I'm thinking about getting ANOTHER bike...

[Matt K]

just thinking at this point, no serious plans yet... I want to get something I can cruise for long distances on (like anything over 4 hours, when the gixxer makes me want to die), and carry a passenger comfortably for both of us. Don't get me wrong, I love the gixxer, but it's not built for touring or riding 2up. I don't want no stinking goldwing though, it's still gotta be fun to ride... kind sport-tourer-like. Anybody have any experience to share? I don't know much about this kind of bike... (Oh, and if it's old and reliable that's a +, 'cause I can't afford anything new)

[twrayinma]

i'm sure NHViffer has an opinion on that one....

[twrayinma]

when i'm independently wealthy i'm gonna have a bike for every engine configuration.

[twrayinma]

you know... ALL of 'em.
single, flat twin, inline twin, v-twin (maybe all flavors...), triple (even though it's gay), v-4, i-4... and so on.

[Matt K]

I think everybody needs at least 3 bikes: A sportbike, a tourer, and a dirtbike. I'm 2-for-3 right now, still looking for the right tourer.

Those VFRs, are they long-ride comfortable? I mean, like 4-6 hours comfortable? How 'bout 2up?

I only ever played around with an 86 (I think) VF500 interceptor, so I don't really know much anbout the more modern ones...

[stoinkythepig]

Love my Concours for exactly the reasons you stated you want a second bike. They are incredibly reliable, last forever (how about 250,000+ miles?), are a piece of cake to work on, and are cheap to buy used (or new, $7200 OTD new if you shop around a bit). They are a far cry from a sport bike but handle quite respectably and have adequate power (similar power to weight as an SV650S). 400 miles of backroads 2-up are a non-issue regarding comfort. My wife sleeps on the back of mine. Several Concours riders have done 1500 mile days and a few have done 50 cc rides (coast to coast in <50 hours). One concours rider won the Iron Butt ralley riding two-up (roughly 11,000 miles in 11 days)

The Concours Owners Group is rather active in this area and a fantastic source for information and parts. Want to know what generic radiator fan switch will fit and work properly? COG can give you at least four different brands and part numbers. They can tell you what generic clutch pushrod seal fits. Need OEM parts? I recently bought a parts bike for $250 and already sold $180 worth of parts off it (had them sold before I even picked the bike up). The infrastructure of the owners group is better than any Kawasaki dealer could be.

[NHViffer]

I really need to change that screen-name. No more VFR's for me right now. I don't think that the stock VFR is a 4-6 hour comfortable ride. Maybe on the 3-4 range. Actually you should be stopping every couple anyway to rest for safety reasons.

Anywho... Bandit 1200, FZ-1, Concours (although they are really old technology - no offense). Most anything that is more toward standard or touring.

Of course now that I'm on a bike from across the pond - I can't leave out the Sprint ST.

Definitely NOT a Daytona.

[Matt K]

yeah, I stop all the time on long rides I meant mopre like 4-6 hours with little stops. After about 2.5-3 hours, little 10min. stops no longer help on the gixxer, I get cramped up again after like 15min...

[RandyO]

I want to get a V-Strom for that purpose

[Mindstrike]

Well, I will agree a Bandit 1200s is a good choice (recommend a gel seat), Fz1 for a more sporty feel. The Yammi FJR1300 is nice.. course I should ask what your price range is. ZZR Kawa?

Heck, if you don't care about the style of bike... have you thought about a cruiser style? I hear some are pretty comfortable.

[SprintPoser]

I would recommend you try getting 30 to 60 minutes in the saddle of Zombie's Tiger before you make a decision. I never much cared for the looks of those bikes.....then I rode it.

Unfrigginbeleebable. When I can afford bike #2, that's the one, Period. It's THAT good. You cannot possibly understand what I mean until you ride one. I don't care if it said Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW, Aprilia, Harley Davidson, or Ural on the tank, it is simply the most incredible machine for sport touring I've ever ridden. And I have ridden just about every type of ST there is at one time or another.

[SVixxer]

One word. Touno

[SprintPoser]

Both of the aforementioned Aprilias are fine motorcycles, but neither is a great choice for his application. The role is better filled by either the Futura or the Capo Nord. And I doubt you could find ANY of them at a good price easily.

The Tiger, OTOH, is out there on the used market and new for a lot of $$ off list price.

I guess the difference comes down to having a bike with the right emphasis, and a plush pillion seat. Futura has the best of that feature. The Falco and the Tuono are great sport bikes, not really great for long two-up rides. (The Falco would be closer, but needs a seat.)

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by NHViffer
I really need to change that screen-name. No more VFR's for me right now. I don't think that the stock VFR is a 4-6 hour comfortable ride. Maybe on the 3-4 range. Actually you should be stopping every couple anyway to rest for safety reasons.

