Upgrading to a tourer

[Iamfreerider]

Hi all, I am looking to upgrade my current BMW 650 to a Tourer/Sports Tourer. I have a price range which allows me a choice of a number of very "nice machines" (based on reviews and YouTube)

I thought I had made my mind up on a 1998 BMW K1200RS. I have been looking at FJR, BMW K Series and R series, Multistrada's)

But.................... I came across a (from a friend of a friend who has a) 2004 ST4s matching panniers with 8,000 miles on it at a very attractive price.

I almost shit myself when I saw it, seriously sexy machine. I have looked at reviews on the web and YT, but I would love to get someones thoughts and advice who has already been through this kind of a..........challenge lol

thanks Fellas, any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Hitcher]

The FJR1300 is the best sports touring motorcycle. In. The. World.

Range, economy, performance, handling, stopping, brakes, pillion comfort, hard luggage and options, headlights, tyre choice options, weather protection and pricing: nothing else comes close.

If you want an over-priced, ugly-as, quirkily-unreliable ride, buy a BMW.
If you want a galleon with odd-ball tyres and peculiar hard luggage, buy an ST1300.
If you want a lesser distance range and a too-big standard muffler, buy a Concours.
Too much money, like really old-tech air-cooled engines and like cleaning chrome, buy a Chub-Glide, or a Wide King or whatever they're called.
Want something cheap as chips that will go forever and ask no questions, buy a Bandit and dress it up with the kit you need.

[FJRider]

Unless you are intending to tour 12 months of the year ... consider the roads you will be riding when you are NOT touring.

[mossy1200]

ST4 would be a good bike if your one up touring without big loads.
You would want its first trip be to a bike shop for the extended service treatment and very likely new tyres if they have been on the bike a long time.

Add that to the purchase cost and if its $6k total could be well worth buying but remember to keep giving it birthday kisses.

[T.W.R]

Unless you are intending to tour 12 months of the year ... consider the roads you will be riding when you are NOT touring.

:laugh: says he with late 80s benchmark :facepalm:

Duke STs make spectacular noises & funny moves when they handgrenade their rear wheel bearings @ 100kph + :shit:

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-938498737.htm

Buy that and take the crap bits off it and get it legal. Check its not stolen first.

[bogan]

The FJR1300 is the best sports touring motorcycle. In. The. World.

Range, economy, performance, handling, stopping, brakes, pillion comfort, hard luggage and options, headlights, tyre choice options, weather protection and pricing: nothing else comes close.

If you want an over-priced, ugly-as, quirkily-unreliable ride, buy a BMW.
If you want a galleon with odd-ball tyres and peculiar hard luggage, buy an ST1300.
If you want a lesser distance range and a too-big standard muffler, buy a Concours.
Too much money, like really old-tech air-cooled engines and like cleaning chrome, buy a Chub-Glide, or a Wide King or whatever they're called.
Want something cheap as chips that will go forever and ask no questions, buy a Bandit and dress it up with the kit you need.

Those shitters are more Sports Touring than Sports Touring. So given the op's description, ideal; the ST4 on the other hand is a bit more balanced for the name.

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=934925191

This could be a good option

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=937445366

Or this

[FJRider]

:laugh: says he with late 80s benchmark :facepalm:

I did ... and bought the FJ. It suits (most of) the roads I ride .. :calm:


Duke STs make spectacular noises & funny moves when they handgrenade their rear wheel bearings @ 100kph + :shit:

Experience is a wonderful thing ... eh .. !!! :lol:

[nzspokes]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-938498737.htm

Buy that and take the crap bits off it and get it legal. Check its not stolen first.

Cool bike, are they Yoshi headers as well?

WTF has he got round the muffler?

[T.W.R]

I did ... and bought the FJ. It suits (most of) the roads I ride .. :calm:

Experience is a wonderful thing ... eh .. !!! :lol:

:lol: Had a 86 FJ11 when yours was still a brand new toy ;) know exactly what they're like.

You must remember when Mr Sensible's ST blew it's arse end on the way to the Dansey's Pass KB gathering :rolleyes: I was following him when it happened......spectacular sight from where I was :first:
It stayed there for a week afterwards while he got the bearings for the damn thing :lol: he got plenty of stick wanting FAG bearings

[FJRider]

You must remember when Mr Sensible's ST blew it's arse end on the way to the Dansey's Pass KB gathering :rolleyes: I was following him when it happened......spectacular sight from where I was :first:
It stayed there for a week afterwards while he got the bearings for the damn thing :lol: he got plenty of stick wanting FAG bearings

I do remember ..


You were no doubt glad you were watching .. and not otherwise involved.

[mossy1200]

Cool bike, are they Yoshi headers as well?

WTF has he got round the muffler?

barb wire:facepalm:

[liljegren]

Had an ST4s, good bike till it wouldnt start. Went to th VFR, had many happy miles two-up, solo, even a track day. Mossy is onto it!

[neels]

Have ridden an st4, very nice bike. I have a st2 which happily takes me and Mrs everywhere we want to go, factory luggage is excellent, servicing costs more than a jap bike. Rides great 2up and good fun taking it for a hoon by myself, can't see me buying anything to replace it any time soon

[Iamfreerider]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=934925191

This could be a good option

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=937445366

Or this

the Sprint is the only one I have not ridden.........yet.

NO Bandits!!!!!!!!!!

I do like the FJR.............a lot

[Iamfreerider]

Had an ST4s, good bike till it wouldnt start. Went to th VFR, had many happy miles two-up, solo, even a track day. Mossy is onto it!

very sexy bike, but not overly comfortable I thought.

[caspernz]

Hayabusa is all you need.

[Maha]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=934925191

This could be a good option

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=937445366

Or this

I took both those bike types and a YZF1000 for a test ride in 2006, once I rode the Sprint (an 02') the choice was real easy.

PS: DMNTD looks happy drinking a wine :corn:

[Big Dog]

Hayabusa is all you need.

+1 to that.

[Iamfreerider]

Have ridden an st4, very nice bike. I have a st2 which happily takes me and Mrs everywhere we want to go, factory luggage is excellent, servicing costs more than a jap bike. Rides great 2up and good fun taking it for a hoon by myself, can't see me buying anything to replace it any time soon

thank you....

[Iamfreerider]

I took both those bike types and a YZF1000 for a test ride in 2006, once I rode the Sprint (an 02') the choice was real easy.

PS: DMNTD looks happy drinking a wine :corn:

hhhhhhhhhmm I have a few mates that are Triumph nuts, I guess I should take a Sprint for a toodle..

[neels]

thank you....
You're welcome, I wasn't shopping for a Ducati when I bought mine, just a decent sports tourer that me and Mrs both liked being on. Now that I own it, I love it.


hhhhhhhhhmm I have a few mates that are Triumph nuts, I guess I should take a Sprint for a toodle..
Seriously considered this when I was shopping, similar ergonomics and the triples are rather lovely, just couldn't do the price at the time. You probably should try one.

[Winston001]

It's a Ducati thing. If owning a Ducati is special for you, then you won't be disappointed with an ST4S. It is a total motorcycling experience - sports oriented but good for touring.

I had an ST4 (sob) and I loved it to death. Well...almost both of us. :D

The ST4S has the 996 motor and better suspension etc.

If you simply want a touring bike then the suggestions above are solid. If you want a special (modern) bike that stands out from the rest, buy the Ducati.

[Voltaire]

I had an ST4s in Senna Grey. It was sold as a 2004 but in reality was a 2003. The 2004 has the better headlight.
Certainly a nice bike, was going to do the belts and check the valves myself ( I had a 900ssie) but after the mission of taking the fairing off dropped it in to Toby in in Henderson who changed the belts and checked the valves.
Never did any touring on mine, sold it and went back to an air cooled 900 Superlight.
Personally I find modern bikes too lardy for my liking.

[Iamfreerider]

I had an ST4s in Senna Grey. It was sold as a 2004 but in reality was a 2003. The 2004 has the better headlight.
Certainly a nice bike, was going to do the belts and check the valves myself ( I had a 900ssie) but after the mission of taking the fairing off dropped it in to Toby in in Henderson who changed the belts and checked the valves.
Never did any touring on mine, sold it and went back to an air cooled 900 Superlight.
Personally I find modern bikes too lardy for my liking.


Thank you both, I must say that when I found out it had such low miles, the thought of the services made me think...........a lot!

but now the nice job I was told I was inline for has fallen through, so no new bike for me.....................yet

[GrayWolf]

Hitcher and FJrider do have it right....
I ride 'full time' so easily cover 20-30k km's in a year. Had (sitting in my shed waiting for the day I do refurbish it, or sell it) an FJ1200, the old air cooled model. THe FJR1300 engine is the same {but more}, hugely torquey, creamy smooth power delivery, bear in mind the 'busa only RECENTLY equalled the FJR's torque figures, the old air cooled was reknowned as a 'torque meister' in it's day.... the air cooled version was in production still in the XJR 11/12/1300's till very recently, over 20yrs in production, and the FJ itself was literally unchanged in a 15yr production run, just a 100cc capacity increase. Yamaha 'got it right' with the FJ 11/1200's hence it outlasted so many other litre plus bikes in that time, the FJR1300 was definitely it's 'replacement'. the 1300 has a far superior chassis to the old air cooled.
My current bike is very similar in it's power delivery, a CB1300, 50kph in top and roll on the throttle. FJR's etc are not 'sports bikes' and probably the duck will out handle them, but the FJ's are destroyers of continents for average cruising speed, comfort and distance you can 'consume' in a day.....
Another option, and what i'll be using for a 'commuter', is a very 'honest' bike, a Kwaka ZZR1100, a set of bar risers and a touring screen and it's a comfortable intercontinental missile. Hasnt got the low down grunt of the FJ type bikes in top gear roll on, but hit 6k rpm and it is still a formidable weapon. you can pick up some of these older 'uber tourers'/ bike with low K's at very reasonable costs, they are worth a look as well as the 'modern' versions.

[mossy1200]

Hitcher and FJrider do have.............as well as the 'modern' versions.

I don't think he was interested in anything other than buy the ST4 to be honest. Every comment other than ST4 praise was discarded.

[banditrider]

8 years and 126,000km and I'm looking forward to the next 8 years...

315306

[mossy1200]

8 years and 126,000km and I'm looking forward to the next 8 years...



Still looks new. There has been 2 zx14 with the earlier engine like the concours for sale recently. Both 90km and $6.5k. Makes you think they wouldn't be bad buying at that price. Very likely to have a lot more km left in them.

[banditrider]

I don't think I'd worry about the k's either, especially at a good price. Mine has the typical cam chain chatter at start-up but settles down within a couple of seconds. Zero issues since a very early KI-PASS problem and very minimal maintenance. Go out to the shed, wheel it out, hit the button and you're gone. Even still on it's original battery.

[rustys]

The FJR1300 is the best sports touring motorcycle. In. The. World.

Range, economy, performance, handling, stopping, brakes, pillion comfort, hard luggage and options, headlights, tyre choice options, weather protection and pricing: nothing else comes close.

If you want an over-priced, ugly-as, quirkily-unreliable ride, buy a BMW.
If you want a galleon with odd-ball tyres and peculiar hard luggage, buy an ST1300.
If you want a lesser distance range and a too-big standard muffler, buy a Concours.
Too much money, like really old-tech air-cooled engines and like cleaning chrome, buy a Chub-Glide, or a Wide King or whatever they're called.
Want something cheap as chips that will go forever and ask no questions, buy a Bandit and dress it up with the kit you need.

I have to agree with Hitcher, l have a 2005 and would not go past it as one of the best Tourers i have ever had, riden plenty of other makes, but would never go past the FJR.

[AllanB]

Go out to the shed, wheel it out, hit the button and you're gone. Even still on it's original battery.


Yet people still wank on about the good old days of 'real' bikes ........ Thank god for the Japanese dragging the rest of the world into reliability.


Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.

[banditrider]

Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.


That's what I reckon too. The longest the bike goes between rides is about 3 weeks (normally in winter). The one in my V-Strom is possibly as old (unless previous owner did it). It only has 43k on it, previous owner did the first 12. It possibly gets fired up more (I commute on it occasionally, whereas the Connie does no commuting), although more short running...

[Winston001]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

[Ocean1]

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes...

Well, there's two ways to tour.

You can do it comfy, in which case any ol' whale will do.

Or you can do it properly. :yes:

[Voltaire]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

LOL, my wife an I rode a Japanese bike from Saigon to Hanoi last year, 3300kms of utter reliability, man those Honda 150's are a good bike.

[GrayWolf]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

bland and ubiquitous? Never owned an MT-01 have you? There are several HD style bikes that produce the throb/feel. The XS6650? i also had one the 'special', they vibrated like a b'stard, starter motors were 'shyte'. All jap manufacturer's have produced 'bad bikes' over the years, the TX750/500's ring a bell? Honda the late CB500/450 twins, the kwaka triples, the GT125 suzuki?? to name just a few from the early times. BMW seem to be losing their edge, I had an airhead R100-GS 1991, and was a brilliant bike, but I read/hear of a lot of the newer ones with issues.
HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

[Voltaire]

bland and ubiquitous? Never owned an MT-01 have you? There are several HD style bikes that produce the throb/feel. The XS6650? i also had one the 'special', they vibrated like a b'stard, starter motors were 'shyte'. All jap manufacturer's have produced 'bad bikes' over the years, the TX750/500's ring a bell? Honda the late CB500/450 twins, the kwaka triples, the GT125 suzuki?? to name just a few from the early times. BMW seem to be losing their edge, I had an airhead R100-GS 1991, and was a brilliant bike, but I read/hear of a lot of the newer ones with issues.
HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

OMG....I'm a suit wearer now.... don't make me buy a Harley, my Commando will never forgive me :rolleyes:

I worked in London for a while as a Mobile Building Services Technician ( don't ask), and had a brand new Kawasaki z500, that would have to be the most boring bike I have ever ridden. Do have fond memories of my Z1000 and CB 500/4.:niceone:
I only have twins these days, flat, L, V,parallel :banana:
My touring bikes are a BMW R80st and an R90s.

[scumdog]

Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.

'er indoors Sportster is on its second battery from new - and it's a '97 model, I've put the second battery in my '01 Superglides about a year or so back.
I use a battery charger on the bikes every few weeks throughout the winter when the bikes aren't used so much.

OK, off topic I know....:msn-wink:

[scumdog]

HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

Uh, some would say 'Revenue Gatherer, blue suit all week, tatty suit & bike on Sunday' for me!:laugh:

[Swoop]

Ducati Rules.

Is that "you'll soon get acquainted with the electrical and mechanical systems of your bike"... ;)