Yet another 'which bike' thread? - Extended commuting

[Feasty]

So I've currently got my SLR650 which I love, it's a brill bike. Being a thumper it gives me great engine feedback, sounds great and it's very quick off the mark - even doing decent acceleration from 70-90 (on private roads of course!). It's also been really reliable being my commuter transport for the past couple of years.
Sadly my company are forcing me to relocate, meaning I now have to commute a longer distance of about 100 miles a day and using the motorway for most of this. Unfortunately my current bike is just not motorway material for me, there's no wind protection, I'd be pushing it to its limits ever day and I think a smoother engine would be better.

Very luckily my restriction ends in 2 weeks time, so I 'think' I'm looking for some sort of tourer. Below are the listed models I've seen around and I'd value your opinion of these based on wind protection, decent acceleration at higher speed and running costs. I'm prefering a more upright seating position and somehow got it in my head that possibly a shaft driven bike would mean less regular maintenance would be required and would last longer!?

Honda ST1100
Honda Varadero
Honda NT650 Deauville

Yamaha XJ Diversion 900

BMW R1100
BMW K1100

The other thing is I only have £1000-£1200 to spend though might be able to stretch to £2k for the perfect bike!
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[chris-red]

Have a Look at a TDM850 or an Old Tiger 955.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Feasty]

Thanks I'll have a look at those, I was thinking about AT's too but they are very pricy.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[T0MMY]

There's another thread discussing very similar requirements to this but if I didn't care about entertainment value I'd go for the Deauville out of that list. I think it would cost the least to run and that is pretty big mileage.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Rowey]

VFR750/800? And a scott oiler?
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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.

[G]

ZX9R - chain oiler, double bubble and higher bars/adjustable bars.
Lighter and more agile than most of the other bikes listed, but with as much or more mid-range go.

Still need to change the oil in a shaft drive, just as you would in a long range tank on a chain oiler. Few more bits to do long term on a chain bike, but they are a lot less hassle than doing similar on a shaft drive bike (replacing shaft, bearings, gears etc).

Oh and it'll redefine 'quick' for you .

I still don't 'get' heavy bikes and why to go for one over a light bike (am in on a the 1050ST today as opposed to the GSXR, prefer to be on the sports bike.)

[Pie-Roe]

[G]

Unless you for the EXCs, they still don't have that great power to weight ratios.

Most people I'd say prefer a lighter bike, obviously not all though . If I want a bit of weight behind me, I'll take the car, or better still the van!

Riding position can be very easily changed, of course.

[chris-red]

I couldn't commute on a sports bike, I did it on the 4 this week which is sort od sports bikey, the riding position is too much on my wrists and neck, the tyres are too soft the suspention is too hard and I care way to much about dropping it, too many gear changes required and not as much punch from the engine low down.

Obvioulsy you can change the tyres and I'm sure a 1000 wouldn't lack the punch low down. The TDM in comfortable and at least half the price of a GSXR1000, I daresay it will be more reliable and last longer, use less juice and be cheaper to service. It has R1 brakes and more than enough power to blast though London 90% of my journey is heavy traffic.

But the most annoying thing, the turning circle ahving to do 3 point turn with a few scooters stuck behind you to get though a 90 degree gap in traffic is a nightmare the TDM is brilliant for throwing 90 degrees at the drop of a hat.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[G]

Are you sure the lack of low down gear partly you using a taller gear relatively on the sports bike? On my TRX at least, I’d say that if you compared that to my zx6 on gears with the same maximum road speed, the zx6 would be better through all the rev range probably. Regardless, get a 1000 for range of power – first gear goes to over 100 on mine and has aggressive power right the way through it if desired.
I find leant over riding position does my back in less, but otherwise not worried, however of course this is personal, though can be easily changed – not as good at tight turning as some, but then you can filter through narrower gaps too, so may need less lock . Unfortunately my KTM690 actually has worse lock than the GSXR if anything – even more annoying on single track trail!

Could get an early GSXR1000 for £2k or so (well a few months and a clean but not mint one if you shopped around.) Ride it like a TDM and I suspect it’ll last pretty well.

Hard suspension and soft obviously easy to change too.

As I've said before, big thing I don't like with such bikes is the wide bars for tight filtering.

[panrider_uk]

100 miles a day is easy on the ST1100.

Good weather protection, comfort and a smooth engine.

Final drive oil on the Pan should be changed every 24,000 miles.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[chris-red]

[panrider_uk]

[chris-red]

[stinkwheel]

Based on 5 days a week, you're going to be knocking in 2,000 miles a month on motorways.

Tyres are now a serious consideration.

Something I do with my VFR is to have two back wheels. One with a cheapo touring tyre on and another with a more sports biased tyre. I have a single side swingarm so i can change them over in about 2 minutes.

So, a single side swingarm/quick release rear wheel might not be a bad idea.

You're not going to get a very up to date beemer for £1500 but your budget might stretch to a K100 which is more like a car engine than a bike.

What about one of the original Triumph Trophy 1200s? Big lazy engine, comfy seat, huge fairing.
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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.

[panrider_uk]

[Feasty]

Well the filtering side of it will be at the beginning of my journey, I'll have about 10-12miles of slow moving or standing traffic on dual carriageways to get past. Now an ex police ST1100 I can see parting all that easily!! But that's where I worry about the bike being too wide, motorways won't be the issue...

Hadn't thought about the tyre side of it though, but I guess because I'll be getting a 'disturbance allowance' that should cover all that sort of stuff if I put it aside.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[panrider_uk]

They aint that wide.

Even a Harley can filter on a dual carriageway

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel