Recommend a good touring bike

[NoTraffic]

As someone already mentioned "good" depends on what your riding style is like.

If you like a sporty ride and are willing to put up with Italian service and reliability, I personally really like the Multistrada because of its Skyhook suspension and great power band.

I had an S1000XR that I liked a lot. It was nearly perfect except for the suspension. Very reliable but service was very expensive.

I like fast bikes so if I had to do it again I'd look at a Kawasaki H2 as well.

Just curious what about the S1000XR suspension you didn't like? With all this inside time, I am shopping for my next bike when all of this hopefully clears up. The XR was on my short list.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Just curious what about the S1000XR suspension you didn't like? With all this inside time, I am shopping for my next bike when all of this hopefully clears up. The XR was on my short list.

Best way to explain it is to ride a XR and Multi back to back.

Multistrada has a great soft setting for touring, the XR does not.

The only way to get to the "soft" setting on the XR is putting the bike in Rain mode, but that also limits power output, so it's pretty useless.

The way the suspension configuration is done on the XR is idiotic. It's tied to the ride mode, and it's pretty firm no matter what you choose. The Multi lets you configure the suspension settings independent of the ride mode.

They may have changed it on the new 2020/2021 model. Not sure.

 

[Kornholio]

As for shaftdrive BMWs... in my book that is much more of a deficit than an asset since the shaft drive failures are so common now and chains are easy, cheap, last almost as long and reliable.

Since 2010, I've only had one motorcycle that wasn't a BMW R-engine with shaft drive. I never had any issues in thousands upon thousands of miles ridden and don't personally know of anyone that did. There WAS an issue with some private owners not draining/filling the final drive correctly that led to some issues, but those weren't even that many anyway and again, it was due to negligence/incompetence, not a defect in the equipment.

Berto, my vote goes with an RT of any year 2010+...older models had the goofy turn signal switchery and those god awful servo-assist brakes for a few years. Stick with the 1200 or larger engines. Good deals can be had if you look around a bit on the used ones.

You're also welcome to take my 1250RS out for a bit if you'd like. It's not going to be like the RT entirely, but you can easily mount bags to it and it's still comfortable on long trips while having standard USD forks instead of the Telelever.

 

[mrmarklin]

For general touring I like shaft or belt drives. IMO chains are too fiddly.

Long distance is for Harley, Honda GW, Indian , BMW 1600 etc.

Dealership availability narrows you down to Harley and Japanese machines. Maybe BMW.

I rode Hondas for years, mostly because of the dealership network.

Now I’m a Harley rider (don’t own a pure tourer) and for comfort they can’t be beat. You are a weird beast if you can’t configure one to fit you. I have taken my 2008 Springer model all over the Western US and Canada. Speed is not as big a consideration for me as it was when I was younger. If it still is for you, get a sport tourer.

Range is not really an issue for me because after a few hours I need a butt break and hydration. Yes, I have a custom seat.

 

[89fj]

Rally?
I’ve been thinking about the Yamaha Tracer GT. Lower end $ wise and I’m guessing you’ll spend some bucks on suspension and the heated seat. It’s got the goods for traveling and is about as light as you’re going to find in the class. The road pigs are luxuriously nice but I’m guessing you would value weight and handling over the comforts of home. If you motel it the requirements are fairly simple. I find there’s something special about the road, finding a fun road a couple states away and the interactions out there. Regular folk find us motorcyclist interesting.
Disclaimer; never ridden any of the Yamaha triples and my long range bikes have been from the previous decade, so please follow up on my suggestion and make me a deal when you move up to the Euro Pig

my FJ is basically a tracer without the bags

 

[TheRobSJ]

For max comfort, nothing beats the full dresser. Best luggage space. Squishiest seat. Best two up comfort. Best wind protection. Best stereo. All of it. But you have to compromise one thing. It is just not fun. Not in the slightest bit. You could dial back the comfort and get a sport tourer like the FJR. But if you want to put on serious miles and want max comfort, don’t compromise and try to get something sporty.

So yeah Berto. Wanna buy my Ultra Limited? Exactly what I’m talking about...super comfortable and all that. It’s just not fun to take through the twisties. Was planning on letting it go this Spring.

 

[augustiron]

I think Berto dropped a stink bomb on BARF just to get us feverishly talking about something besides how fucked things are.

More subtle and interesting than a "what oil is best?" thread though, eh?

A well deserved golf clap and tip of the hat to you, sir.

 

[TheRobSJ]

I think Berto dropped a stink bomb on BARF just to get us feverishly talking about something besides how fucked things are.

More subtle and interesting than a "what oil is best?" thread though, eh?

A well deserved golf clap and tip of the hat to you, sir.

Probably. Better than going through 27 different threads in the KS about corona.

