Is this a daft idea?

[sgtcalle]

Hi all.

My first time posting in the touring section, how exciting!

Myself and the mrs are considering doing a two up trip for a week or two around Europe in the summer. I've never done any touring before, and ride an r1, which having ridden to Yorkshire and back last weekend (300 miles) and crippling my back and arse, I have come to the realisation that touring on the Yamaha is not going to work.

I have been thinking of picking up a cheap (~ £1000) tourer (Deauville, GSXF, K100, possibly a Pan if I can find one), giving it a bit of a service and taking it, probably selling it on my return. Am I likely to end up at the side of the road somewhere in France with a knackered bike and a grand down the drain?

I had looked into renting a bike, but this option seems really expensive.

I don't expect it to be a particularly difficult trip on the bike, probably only a couple of hundred miles a day.

Thoughts and comments welcome
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[MCN]

Nothing wrong with a well serviced used big bike.
You need AA cover just for LoLs though.
The cost of fuel and your personal insurance is less than RAC/AA/GreenFag etc. for peace of mind.

It would/may probably be a wee idea to scoot ahp Norf a little bit and overnight at a B&B to see how the Mrs. and you get on with all-day-on-the-bike.
All day on a bike can be tiring unless you are as hard as the likes of me. If you maybe plan day on bike day absorbing the culture/shaggin' it gives the arse bones a rest.

But well worth the effort and expense. (Before the Eurocrats shut down biking.)
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[rubyhorse2]

me and the mrs are doing the exact same thing, already started planning where we want to go on a huge wall map with pins in..i know i am sad.

Our plan is train to milan and tour italy, back up via france and belgium.

I'm going on the SDR, i think any bike is fine as long as its maintained. Regarding position, admittedly the R1 is probably not going to be the comfiest. We did the TT on the RC8 and what really did me in was having a backpack on with her on the back too, made it really hard to sit back fully.

i checked out renting bikes but it really isnt worth it in my opinion.

As above try a full days run and overnight and see who you both feel.

Another consideration is keeping the miles down each day, someone advised this and so i'm probably aiming for about 250 - 300 miles per day.

[Matt B]

When you start looking I think you will come to realise that £1k is not much of a budget for something up to the job.

Pan is great to tour on but you will struggle to find one in your budget. For two up you really want something with fixed panniers so unexciting as they are, the Dullville could be your salvation.

Also bear in mind that you may find it hard to get Euro breakdown cover on anything over 15 years old.
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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.

[sgtcalle]

Thanks for the tips gents.

I do have aa cover that covers me on any vehicle I'm on or in, so fairly happy on that front. Will have to check the +15 year old thing though.

Like the idea of taking a trip up north to see how we get on. Tbh I think if it were just me id go on the r1, but you know what women are like... I can't see us doing more than 300 miles a day to be honest, probably spend a lot of time mooching around, and with any luck there may be some shaggin, as suggested

I have been keeping an eye on the bay. Pans are probably just outside the budget, but some very clean dullvilles have been up recently, can't post a link as I'm on my phone, but one went this evening for £830 with full MOT, recent service, 56k on the clock.


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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[Itchy]

Take the R1. Install a gel seat and even a pair of jack down heel plates adjustable ones will allow you to jack them up when you get to fast stuff. Ride faster for the wind lift effect.

You're touring, you have a woman with you. Stop and gawp at things.

Unlike the single tourers who see absolutely no need to stop except for petrol. You're on vacation.


I've had more than a few trips when I got serious white line fever. I would ride and ride and ride. Hunger? Thirst? No dice keep on riding and tear up those roads...
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Undinist]

You can get a scruffy but solid K1100LT for about a grand. (I did.) It would be perfect for the job, but it would be about 20 years old and unless it had been maintained better than most there's a risk of being stranded. If you gave it a full service before the trip and watched some Chris Harris videos https://www.youtube.com/user/BavarianBomberWrench you could rule out lots of things, but it would still be a gamble.

There would probably be several previous owners and chances are that one would have been a bit of a bodger. Corroded wiring would be a worry. If you removed the plastics and the tank and sprayed all the connectors with ACF50 your odds would improve a bit. I'd do it. Take a Clymer manual and some tools, it's a very easy bike to work on. Take the details of the 3 major UK used parts specialists in case you want something Fedexed in a hurry. If you have a day or two of waiting around, it just means more drinking and more sex.
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[Matt B]

Plan B also known as the man's approach

Leave her at home and go on the R1 with a group of mates instead Kriega US30 for your kit is a hell of a lot cheaper than a whole new bike.

We did it in July (link in my sig) down to Italy via Switzerland and back through Germany. Epic trip and a lot of us were on sports bikes, I took the ZX12 and it was fine. More fun with the lads.
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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.

[sgtcalle]

I had seriously considered taking the r1. Im 6 ft 5 so perhaps my heart ruled my head a little when choosing it. Its fine for commuting and blasts, but any distance soon becomes tiring. I dont find it too bad on the wrists (i do cruise fast enough to take the weight off) just my back and arse. Gel seat would ukd have to be essential. I suspect getting enough luggage on it with a pillion may be a bridge too far. Yes, i know i need to man up and go on my own on the r1, but this way i can get the mrs to pay for half a new motorbike

There does seem to be plenty of old bimmers up for sale, so definitely an option. I would do a thorough service beforehand. Potentially even buy cheap over winter when prices are low and spent a few months fettling it. Hey i might even make money when i come to sell it in summer!
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[Matt B]

You could probably find an old 900 Diversion with luggage in your budget. Could be worth looking at those too.
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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.

[Undinist]

Nick Sanders went 4 times round the world on an R1 - but he's not 6'5" and didn't take a pillion! https://nicksanders.com/cms/cinema-2/bike-viral-the-r1-is-the-hero/
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[mentalboy]

I'll just leave this here....

[sgtcalle]

I did recall seeing something about a round the world trip on an r1, thanks.

I had seen some divvies. Was a bit concerned the lack of a full fairing may be a bit of an issue, but perhaps not if im lucky with the weather
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[arry]

[sgtcalle]

[Skudd]

G would say you can tour on anything and you can. I would say reduce your daily mileage to 200 miles or less each day and enjoy the stops to chat and talk about what you have seen and are going to see. After all it is a holiday.

I'm more of a mile muncher, but I ride a ride a nice comfy Varadero, my mates ride more sporty bikes and like to stop for coffee more often so the 200-250 a day is ideal for us.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[mentalboy]

[sgtcalle]

We shall see! I think you may be pleasantly surprised. I have seen a couple of ok cbr1100s going quite cheap though i must admit.

Yes corners do seem to delay the onset of numb bum, i'd probably aim to get through france as quick as possible, but after this i can imagine id be on windy roads rather than motorways so mightnt be too bad.

Summarising the general gist then: no its not a daft idea if i can find an ok bike, look it over and my breakdown cover covers me. R1 could be an option but id have to leave the mrs at home. Thanks for the advice all. Watch this space!
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[J4mes]

[-Monty-]

Regarding the breakdown cover. Have a look at getting your bike(s) insured with Carole Nash. I've got both of mine on a Multi-Bike policy, which includes 1 year of European breakdown cover for any bike on the policy. Both of my bikes are 12 years old. I am not aware of any restrictions regarding the age of the bikes.

Also, I have a Pan. It is brilliant for long distance trips; it's comfortable, has panniers as standard, and is good for pillions too. However, I very much doubt you will find a useable one for £1k
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[ketsa]

Sjaak lucassen has done a bit of touring on his R1, admittedly without a pillion.

Sorry not very helpful I know, just thought I'd share it.