What sports tourer?

I’m about ready to get another bike, having been off for about 20 years. (Yes, I will be taking an MSF course.) I stopped riding when my wife got pregnant with our first and they last one is getting ready to leave home, so we are both ready to get back in. My former bikes were a 1978 Honda CB750F2 w/Vetter Windjammer (highways) and a 1974 Norton Commando 850 (twisties), but I only have room for one bike now.

I’ve been looking around a little bit and have thrown out the Honda ST1300 due to poor passenger ergonomics (peg height). I’m currently looking at the BMW’s, say a 5 year old R1200RT, K1200GT/LT or similar. The LT may be more than I want, kind of like the Goldwing.

My constraints:

• It has to be a few years old, as I’d like to be in the $6-9K range.

• My wife is no spring chicken and while she is flexible, she wants a bit of leg room, so stupid high pegs are a no-go. Heck, she’d like arm rests.

• Need decent carrying capacity for clothes/gear. Big hard panniers/trunk are OK.

• The two of us are normal sized; we weight a combined 320 pounds.

• Range – more is better. I’d like to have 300 miles in the tank, if possible.

• I really don’t like my pegs out in front of my hips. I like them under my hips.

How we ride/rode in the past:

• Some 500+ mile days on the interstate

• Many 300 mile days on rural highways/country roads

• Some 250+ mile days on twisty back roads

Please, let’s hear some suggestions.

Jack

EDIT: Clarification - I really don't want a Goldwing or equivalent. Yeah, that answer is kind of like "Miata", but I'd like to steer clear of the Goldwing class of bikes.

You said Goldwing.... Has all those options, and then some.

Backrests for both of you, arm rests for her, feet underneath you, good wind protection, more luggage space than you can shake a stick at. At the price point you're talking you can find one with a trailer.. They are heavy though.

Goldwing or K1200LT would probably be your best bets. If you're going away a little from the super tourers, an R1150RT (preferably the late model with the twin plugged heads) is certainly worth a look. No arm rests, but it's also a more lightweight bike than the LT.

I've done 400-500 mile days on the one I had back in the UK when visiting my mother (like 8 hours riding through France in one go, then 4-5 hours the next day through Switzerland). Plus once you get to the twisty back roads you can still scrape your boots . IIRC all the 1200s are CAN Bus and they had some teething troubles with that. That's why I still prefer the 1150 (plus I like the 1150's styling better).

The one thing that bugs me with the 1990s-on BMWs is that I usually end up with a more comfortable aftermarket seat as the originals seem to only work for about an hour with my bony backside.

Triumph sprint gt - newer one has a longer wheelbase and a little more leg room (over the old sprint rs or st). Out of curiosity I think I would check out a moto guzzi norge too.

It's older and cheaper than your specifications, but I looooooooove my K75RT. You could pick up a MINT K1100LT for a couple grand. I'm also very in love with my former coworker's Ducati ST4s. The ST3 rides even nicer but doesn't look like an ST4. :)

It's not a Wing, but it's certainly not a squid. It's comfy, heated grips, two plugs for the pilot and passenger to have heated vests. Lots of storage, the flat deck on back holds a removable top box that has a back rest on the front of it and a tie down rack on top.

Reliable as a brick. Mine is a '97 with 38,000 miles; it would sell for $3500 - $4500.

I had a K100rs for a while, it's nice but not a Tourer.

I've never ridden one, but the Kawasaki Concours always appealed to me and it got good reviews. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Concours

FZ1 with bags?

Kawasaki Concours seems to be the "Miata" answer to this question on most bike message boards. If I wasn't a naked bike sort of guy I'd be looking at them myself.

Guzzi Norge?

The basic list:

Honda ST1300

Yamaha FJ1300

Kawasaki Concours 1400

BMW K/RxxxxxRT Series

Suzuki GSF1250s

Buell Ulysses

norge

I'd suggest you go to some dealerships and such, and put some time onto some saddles. You don't even need to ride, just 5 minutes sitting there in a riding position will tell you a lot about how you personally fit on a given bike. And how you fit is not how another person necessarily fits.

Your two comments, in particular about your wife and her wanting leg room and maybe arm rests, and your want for good luggage capacity really make a true sport touring machine a miss. At least to me. I don't think I've ever seen a sport touring bike that made a passenger very happy. Especially a passenger that wanted comfort features like arm rests.

You said no to the Wing idea. OK, but I'd suggest you go back and at least look at a 1200 and 1500 Wing before you completely write them off. They handle quite well actually. Lots of farkles exist on the market for them. The Wing is the king of the touring bikes for a reason.

If it's the weight and size of a Wing that puts you off, consider something like a PC800. The best bike ever made by Tupperware. Seriously though, I stand 5'6", and can toss around a 1200 Wing pretty darn easily.

Thanks for all the guidance guys. I've done some static seat time, hence the throwing out the ST1300. I've been planning on heading out to the dealerships to see what bikes would fit the requirements. I know the Gold Wing will make the Missus happy (comfy) and it does handle quite well, but I'm not sure if it the stigma, or if I'm just not ready for something that ponderous and the resulting sparks flying when cornering. It'll handle, but it touches ground quite quickly.

From what I've read, the BMW RT's are the closest to what I want. The LT is nice, but it's just a slightly sportier European Gold Wing. Yes, it’s been a lot of years since we’ve last ridden a lot, but I can easily see a sports tourer before a Mega tourer like the GW or LT.

The Norge and Duati ST4 are new to me. Liking British cars, an Italian bike would be appropriate; sort-of. Oh, seat replacement or mods may occur no matter what. Hopefully I can still get in there and redo some of the foam myself.

I’ve also found places within an hour or two where I can rent a GW, a BMW RT/GT/LT, etc. It looks like I need to go “shopping” to see what bikes are even possible and then sign up for the MSF, Level 2 course in the spring.

Thanks again,

Jack

FT - NFW on the PC800. I'd rather dive my TR3A in a downpour than ride a PC. I know you know what I mean.

Why did I have to google the aformention Guzzi? I see they also make this:

I hate being broke

Wow, looking at the Guzzi and Ducati bikes I like what I see, but I have a real concern that my 50+ wife is going to rave about the pillon seat comfort. They have been added to the "go see" list.

The PC800 has electrics that operate in the rain, the Triumph does not. Just sayin.

pinchvalve wrote: The PC800 has electrics that operate in the rain, the Triumph does not. Just sayin.

Harummph ...I ride my triumph in the rain - never had an electrical problem in 10 years of riding it. There are some quirks though - they used crap for fuel line connectors - plastic that deteriorates and will leak unless you upgrade to brass. On mine on cold starts after sitting a couple of weeks, it will give a cough on a first try - setting off a CEL. Just an annoyance on how little it takes to bring on a light.

PC800 don't have an annoying CEL.

CEL's - Ouch, I have been out of the motorcycle world for a while. Can-bus, etc., it's giving me a headache. I never should have sold the Norton. It was even simpler than my TR3.

Pinchvalve - 'taint much electrics on a TR3 to not work. The wiper looks like it's not working, but it's just really slow. I do understand your comment though.

oldtin - sorry we were not more clear as the thread drifted. That Triumph reference was to a TR3 (car) that is not particularly weather tight. Mine passes water over the windscreen, under the top and onto my lap in the rain. I bought it before I lived in Seattle!

Fox - I'll check with the local Tupperware lady and see what the going rate is for a PC800. I know it's a decent performer, but the the best way to describe the PC800 is that it's a metrosexual motorcycle.