Need reccomendations on a tourer.

[Thom]

I'm slowly compiling a collection of bikes it would seem.

I now want a tourer and i dont think ther ER-5 is good enough, the Touno (Which im getting in spring) is a toy, and the TRX is going to be a project so i need a dedicated touring bike.

However... I have a somewhat different criteria to the standard VFR800 or pan european for example.

I'm after a lightish bike, sometihng under 210KG preferebly.

I'd like locknut tappets for ease of servicing.

I'd ideally like it to be an air cooled engine, again for ease of maintenance.

I think half faired would be most suitable for access to the engine and to reduce damage in a drop.

It needs to be suitable for a pillion and full hard luggage.

It needs not to be affected by the additional weight of a pillion and luggage (Well not by much).

Fuel economy needs to be reasonable.

Parts must be available, in theory wherever i may be.

Now, i immediately thought of getting another Diversion, but the 900 version however it doesnt hit a few of the criteria. Does anyone have any reccomedations they think may be slightly more suitable?

I don't mind what style of bike it, and im considering a transalp, revere and similar.
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Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[motoman]

moto guzzi breva 1100 ticks a few box's but is closer to 240kgs wet.

and its different!

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=1452379&highlight=#1452379

wish i still had mine...

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Hi, What about the Ducati ST2/ST3
Ok its not air-cooled. And the earlier '98 models look abit fugly, but they're cheap to buy and seem dependable.
Hard Luggage came as standard.

Here's the link to a ST2 forum https://www.ducatisti.co.uk/forum/ducati-st2/



Pat
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[ms51ves3]

Honda GL500 (Silverwing).

A bit heavy, but good fuel economy and a simple LC pushrod engine.

Shaft drive as well so no messing about with chains.

[tatters]

BMW R100R or the older R80ST, road version and alot cheaper than the GS models.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/BMW_R100R_Roadster_r.jpg

https://www.bmbikes.co.uk/photos/photophotos/r80st.jpg


Pretty much any of the pre 1995 aircooled boxers are easy to work on and bulletproof, meets all your requirments plus most come with the oringal BMW panniers.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Vin]

[phil2alp]

I did a 4 month tour of Western Europe on a 1998 Transalp with no problems. Very reliable. I can't remember fuel consumption being a problem. I had a Pillion and full hard luggage.

Agree with the other person that it can be a bit hard on the bum for the rider. Also it's not the fastest with luggage and a pillion but even fully loaded it's still quicker away from the lights than most cars and only a bit of planning is required for overtakes at 60 mph plus. The speed was never an issue with me as I wanted to see the scenery.

[stinkwheel]

The bike you are looking for does not exist. Please either increase the allowable weight or learn to tappet.

Frankly, with a modern touring bike, if you are having to work on the engine with any degree of regularity, you picked the wrong bike.

The plastics come off my VFR twice a year for servicing. You do the oil every 9k, plugs and tappets every 24k. You don't usually need to do anything to the tappets but it's nice to check.

Why so light? If you want power to pull hard luggage and a pillion, you need a big engine (>=750cc) which is heavier. In the real world, unless you get something horrifically lardy, you'll hardly notice it.

Errr. Suggestions, suggestions.

Triump tiger 1050. Nimble, rapid, powerfull, comfortable.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Mvhjidbvdzc/SO2HaxHxJyI/AAAAAAAAIq0/WzdfF3nMUhE/s400/Tiger-SE.jpg
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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.

[map]

Agree with stinkwheel above.
As he mentioned it how about a VFR - non v-tec?

If you want old school and fixable then if you can find one Kawasaki GT750 (bit more ummph than the 550, although rarer). That said people do tour quite successfully on the 550. Bit long in the tooth now though but an experience.

For a bike that'd be fixable (+ dealerships, official or unofficial?) in most countries then go for BMW, any one with an R series engine. Being made since the beginning of time.

Other than that an old ST1100 should be reliable and comfy enough and Honda has a large enough European footprint for support.

HTH
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