V twin Sport Tourers

[ZX12R Hoon]

I'm thinking about a Vtwin and the dear ol' VTR1000 Honda pops into my tiny brain but I have a problem with the short range, carby fed fuel thing. Does onyone know if Honda are planning an upgrade? Whats the better alternative, bearing in mind that I'm not interested in the TL1000 with the self destructing rear frame problems. I've also had a SV1000 out and found it a bit tame. Cheers!!!
PS. If I'm to buy a Vtwin I'm going to have to sell the ZX12R, anyone interested?? Bearing in mind I'm only thinking about it.

[T.W.R]

if your looking at sports-touring V-twins what about a Ducati ST4s or Aprilia Futura ? they are proper sports-tourers

[WRT]

Speaking of those two . . . this review (http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mccompare/touring/01st4rst.motml) is from 2001, but might help give you some insight.

[vifferman]

The later VTRs (post-2001, I think) had a bigger tank and therefore longer range, but still not huge.
Alternatives are the Ducati ST2/ST3/ST4, or the Aprilia Futura, or a Guzzi, or maybe the SV1000.

[cowpoos]

I'm thinking about a Vtwin and the dear ol' VTR1000 Honda pops into my tiny brain but I have a problem with the short range, carby fed fuel thing. Does onyone know if Honda are planning an upgrade? Whats the better alternative, bearing in mind that I'm not interested in the TL1000 with the self destructing rear frame problems. I've also had a SV1000 out and found it a bit tame. Cheers!!!
PS. If I'm to buy a Vtwin I'm going to have to sell the ZX12R, anyone interested?? Bearing in mind I'm only thinking about it.


LMAO....tl1000 are not in anyway a sports tourer....and rear frame and headstock cracks etc are very rare and are caused by very abusive riding...
But yeah....if u want a sports tourer...don't buy a TL

[rogson]

You say you find the SV1000 tame and coming off a ZX12R I can understand why. You are going to find it hard to find something that will satisfy you among the current V-twins. Maybe you should wait for this:
http://www.motomorini.com/lemoto_corsaro.asp

[ScumKiller2]

The SV and the VTR are in a different ballpark to the Dukes/Aprillia/Guzzi when it comes to the price! I've ridden both and liked the VTR more - it felt more refined than the SV, but I guess that's a Honda thing (like it or loath it).

Honda are selling '05 vtr's very cheap at the moment ($12,500ish). Not sure what the craic is with the models but it seems this bikes current model gets released late in the year....

I've been trying to work out what Honda are going to do, and it is my understanding that there will be an '06 model (from a reliable source but i take no responsibility for innaccuraccies) ie. it won't be discontinued. My guess is that the vtr will get fuel injection soon, but who knows about tank range. Unless they turn it into a tourer aka the concept bike that was recently released... http://world.honda.com/news/2005/2051019_1.html

Confused? I am...... :blink:

[juzzer]

Get an SP...i get 150km outta a tank of juice :)

[WRT]

I found the SV's "tame" too, and I've never ridden a ZX12R. They just never get that final shove in the pants that the TLR's did (dunno about the TLS's, never rode one). It starts pulling from low'ish revs, and the rev's keep building, but it never seems to get to a "proper" powerband. Still quick, and a lot of fun to ride, I really (as in really really) enjoyed cruising round on the '04 I had on loan for 24 hours. But it just never eemed to "get there" power wise.

And this was the one major reason why I didnt buy one.

[DEATH_INC.]

What about the Tuorno (or whatever it is)Aprilia or the KTM ?
Everything will feel tame after the 12....

[SPman]

Aprilia Falco - very underrated!

[marty]

yeah the tuono is cool - basically a RSVR with MX bars and lots of carbon fibre. heaps cooler than a KTM duke, great suspension and brakes. the falco is ok, but it's quite big feeling, and is quite a stretch. i rode all of the above before settling on the TL - was more a financial thing at the time - i would have gone for ther tuono if i could have afforded it.

[shadow]

yeah the tuono is cool - basically a RSVR with MX bars and lots of carbon fibre. heaps cooler than a KTM duke, great suspension and brakes. the falco is ok, but it's quite big feeling, and is quite a stretch. i rode all of the above before settling on the TL - was more a financial thing at the time - i would have gone for ther tuono if i could have afforded it.


carbon fibre tuono you must be talking about the one that is dont quote me $32g it would want to be way cooler. or are you talking about the cheep one which dosnt come with all the hot parts. KTMS RULE why test exotic bikes when you only have beer pockets no wonder serious buyer cant get test rides(except 1 the tuono and it was fun but no where near as good as ktm)

[marty]

pardon? i'll test what ever i want. i had the $$$, but decided at the time i didn't want to have $20k in a bike - so i bought the TL and a boat. rode the ktm while looking at upgrading the TL, but settled on the busa. i'm pretty sure that cost more than beer money. and i didn't like the ktm fairing set-up. thought it was ghey. it went ok though

[ducatilover]

if your looking at sports-touring V-twins what about a Ducati ST4s or Aprilia Futura ? they are proper sports-tourers
thats the way:yes:

[T.W.R]

here is a spec chart from Performance Bikes (UK) december 02'
the ducati ST4S, Aprilia Futura, VFR 800.

but the reality is though, with you having been punting a ZX12R around you'll get bored with them fairly quickly, if your only looking for a more comfortable touring mount for you & the missus why not consider a ZZR1200 ? its just the same motor as your used too but with a beefed up bottom end & mid range & probably 8/10 of the ZX12Rs top end ( which you'll miss if you get on to a V-twin)

[gav]

How about a Honda VFR800? :2thumbsup

[cowpoos]

here is a spec chart from Performance Bikes (UK) december 02'
the ducati ST4S, Aprilia Futura, VFR 800.

but the reality is though, with you having been punting a ZX12R around you'll get bored with them fairly quickly, if your only looking for a more comfortable touring mount for you & the missus why not consider a ZZR1200 ? its just the same motor as your used too but with a beefed up bottom end & mid range & probably 8/10 of the ZX12Rs top end ( which you'll miss if you get on to a V-twin)

from mt understanding I was sure the zzr and the zx12 were two different motors?