Anywho... Bandit 1200, FZ-1, Concours (although they are really old technology - no offense). Most anything that is more toward standard or touring.

Of course now that I'm on a bike from across the pond - I can't leave out the Sprint ST.

Definitely NOT a Daytona.

A Concours most definitely is old technology, no doubt about that. It's odd to me how Kawasaki can build such a bike and price them quite resonably yet they sit on the showroom floor for months, years sometimes, before someone will buy one. Suzuki can't seem to make enough SV650s to satisfy the demand yet the SV650 (in it's original form, not sure about the new generation) is even more old fashioned than the Concours...

[eddysteady]

I have a 99 Yami R1, My second Bike Next Season Will Be an RC-51, I love that Bike

[Stoneman]

Mid 90's VFR, hands down. The '94-'95's are wunna my favorite all time bikes...

[Stoneman]

Originally posted by twrayinma
when i'm independently wealthy i'm gonna have a bike for every engine configuration.

Heh, I'm working on that now. Seriously...

I have a V-Twin and an inline four. Next up is a V-Four (old school VFR - Mid 90's, of course)

[beet]

Originally posted by Stoneman
Heh, I'm working on that now. Seriously...

I have a V-Twin and an inline four. Next up is a V-Four (old school VFR - Mid 90's, of course)

the earlyer 1s r sweet bikes 2 the 86s ripped just no after market in them days grear cams winding... them little 500s r sweet 2

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by Stoneman
Heh, I'm working on that now. Seriously...

I have a V-Twin and an inline four. Next up is a V-Four (old school VFR - Mid 90's, of course)

maybe i'll just start with one of every twin...
nighthawk250 for the inline twin
bmw r-bike for the opposed twin
moto-guzzi for the transverse V
SVS for the 90 degree V
and an aprilia for a 60 degree V

[stoinkythepig]

I've never figured out why twin cylinder bikes are so poplular. I've ridden a few (Ducati, Harley, BMW, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, Triumph) and while they typically have a nice flat power delivery, the problem I have with them is that they typically have a nice flat power delivery. Lots of people tell me they ride them for the character but it's the total lack of character (except for the sounds, most make fantastic sounds) that stands out in my mind. Every twin I've ever ridded had a completely predictable and peakless power curve. And they all seemd to hit the red line just as I thought they were about to make some interesting power. Not saying they were slow, some were deceptively fast (Ducati Feracci (spelling????)944 SS and and a piped and PC'd TLR to name two), just a little dull. I like the midrange pull and top end hit of a big four cylinder mill myself. That said, I hear aprillias are fun to ride and I'd like to try one someday...

[Matt K]

hey stoinky, I think I'm gonna give your friend a call and see if I can take a look at his concours this weekend...

[stoinkythepig]

Too bad it's this weekend. I only live a mile away from his house but, I'll be in Maine hanging at the lake for the weekend. Don't steal my stuff...

[oreo_n2]

Originally posted by stoinkythepig
I've never figured out why twin cylinder bikes are so poplular. I've ridden a few (Ducati, Harley, BMW, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, Triumph) and while they typically have a nice flat power delivery, the problem I have with blah blah blah...

well i aint ridden too many of the big inline 4's and the new ones supposedly make pretty good torque and power from the ground up.... fuck, some of the dyno curves from the new 600's show peaks similar to my falco.


but man, every time i fire the falco up i get chills. and i much enjoy the *flat* but predictable and awesome amount of power i get delivered to the rear wheel all the way from 2k to redline at 10.5k. i think it falls into a realm of argument comparable to the classic muscle car vs rice car debate. i like the power on tap. i like not having to shift all over the damn place to pass and i like that the performance doesn't change at all when christina is on the back and we can ride for hours on end!!! Plus it has pretty sweet brakes too and its comfy and well the list goes on. i love it. *Disclaimer* When she is running right*

And i recently got a nice look at v-twins gallore pulling away from everyone under the sun when in the straights at loudon. (well except maybe degsy) And when the experts got on there, they actually could keep some corner speed so they didn't give the spots up right away in the turns.

can you tell i am biased towards the v-twin mafia?!

man you really want to try out a sweet v-twin... check out TLRman's ( i heard he has a bit of bike whore in him too ), i aspire to get my falco to pull as hard as his TLR and turn in like his too.

[Stoneman]

I'd be happy to let ya take MY TL-R for a spin too! You'll find it's not ALL that different from Mark's. And the next time he comes up, I'll have HIS map in MINE too! Whooo hooo...

[Degsy]

Originally posted by eddysteady
I have a 99 Yami R1, My second Bike Next Season Will Be an RC-51, I love that Bike

Mine is for sale, $7500 with a ton of extras and only 6k miles on the bike.

Degs