 

[davidji]

That narrows it down to... just about any motorcycle on the planet

Pretty much. Any comfortable, reliable bike you enjoy riding that can carry as much as you want and go as long as you need between fuel stops should be fine.

Which means the bike one BARFer insists you need would be one another rider wouldn't want.

What's your budget?
Will you ever tour with a passenger?
Do you need to haul a ton of camping gear or will you stay in hotels?
Are you comfortable riding a bike that weighs twice as much as your race bike? Three times as much?

All good Qs. Another good one is "will you ride at night?" I always do on road trips, but it seems like some riders don't. If you do, cornering lights are huge. I've only had them on one bike so far, but it's hard to go back.

 

[bikewanker]

I think Berto dropped a stink bomb on BARF just to get us feverishly talking about something besides how fucked things are.

More subtle and interesting than a "what oil is best?" thread though, eh?

A well deserved golf clap and tip of the hat to you, sir.

Well I sure dragged that bobber under!

 

[bergmen]

Where'd the OP go?

Dan

 

[DonTom]

You opened a can of worms here. There are so many choices for different riding styles. If you're thinking Harley you may want to try an Indian Challenger it's like a Harley but at a different level.

And the year makes a big difference. As you can see from my list below, I own ten bikes. My most comply bike of all is my Harley. But they changed to a larger frame in 2017. The 2016 is not as nearly as comfy to me as they have smaller frames.

On any very long trip, I take the Harley. For its thousand lbs, it handles very well even on back curvy roads.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

Best wind protection.

That would be my Triumph Trophy. Best wind protection I have seen on any bike.


-Don-

 

[islemann]

What's missing?

What I didn't read in the OP was 'budget'.

You can go touring on a 26yr old Concours (like the one I have for sale in the classifieds) for under $1,500 buckaroonies.



Or you can go for a fully loaded BMW/Triumph/KTM/Honda/Yamaha/etc. for $15,000 to $30,000 depending on which you choose and how cray cray you get with the accessories book.

So...what's the budget?

 

[Kornholio]

OP may not have mentioned budget but he did say no older than 2-3 years.

 

[TheRobSJ]

That would be my Triumph Trophy. Best wind protection I have seen on any bike.


-Don-

I remember. I had to raise the screen almost all the way up (I’m pretty tall), but yeah you got a nice pocket to hide behind. A little helmet buffeting for me though.

When I got my Ultra, the stock shield was a touch low. So I got the super high H-D shield. Might have been the police spec one. Was actually too tall. Wound up getting something in between from Long Ride Shields with a smoke tint on it. Amazing. With my upper deflectors closed and the doors in the lowers closed? It’s really still in the saddle.

 

[HadesOmega]

Yeah so many bikes to choose from. If you'd like to ride a 3 wheeler I rode the Yamaha Niken and Can Am Spyder F3 and I thought those would make great touring 3wheelers. The Niken is like an even more comfy Tracer 900 in my opinion and I rode a Tracer 900 in Japan and liked it a lot.

I wish I had the Niken for longer just a demo ride but I did a super twisties loop with the Spyder (Hamilton-mines, Palomares, Calaveras, and Sierra Road and I was not that beat up at the end of the day super comfy. Lots of room to put stuff also. The only thing is the traction control is really on the safe side so it's not that fun to push it on the twisties because it'll just slow you down.

If you're looking for something light the Tenere 700 is coming out love the engine on the FZ07 smooth and torquey and with the adventure bike you can take it anywhere.

But yeah the FJR1300 has so many doodads and gizmos on it. Cruise control, electronics adjustable windscreen, storage bins, power modes, midnight blue paint, shaft drive, 1300cc power, smoothness, heated grips.

 

[WWWobble]

Longish road trips on decent bikes that handle and seldom fail -- with parts and service readily available if they do...

Two choices really.

FJR1300 Yamaha or BMW R12RT or RS.

I chose the FJR. Liked my first enough that at 115,000 miles with not even a valve adjust I purchased a 2nd. Most of my riding friends have chosen the BMW. Both are damn good. BMW has better fairing. FJR has equal or better grunt, runs on Regular and is cheaper to run and maintain. Both are reliable.

Buy one. God I hope this virus shit goes away so we can go off for days again -- no destination in mind just, wherever the road looks good !!!

 

[Kornholio]

Buy one. God I hope this virus shit goes away so we can go off for days again -- no destination in mind just, wherever the road looks good !!!

I'm already planning for the moment this thing is lifted. I've even let the boss know I'm taking vacation immediately.

 

[ctwo]

But yeah the FJR1300 has so many doodads and gizmos on it.

It looks like it has bird shit on the tank too.

I was gonna suggest Niken too, but not really.