Business class on economy tourer

[CRM]

Hi Guys,

I'm planning on doing another business trip through NZ shortly (training in and selling software) and I'm just after some suggestions for a good bike to do it on.

I did it in March on an '87 Magna 700 VF (since sold) and although it was a very sweet bike it had a few drawbacks for that type of trip: Poor lights; no panniers; no fairing or screen. Now I love naked bikes but to be practical I think I need a proper tourer to eat up 7-800km in a day if required, plus be able to leave early morning and be able to see and not freeze and arrive at a client's, to lock up my bike and gear and walk in looking reasonably respectable:whistle:.

By the way - don't want to spend more than $5k ;).

Thoughts?

[Subike]

any of the bigger 80's jap tourers would fit this bill for you.
Me being a Yamaha nut, the FJR 1200 & 1300's come to mind,
can be bought for around your budjet, Have all the requirements you want.
I am sure there are plenty of others like this too which others recomend

[CRM]

Yeah I've had a sit on an 88 FJR1200. It just felt a little big and heavy to me. Would be similar to a Concours in size and weight too I would imagine. I'll be one-up so I think something a little lighter might be more suitable. Had a sit on a 1200 Bandit and that felt better to me - a bit more compact i think.

Thanks for the feedback - any more ideas? I like the TDM 850's and hear they make pretty good tourers.

[ManDownUnder]

Hit trademe, buy an RF900.
Cheap, comfy, faired, reliable

[Subike]

Fair enough comments re the weight.
I always have a chuckel the the weight statement
Yes a heap of bike do feel heavy when you sit on them.
Funny how that weight dissapears when you get moving.
The other funny thing is that in side winds, and the back wash from big rigs when you are out touring dont seem to upset the Heavy bike as much as the lighter bikes.
OK yes light bike for week end touring would be great, you get to rest from keeping balance during the week,
But you are talking of daily long rides, you need the best comfort and ease of riding you can get, thats where the bigger bike will serve you well.
Would you rather get off at the end of 600k's in the windy rain feeling good, or tired out from fighting to keep balance and watching out for cross winds etc.
Just something to concider when making your choice.

[Boob Johnson]

Hit trademe, buy an RF900.
Cheap, comfy, faired, reliable
+1 :niceone:

[CRM]

Fair enough comments re the weight.
I always have a chuckel the the weight statement
Yes a heap of bike do feel heavy when you sit on them.
Funny how that weight dissapears when you get moving.
The other funny thing is that in side winds, and the back wash from big rigs when you are out touring dont seem to upset the Heavy bike as much as the lighter bikes.
OK yes light bike for week end touring would be great, you get to rest from keeping balance during the week,
But you are talking of daily long rides, you need the best comfort and ease of riding you can get, thats where the bigger bike will serve you well.
Would you rather get off at the end of 600k's in the windy rain feeling good, or tired out from fighting to keep balance and watching out for cross winds etc.
Just something to concider when making your choice.

Yeah fair enough - but it's not on the road I'm so concerned about it's trying to turn it around on a steep gravel driveway:eek5: I know what you mean about the winds and backwash on a light bike - rode my daughters 250 Ninja up from Welly and had a few moments:gob: Even on the Magna it could get pretty unpleasant in the crosswinds (that road up to Wanganui - is it always windy there?)

Thanks for the feedback.

[marty]

if you went to wanganui you missed the turnoff! Bulls - it's not just a turnoff, sometimes it's straight through!!

CBR1000.
RF900
VFR750
FZR750/1000
BMW K100
Katana 750 Teapot

my picks: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240388391.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240388391.htm

they've already got panniers and bags and look like ride-away mile-eaters

[CRM]

if you went to wanganui you missed the turnoff! Bulls - it's not just a turnoff, sometimes it's straight through!!

CBR1000.
RF900
VFR750
FZR750/1000
BMW K100
Katana 750 Teapot

my picks: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240388391.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240388391.htm

they've already got panniers and bags and look like ride-away mile-eaters

Yeah wind was blowing so hard I couldn't make the turn and had to go straight ahead. I do like the look of that Concours :love:...

