No-frills touring

[CRM]

After owning a few bikes more towards the "serious" end of the touring spectrum (ST1100, R1100, Trophy 1200) I decided I was a bit over it all and wanted to try to capture the essence of "riding" again as opposed to "driving" or "piloting". The big bikes were great for distance work (especially the ST1100) but a bit excessive for just popping down town. So I just went to a basic middle-of-the-road Hornet 900 to see how that worked as a do-everything bike.

It has no ABS, no linked braking, no hard panniers, no fuel gauge, no fairing, minimal instrumentation - just a mix a bits from a small naked bike (CB600 hornet frame) with a reworked sport-bike engine (Fireblade). All I've added is a givi screen, new heated grips and some ventura panniers and rack bag, plus my Oxford tankbag that I've had forever. And new tyres - Pilot Road 4's (which perform perfectly on this bike).

How does it work for touring? Actually surprisingly fantastic! I did a trip from Auckland to Palmerston North then back up via Wanganui a couple of weeks ago. Then last week Whangarei to Wellington on Wednesday via Wanganui then back up on Saturday via Taihape and Mangakino.

For me I feel much more in touch with the ride on a smaller, lighter bike like the Hornet - just a greater sense of being in control I guess. Handling was great (as I mentioned the Pilot Road 4's are totally confidence inspiring) , power is great (Fireblade engine is ripper in the upper part of the revs), comfort is maybe not quite up with the big tourers, but I still did 12 hours on the road on Saturday - half of that in rain - and lived to tell the tale. Fuel economy ranged between 5l/100km (in the long boring slow bits) to probably about 6l/100km in the fun twisty bits (Paraparas!). They say going up a tooth on the front sprocket can help the economy a bit - might try that some time.

So my enthusiasm for touring has returned - no-frills style.

Any other no-frills/high-thrills tourers out there?

[Blackbird]

Good for you :Punk: I moved from a Blackbird to a Street Triple 5 years ago and that tours really well too. Like you, I love PR 4's, although I doubt they will give the claimed 20% greater life than the PR 3's. Have done 12000 km on the PR 4's now.

I know a few people who do some serious tours on small capacity bikes and scooters - it's more of a mindset than reality that you need a big bike! :laugh:

[Moi]

...I know a few people who do some serious tours on small capacity bikes and scooters ...

Really? No kidding!! Scooters!!! Bloody heck!!!!

Especially those Italian ones... :scooter::scooter:

[nzspokes]

You will want to move the sliders to the frame before you drop it and kill the motor.

[EJK]

No frills/ all thrills? Yes! I did travel from Christchurch to Auckland and back on mine end of last year.

OK, yeah fine, the bike's got ABS, DTC and quickshifter and rest of the gimmicks but it has least bit of luxury and comfort. Almost had to see a chiropractitioner after the trip.

[Maha]

No Frills? but you've added a givi screen, girly grips and some ventura panniers and rack bag, an Oxford tank bag...plus fluffy seat cover!

[Gremlin]

It will take hard panniers if you fit a Givi rack and Givi luggage (probably other options out there).

I've done 100k on a Hornet for work in the last 7.5 years, fantastically reliable. No screen (took that off) so you get a bit sore if you try to do multiple hours in touring, but then I have the BMW for touring... which isn't really no frills ;)

I love the nice smooth delivery of power. Plenty of torque at the bottom end, 6th gear from 70kph. Give it some revs and the fireblade part comes alive :innocent: Wide bars are great for leverage, but do make things like splitting a bit more tricky as the bike is wider.

[CRM]

No Frills? but you've added a givi screen, girly grips and some ventura panniers and rack bag, plus my Oxford tank bag...plus fluffy seat cover!

Fair enough - a few basic home comforts aren't exactly frills. I'm pretty sure its my tank bag though. Forgot to mention the fluffy seat cover. I found that in my man-cupboard as I was setting up for the trip and decided it might be nice. Daughter accused me of being an old man needing that though. That always hurts :eek5:.

Here's a photo that proves it was raining in Te Awamutu:

[CRM]

It will take hard panniers if you fit a Givi rack and Givi luggage (probably other options out there).

I've done 100k on a Hornet for work in the last 7.5 years, fantastically reliable. No screen (took that off) so you get a bit sore if you try to do multiple hours in touring, but then I have the BMW for touring... which isn't really no frills ;)

I love the nice smooth delivery of power. Plenty of torque at the bottom end, 6th gear from 70kph. Give it some revs and the fireblade part comes alive :innocent: Wide bars are great for leverage, but do make things like splitting a bit more tricky as the bike is wider.

Yeah I love how the engine spins out. I think they're a really underrated bike. I liked the screen a lot for touring - a little stiff in the shoulders after the ride but really not an issue. I can imagine doing a lot of kms on this bike. Just gone 50,000km and runs like new and I can see no reason why with regular use and maintenance it shouldn't do big kms.

