Tour Prepping a SuperSport, Why don't we do this?

[garry]

Garry, how tall are you and what's your inseam?

6' 3" with a 34" inseam. I was good for all-day rides even though my legs were folded up pretty good under me (YMMV). Not much lean to the bars if I sat up toward the tank (34/35 sleeve length helps there). I wouldn't have minded a set of brackets to lower the pegs an inch, but I was otherwise good with it. Even the stock seat.

[Rincewind]

I'm happy to tour on my naked super-sport.  It has the same handling, suspension and brakes as a supersport, with much less insurance costs.  The power is slightly less than a full-blown supersport, but it also take 87-grade gas and is easy to ride with higher mid-range torque.  

No need for an expensive handlebar kit - it came with one.  I added a center stand, rear rack with topcase adapter, heated grips, flyscreen, Zumo, Sargent seat, and electric vest hook-up.  It has a respectable alternator output - 402w - to run electrics.  I like faired supersports and superbikes, but I don't want to pay the extra insurance money or deal with plastics.

[karlfitt]

I am 6' 2"

I had a BMW K 1200 RS, I sold that and bought myself a Ducati ST 4s

Not exactly a SS, but very small for an ST Bike.
I got fully adjustable suspension and hard bags with itIt also has bar risers and a Corbin (came with them).
I am suprised i don't miss the wind protection the BMW had.
My trip last year was 5500 miles in three weeks which also included qualifing for an Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000.

I have a friend who ride his Ducati 916 as a touring bike.
He got some soft bags and a soft trunk (?) from RKA and loves it.

So yea, you can tour on whatever you want to.

As a side note, both my buddy and myselfare in the market for a bit bigger of a bike for two up. But we will keeep our Ducks.

[Rammer]

My favorite touring bike has to be my zx-14. I've added a seat from a C-14, bar riser blocks, PR-2s, Givi plx-v35 bags on removable hardware from Twisted throttle, and sometimes a taller windshield. I had the magnetic tank bag base modified to fit the metal/plastic of the tank. So now it's part strap-on, part magnet. I add a Willie and Max "the hooker" under the seat so I have a place for tie downs.
As long as my 51 year old body can take it, I'll keep riding it...




Willie and Max, the hooker.

[Hunter]

Frenchie, have you had the chance to ride a SS with HeliBars on it? My friends 07 ZX-10 has them, while I find it weird feeling being long armed/legged, he finds it very comfortable. He is only 5'8 or so and I think he has less forward lean than I do when I'm on my 9.

Just a thought.

[garry]

I'm 5'6" with a 29.5" inseam. I generated these images on cycle-ergo.com. I find the 636 bordering on unridable for me with stock ergos. Short torso and short arms don't do much for the SS/RR riding position.  

The first image shows you on your bike, then the second shows me on your bike.

You're at a 38* forward lean where I'm at a 45* forward lean.

R Doug had a similar issue on his Daytona 675. It was a quite a lean/reach for him too.

[Cablebandit]

You'd think these midgets could ride a bike built for little Japanese folks.


 

[Cablebandit]

I left the remainder of my front tire on the range last night.  I'm sitting here waiting for brown Santa to arrive.

[Cablebandit]

and to top it off now it's snowing.

[JTM]

I miss my 636




Although if I went back to SS bikes I would try to find an 05 ZX10R, or maybe by then Kawasaki will have redesigned the body work to look good and I would just buy new.

[M.Brane]

Okay I'll play... here's my ss in sport-touring mode. I think a 1,500 mile weekend qualifies.

 That's pretty much the same setup my neighbor had on his '96 last month on our 1250 mile trip through Death Valley 'cept he had a tailpack too. Bastard averaged well over 50 MPG too with flat slides, and a Spaghetti exhaust. Course he only weighs 140 soaking wet.

[black hills]

Insurance is barely more for my CBR than for my Adventure. my '11 adventure is $312/yr. '03 CBR954 was $318, and the new to me '04 CBR1000 that I traded the '03 for is $328?? I don' see insurance being an issue unles you are young. The reason I like touring on a SS (or adventure bike) is that you can find a nice area and get a room for a couple days, leaving all your crap in the room and allowing you to run the twisties or explore the back roads with an "appropriate machine"

[Papa Lazarou]

I did.

[stew71]

What is that thing on top of the front tire?  'cuse me....tyre.

[dietDrThunder]

I'm with the OP. I've been wanting a 2003 GSXR1000 to make into a SPORTtouring bike for years. I think they look great, and are an LSL kit and luggage away from being very good weekender+ bikes. I was about to do it this past winter, but a very good deal on a CBR1100XX all farkled up came along, so the GSXR has been postponed. Maybe next winter...

[Papa Lazarou]

What is that thing on top of the front tire?  'cuse me....tyre.

Petrol tank. 1/3 brake horse power engine. The electrical bits. In three parts-just like the Trinity.  

[atadaskew]

notarian has posted numerous drool worthy reports with him touring Europe-land on his stock Ducati 1098.
All he had was a tail bag.

I think some of you lot are just soft.

 

[Joey Stalin]

I miss this bike (2005 ZX-6R). Cortech luggage, LuggageLocker tank bag, Alaska Leather sheepskin, and a Puig double-bubble (so I could see the gauges). Otherwise bone stock...

Last good looking ZX-6R. How was the torque on those things? Did the extra 36cc make a difference versus the usual 600?

[garry]

Last good looking ZX-6R. How was the torque on those things? Did the extra 36cc make a difference versus the usual 600?

I agree on the looks. Torque was better than a 600, but not majorly so. Part of the reason for selling it to buy the KTM was wanting to be lazier on the street and just surf a bit more torque. As much as I liked the bike, I never got my head around life at 10K-12K RPM on the street. The bike pulled cleanly from 6K, but things got more interesting once you got to 10K.

[gritsngravy]

I still like the idea of touring on a ZX14 or Busa.  Problem is my riding is pretty much commuting to work and jaunts back and forth to Michigan with maybe 30 minutes of curves that arguably could be called twisties, but are really only fun at double the legal speed limit.  Just doesn't seem to justify that kind of power.  Of course, the occasional 300 mile days for fun.  

The insurance is what stopped me in the past.  Plus, I have the Sprint almost where I want it now and it only has 14k+ miles.  I've been toying with the idea of selling the Daytona and replacing it with a dedicated track bike for maybe half the cost and replacing the Sprint with something a bit nicer with the difference, but we'll see.  Anyone see any B-King's for sale?  

- Dan






Pop over to SuzukiB-king.org there is a guy selling a black one with 6000 miles for $7500 thats clean & stock.   He added a National Cycle smoked screen and some frame sliders I believe.  

Shockingly you can get a rack from Hepco-Becker that accepts their excellent top boxes and something called the 'c bow' system that allows the fitment of small soft sided luggage.   The national cycle screen is purpose built just for the king.   OES makes a great protection kit with frame, fork and swingarm sliders.  

On the open road I've seen 45mpg with a few runs into triple digits.   It's no lightweight touring bike but its hella fun and reasonably comfortable for all day riding.  Fully adjustable suspension and stout chassis keep things civil.  

Insurance is very affordable despite the Busa powerplant.   Progressive insures mine + my vfr full coverage for ~ 700 year.    The kings are a lot more flexible than they look.   The screen and top box turn a great naked bike into a nicely overpowered weekender.  

Insurance is a bargain considering the power on tap