best value in a used sport tourer?

[duganc1717]

Too bad about the lack of love for the FJR. The only thing I felt that was lacking on the 2005 I owned was the factory shock. Everything else was excellent.

Bought in St Pete, FL and ridden back to NH. Original plan was 4 days. I decided 6 days was better.


Kinda wish I held onto it....

Thought you had a Fz1 not a Fjr?

[nhbubba]

The newer FJRs have a valve check interval at something like 26k miles. 26,000. Most people I know don't keep bikes that long.
And apparently you get the covers off to find the valves perfectly in spec anyway.

Demo'ed one at bike week. Power adjustable screen. Electronic cruise control. Heated grips. Side case will take a full face lid. Giggly, stupid, silly, absurd torque. As potato says; beats the speed limit in 1st.

I've ridden from Saco Maine to then NY/VT border on a tank of gas.

That's it?!

[Imbeek]

Sv650....

[Kawi Ken]

[butcher bergs]

Thought you had a Fz1 not a Fjr?

Bought the FJR when I had my 2003 FZ1

[Rada]

That's it?!

Made it home.. Lol
I did upgrade mine a bit. I added stiffer springs Duh. And Racetech gold valve set-up for the forks.

[Sheppo]

BMW F800ST ( now GT )
I loved mine and wish I could have kept it when I bought the HD. Wife didn't like the seat tho... hence the HD

[nhbubba]

Put the GL1800 on your list too. No, I'm not kidding. That chassis can boggie. Found a couple on the CL juuuust ahead of your budget.

[number9]

Even Helen Keller thinks those are fucking ugly.

[jasnmar]

Technically the GL isn't a SPORT tourer, but a dedicated tourer. Other than that it checks all of the boxes (other than possibly price) as well as the other recommendations.

I did my first valve check, plugs, and air filter at 60k. Otherwise it's been fuel, oil, rubber, and pads (I did rebuild the forks and upgrade the springs somewhere North of 30k). For passenger comfort, Wifey falls asleep on the back regularly. I've done a bit over 1k miles this week without any significant effort. It's not going to set any records in the twisties, but if ridden will hang with the sports bikes. It's also invisiblish.

Not for everyone, however.

If you're in the area you're welcome to give it a spin.

[Tekime]

Get an old FJ1200 and save $4k for a vacation?

I scored mine for $1,000.



Okay, nothing modern about this bike at all, but um.. it's not an FJR!

Hey look, we can be twinsies:

89 yamaha fj1200 $2000

[feralchimp]

Hell, the old ST1100 had zero character but was a brilliant mile eater.

My only true cross-country trip was back in '98, on a Virago 1100. I was pulled over someplace out West, taking a picture or topping off the oil or something, and some old salt swooped in on a ST1100 just to make sure I hadn't broken down. Then, almost silently and with zero fanfare, he accelerated back up to some ludicrous speed and continued on his way.

Pretty sure that's why the ST1300 is on my mind now.

[feralchimp]

Power adjustable screen. Electronic cruise control. Heated grips. Side case will take a full face lid. Giggly, stupid, silly, absurd torque. As potato says; beats the speed limit in 1st

Intellectually, I get that the FJR is an *outstanding* motorcycle. I should probably at least ride one.

[Garandman]

2002 BMW k1200lt - Band Of Riders

Reliable but if you need a clutch it's a huge bill.

At $6k or less, DL1000 fits the bill. And the Tiger 1050 was widely ignored here despite being the harbinger of many current trends (i.e. Liter bikes with relaxed riding position. Try to get an ABS model. Many with over 50K and few problems.

The big question is shaft drive vs. chain.

[feralchimp]

Technically the GL isn't a SPORT tourer, but a dedicated tourer.
...
Not for everyone, however.

If you're in the area you're welcome to give it a spin.

I've thought about a Wing, but man...I just don't know. I can barely wrap my head around an RT. I don't want to be mature enough to understand what great bikes they are.

[nhbubba]

I don't want to be mature enough to understand what great bikes they are.

Well put. I am 110% right there with you.

[TheIglu]

Ain't nobody gunna steal the Wing from "Jared's Building of Questionably Free Shit, Open Seasonally".

My Dad has an FJR. It would do the job, but I'm not feelin it either. It is pretty nice in size.

I'd look into a Concours.

I'd sell you back your Wee, but it's WAY too comfy with the RDL now. Your wife would fall asleep on the damn thing. Plus it's got all sorts of hard luggage, skid plates, crash bars, tall windshield, etc on it now. Nobody wants things like that. Nothing to see here, move along.


ST1300 is fine. Like a mini (ish) Wing.

[gregp]

I bought a new DL-650A back in 2012. Now, 4 years later, I wish I had bought something larger. The DL is good at everything, and even tours OK 2-up. The problem for me is that I still cannot decide if I want something that is *fun* (will snap the front wheel up easily in 3rd gear - Super-Duke/Multi/KTM Adv.), or something like a GL, that is ultra comfortable. The DL is neither.
I am old enough to need comfort, but young enough to want fun. Tall seat heights are becoming a PITA.
When buying my DL, I *almost* bought a left over FJR. My wife thought the seat on the FJR was more comfortable that the seat on the DL. In the end, I allowed cost to affect my choice more than it should have.

