Tourer for newbie

[Azimuth]

Hi all. I'm currently in training via DAS for my 'A' licence, no previous years in small bikes. Only 30 years in cars. A big lump, tall and pushing near to 50. Without sounding cocky or being smart, I would like something like a ST1300, RT1200RT or a FJR1300 that I could go straight to and grow into / learn to handle from the start and continue further training and develop experience.

I got some insurance quotes as an idea which I didn't think was too bad based on a £5k 10 year old model.

Am I being too ambitious and unrealistic.

Thanks for any advice.
____________________
Nothing yet

[c_dug]

Personally I wouldn't be looking at any of those as a first step into biking, while they're not designed to be rocket ships, they all make masses of torque from low revs and are all in excess of 120bhp and 200kg, you'd probably be fine, but a little too much throttle while cornering on a wet road could see things get out of hand pretty quickly.

They might not appeal quite as much but I'd be looking at something like a VFR800, or possibly a Versys or Deauville, just for a year or so to get yourself used to riding in general, all three are more than capable tourers.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Azimuth]

Thanks for the advice and I see your point. I have seen a VFR800 and admittedly I thought the VFR would have been a more twitchy machine as it looked to me to have more sports tourer capability which is why initially I didn't consider it.

I also looked at a cbf1000 with the touring and fairing kit which also looked to fit the bill.

Could this be a good option?
____________________
Nothing yet

[barrkel]

[azra3l]

I had a cbf1000 as a hire bike for a while. It's body lovely to ride, but even that may have too much power for a new rider. It's basically a retuned fireblade engine, they've just moved all the power slightly down the rev range.

Has a look at a couple of vfrs when I was looking for a new work bike, they are nice, but way too thirsty for a work bike (or in your case a tourer) imo.

+1 for a deauville I reckon. A decent 700 with abs etc is well within your budget And has more than enough poke for a totally new rider. Also has built in crash protection if you slide it down the road. They shouldn't depreciate much, as long as you don't fuck it up too badly it should wipe it's face when it cocomes to reselling it.

[c_dug]

The VFR is definitely a sportier machine than the three you mentioned in your first post, it's a combination of factors that would make me wary of the other three though.

As mentioned before you probably would be for fine, you'd probably ride them for a year and wonder what that bloke on the forum was on about, my concern would be if things went a bit squiffy, I'd think an fjr1300 with a big rider and panniers with luggage could easily be pushing on for 450-500kg, they also make the best part of 150bhp. The Honda and BMW aren't quite in the same league power wise but are still big machines. They're huge hunks of metal to manhandle around.

150bhp might not sound like tons from a car perspective, but consider that the top of the range 1000cc sports bikes haven't been making much more than that for all that long (the current fireblade puts out around 170bhp for comparison). And that the fjr1300 makes pretty much consistently 30ft/lb more torque across the Rev range compared with the vfr800. It'll be no slouch!

I'm not trying to put you off of the bikes you want, if they're what's going to make it enjoyable for you then do it, in the end you're a grown man and capable of making your own decisions, and at twice my age probably mature enough not to do anything too stupid

It's easy for me to say that a Deauville would be a better option for a year, and I don't disagree with what I said. I also know what it's like to have your eye on a bike that you really quite fancy, and then to end up on something else, it can take the fun out of things a bit.

Just to add another option, check out Diversion 900's, they make great tourers and are a bit lighter and less powerful than the three you mentioned, they're a decent step in-between the likes or the Deauville and the bigger tourers if you don't fancy going quite as small as the Deauville. Your budget would pick up one with all of the bells and whistles and it'll hold its value too.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[talkToTheHat]

Make sure you can push/paddle/wrestle a big-ass bike around confidently, and get your feet down well enough to support a heavy bike in a sudden crosswind.

You can tour on anything you can get luggage on. Huge bikes are not as innately flickable as smaller ones but are less upset by piling on the luggage.

100 horses is more than enough to launch yourself at the scenery at instaban pace. I get by on less than half that, and motorway speeds 2up with a pair of 45 litre boxes is reasonable.

Abs and crash bungs or engine bars for a first bike if you can. Particularly a big one. You will probably fall over on wet leaves or in a carpark. Minimise the amount of costly breakages.

I'd recommend some proper strong boots to go with a heavy bike. CE crush resistance is your friend. Altberg make awesome touring boots, really strong, really waterproof, enough tread on them not to go skidding about on an upaved surface.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[ADSrox0r]

VFR is fine as a first big bike, just don't get an early model VTEC ('02 to '06) they're cranky as fuck at the low end.
____________________
Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Azimuth]

As has been suggested I will need to try riding different bikes before making a decision. Something I must and can only do when I pass the test. In the meantime, until then, I'm just sounding out ideas and advice from those with experience.

I did like the two VFR 800 VTEC I sat on. I think the one with raised bars was more comfortable by far, than the one without. Still a more forward sports touring position. One I would like certainly add to my road test list though.

Thanks again to all for the help and advice. Crack on !
____________________
Nothing yet