The Ultimate Country Tourer?

**Devil** · 2nd December 2010, 16:50

Originally Posted by Ocean1

OK, OK, I exagerated slightly.

XB12X is 192.8Kg, add 16.5 litres of fuell and 2.3 litres of oil and you get about 206Kg.

A mere 60mumble Kg lighter then.
.

Buell quote that the XB12X is 225-230kg wet.
You're missing the battery, coolant, brake fluid and whatever else they decided to leave off the bike at the time. Possibly tyres too.
Which makes it pretty much the same as the standard GS as I said.

**Hinny** · 12th December 2010, 07:28

Similar thread.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-GS-or-R/page2

**terbang** · 12th December 2010, 08:05

Well its got to be a big dualsport (adventure) bike. My Cagiva Navigator ticks most of the boxes easily except only 20L fuel.
I often ride in company with a KTM 990 adventure, its as ugly as sin, but probably ticks all of the boxes.

**pritch** · 13th December 2010, 16:02

I don’t really want to go off-road so I’m more interested in a road bike. I used to take the K100RS up dirt roads to trout pools and that’d be about the extent of my off-road ambitions.

The big tourers are so much more comfortable over bumps than the smaller sport tourers like the VFR, but we can work on that to some extent.

One KBer rates the Street Triple as a mile muncher and has done the miles to back that up, and I’m sure the Hornet 600 could do a turn too. Although some sort of screen would be nice for longer trips.

First thing I look at on a spec sheet is the tank size. This can be misleading though, some of the 800 BMWs have a 15L tank but they have exceptional fuel economy and should still do 300Ks to a tank. That should be enough for NZ conditions, we aren’t exactly crossing the former Soviet Union.

My S4R has a 15L tank but Alas! it doesn’t have BMW fuel economy.

Next thing is seat height. I never thought of myself as a short arse but the tall rounders and the entire KTM range would probably make manoeuvring on rough ground difficult. So the second thing I usually look at is seat height.

A spec sheet that shows tyre sizes 120/70 and 180/55 x 17 gladdens the heart and allows a great choice of rubber.

Having a set of Givi V35 boxes and inner bags here it’d be nice to find a bike that takes them but the only one I’ve seen so far is the Hornet.

The Tiger 800 looks nice and not too tall but the panniers add about another $1800 to whatever the price will be. Normally the price isn’t too important but I want to have the house rewired before winter comes around again.

A Ventura rack is gaining appeal. Not as elegant as leaving the hard panniers on the bike and walking into a hotel with two soft bags but…

So far the bikes on my list are a diverse lot: F800R, Aprilia Shiver GT, CB1000R,
Street Triple or Tiger 800, or thinking big the CB1300S. If I could stretch to a bit more cash the Kawasaki Z1000SX would be a starter as would the Triumph Sprint. Of course the CBF1000F would do it for me but as written elsewhere Blue Wing don’t bring it in.

The list will likely get longer before it gets shorter.

**Edbear** · 13th December 2010, 16:32

Yup, and if you can do the rounds and ride as many bikes as possible you may even find the one for you....

or you'll just confuse yourself even more!

**martybabe** · 13th December 2010, 16:40

Originally Posted by pritch

Of course the CBF1000F would do it for me but as written elsewhere Blue Wing don’t bring it in.

.

That's a damn shame I knew a fella on Jersey that swapped his VFR for a CBF1000f and couldn't get his head round how much better the CBF was. A brilliant package by all accounts. Do they not do grey imports in NZ?

**pritch** · 13th December 2010, 21:20

BIKE recently tested the new CBF1000F, they said it is quite a lot more expensive than the old one but not *that* much better. The new one is a bit better looking though. They recommended checking dealers for old stock.

Chance'd be a fine thing.

**insane1** · 8th January 2011, 14:13

dont shoot the big burgers till you have ridden one for a while mines on 60,000kms in nearly 3 years gone everywhere and on every surface try one you might just be suprised.