I'm pretty happy with the ventura bags. I find add-on givi hard bags tend to make your bike really wide. I had some on my V-Strom and they tended to take out petrol pumps, posts and old ladies. With the soft bags and the standard bars it's insanely easy to lane split. Was riding through Auckland early Wednesday morning on my way to Wellington and was like "I don't have time for this crap" :crazy: - best bike I've had for lane splitting!

[Maha]

I agree, there are some things that are essential when touring that can't be considered...frills. But it ends with panniers/saddles.
When I had the CB1300 it was 'off the floor/stock/no frills' apart from the Neptune can and did the job extremely well.

The hornet (being a close cousin of the CB) will give you hours of untroubled fun, even with the fluffy seat.. ☺

[Gremlin]

Very rare to be outside of the area Silverdale to Papakura, plus the screen was buffeting me. Much cleaner air (plus great in summer).

Mine is at 128k, a mates at 96k, another at 150k and a KB'er has one that's around 250k (ex courier, but he's had to do some work on gearbox and other things). Great choice I'd say :yes:

Renthal wide bars, givi racks (top box is on permanently), Ohlins rear shock and tweaked front end (the stock suspension is definitely budget) and it's a great bike!

[Smifffy]

Fair enough - a few basic home comforts aren't exactly frills. I'm pretty sure its my tank bag though. Forgot to mention the fluffy seat cover. I found that in my man-cupboard as I was setting up for the trip and decided it might be nice. Daughter accused me of being an old man needing that though. That always hurts :eek5:.

Here's a photo that proves it was raining in Te Awamutu:

It would be more of a challenge to get a photo of it NOT raining in Te Awamutu at this time of year ;)

Nice bike!

[nzspokes]

After looking at all kinds of tourers we ended up with a Bandit 1200. 04 naked one. I fitted a top box and a screen along with new fork springs and a Busa rear shock. Best bit was a new seat from superior saddles on the shore. We are both comfortable on longer rides. Bike cost $2200. Upgrades etc would be another $600.

Very happy with it. :cool:

[mulletman]

No frills either when I picked up the SV from AK and rode back to CHCH, flew up in my bike gear met seller at airport deal done then asked which way was south and headed home :ride:

[T.W.R]

Pfft! amateurs :laugh:

The pic below is taken near Taihape many many moons ago...proper no-frills touring :msn-wink:

[Mike.Gayner]

Other than TWR no one has shown any sort of "no frills" touring in this thread. Just because you're not riding a 2-wheeled armchair doesn't mean you're doing it rough, and a fully kitted up Hornet (fluffy seat, fucking hell) is NOT no-frills. This is no frills touring: http://www.jawakolemsveta.cz/

http://imgur.com/a/v03xI

[nzspokes]

Other than TWR no one has shown any sort of "no frills" touring in this thread. Just because you're not riding a 2-wheeled armchair doesn't mean you're doing it rough, and a fully kitted up Hornet (fluffy seat, fucking hell) is NOT no-frills. This is no frills touring: http://www.jawakolemsveta.cz/

http://imgur.com/a/v03xI

What a ray of sunshine you are. :facepalm:

[nzspokes]

Hornet set up for touring.

[Gremlin]

Guess this was no-frills, work trip to Wellington while the BMW was enroute to USA.

One heated grip wasn't working, and on the way north I think it was about 2 degrees...

[CRM]

This was my original no-frills tourer. No idea how the ventura rack coped with the weight of all that :no:. No heated grips, not even a fluffy seat :msn-wink: Picked it up in Dunedin and did the Catlins, right through the South Island then up to Taranaki and across to East Cape before heading back to Whangarei. Crazy trip but had a ball.:wings: Same tank bag.

[george formby]

I guess my TDM resides in the no frills section. Soft panniers is the only concession. Me arse certainly feels it after 1000km days but otherwise it just thumps along and eats the miles.

[Maha]

Other than TWR no one has shown any sort of "no frills" touring in this thread. Just because you're not riding a 2-wheeled armchair doesn't mean you're doing it rough, and a fully kitted up Hornet (fluffy seat, fucking hell) is NOT no-frills.

Agree, No Frills means basic/no comfort add on bits. The Hornet is the Corolla of the motorcycle world, it does everything you want of it and most have owned one, it's common enough that you'll see one on the road about as often as road kill or Suzuki Bandits. Girly (or heated) grips is a giant leap over the no frills line.

[CRM]

Reminds me of a story I heard at my Uncle's funeral.

In 1938 my Uncle Gordon would ride his motorbike – 1939 Triumph 3.5 horsepower - from Auckland to Wellington leaving at 4:30pm on a Friday afternoon, stopping for a 3 hour sleep in Palmerston North at about 5am, then riding the rest of the way on Saturday morning – arriving at about 11:00. On Sunday morning he would leave at 6:00am and arrive back in Auckland that night.

Wellington to Auckland would have been a pretty serious trip in 1939.