[ZX12R Hoon]

Is that because it's not worth mentioning or...? I had a look at one today, bit strange looking but it sounds an interesting package. Anyone tried one?

[ZX12R Hoon]

Jeez mate, don't let my missus hear you say that, she rides her own CBR600FX

[T.W.R]

from mt understanding I was sure the zzr and the zx12 were two different motors?

yeah guaranteed they are in design & specs but christ when your talking about a modern 1200cc bike engine whos going to pick holes all that can be said is the ZX12R is a short stroke engine & the ZZR1200 is longer stroke :
83 x 55.4 (ZX) compared to 79 x 59.4 (ZZR)

ZZR1200: 1164cc, 112kw@9800, 124nm@8200
ZX12R : 1198cc, 131kw@10500, 134nm@7500

both of them are capable of creating a time/space vacuum. its just the ZZR is comfy & the engine is a gem, in a comparo test between it, a ST1300a, K1200gt, FJR1300 it dicked those bikes easily!

[jonbuoy]

Yeah I gota 2000 VTR1000 nice bike , its flawed as a tourer though - no decent bungy points, poor tank range - start looking at 140km's. Also had soggy front end (sorted with hyperpro spring kit though!). Personally I like the fact its got carbs - not much to go wrong. I have seen in some of the mags they are hinting at a new VTR, wouldn't take much to make it great bike instead of an OK bike. They shoulda done a proper job in the first place - a way better looking bike than a TL - fairing wise.

[gav]

The Honda VTR1000 is being phased out, there is no 2006 model. Another option could be the 3 cylinder Triumph Sprint?

[Scouse]

I'm thinking about a Vtwin and the dear ol' VTR1000 Honda pops into my tiny brain but I have a problem with the short range, carby fed fuel thing. Does onyone know if Honda are planning an upgrade? Whats the better alternative, bearing in mind that I'm not interested in the TL1000 with the self destructing rear frame problems. I've also had a SV1000 out and found it a bit tame. Cheers!!!
PS. If I'm to buy a Vtwin I'm going to have to sell the ZX12R, anyone interested?? Bearing in mind I'm only thinking about it.

what year is you ZX12R and what sort of price are you askin

[Scouse]

yeah guaranteed they are in design & specs but christ when your talking about a modern 1200cc bike engine whos going to pick holes all that can be said is the ZX12R is a short stroke engine & the ZZR1200 is longer stroke :
83 x 55.4 (ZX) compared to 79 x 59.4 (ZZR)

ZZR1200: 1164cc, 112kw@9800, 124nm@8200
ZX12R : 1198cc, 131kw@10500, 134nm@7500

both of them are capable of creating a time/space vacuum. its just the ZZR is comfy & the engine is a gem, in a comparo test between it, a ST1300a, K1200gt, FJR1300 it dicked those bikes easily!

Infact the ZZR12 is the same engin as the ZRX12R but with more power and torque. unlike the ZX12 both the ZZR12 and the ZRX12 are carburated

[TLDV8]

I'm thinking about a Vtwin... bearing in mind that I'm not interested in the TL1000 with the self destructing rear frame problems.

If you mean the TLS,the rear cracking is blown a little out of proportion..it can happen on some bikes if the rear damper bolts come loose and they are left that way...the top one can shear or the tip of the mount can crack,you can see in the pic the uneven marks left by the damper...some bikes came from the factory with a tolerance issue between the damper width and the gap it was fitting in to,some were a loose fit which could lead to the above happening if it was ignored,i have had 2 TLS's neither have cracked.It is an ok tourer,seat gets a little hard around the 600 km mark.You either like or hate them,like any bike..they can do with tuning in the suspension department..fuel range is around 190 kms before the first light..210 to a solid light,thrash them and mileage will drop to maybe 160 kms.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Crack.jpg

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/YL8.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[pritch]

VFR800's are about the same hp as the VTR, + they are injected, highly advanced bikes.

Very advanced service costs too. The standard charge for at least one of the services is approx $2,500.

[Fatjim]

Yeah I gota 2000 VTR1000 nice bike , its flawed as a tourer though - no decent bungy points, poor tank range - start looking at 140km's. Also had soggy front end (sorted with hyperpro spring kit though!). Personally I like the fact its got carbs - not much to go wrong. I have seen in some of the mags they are hinting at a new VTR, wouldn't take much to make it great bike instead of an OK bike. They shoulda done a proper job in the first place - a way better looking bike than a TL - fairing wise.

I have an 03 VTR. I get around 240k's per tank on 96 on the daily commute. I'm thinking of a new one, but getting the forks & brakes sorted before delivery.

As a tourer, you'll need some extras, like grabrails if the missus is coming, and packrack.

What the VTR needs for '06.
Decent suspension parts.
Underseat/high level zorsts. (removableish baffles)
Better brakes.
A true 19l tank.
restyled fairings, including a higher sheild for us tall blokes,and a factory option for a lower fairing.
Better Cam chain Tensioners.