Adventure bike or sports tourer?

[ReadySalted]

I've had the K5 SV650S for 12 months now. It was owned by my brother before me for about 7 or 8 years, and I bought it last year with around 20K on the clock. It's now done almost 34K and I'm looking for a change. It was my first big bike, and I love everything about it, but there are a few reasons for upgrading:

I'm 6'1" and find the SV quite small and cramped.
I can't for the life of me find any racking system for hard luggage which doesn't cost a fortune. I have soft luggage but hard luggage is preferable and usually has more capacity.
I sold my car recently and so would like a bike which would be a little more suitable for all year riding (if such thing exists).

My riding mainly consists of daily commute of a few miles, weekend and evening rideouts, and camping and touring once a month or so.

I'm ideally looking to part ex my bike and add a bit of cash. Say a budget of around 2K-ish.

I'm particularly taken by Triumph Sprints and VFRs although examples within budget seem to be alot older than my SV.

I've also looked at V-strom 1000s, which I think would be a practical choice if I could find a good cheap example, but I do find them quite ugly (as with all adventure/ tourer bikes imho).

I'm not dead set on replacing, and the SV does everything I need of it, has never broken down (touch wood), and being a fully faired pointy model is a nice looking bike, so there's no rush to change.

[Polarbear]

It really is a case of what you are happiest with. All the bike you have mentioned are decent enough machines.

IMO (and be sure others will have wildly different ideas) an adventure bike is better for really long distances purely because of the riding position, more upright. A sports tourer will be faster & probably much more fun if you are a spirited rider but for real distances I would say an adventure bike is up there just behind a full blown tourer.

VFR's and Sprints are lovely bikes though, as are Hayabusas, Blackbirds, ZX12's and ZZR's.

The one thing I would say is whatever you go for, make sure it comes with the hard luggage as it's a fair wedge to buy.

Go try some and see what floats your boat.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Matt B]

[ReadySalted]

Went to a local dealer and looked at their stock. They have a blackbird which has just been sold. Early 2000s model with luggage, can't remember the mileage and they wanted 3K for it, but if it hadn't been sold I might have offered them a grand and my bike for it.

They also had a few vfrs for around 3 grand.

I'm drawn to blackbirds, they just seem to have something about them, but practically a vfr would be a much better choice and probably more fun for me in the twisties especially on the welsh border.

[arry]

Sticking my sprint up for sale soon. I've just never fallen for it.

My best advice would be sports bike or touring bike and not a mix of both. I've found that the sprint does neither well because it's too compromised in both directions.

[ReadySalted]

It's a tough one, part of me want's to go for something like a fjr1300 for it's touring prowess, but the other 90% of the time, I know I'd be wishing for something lighter, smaller and more sporty (despite the fact that fjr's are claimed to be the most sporty of all big tourers).

Similarly I'm not sure it's worth the cash or hassle to swap a perfectly adequate sv for a vfr, considering I'd be getting a slightly larger, quicker bike of a similar type. I'd just be going places a little quicker, on a bike with a great reputation, with capacity to carry more shit. Probably more fun on longer journeys than the SV, but a little less fun in the twisties.

I'm afraid to step out of the sport tourer bracket to something like a bmw f650 or v strom, because I find them pretty ugly, and I will never be going off road realistically.

Whatever I end up getting, I'll wish I got the other one so may as well stick with the sv or be brave and just take a punt.

[Matt B]

This is why so many people end up with more than one bike. That 'do it all' ride is very elusive, maybe it doesn't really exist for some.

The Blackbird is a great bike to ride, super smooth and very confidence inspiring. With luggage it would make a fantastic tourer and I have been looking at them myself. But, they are starting to command silly prices for a low miles example with history. I just can't bring myself to part with around £5k for a 10 year old bike.

You need to look at what you do most and pick a bike for that. If you spend most of your time on twisty A & B roads then get something that will do it well. For that once a year trip you can easily tour on an R1 with a tank and tail pack.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[ReadySalted]

The VFR seems to tick the most boxes.

I'm going to look at two in my local dealers again. Ones a 2004 blue one with luggage but I'm not sure of the milage.
The other is a silver 2002 model with no luggage but only about 20K on the clock. It is however a german import so not sure how much significance that has in terms of insurance and differences in spec!?

They're both pretty much the same price, and standard mid summer, overpriced dealer prices, but I'd expect to haggle a bit of course.

I can't imagine I'll end up buying either tbh but I'm finding it difficult to pick a favourite. The blue one is newer and with the luggage it's probably tipping the scale.

[Val]

[ReadySalted]

Mainly because it's easier to part ex the bike, rather than going through the faff of selling the SV privately or to a dealer. (In my experience part ex normally means you'll get that little bit more out of a dealer as opposed to selling it to them).
I've also recently sold my car. (I have a works van but use the bike for anything outside of work). So selling the bike now would leave me transport-less until I could replace it.

Obviously it's a trade off: Dealers are let's face it, all dodgy fcukers to a lesser or greater extent, but equally most sales come with a 3 month warranty at least.

I'm talking to a dealer who isn't local, who has a 51 plate VFR800 vtec with only 14K miles on the clock and MOTs to prove it. It's in average condition cosmetically but is in the colour I'd like, and comes with luggage. It's the only one I've seen in my preferable spec with such low milage.

I'm considering parting with a bit of cash and the SV for it, but trading a 2005 bike which has never missed a beat (and money), for a 2001/2 bike seems nuts.
Having said that, the VFR is more of a grown up bike, and the SV is a bit more of a toy for me to cut my teeth. The milage on the SV is also double the VFR, and despite the age of it, it's a Honda so SHOULD be reliable. I am fond of the SV though just want something bigger and better for touring, and the VFR has always had impeccable reviews.

[Wednesday Biker]

I swapped my low mileage 09 bike for an 04
If its a bigger and better quality bike then its worth it.

[Chuffin Nora]

https://cdn.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/muscle-burn-calories.jpg
____________________
There's a fine line between integrity

[Stevie GooGs]

Im 6ft 3 and the KTM 990SM is the best road bike ive owned, its great fun as you can trash it. You can get panniers fitted etc if you wish there is a SMT version.



https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/11217577_10152784268956710_2888353828606168442_o.jpg

https://www.bikepics.com/pics/2010/08/30/bikepics-2050407-800.jpg


https://www.bikepics.com/pics/2011/02/12/bikepics-2150383-800.jpg

https://www.bikepics.com/pics/2010/07/24/bikepics-2025306-full.jpg
____________________
Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[stinkwheel]

Are you sports touring or adventuring?

I think a lot of people buy adventure bikes when what they really wanted/needed was a sports tourer or a straight up tourer. Lot's of suspension and big, wide handlebars can make it fun but let's face it, in Europe, you're not riding the thing for miles on dirt roads. You land up sat up and spread out on the bike, then spending a fortune on screen extenders, hand guards and gel seat pads. Horribly exposed to wind blast and very un-aerodynamic.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of sitting upright on a motorcycle with your feet under you but not for a 500 mile day at 80+mph.

If you're doing distance at speed, you don't necessarily want to be sat upright and the fairing on a tourer will keep the wind and weather off more effectively.

I'd say get two bikes. Get a big sports tourer AND a smaller bike for your commute. You don't say what a "few miles" is but even a tiddler can be a hoot. In this day and age, I'd seriously consider an electric bike for my daily commute of 9 miles each way if I didn't have to take the van anyway. That or something silly and fun like a monkey bike/C90 or an old 80's 100cc stroker. As I stand I'd probably commute on my Enfield and leave my VFR in the garage for weekends and longer trips.

Then you can keep your tourer for best, no salt damage, no squared off tyres, no compromise for tyre and brake pad choice, avoid those small dings and drops. Run a "disposable" tiddler for commuting and through the winter with cheap consumables and lower running costs. A monkey bike would get through in the winter where a blackbird would fall over at the end of the drive.

So yes.

I think you should get a Blackbird AND an electric scooter.
____________________
“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.