I suspect it was a single cylinder Tiger like the picture below. Pretty sure that was before heated grips were invented too.

[haydes55]

310933 the old "touring" bike. KLX300, backpack with a tarp, clothes, pegs and some string.310934 The new touring bike Z1000 with a pack rack. I've upgraded to a tank bag as well now.

Both have done a couple 1500+km weekend trips. Mostly carrying tent/tarp sleeping bag etc with me

[CRM]

http://www.discussionsnetwork.com/forumfiend/uploads/images/58226.jpg the old "touring" bike. KLX300, backpack with a tarp, clothes, pegs and some string.http://www.discussionsnetwork.com/forumfiend/uploads/images/58227.jpg The new touring bike Z1000 with a pack rack. I've upgraded to a tank bag as well now.

Both have done a couple 1500+km weekend trips. Mostly carrying tent/tarp sleeping bag etc with me

Loving the tarp tent - too bad if the ground is soft and she falls over in the middle of the night :shit:.

[haydes55]

Loving the tarp tent - too bad if the ground is soft and she falls over in the middle of the night :shit:.

Rastus sent me a puck to put under the peg, worked a charm.

The big issue was I rolled over through the night and got chain lube all over my sleeping bag :violin:

I do no frills touring cause I'm too poor for all those fancy frills. I went for a long weekend away this summer, stopped at a little park, camped in my tent and just had a swim in the river to wash myself..... At least I washed myself. Another favourite trick (when it's too cold) use wet wipes to wash yourself.

[Stylo]

Believe it or not, I did a trip from Christchurch - Auckland return on a DT250 twin shocker with a pack on my back ......

Must have been about 1979, I was only a kid ....

[Big Dog]

Pfft! amateurs :laugh:

The pic below is taken near Taihape many many moons ago...proper no-frills touring :msn-wink:

Absolute loooksury
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=98724&d=1214053669
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/74335-CC-Challenge

[T.W.R]

Other than TWR no one has shown any sort of "no frills" touring in this thread.

:lol: that was at a point in time born of necessity, 3/4 the way through a 1000km trip, had a ball of time but 14 odd hours in the saddle was getting a bit tiring. Did the majority of the Sth island by similar means a few years earlier on a early model XT250.
Bit more refined these days though, but no fancy equipment, just time proven gear that works without any bells & whistles. Have ridden bikes with heated grips & fitted plenty to customer bikes but personally don't like them; the only luxury item I use is a sheepskin but that only makes an appearance if the trip is going to be 500kms or more.

[T.W.R]

Absolute loooksury
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=98724&d=1214053669
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/74335-CC-Challenge


:laugh: yeah but the fun factor is worth it :niceone:
Used to be group that did the brass on steppies, 2day trip from chch regularly having water-gun battles as they meandered their way south

[nzspokes]

:lol: that was at a point in time born of necessity, 3/4 the way through a 1000km trip, had a ball of time but 14 odd hours in the saddle was getting a bit tiring. Did the majority of the Sth island by similar means a few years earlier on a early model XT250.
Bit more refined these days though, but no fancy equipment, just time proven gear that works without any bells & whistles. Have ridden bikes with heated grips & fitted plenty to customer bikes but personally don't like them; the only luxury item I use is a sheepskin but that only makes an appearance if the trip is going to be 500kms or more.

Hot grips when you have carpel tunnel problems is a god send.

[neels]

Does this qualify as no frills touring?

Sleeping bag, change of clothes, a few tools, packet of fags, lets go....
310947

[Big Dog]

:laugh: yeah but the fun factor is worth it :niceone:
Used to be group that did the brass on steppies, 2day trip from chch regularly having water-gun battles as they meandered their way south

Yep, out weigh that bike by 2 to 1. 3 days to do what could have been done on the Hayabusa in 1.

Hard to have more fun with your pants on and under $1k.
Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[T.W.R]

Hot grips when you have carpel tunnel problems is a god send.

Yeah they have their advantages for differing individuals reasons; they're just not something I'm into, just the same as I hate the pencil thin stock OEM items most bikes come fitted with. Think the last 10 or so bikes I've owned I've always fitted ProGrip 714s just through personal choice...just a size, shape & texture that works for me :yes:


Yep, out weigh that bike by 2 to 1. 3 days to do what could have been done on the Hayabusa in 1.

Hard to have more fun with your pants on and under $1k.


:shutup: fraction of the fuel costs & minimal risk to the license too :shifty:

[Big Dog]

I think from memory fuel bill was quite high. Around $50. Two smoke 110cc sucks through fuel at open road speeds. But zero chance of a speeding ticket on open road.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Banditbandit]

Does this qualify as no frills touring?

Sleeping bag, change of clothes, a few tools, packet of fags, lets go....
310947

Why do you need a sleeping bag ???

[neels]

Why do you need a sleeping bag ???
Getting soft in my old age....