Ideas for a standard bike to be used in sport-touring

[cerser]

I'm not new to riding, but I'm looking at getting my first sport-touring bike, I'd like to get some input. I'm in a strange situation though- I can't afford the maintenance of a sport bike with all the miles added to it, I'm not okay with the lack of handling of a pure-touring bike, and I either can't afford a stock sport-touring bike or they way way way more than cover my needs in touring.

So, I'm thinking about working with a standard with alright handling, then outfitting it for shorter touring trips. A few of them have got the weight and handling nicely, and don't have very high-stressed engines for lower part wear

At first I was looking at the 1100-1400cc i4 muscle standards that used to be around, but they're far heavier than I'd like and most have a lack of handling.

~750cc i4 standards are also an option. I've heard bad stories about the nighthawk/CB 750 and zephyr's handling as well (people have been even comparing them to the larger standards above).
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The only thing I've really found that seems like a good idea to work with is the Bandit 600, but I'm not sure about how well the parts hold up to touring.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

PS: I'm very comfortable with fabrication, so having easily-available touring accessories is really not a priority in this project.

[DogBoy]

What are you riding now?

FZ-1 of either generation. The FZ-1s,  ZRX1200s, Honda 919s all handle great, are stone reliable and fun to ride. If you're really concerned about handling, I'd like to hear to your budget for suspension upgrades on whatever bike you buy.

[cerser]

You can dress any bike you love in a way to do what you want. I've done plenty of sport-touring on a well-set Sportster, an SV, a KZ and several other very non-sport-touring designed bikes... including an '81 GL1100 standard. It's far less about the bike and more about your riding ability, edurance and ability to adapt both you and the bike to the task.

 

Comfort is key for distance.
Good handling (more so than power) is key for sporty riding.
Good brakes are key for safety.
Storage is key for time away from home.

I'd recommend a flyscreen or smallish windshield if you plan on getting places via highway; just to help ease fatigue without ruining the naked/standard style and aesthetic.

As for the bike...

Honda's 919 is a good choice. The SV is a good choice. The Nighthawk you mentioned will do just fine; don't listen to the naysayers.

Go and test ride everything you can.

A windshield will be a definite. I may be fabricating it as well, depending on my needs.

I would love to get a Honda 919 but they're relatively difficult to come by in my area, and they're also a bit expensive. Most of the 90s bikes are a bit closer to my budget. I'd go for an SV but the earlier gen is a bit less power than I'd like- I'm not sure how the twin would handle for part wear either. I'll look through nighthawk suspension and handling again.

I would absolutely love to get a 919, I keep alerts for them on craig's list, hopefully I'll end up on one.

Should I be that worried about having displacement:power ratio for better part wear? It seems relatively important.

[cerser]

What are you riding now?

FZ-1 of either generation. The FZ-1s,  ZRX1200s, Honda 919s all handle great, are stone reliable and fun to ride. If you're really concerned about handling, I'd like to hear to your budget for suspension upgrades on whatever bike you buy.

The 1200 was one of the larger standards I was looking at.

Should I have a budget for suspension upgrades with any of these bikes? If so, I may consider buying an older reliable standard and saving some money doing so, then swap in compatible forks and upgrading the rear components.

EDIT: Also, I'm riding a nighthawk 250 right now.

[Mr.Black]

GSF1250 but I may be biased.

[jbs80106]

Interesting thread.

While I've long wanted a proper sports bike (e.g. older Hayabusa) with some touring bags for the trips; never worried much about the higher rpms effecting engine wear (its designed for that) - I've found myself scratching my head at the frequency that sport-bike riders have to put new rubber on their bikes.  In some cases I think I'd be putting on tires atleast once a year, if not more often.

I've an 88 K75S which I simply love.  Hard plastic BMW bags, small windscreen, 1/2 fairing.  Plenty sporty for me, get 10k+ miles out of a set of tires.  50 mpg.  All day riding Corbin seat.  Hard not to like..

[Papa Lazarou]

Wanna buy an 885 Triumph?

[Burners]

If you don't mind sharing, what kind of budget numbers are you trying to work with, and where are you located?

[cerser]

Interesting thread.

While I've long wanted a proper sports bike (e.g. older Hayabusa) with some touring bags for the trips; never worried much about the higher rpms effecting engine wear (its designed for that) - I've found myself scratching my head at the frequency that sport-bike riders have to put new rubber on their bikes.  In some cases I think I'd be putting on tires atleast once a year, if not more often.