[kave]

If you can put up with the looks you could probably get a Honda PC800 for that money. It is a proper tourer and has heaps of built-in storage. Its just ugly.

[CRM]

If you can put up with the looks you could probably get a Honda PC800 for that money. It is a proper tourer and has heaps of built-in storage. Its just ugly.

Nah just too ugly:sick: I'd rather ride a KLR650 than that.

["D" FZ1]

How about this one ???

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers//auction-239543409.htm

[CRM]

How about this one ???

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers//auction-239543409.htm

Yeah very nice but a little pricey:weep:. Really need some lockable panniers too.

[marty]

Yeah wind was blowing so hard I couldn't make the turn and had to go straight ahead. I do like the look of that Concours :love:...


realised i put the kwaka on twice. there is a straight as K100 BMW for the same money as well. here tis

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240281604.htm

[CRM]

realised i put the kwaka on twice. there is a straight as K100 BMW for the same money as well. here tis

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-240281604.htm

Yeah that is a nice one. My understanding with Beemers is that when you do have to spend money on them they can be much more expensive than the Jappa's. Would that be fair comment?

There's a 2000 750 Katana here with panniers I quite like the look of http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=240422870 - what are they like for touring?

[Henk]

bloody good. (750 kat that is)

[george formby]

Yeah I've had a sit on an 88 FJR1200. It just felt a little big and heavy to me. Would be similar to a Concours in size and weight too I would imagine. I'll be one-up so I think something a little lighter might be more suitable. Had a sit on a 1200 Bandit and that felt better to me - a bit more compact i think.

Thanks for the feedback - any more ideas? I like the TDM 850's and hear they make pretty good tourers.

I have to agree, got two. You need to sort out your own luggage, one has Oxford soft panniers the other full givi luggage. If your over 6ft, higher bars are more comfortable. 260-300ks on a tank, more with new emulsion tubes. They are quick, comfy & handle really well but unfortunately are rare as hens teeth. I did 5000 miles in 10 days no problem, through europe. Regularly do 600+k's here. :scooter:

[CRM]

I have to agree, got two. You need to sort out your own luggage, one has Oxford soft panniers the other full givi luggage. If your over 6ft, higher bars are more comfortable. 260-300ks on a tank, more with new emulsion tubes. They are quick, comfy & handle really well but unfortunately are rare as hens teeth. I did 5000 miles in 10 days no problem, through europe. Regularly do 600+k's here. :scooter:

So why do you need 2?

I'm watching one here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=239252046. Sounds like quite a lot of $ for the age but I guess that's what they go for. I saw a nice red one on the way to work this morning - much newer - looked real nice. :drool:. Also had a sit on a new 1250 Bandit with full touring setup - very nice!

[hospitalfood]

you want a proper tourer, test ride one and you will agree.
my advice, skip the sports tourer and get a tourer, you wont look back.
you should be able to get a good old BMW K100RT/LT. great bikes.

[CRM]

I've put my XR600 on TM (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=241679653) - anyone interested in swapping for something with fairings and panniers? Just needs to be reliable and fun to ride - not necessarily fast as I've trying to lose my demerit collection :Police: (all obtained in car incidentally).

[Spyke]

Gs1200ss can get a good as one for 6k

[grbaker]

Don't buy too old or you'll spend your time and money on repairs.

THat Bandit may do the trick... look at the older 1200's or 600's and you should save some dollars (but stay in the year 2000+). I would also be on the lookout for a Yamaha FZR, XJ or XJR.
The BMW tourers mentioned would be good if you can find one for half of the original list price (unlikley).

[CRM]

Well I decided to keep the XR (nobody would give me a decent price anyway) mod it up and do the trip on that... Put in the big tank, upgraded the headlight to a halogen (35w - don't laugh - but it's better than the stock one - from pitiful to passable), added a sheepskin, soft panniers for the fix-it stuff and the projector and laptop, rackbag etc... Done 1100km since yesterday morning now in Masterton, planning on doing the West Coast over the weekend if it's fine, across to Chch for 3 days work there then home for the Labour weekend. She's a fine machine that wee XR! :banana: