looking for a touring bike

[thesmeee]

Hi all
After passing the DAS im looking for my first bike, im pretty new to bikes on the whole, well ive always loved machines like the R1 ect but they arnt really to practical for what i need.

What im looking for is a second hand touring bike, under £5000, £6000 absolute max.
Must be seriously reliable, im looking at going to France, the Netherlands and maybe even Germany if im brave.
Decent handling
Comfortable for myself and the missus whos going to be the passenger.
a good looking machine would be a nice bonus, but its not the end of the world.

Hopefully a few of you will be able to share thoughts and experience on this, i know alot is personal taste but i just wanted a few makes/models to take for a test ride and some to avoid.

Thanks

Paul

[bren_9311]

Honda st1100 -. Pan European
____________________
My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.
Currently bikeless.
Ps4- bren_9311

[P.addy]

Triumph Sprint 1050?

[ninja_butler]

Dozens and dozens to choose from. Honda VFR800, Yamaha FJ1200, Honda Deauville.

[adam277]

You could probably pick up a used BMW GS 1200 for that price. Round the world bikes, known for their reliability.
____________________
Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[davebike]

[P.addy]

Well... given you like the look of the R1.

VFR800.

https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/vfr2_142.jpg

Sprint ST.

https://images.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/2008_Triumph_Sprint_ST_red.jpg

ZZR1200.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/Exiledviking/ZZR1200/IMG_0343.jpg

Blackbird.

https://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/13/eqene8u4.jpg

[chickenstrip]

Your budget suggests you'll be going for something much more recent than this suggestion, but don't overlook the Yam FZS1000 gen 1. You'll be able to get a very good example and set it up how you want. They are all-day comfortable, bit of a fairing keeps the worst of the wind off, "re-tuned" R1 engine (albeit based on early model). proper seat which is comfortable for pillions with decent leg room. You can load em up with luggage and they'll still handle reasonably well.
A really good all-rounder, can handle the twisties (chased an R1 and what I'm told was a stripped-down blade - didn't get a good look at it myself - on fast Welsh roads in company of a mate, quick rider, on a GSXR750 late model - the R1 gave up! Couldn't get past the Blade, but stayed on his tail all the way, he wasn't hanging about), fine in town traffic, fun on a Sunday blast, they just do everything.
Popular mods include Ivans jet kit, which eliminates the slight low-down fuelling glitches they have (not serious enough to put you off) and gives them more power everywhere; R1 USD forks can easily be made to fit (all models); R6 rear shock tidies up the back end handling (standard rear shock is generally acknowledged to be a bit pants - you must make sure you get the right one for ease of fitting; advice available on the Fazer owners forum).
In short, even today, 9 years after the last one rolled off the production line, they still have a very enthusiastic following and not without reason - the owners forum is a buzzing little place that includes all Fazers (FZS600, FZ6, FZ8, FZS1000, FZ1), loads of good advice, active and knowledgeable members, ride outs happening all the time.

For a more modern equivalent, I'd say Kwak Z1000SX. From what I've read, similar experience to the FZS, but with modern equipment and a much more modern look.

https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/Product/Details/34080B30EE0

[Rogerborg]

[doggone]

You could do worse than a Bandit 1200/1250
I found mine a comfortable mile-eater which was fun for mad local thrashes too.

[Rigga]

Blackbird
____________________
Current bike: Honda CBR 1100xx

[thesmeee]

some very cool bikes in there, thanks very much for the info everyone.
A bit of a concern i have is, some of there are really powerful machines, would you consider them maybe to powerful for a new rider? or is it more just a case of take it easy?

Paul

[P.addy]

They all can go fast, you just need to control how fast they go.

For what its worth, I toured Spain on a 2001 R1. Not dead and/or crippled

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b545/paddynewman/P1010475_zpsa70579c0.jpg

[thesmeee]

was surprised to see the R1 mentioned to be honest, i always thought they were pretty much pure sports bikes, nice to see a bike ive admired might be a possibility

[P.addy]

[davebike]

Big tour / standard bike are big softies and surprising easy to ride but you will need to get used to looking at the speedo it slides up oh so easily

I done the long trip /touring thing on a variety of bikes ant of those I used the Pan 1300 is head and shoulders above anything else
I did 625miles all A and B roads in October in very poor weather and could have gone further The FJR from what Friends and customer tell me is just the same

Dave
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
[email protected]

[chickenstrip]

I pretty much went from a CB100N to a Kwak 750 Turbo after passing my test - scared myself silly a couple of times, but covered 20,000 miles in that first year of "proper" biking, rode in all conditions and had a blast. So it's perfectly feasible to go from small to large and powerful. You just have to take it easy to start with, get used to using that power (and the extra weight) slowly and steadily.

