Good Sport Touring Bike?

[moondew]

Sorry about your eyes, I've been battling a stye since July and am finally getting my vision back to 100%. I live in Seattle also and sport-tour all over the NW.  I have to say the most important thing about a bike is the maintenance issues. With limited funds and time to ride, I elected to ride a bike that I can neglect, abuse, and won't let me down...ever.  Also, riding can get cold even in summer so heated grips are a must to help stave off fatigue. Low maintenance bikes have shaft-drive, are air-cooled, and are not built-up to within an inch of thier life (lower HP's). The only bikes that fit all these criteria, in my opnion, are BMW's.  My R1100S looks and rides like a sportbike but you can tour forever on this thing. Huge bags and over 80 years Aviation spec. engines top off my pick, if I was spending your money!

I agree w/ your thinking as I ride mine daily all year.

[bob12312357]

Another good budget ST is a ZX-6e. I got mine for 1800 and have put only 240 bucks in tires and a hundred or so bucks for chain and sprocket. The rear shocks suxs as i'm a big boy by motorcycle standards at 6' and 210lbs, got it revalved for a 240lb person (my weight in full gear), heavier fork oil and for 2400 bucks have a bike set up my way,handles well enough to keep up with anything with an R in the name and can go 200 miles on a tank highway if i'm especially conservative. Has a center stand for easy adjusting of chain/ tire plugs on the go. My only complaint is cornering clearance doesn't match the 55+ of my TL1000s,i'd say its got maybe 45 degrees and i sometimes find myself goin a lil hot into turns. For anything less then race track pace its a great bike. I've got 30+k miles on it trouble free. It's just a tad slow,a tad porky and not the most modern lookin bikes,but if i need speed i got the Tl and 750 to deliver.

[Magnarider]

Well I guess I can't say too much about it yet since I haven't had it out on the road yet (got it about 3 weeks ago), but I'll second the Kawi GPZ.  It's got plenty of engine at 1100ccs, I've heard good about the seat (one person on this board actually went back to the stocker after throwing a corbin on it), and it has a 5.5 gal. tank with milage somewhere in the 45-50 range.  That makes for good solid miles.  And the people that have had them that I've talked to loved them.  I'll let you know how I feel with it in the spring, but I'm sure I'm going to love it.  Just my $.02

[Magnarider]

P.S. i picked up my '96 with 30,000 on it for 3,500 and it looks immaculate, and some people here have said I could have paid less.

[gforce]

Another good budget ST is a ZX-6e.

+1  6E's ergos are the best of the 600's, bar none (except maybe the YZF).

[138742]

Happy New Year Everyone,

It's looks like I won't be able to head cross country for a few years. Taking off cruise this quarter year with my school to see more doctors leaves me to make it up this summer. I will have to fly from school to meet up with the ship. So I might be able to do it my junior summer. While it's so temping to get a newer bike I am looking to get two mid 90's bikes. One for Seattle and one for Massachusetts. At the very least one in Massachusetts this spring because I have my 750F here. Depending on what good deal is out there will most likely determine the actual bike(s) I get. I am looking for a Ninja zx-9 or a CBR 900, but I haven't look at too many Yahamas or Suzukis, and I need to. So the more exotic foreign bikes will have to wait a couple more years.  

You couldn't be more right with flying jet blue. It's a bit for more for the holidays but all the companies are. I just want to ride cross country for the ride.

I got the subscription to Rider magazine and the GMAC insurance will allow me to insure the faster newer bikes  

I'll keep you posted on the new bikes I get  

[DDFZ1]

I had to dig through my old photos to find the first bike I transversed the country on.  I was in the Army, stationed at Fort Eustis, VA (outside Newport News) in 1971.  My older Brother had purchased an X6-Hustler Suzuki and I wanted a bike, too.  All I had was $500.  No loans or credit cards back then.  I bought a 1969 T-350 Suzuki.  It wouldn't hold a dollar's worth of fuel back then.  I even slept on the bike in Charleston, WVA on the way home.
Any bike in the last 20 years would do.  One problem would be parts.  The Recession of 1982-4 killed the motorcycle industry.  I bought a brand new 1982 650 Seca Turbo for half price in 1984.  Most of those cheap bikes have gone to Europe.  Remember when you could buy a near new bike for $1000?

[gforce]

I had to dig through my old photos to find the first bike I transversed the country on.  I was in the Army, stationed at Fort Eustis, VA (outside Newport News) in 1971.  My older Brother had purchased an X6-Hustler Suzuki and I wanted a bike, too.  All I had was $500.  No loans or credit cards back then.  I bought a 1969 T-350 Suzuki.  It wouldn't hold a dollar's worth of fuel back then.  I even slept on the bike in Charleston, WVA on the way home.

Sweet.    We got a veteran sport-tourer here, literally!  

