Touring - What is your bike of choice?

[biker58]

Just curious what bikes do guys on here use when touring?

I'm thinking of riding from Kent to Scotland, then down to dartmoor and home some point next year. May take the girlfriend so have to take in to consideration the pillion factor and plus will need a box or 2 for luggage.

What bike can anyone recommend for this type of journey?

If you could all let me know what bikes you have toured on i will check them out!
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1995 Suzuki GSX600F rider

[Maruchino]

What's your budget and how heavy are rider + pillion combined?

[biker58]

budget around £1500ish and both myself and passenger are both about 11st

Chances are i'll be going by myself but want to allow for the possibility she might come along.
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1995 Suzuki GSX600F rider

[Chris H]

TDM 850 you should pick something up for that kind of price

[biker58]

[biker58]

TDM850 looks like it would be good!
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1995 Suzuki GSX600F rider

[Maruchino]

Same budget as this fella, some decent links/recommendations on there; https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=232944

[Chris H]

picked this up last year for £1500, had a few trips away good for the money

https://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/chris-jh/iphone111.jpg

[biker58]

[biker58]

[Chris H]

eBay last December plenty of snow kept price down

you will get back what you pay for it a year on, the only down side you have to keep on top of the oil no issue just check every week

[Oldie]

For £1500 you could pick up a half decent Deauville.

Very good weather protection, comfy, handles well, and 55mpg.
Plods away all day long and lasts for years.

Acceleration is poor for a bike but it's worth it for the overall package. You just have to live with the looks. Even although it's quite a heavy bike, the balance is superb and I've never had a problem with it. More manageable than a V Strom, for example.

Heavily criticised/disliked by the majority of forum members, although not sure why really. If you want a decent tourer, then the Doh should be on your list.

[olionel]

2001 Fazer 600 two up loaded no probs, crank suspension up.
2001 XRV750 two up loaded again no probs, comfier than Fazer, again don't forget to set you ride height.
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[harscot]

Hi bud, I totally agree with Oldie, I hired one last year and my wife and I toured Cornwall, ( great place ) I now own an X reg 650,I live in the North West Highlands with all the good roads on my door step and the bike performs great 2 up, ( even better solo ) I would advise you to get the big panniers if your thinking of one, there is more room in them than the standard ones, anyway have fun looking, stay safe out there

[biker58]

[veze]

i would use an fj 1200, very fast, powerfull, i mean mine is totaly standard and will cruise and 100 - 110, and i mean cruise lol. loads of room for luggage and people, and you get alot of bike for your money, mines in great condition, with 44 000 miles, and they are absolutley bullet proof, they still use that engine in the xjr 1300 so engine parts are very very easy to find. and low seat height, im 5'6 and its perfect. i love the engine so much my next bike is an xjr lol, no brainer lol. now i know the fj aint cool, but ive held my own against a ducati and some other cbr gsxr or whatevers. i go everywhere on mine to rallies in cornwall, yorkshire, scotland, and its took me on holiday twice to france, belgium, germany and holland and its an absolute gem, get about 170 miles to a tank, i normaly stop every 110 ish and it cost 15 quid to fill up from there, and that fully laden with tent, beer underpants the lot lol. but the most important thing is you go with what you think is right for you man, this is just my opinion. im sure you will find something that will tick your boxes, but they are worth a look.
cheers,
josh.
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tlm50,mt5,sr50. rs125 extrema, cbr 400rr nc29 suzuki gs500e.Honda cbx250 rs . FJ1200 .fz6,fjr1300

[biker58]

[veze]

mine might be up for sale in spring lol
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tlm50,mt5,sr50. rs125 extrema, cbr 400rr nc29 suzuki gs500e.Honda cbx250 rs . FJ1200 .fz6,fjr1300

[biker58]

[Dilyan]

https://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7272/img0446n.jpg

My little cat in Dover on its way to Sweden in April. It is better prepared this time with a tank bag, tail bag and side panniers.

Note the sat-nav's location on the tank

@Maruchino: might have to get used to this lol
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[Maruchino]

[Dilyan]

Kinda. Trainers and spare clothes in my gym bag, wrapped in a big plastic bag, laptop, tent, sleeping bag, first aid and tools in the top box. Hardly anything in my backpack to reduce weight on my shoulders.
It was for either 5 or 6 days in total, can't remember
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[Maruchino]

[Dilyan]

https://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2974/img0511qqn.jpg

On my way up the hotel in the Netherlands was 180 euros A NIGHT, and on the way back the campsite was about 10-15 euros. So, yeah, I carried a tent And a laptop. And a few Heinekens
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[veze]

hey dilyan, where was that campsite? how you ever been to tourstop in the netherlands? thers another good campsite up near gronigen, which isnt motorcycle only only like tourstop but is motorcycle freindly. tourstop has a swimming pool
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tlm50,mt5,sr50. rs125 extrema, cbr 400rr nc29 suzuki gs500e.Honda cbx250 rs . FJ1200 .fz6,fjr1300