[Garandman]

I bought a new DL-650A back in 2012. Now, 4 years later, I wish I had bought something larger. The DL is good at everything, and even tours OK 2-up. The problem for me is that I still cannot decide if I want something that is *fun* (will snap the front wheel up easily in 3rd gear -//

I'll offer counterpoint. Commuting in and out of Boston on a DL650A, light clutch, minimal heat, great headlights, great visibility. The Tiger is a lot more powerful and sporty but the rear seat is less roomy, the clutch pull is heavier, and it can get hot in traffic.

Some of the sport tourers are notorious for cooking their riders in traffic, if you are going to use it for commuting get specific reviews as some are better than others.

[Mustang]

6th Gen VFR800... Though, selfishly, I have one for sale, <$4k...

[feralchimp]

Ain't nobody gunna steal the Wing from "Jared's Building of Questionably Free Shit, Open Seasonally".

LOL. Pretty much gotta paint that on the side of the garage now.

[feralchimp]

I'd sell you back your Wee, but it's WAY too comfy with the RDL now.

I'll likely end up with a gen2 Wee with ABS, and pick your brain about how to tart it up proper.

[MattR302]

I saw a really well setup '11 Wee ABS in central MA for $3G a couple weeks ago, I'll see if I can find the link
Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

[bstnsboy]

2011 Suzuki DL650A Vstrom, ABS

[PhilB]

Part of your thought process needs to be where in the spectrum of sport-tourer you want to be. Sportbikes are obvious and focused, and don’t vary much in form or function. Touring bikes (e.g. Gold Wing, Voyager/Venture/Cavalcade, BMW K1600GTL) are also obvious and focused. Sport-touring bikes, though, cover all of the vast ground between those two, from the sharp sporty end (e.g. Ducati or Aprilia) to the blunt toury end (e.g. Honda ST, BMW K1300GT).

I’m also thinking along these lines, as I’m considering adding a sport-tourer to the garage for two-up travel. The Monster isn’t very good at that, and the sweetie doesn’t always want to be on a separate bike. I definitely am not looking for a full tourer like a Gold Wing, a cruiser-based bike like a Harley or Victory dresser, or a giant tall “adventure-tourer”, but it does need to be more like a tourer and less like a sportbike than a Ducati ST or MS. Sweetie says a passenger backrest is mandatory. There’s still a fair bit of room there within those parameters.

The current(ish) options look to be: MOTUS MST, Aprilia Futura or Caponord, BMW F800ST, K1300S, K1300GT, or K1600GT, Honda VFR1200F (w/ DCT?), older VFR, or ST1100/1300, Kawasaki ZX-14 or Concours, Moto Guzzi Norge, Suzuki Hayabusa, Triumph Sprint GT or Trophy, or Yamaha FJR1300. Not all of these bikes come with backrests as stock, but all can be fitted with an aftermarket seat with a passenger backrest (e.g. Corbin or Sargent), and/or a luggage rack and top box with a backrest.

Here is a table with some basic data on most of the options.

Bike Wet weight Torque
MOTUS MST 585 lbs 125 ft-lbs
Aprilia Futura 510 lbs 70 ft-lbs
Aprilia Caponord 520 lbs 85 ft-lbs
BMW F800ST 460 lbs 60 ft-lbs
BMW K1300S 550 lbs 105 ft-lbs
BMW K1300GT 630 lbs 100 ft-lbs
BMW K1600GT 700 lbs 130 ft-lbs
Ducati MS1200S 520 lbs 100 ft-lbs
Honda VFR800 540 lbs 60 ft-lbs
Honda VFR1200F 610 lbs 95 ft-lbs
Honda ST1300 730 lbs 90 ft-lbs (85 for 1100)
Kawasaki ZX-14 585 lbs 115 ft-lbs
Kawasaki Concours 690 lbs 115 ft-lbs
Moto Guzzi Norge 610 lbs 75 ft-lbs
Suzuki Hayabusa 585 lbs 115 ft-lbs
Triumph Sprint GT 590 lbs 80 ft-lbs
Triumph Trophy 695 lbs 90 ft-lbs
Yamaha FJR1300 635 lbs 90 ft-lbs

I think I want something in the middle – decently sporty, but reasonably comfy.

I have tested the MOTUS and found it outstanding; the price is the main obstacle on that one. I’m not crazy about the Aprilias with the Rotax twin; they don’t mesh with me well. BMW, Honda, and Kawasaki each manage to have choices near the ends of the range of parameters I’m considering, and not really one in the middle. I have ridden the BMWs, and they are fine bikes; I didn’t like the feel of the K1300GT, though, even though it's in my desired range. A K1600S would be just about perfect. I am fond of Hondas and will try those. I’m less fond of Kawasakis, Suzukis, or Yamahas.

So that leaves the main candidates for me to test (that I haven’t), as the Aprilia Caponord, the Hondas, and the MotoGuzzi, with the other Japanese marques and the Triumphs as alternates if opportunities arise.

PhilB