Admittedly, it's not for everyone to make that kind of jump, but if you're a fairly confident rider, and you are sensible about it, you shouldn't have problems. Might be worth getting a few test rides of larger bikes (don't know how difficult that may be for one who has just passed their test), or if friends can give you a go of something. But don't totally discount the idea.

But for long-distance touring, a large, powerful bike is often more relaxing, less frantic to ride, and so less tiring in some ways. Also, they kill distance easily in comfort (many of the suggestions here would fit that description, anyway). And it sounds like that's the kind of riding you want to do.

That said, people tour on all kinds of bikes, and enjoy it just the same. I'm sure there'll be others along soon with ideas for something a little less daunting.

[Rogerborg]

You could use an R1, or you can currently watch Baron Von Grumble finding himself while doing a Eurotour on a Gixxer thou.

But with a pillion?

Bandit 1200/1250 reminds me: GSX1250FA?

https://www.newrich-industry.com/pic/084548_2012_Yamaha_Adventure_Touring-80607.jpg

Decent reviews, and you'd be hard pressed to find more metal for the money.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[johnnyarctic]

V stromm 650/1000?

My dad has the 650, it's comfortable, practical and good enough looking. Enough power for a newish rider to enjoy too.

[nighthawk250]

Do try a Deauville, it could suit you sir.
Regards
Dave

[sidewinder]

Save your cash and buy a 900 diversion

[Rogerborg]

[andyscooter]

suzuki burgman650
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[_Iain_]

Definately don't take a Bandit.

If you're looking to take a pillion you'll need to do something about them sliding into you constantly. Bandits a heavy bike, adding weight to the back of it made it a lot worse - especially in spains mountain hairpins.

Have ridden a 1200 scince & whilst the engine would be more than enough I cant help but feel the chassis wouldn't be up to it in the low speed realy tight corners as it does corner much the same.

On the more open roads with less really sharp corners it was alright, but definately not a first choice.
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[barrkel]

Most newish bikes (and it will be a newish bike if that's your budget) will be reliable enough for the distances you're talking. I've toured a 57-plate ER6f to Germany twice (as far as the Danish border), France, Spain and Ireland, and it cost me half your budget. Never had any engine difficulties. It came to me with 30k or so on the clock, and I sold it with ~50k about two years later.

My current 05-plate VFR came to me a few months back with about 45k on the clock, it's north of 55k now, no troubles worse than some blown light bulbs. It too cost half your budget.

Personally, I think it's a little bit ambitious to go straight from DAS to touring 2-up across the continent. Not because it can't be done - I'm sure lots of people have done it - but because you'll get a lot of things wrong as you learn what suits you both, and you'll probably want to adjust as you go.

I don't know how you ride - or rather, how you aspire to ride. The VFR is a fairly sporty tourer, and I haven't read particularly good things about it two-up. I personally wouldn't try a two-up tour on one. That's because I like to get to the edge of the tyre on the corners even while loaded up, and I prefer to strap most of my luggage to the pillion seat to bring the weight further forward.

I think you might consider buying a mid-size, upright seating position bike - anything in the commuter 600 range, or possibly bigger with a detuned engine - and go on a few day-long rideouts with a pillion. It would get you warmed up on what you want out of a bike, what it's like to ride with a pillion, what kind of distances you want to do every day, how painful it can get when things aren't set up right, etc. Then, you can go and trade in that bike, looking for one that suits your purposes and takes in what you've learned. Having learned how to handle a pillion, you can take a pillion on test rides, which will let you evaluate the bikes better.

Basically, take it slower, and learn more (and more gradually) about what you're getting into. Spending 5k on a bike you find scary or hard to ride, and setting out for a 10k ride on it with passenger and pillion - that's a bit of a leap into the unknown.

I know you're asking here to get advice and short-circuit the learning curve a bit, but it's simply a fact that different people like different things, have different tolerances for discomfort, different thirsts for thrills, different proportions that suit different bikes, etc. You need to live with a bike to learn what your real preferences are.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