Sports bike for motorways ?

[Yarri]

So summer is on it's way and I am feeling like getting a bike again, it's got to be a sports bike r6/zx6r/cbr/gsxr whatever will come at the best price, the plan is to use the bike to go to the shops, and ride to London 2-3 weekends each months from Wolvehampton which is about 150 miles each way, takes me 3 hours when driving by car with the Birmingham/London traffic, so should be about 2 with the bike.

Question is, will I be able to survive doing these long distances on a bike without getting really pissed off?
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Theory Passed: 23/10/2008 49/74 Bike Test Passed: 05/01/2009 1 minor
Theory Car Passed: 22/07/2009 48/74 Car Test Passed: 22/10/2009 2 minor
Few minutes of life of the biker could be more interesting then the whole lifes of many people

[Benson_JV]

Well I don't know, will you?

I find my CBR very comfortable on motorways.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[Scotsman37]

In response: How long is a piece of string?

Only you will know if after time it becomes to much to handle because everybody is different on a subject if overtime you get bored with or tired of it riding through bad weather. If there is an accident and all the lanes are stopped then you'll be stuck as well because you will be at the mercy of other road users to make way for you or not to filter through.

I know within London bikes are extremely popular form of transport which is evident by the amount of bikes parked within the centre areas is amazing!

[Walloper]

I could sit on my sportsbike for hours but my tourer is the man for the job for distance day in day out.

If you are 'normal' you will get fed up with m/ways on a sportsbike due to hee-haw wind protection.

If you are intent on m/way a sports-tourer would be a better option.

I used a BMW R1200GS for years on long m/way runs. I had a masoof screen on it as without it the upper body effort required to resist 80MPH wind blast became tiring.

But as said ^^^ it's up to you. Take one out on a demo and do two or three hours at m/way speed. And evaluate.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Cheeseybeaner]

Can't comment on sportsbike fairings, but would go with Walloper's comments in that a bigger touring screen and fairing makes distance on the motorway far more comfortable than it would otherwise be. My Diversion 900 makes motorway miles much less strain than my ZRX1200R with its tiny headlamp cowl does, its just the fact that you've got basically still air behind the screen instead of a constant wind blast to fight with that makes it much less strain, and you are less worn out at the end of it. In wet windy conditions and a few hundred miles to go you wouldn't want to be without it once you appreciate the difference it makes.
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My bikes: 2003 KAWASAKI ZRX1200R, 1996 YAMAHA DIVERSION XJ900S

[c_dug]

Personally I can deal with the sports bike position and wind blast, I don't find my divvy that much less work than my cbr was. The thing for me would be tank range, you'll be pressed to find many sports bikes that will do that 150 mile trip on a single tank of fuel. Its nice starting a journey safe in the knowledge that you won't spend a chunk of it on the lookout for a petrol station.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Bendy]

I stuck a double bubble on the GSXR and I'm happy on motorways with that. Riding a naked bike the other week reminded me how nice it is to have a half decent screen.

Tank range is a point though, I could just about eke 150 miles out of mine but there wouldn't be much margin left. The Sprint ST I had before would do an easy 200 to the tank, which was very nice when doing any sort of distance.

[Whosthedaddy]

I agree with Bendy, tank range would be the issue, even my XJ6 hits reserve not far after 140-150 miles.

Why get a 'sportsbike' to do straight line miles on a motorway?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Philly46]

While I had my 6R it did quite a few motorway miles for events or just taking the quicker route home after a rideout and never had a bother.

Managed North Circular to Wolverhampton on a tank with fuel to spare.
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[mikester]

My gsxr is a chore on the straights, the thought of doing it for 2hrs terrifies me :/

However I find riding one handed and leaning on the tank with the free arm is way more comfortable.

Due care and attention incoming....

[Knightsy]

Sounds like you need a VFR in your life
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[P.addy]

[Snorty]

[biker7]

Riding any bike on the motorway is a bit like eating ice cream in the winter - it's not really for what it was intended. Bike tyres are rounded and made to rotate on the corners. Motorways square off the tyres in the middle. Agreed there are times when we need to travel long and straight. The car does this so much better. If at all possible I take an alternative route to take in the twisties. Generally speaking I would not recommend a sports bike for motorways. If resigned to an M journey I tend to beat the boredom by changing lanes and speed. Sharpens up the awarenes of course - errors of judgement can be very serious. However, leaving the motorways for the City - that's when the sports bike comes in really handy - traffic busting on narrow bike is just the job!
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[Cheeseybeaner]

I like riding on motorways personally. To cover ground quickly at speed you can't really beat them, I suppose they can get monotonous after a few hours in a virtually straight line but the speed keeps me interested personally, there's no place easier to ride at and sustain higher speeds with low risk and plenty of space around you.
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My bikes: 2003 KAWASAKI ZRX1200R, 1996 YAMAHA DIVERSION XJ900S

[Slacker24seve...]

