worst bike for touring?

[damz]

what is the worst bike you have ever heard being used for touring? i thought nick sanders using an R1 was a bit odd although he did have a support crew.

ddnt someone use a ducati 749 on here?

iv'e been tempted to try it but on a 400 sports bike i think it might be asking a bit too much out of it.
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Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[G]

Nick Sanders has done a reasoanble amount of off-road riding on his R1!

I suppose the answer would be "one you don't find comfortable" - if you're happy with your 400, go for it - Maurice has done a fair bit on his VFR400.

[Fawbish]

Search for Maurice on the forums


Then read his write ups.

400cc is fine, sports bike is fine.




I personally wouldnt tour on a small two stroke tbf.
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Itchy]

A trail bike , if it is not being used for off roading since they have all sorts of anti touring features:

Small tanks,

Long travel suspension = unpleasant cornering experience

knobblie tyres that combined with the above you can feel stepping out at corners.

Cheese wire type seats

No wind protection combined with high seats

Lots of vibes for big thumpers.

Terrible high speed fuel consumption.

Terriblely short service intervals

Many are kickers which is supposed to be bad when they are hot.

Appauling front headlamps meaning no night riding.

Lack of luggage for them.


Which means trailies need hefty mods to be comfortable on the road, while the CBR can be rolled out and taken on a European jaunt with minimal mods.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Dave ett]

People have toured on everything from a C90 to a goldwing. The worst bike is one that you find uncomfortable, since the whole point of touring is spending long hours in the saddle.

In South America, a trail bike is better than a Pan Euro as there are many unpaved roads. In Europe the Pan would win hands down.

Nick Sanders is crazy!
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Dave E.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I have no knowledge of touring, but this is how i'd break it down

Don't want a single...too much vibration
Don't want a small cc engine...too frequent servicing
Don't want a naked...need some weather protection
Don't want anything too exotic...parts hard to get
Don't want short wheelbase...unstable with weight

Then i'd make a list of what i do want.

If yer comfy on a superbike or sports 600 then great you'll have more fun on yer travels

Pat
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[NSR Mick]

Touring on a 400cc sportsbike is painfull I can assure you.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[tatters]

Toured 6,000 miles to russia via norway/sweden/finland on a XR650R last year, dont know what l was thinking at the time when picking the bike though its was perfect for africa etc were the terrian is awful not eastern europe

it was quite reilable only had to change the head stock bearings in finland and building/modding for the trip was fun.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Itchy]

Where'd ya get that attachment for the flip up screen from?.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[tatters]

touratech, small flip screen £20

headlamp unit is from simpson detour, 2x55w
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[G]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Yup no problem touring on a sports 400, I'd like to think I've proved that one!

Have a look at my site https://www.motocapers.com/ [/spam] if you're interested.

The VFR/RVF are probably the best 400 for it, in a straight comparison against CBR and ZXR on tour it does better MPG, slightly better mid-range and has very neutral, stable handling - which is good when you've loaded it to the point of instabilty with luggage.

Details aside, they are all more than up to the job.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Something like an RS250 would be terrible for touring....
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[iand]

nick sanders doesn't have a support crew for his R1, thats ewan and charlie on their filing case carriers!!

[G]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I looked into it while had an RGV, one of the reasons I got a VFR actually...

First off the 2-stroke consumption would be a nightmare, you'd be going through 1.5 litres a day - getting hold of decent oil in remote parts would be a constant issue.

Next, tank range. 70 miles to reserve on my RGV, you wouldn't be able to ride in France on a Sunday without pulling into every petrol station you see open!

Thirdly, your total trip cost would have to factor in a top-end rebuild, if you didn't blow up on the way round.

Lastly, MPG. It'd be cheaper to fuel a Mitsubishi Evo, seriously.

Oh and G I remember you wouldn't ride your RS250 to a Cadwell trackday, pussy

[G]

My RS250 wasn't too bad on fuel (maybe 30mpg with 'enthusiastic' riding) and seemed to sip oil compared to my NSR... probably used not much more than my TRX . I think I'd get around 100 miles to reserve on it.
Some extra fuel might be useful, but it's not as bad as my 690 for constant high speed fuel use I reckon (though the panniers on the 690 probably made a decent difference).

Top end rebuild at 10000 miles doesn't seem too bad when you consider on the 690 I'd have to have done the valves three times in that time!

[Nicky-Jano]

Posted this in another thread.
The CG was quite difficult, not only in speed but handling.
Here's some piccies.
https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2770/bangdx3.jpg
https://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2228/bang2mj4.jpg
https://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7900/bang3fs6.jpg

[magpiemale]

I have'nt got a worst bike to ride abroad but when I went to germany for the first time I would say a bike that'll do more mpg as getting off every 100 miles or so to me is time wasted.If you can find a fuel station that is as some are few and far between,I found this out the hard way though I did not run out luckily.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[ms51ves3]

How about taking a Yamaha FS1e through Germany, Spain and France?

[colin1]

The worst bike would be something unreliable that you cant fix yourself.
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[tatters]

[bonoeuf]

The worst bike would be the one that does not make you smile when you are far from home, looking at some amazing view with a cold beer in your hand and wondering where it will get you the next day.
Marty

[Pete1959]

I went touring/camping in scotland yrs ago on an old honda cb 100 n and it never let me down once, 957 miles and never had any problems to fix, got back to Carlisle where i used to live, and it got nicked 2 days later

[garth]

Dunno, you'd have to define worse.

E.g, RTW on an NSU Quickly = not so good.
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