An odd first post

[Fastmoobs]

Good evening everyone,
After reading posts and topics I have decided this is the forum for me
I have been riding bikes since I was 16 but sold my last bike 2 years ago when my son was born. The itch is back and I'm looking for a bike again. Last bikes were, zx6r, zx10r, Tiger1050, GSXR750 k7. Now I'm not wanting sports bikes anymore and my job means I spend time away in Europe, sometimes weeks or months and I want something that I can pack up with gear, work clothes (PPE, overalls) and ride rather than fly to jobs. Otherwise the bike will remain parked up for most of year when I work away or have to go to further reaches of the world and need to fly.
I really liked the Tiger and there are many about for 5k ish, then there is the GS but does anyone have other ideas, options, tips as to if this idea is really feasible or if its simpler just to fly..

[Ammoman]

Welcome

Gen 2 Suzuki Hayabusa Best mile muncher ever IMO
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2013 ZZR1400 & Honda CG125 1986..

[Fastmoobs]

The insurance on a Busa might be too much of a kick in the potatoes for me,

[Wonko The Sane]

honda varadero (the big on obviously)
pan european
deuville
transalp

if you're happy going older then theres things like africa twin, or even ZZR if you wanted a sports type bike that can have hard luggage retrofitted.

[Rowey]

A good sports tourer like a VFR could suit your needs. They can be loaded up with a good chunk of gear, have good weather protection, comfy custom after-market seats, smooth V4 engines and can be hustled around corners quite effortlessly.

Only thing you may want to check is service intervals/costs.

Also no one is going to be able to know what you like so get to a shop and test ride a few that fit your needs.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[clancy]

Another shout for the new vfr, really like it as a sport tourer, looks very comfy, lots of nice extras And storage possibilities. Would think it's cheap to insure too

Would be my choice if I needed a long distance bike
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KLX 300r

[BigDan1190]

[clancy]

It was a suggestion like he asked for

Does everything he wants And it's what i would look at, do said it as an option
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KLX 300r

[evoboy]

[Shaft]

Given that the OP doesn't want a sports orientated riding position, liked his Tiger and (I'm assuming) isn't ready for the full on, pipe and slippers, touring option, I would go for a GS as well.

When I was looking, there were some good choices for 5k and it's got a shaft, which puts it head and shoulders above pretty much everything else.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Rogerborg]

I'm intrigued by the value proposition of the GSX1250FA. They tick all the right boxes apart from shaft, you can get them dripping with hard luggage and Euro-sat-navs and such, and they're only £7K brand new after the inevitable cashback.

I'm always puzzled by why folk queue up to pay much (much, much) more for beaky-bikes to use as tarmac tourers.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Enduro Numpty]

FJR1300.

Fast, comfy, reliable, shaft drive, good weather protection, happy on autobahns & back roads, decent luggage as standard and capacity to easily carry much more. Great pillion seat if you ever have the requirement. Never going to be as nimble as a sportsbike but surprisingly good fun and deceptively quick on the twisties if you ever get the notion.

Only bike I've ever ridden where 500+ miles in a day doesn't seem enough.

Capable of very high fuss free mileages if maintained.

Suspension linkage must be stripped and greased every 12K. If considering, make sure that you are convinced this has been done.

[Fastmoobs]

Test road a Sprint ST 2008, 20,000 miles. Was very impressed by the handling. Handled like a sports bike and was rapid. Anyone got some long term ownership impressions of these ?

[Kradmelder]

I would agree with Big Dan. The GS is ideal if you doing long distance. Comfortable, can easily do 800 km per day, got the power, sit upright, can carry luggage.

Forget sports bikes. Too narrow an application. Just wont do for long distance, luggage, and as you get older.

The next issue is your job. Are you in cities, office, or out in bush?
The GS is ideal for tar, long distance and some off road. But not so good in sand and mud if you do a lot of site work.

The GS also has a long service interval (10 k km), long engine life (300 k km +), and is ideal for long distance travel. Also a good dealer network.

I use my bikes for work and do over 30k Km per year. The GS is ideal for me. When Im really bad sites with a lot of bad dirt roads, I take the KTM. Otherwise the GS.

The GS is a totally different bike with road tyres or knobblies. With road tyres it is a great tourer for long distance. With Knobblies you can go off road, but will use up rear tyres, road noise, and speed down to 160 kmh
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[Fastmoobs]

Hey Krad,
I work on Power Stations. Examples are, this year I was in Japan then straight to states for a month so no option to travel on bike there. Few days at home then went to Sardinia for a month. Hotel near site and other lads with hire car for daily commute to and from site so bike can stay at hotel. Other places I work are Ghent- Belgium, Bilbao-Spain,Northern Italy, Trieste, Portugal. These are the sorts of places if I get enough notice to plan and ride I would.
Again it depends on distance and time/days to get there.
Appreciate yours and everyones advice.

[Kradmelder]