I've an 88 K75S which I simply love.  Hard plastic BMW bags, small windscreen, 1/2 fairing.  Plenty sporty for me, get 10k+ miles out of a set of tires.  50 mpg.  All day riding Corbin seat.  Hard not to like..

That's a great idea, I haven't ventured outside of the big 4 for bike ideas so far. I'll keep an eye out for them, they sound perfect.

Wanna buy an 885 Triumph?

I'm in no position to buy yet, but i'll look into them

If you don't mind sharing, what kind of budget numbers are you trying to work with, and where are you located?

I'm hoping I can snag a bike within $1500-2000 just as initial cost, then I'll have some left for parts/upgrades if need be and/or touring accessories. And I'm located in CO, USA.

[DogBoy]

The 1200 was one of the larger standards I was looking at.

Should I have a budget for suspension upgrades with any of these bikes? If so, I may consider buying an older reliable standard and saving some money doing so, then swap in compatible forks and upgrading the rear components.

EDIT: Also, I'm riding a nighthawk 250 right now.

If "handing" is such a priority that you are writing off certain bikes, I'd guess you'd want to upgrade the suspension on anything you buy. Its a hell of a lot cheaper and easier to have the fork and shock rebuilt/revalved on a modern standard than swapping the fork or hunting around for compatible shocks for a twenty year old bike like a Zephyr that is never going to work as well as a more modern bike no matter how much money you throw at it. Any modern standard is going to be light years better than a Nighthawk 250 so you will love whatever you buy.

First Gen FZ-1's are plentiful, cheap, fast and handle great. Buy one for $3,000 - $3,500, freshen the suspension and you're done. Maintenance intervals are very long so they are cheap to own and operate. Don't fab brackets and other crap that will break at the least opportune moment during a trip.

Two steps: Buy Bike. Ride.

[stromgal]

Take a look at the Bandit 600. Half-faired, reliable, goes dang well with its 80 ponies... I know because I've chased JohnnyB's full-luggage Bandito through the twisties.  

[Dan K]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-Yamaha-FZ1-/251034962903?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3a72d98bd7

Reserve?  Cheap, great bikes, but it's been sitting...

[Burners]

PM sent

[bluepoof]

I'd go for an SV but the earlier gen is a bit less power than I'd like- I'm not sure how the twin would handle for part wear either.

I rode my 2001 SV650S in sport-touring capacity (well, plus day rides and commutes and etc) for nearly 80,000 miles.  I never had any trouble with part wear past what you'd expect out of any motorcycle (changing the tires, chain/sprocket, y'know, normal wear and tear).

The only real issues I had with it mechanically were the clutch and the battery and I think both of those were fundamentally my fault -- I was constantly trying to adjust the clutch to deal with tendonitis and I think all my puttering around shortened its life.  Battery wise, I insisted on plugging a million things into the battery and not always being good with a battery tender.

Power-wise, the only time I had any issues was when I had it fully loaded (two Givi E360 saddlebags, which stuck waaaaay out into the wind) and was trying to go over 80mph on the interstate.   And by "issues", I mean "I couldn't necessarily keep up with other STN'ers who were riding fully faired sport-touring bikes with a lot less luggage than me and who wanted to go 100mph".   Otherwise, I rode cross country on it, rode through Canada, took it to Alaska, etc and never wished for more.

Just my ten cents.

[dm_gsxr]

If you haven't done so, check in with cosportbikeclub.org. We have all sorts of riders are are fairly sane and safe riders. You might find some local riders with available bikes to try.

Carl

[Bravo12]

Bandit 1200N (or 1200S with broken fairing). Liter-bike power, ~44mpg with proper carb jetting and sync, and a near-infinite aftermarket for accessories. You could probably get a nice '01-'04 for under $3k.

[sagerat]

Wee Strom 650.

Hey, everybody else has already ID'd my prime suspects.  

[stromgal]

He'd be hard-pressed to find a Wee for under $2k; that's why I didn't suggest it.  

[Frankienuckles]

Don't forget the Suzuki Katana's. These can be had pretty cheap, in both 600 and 750 sizes. I think one of these would make a pretty nice budget sport-tourer.

[The Shepherd]

If you want a comfortable bike with sport bike handling yet pretty cheap.....I'd look for a CBR F4 or an early F4i with low miles. The Honda's hold up to high mileage pretty well.