit cramped, bit too much weight on my wrists, went like a Foccer though!! But maybe that's why my wrists ached.
Tiger 1050. Nice bike, not as comfy and neutral as the 955, but better than the post 2011 Tiger/sport which was bloody uncomfortable. Id have a late model, low mileage 955i Tiger and spend the cash saved over the 1050 on another tour.
Overall, I would choose the Pan. I fitted no problem, the wife loved it, it can hustle when it needs to, good tank range, comfy and quite cheap really.
One to consider is the DL1000 GT. I picked mine up for not many beans.
Good points;-
Engine, torque, engine!!
Cruising speeds
Fun
Comfort
Luggage
Can't really feel a pillion
Costs of servicing/insurance/ running
Purchase price
Brilliant handling
[size=78%]Bad points;-[/size]
Screen wind protection (changed for a touring screen)
Can get a bit juicy if making progress
Looks (not the prettiest bike)
My other half loves it, she is a slim hipped tall lady and even with a big old unit like me on the front we can do 300-400 miles a day without trouble.
Worth a look if like me you think Gold Wing= might as well get a car :rollin
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
(12-05-15, 10:37 AM)stevierst link Wrote: 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
Foccin hell, your going to struggle to get a good yin for less than 4k, and your garage wouldn't take my new suggestion :rolleyes
Colin
----------------------
Ride fast, ride a red bike :-)
You're going to need her on the back of some of them mate - the Tiger and ST1050 for example are going to be little better, if at all than the FZS1000 in either leg room or seat comfort. The 1050 I've done some miles on and it isn't too bad (for a young and flexible-ish 23 year old) - but the seat slopes downwards so you're permanently sliding forward and there's not excessive leg room!
I had a R1100RS and it was the most comfortable bike I've ever had. Heavy but fine underway and more than capable of a ton plus. The reason I got rid of it was that I was doing a lot of commuting on a road that was too narrow for filtering and I was worried that I'd cook the clutch. Clutch replacements are expensive if you don't do them yourself and it involves folding the bike in half or something. Beyond my tools and capabilities anyway.
That triumphs a big old bugger! Never thought of one of those.
I've had a tiger 1050 before, but I used it solely for everything, which it wasn't very good at. Mile munching on the other hand it was pretty Damn good.
The RS has been one of my possible tourers for a while, they're a bit different, and I'm led to believe good at 90% of riding.
My favourite two at the mo is the fjr1300, and the 1200gs. Gotta have a go on a couple of them and see!
![[Image: 850481.png]](http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-uk/850481.png)
can't praise it high enough. Done everything I asked of it, although looked heavy, was very easy to ride anywhere and that boxer engine just went on and on and on. Could keep up with all those so called sports bikes on the bends and would just sit there cruising all day long, what more could you want. Can load hundreds of stuff onto it and it won't be fazed. if two guys can take it 1/2 way round the world with very few mishaps even after dropping them all over the place, what more would you want? Only thing I'd say is get a comfier seat, not that original is bad, just to 'sit' more into the bike if you know what I mean.