A guy on my hall in Ann Arbor bought a new 350 Zook in the spring of 1970.  One of the first 6-speeds, IIRC.  No H1, but a slick and strong machine it was.

[Bike Effects]

Another vote here for the FJR1300. I was a hard core sport bike rider (I have an R1) but the FJR showed me I could have fun AND travel while being comfortable.

[Rhythm]

Brian, as far as longevity I'll tell you this.  Maintenance has everything to do with it.  Keep your engines happy and they return the favor.  Any inline will last the same as a twin or the V4.  But, IMO, I'd expect the V4 to fail first due to the number of components.  If I were making the decision you have, I'd choose the Sprint or a VFR without the V-tech.  A friend has done numerous cross-country trips on his '98.

I'd say the FJR is a good practical choice.  IMHO, it's like a Nighthawk 750 with a nice fairing and only 5 gears.  Which, as you have a CB750, might be a perfect fit.  I personally find it somewhat uninspiring.  Very commuter friendly, but not fun for the twisties.  

I'd say the R1150RS would be cool in that the maintenance is easy.  You'll have the same maintenance intervals as the Duc, but you'll be able to do the services in less than half the time.  Both with dry clutches allow you to spread the oil changes to these intervals.  If you're using it just for the commutes, then you'll be set with doing maintenance about every other round trip.  The boxer engines are supposedly long lasting, and if you pick up a used one, depreciation isn't bad.  The ST3 is a classic design, so comparison for depreciation is pretty much moot.  I would expect to pay extra in the long run for the Duc maintenance (belts), but if you like it, then go for it!  

The Futura is cool.  But only really cool if you have a dealer nearby.  I know it's cliche to say that these exotic italian bikes can be hard to get parts for.  Like George Carlin says: Stereotypes exist for a reason -- they're true.  I ride with a Futura owner and a Mille owner.  Each of them needed something specialty within 20,000 miles of ownership.  Both had fault code problems that needed software updates.  Which, if you could download them yourself would be great, but the adapter tools are only available at dealerships.  Other than that they have been really reliable bikes.  Guys with Futuras know they are a steal of a deal.  But if you're down and no dealer, you're pretty much screwed.

Triumph will still hold the unreliable tag, but new owners will tell you otherwise.  The new 955 and 1050 engines tell a new tale of the New Brit Order.  Sprints are great machines.  I've been looking at them for awhile.  As for LD use, I think it's the most versatile of your selection.  A powerband that never gets boring, and maintenance in between the inline 4 and the twin.  The cheap parts seem to have disappeared from the lineup.  A great choice for many reasons.
 
Fact is that there aren't really any bad bikes out there these days.  Go with what your heart wants and what fits on the test ride.
Good luck with your searching.  Test rides are good.

Great info!

But I have to go with the Busa,if body size permits and you want to go the distance sport touring and looking cool when  carrying luggage or not.  As SS pointed out, its really about keeping up with your bike maintenance,especially the valve clearance service intervals.


A very sexy sport tourier or sport bike with some serious ummph at low and top end.












So cool lQQkn that one of WV finest had to give it a try and feel in love.  

[138742]

Rhythm

So did you become an officer to get out speeding tickets? Hahaha. Sweet setup.

[Rhythm]

Rhythm

So did you become an officer to get out speeding tickets? Hahaha. Sweet setup.

No, thats a photo of an Officer Blake who I chatted with about the history of a small town in Matewan Virgina that was part of his route. He was a really nice young man that was kind enough to show me around the small town of Matewan on his lunch break.

Matewan Massacare: http:// http://matewanwv.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30

Here is a photo of Officer Blake pointing out one the bullet holes from the Matewan Massascare during Jan 16, 1911





Matewan sits right off the river separtating it from Kentucky.

Heres me on Needles Highway - Norbeck Scenic Byway SD after leaving Mt.Rushmoore that evening. http://www.blackforestinn.net/activities.html

If you ever in SD ride the Norbeck Scenic Byway and be sure to ride through the NEEDLE EYE!!!


Me standing in the middle of the EYE.

[138742]

Hello Guys,

I finally got my new baby. 1997 YZF 1000 Thunderace! I got a wonderful deal on her and shes runs like a swiss watch. Surprisingly she is very comfortable. With some nice heli bars, a corbin seat, and a double bubble windscreen I think she could be cross country material next summer.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Dean Rose`]

Take a long look at the Moto Guzzi Norge. Being as you are from Seattle you are really in luck as you have one of the best Moto Guzzi dealerships there is in Seattle. http://www.motointernational.com/

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/norge1200/specifiche.asp?modello=norge1200&%20pagina=spec

It is available in ITALIAN RED, Silver & Black. A friend of mine has one of the RED ones it is a beautiful machine. Being as it would be set up by Moto International you wouldn't have any problems with it.