[Paulington]

Hey Yarri.

Owning a GSX-R myself, even with a double-bubble screen it can be a real pain on the motorway even though I fit the bike quite well and it's comfy to ride. After around thirty minutes I start wishing I was on the Pan-European instead with no wind blast at all, comfy seat, music I can hear better and heated grips! .

If you break down what you want a bike for;

1) Go to the shops. Just a quick guess say 10-20 miles maximum round trip?
2) Ride to London three times a month, 300 miles a time.

So, a month that's (max and total speculation) 1000 miles or so, of which 90% is motorways going in a straight line. I think a sports bike would be a poor choice especially if you can't find one that you're "comfortable" on. However some people can ride sports bikes for miles and miles, so you have to figure out what you can do as an individual.

However, if you can find a sports bike that is very comfortable you, can put heated grips on, a big screen, some luggage and other stuff such as sports-tourer tyres to cope with the straight-line mileage then go for it! It's an individual thing. Oh, fuel economy too, you could find yourself using a tank to get there and a tank to get back on a "sports" bike, expensive round trip!

Personally in your case I'd be on the lookout for a sports tourer or seeing if I can afford to get an older sportsbike and an older tourer-style motorcycle for the long journeys.

Why not see if you can get a test ride on a modern sportsbike and take it out for a slog of 50 miles or so on the motorway (or better yet, the actual ride you'll be doing) and see how it feels? Do the same with a sports tourer/tourer and see how you feel. I think it'd be prudent for you to at least do that first so you have an idea of how the ride itself would feel.

Anyway, long, but I hope that helps. .
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[G]

[Slacker24seve...]

[Kradmelder]

why would you want a sports bike if you want to do long distances and go to the shops? Get a bike with a more comfortable upright ride, and with a rack on the back to tie stuff on or fit a top box.

Do you want to be bent over, the weight on your arms and a pack on your back for hours?
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[biker7]

I find upright is not necessarily more comfortable. The bone at the base of your spine can cause discomfort over distance when pressed on in an upright position. I find the forward sports position more comfortable where the weight is taken more on my upper legs and stomach. Wind buffeting is often less leaning forward rather than with your head above the screen. Sports tourers with low bars are better for distance than more upright bikes IMO. I get very litte problem from my arms with clip on bars. Everyone is different and I suppose it depends on how relaxed you hold your body when riding. Bigger engine would be better for motorway miles than say a 600. I find the 600 ideal for town filtering and enjoy nipping from lane to lane on the motorway. Don't like big miles on any bike - prefer the car!
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[UnspeedySam]

The 6R is great on the motorway for a sports bike and I can get 170 miles from a tank on a run. It is also not tiny like some bikes and I find it very comfortable. However being just over 6ft tall means that even a double bubble provides truly useless wind protection. I'm going to make myself a deflector out of an old visor and see if that helps put the wind above my head instead of directly at my face.
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[stevo as b4]

Seriously you really need a bigger engine than 600cc's as a necessity for motorway miles?

For what the OP want's to do I see no problem, no issues and nothing really worth talking about regarding will a sports bike be ok for 150mile motorway journeys. Of course it will! He knows it, I knows it and so does everyone else.

I'd possibly be looking to choose a more comfortable roomy 600 in the class out of choice however. I had a J-series ZX6R, so not very relevant to choosing a 600 today, but it was more than comfy enough for 150miles at a time on the motorway/1 tank of petrol.

I wouldn't choose a sports bike with limited steering lock and the fear of damaging the bodywork etc, for extensive city use and filtering everywhere though possibly? Of course it's just as true what G etc say about using trailbikes for city use, in that tall wide bars and mirror's have their limitations, but short of riding a little scooter, I'd prefer a trailie over a sportsbike for 80% city use.

[stinkwheel]

I'd see something with a single sided swingarm and a mainstand as desirable. Then you can get a spare wheel, keep a hard touring tyre on one and a softer sports tyre on the other and change them as and when appropriate.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

Not particularly more difficult with a normal paddock stand and a normal swingarm.

Maybe a couple of minutes more.

Or, of course, a random bit of wood and the side-stand if you're in the middle of nowhere .

(But if you've got a spare wheel along, you can probably have a proper paddock stand easily enough .