Is there such a thing as a sports bike that's comfortable for touring?

[sil3nt]

Is that old though? no problems with over heating? What would be the top speed for a bike like that?

Top speed for most 400s is a hair over 200kph.

They will easily do 140. Most 250s will easily do 140!

[bosslady]

Top speed for most 400s is a hair over 200kph.

They will easily do 140. Most 250s will easily do 140!

Best you have a word to my Ginny then, she refuses to go above 120, 140 only happened once!

[sil3nt]

Best you have a word to my Ginny then, she refuses to go above 120, 140 only happened once!

I meant proper 250s.

[bosslady]

I meant proper 250s.

I won't tell Ginny you said that

[FJRider]

Best you have a word to my Ginny then, she refuses to go above 120, 140 only happened once!

Downhill, tail wind and sail up ... ????

[Drew]

what's that? sounds like something out of my licence restrictions and skill level lol

You'll learn real quick...If ya live.

I've been wondering the same thing - after selling my street triple I'd like to track down a sports bike which is somwhat comfortable and can take pillions.

It seems to me the sacrifice from making a full on superbike and adding a comfortable pillion seat and reasonable ride position can't be that huge, but they seem hard to find.

From what I've looked up, I now have my eyes on a ZX9R or a 2002/2003 Honda Fireblade. Some of the later Honda CBR600Fs seem nice as well. Would be very interested to hear people's thoughts on this.

The ZX9 is capable-ish, but heavy and not great. I've toured on one of those too.

The Blade is heavier on the wrists to sit on for longer periods.

K1/2 refers to the year (ie: 2001/2002) GSXR 1000.

'E's onto it.

[pete-blen]

Downhill, tail wind and sail up ... ????

LOL....
in fact they do alright considering they are the first genaration DR250 motor of the early 80s

[tigertim20]

Can't afford me a new bike for quite some time but no harm in researching or asking questions I guess? I like the look of sports bikes but I feel that I will be using it predominantly for touring. Would want to be getting a good amount of ks out of a tank and for the times where I am stuck in Auckland traffic for 1-2 hours (going slower than 1st gear for a lot of that time!) and don't want to lane split, it would need to not shit itself and overheat. I am thinking I will want another bike other than Ginny before I get my full, she's not too bad for the touring we've done so far. But is there such a thing? I would be wanting to get up to a minimum top speed of 140km ish with a fully laden bike I.e. my fat arse, bags and all that. Must be LAMS approved

I didnt read the lams approved bit until the last minute - but plenty of sportsbikes are comfy! I have a K4 gsxr 1000 that is comfy as doing 700km day after day for 3-4 days on end. Also the F series CBR 600's are really comfortable too. Ive done a fair bit of long distance stuff on my R1 as well and found that to be quite comfortable. all of the above will more than satisfy your top speed requirements!

[cheshirecat]

This guy tours around the world on his R1 and there is an American or is he a Canadian, who's been around the word twice on an R1. Reckons you get round faster.

[caspernz]

Boring as this thought might be...run the GN until you've got your full licence and then your choices open up nicely. Oh and by then you'll no doubt have saved a few pennies to spend on a new toy?

That whole new or next bike thingee is even a dilemma for us guys who've been riding for years...I'm suffering that torment right now, and I've got my pennies in the bank to spend on the next bike...

[bosslady]

Boring as this thought might be...run the GN until you've got your full licence and then your choices open up nicely. Oh and by then you'll no doubt have saved a few pennies to spend on a new toy?

That whole new or next bike thingee is even a dilemma for us guys who've been riding for years...I'm suffering that torment right now, and I've got my pennies in the bank to spend on the next bike...

I feel like I should be having a step between what I have now and whatever my full licence, if and when I get it, will allow. Surely almost anything's going to be a great leap from what I have now? Maybe you're right maybe I should wait but my full is 18+ months away?

[Tigadee]

and for the times where I am stuck in Auckland traffic for 1-2 hours (going slower than 1st gear for a lot of that time!) and don't want to lane split, it would need to not shit itself and overheat.

I do encourage you to be open to lane-splitting, especially watch this video. It's not healthy for you or your bike to sit in start-stop traffic or jams.

But is there such a thing? I would be wanting to get up to a minimum top speed of 140km ish with a fully laden bike I.e. my fat arse, bags and all that. Must be LAMS approved.

This may be helpful for you to figure some models which may be comfortable for you.
http://cycle-ergo.com/

IMHO, I think something with standard bars [instead of clip-ons like the RF900 or VFR800 sports tourers] will be more comfortable for both touring and in-town riding. The Sports bike crouch is not friendly on the wrists and back for stop-start town riding. [In fact a cruiser is great for in-town riding, I personally feel, except that for groceries you mostly only have pannier bags for storage options, though some may have a top box but kinda ugly.]

Surely almost anything's going to be a great leap from what I have now?

Yes. But also work on improving your skills and riding confidence first.

[bosslady]

I do encourage you to be open to lane-splitting, especially watch this video. It's not healthy for you or your bike to sit in start-stop traffic or jams.



This may be helpful for you to figure some models which may be comfortable for you.
http://cycle-ergo.com/

IMHO, I think something with standard bars [instead of clip-ons like the RF900 or VFR800 sports tourers] will be more comfortable for both touring and in-town riding. The Sports bike crouch is not friendly on the wrists and back for stop-start town riding. [In fact a cruiser is great for in-town riding, I personally feel, except that for groceries you mostly only have pannier bags for storage options, though some may have a top box but kinda ugly.]



Yes. But also work on improving your skills and riding confidence first.

I'm a bit frightened of lane splitting, was open to it before, then I clipped a car, I may have still been a little open to it if for not all the abuse in that thread and someone wishing a car would cripple me. Lane splitting just seems very scary... I do wish I could do it though... twice in the past week I've taken an extra 1 - 1 1/2 hours to get where I'm going.

[tigertim20]

The Sports bike crouch is not friendly on the wrists and back for stop-start town riding..

Have you ridden sports bikes long distance or for a commute over an extended period of time? I ask because half the people that make that statement are simply regurgitating what they have read elsewhere to the same effect, but havent actually had significant experience on sportbikes in those circumstances themselves. (not jumping down your throat, just asking)
Any bike requires a feeling out process, to get used to its ergonomics, quirks etc, whether its a cruiser, dual purpose or sportsbike, after that feeling out process and you are used to how they feel to ride, they can be totally comfortable!

[Glowerss]

I feel like I should be having a step between what I have now and whatever my full licence, if and when I get it, will allow. Surely almost anything's going to be a great leap from what I have now? Maybe you're right maybe I should wait but my full is 18+ months away?

Depending on what kind of bike you go for, most bikes will be upwards of 2-3x more powerful then even the mostestest powerfullest of the LAMS bikes. A "step up" bike won't really prepare you for some of the sheer lunacy that some of the bikes out there can offer.

That being said, you'll probably end up with a bike other then your ginny simply because 2 years on a ginny is a long time A step up bike won't necessarily help when it comes time for your full, but it will make the wait a fair bit nicer

If you're looking for lams bikes that are more sportyish/touringish (nothing really will be thats LAMS approved but nevermind) things like Kwacka ZZR400/ER5, Suzuki GS500 are fairly good.

RVF400s and FZR400s are more "sport" then anything else, and far quicker then anything else on lams, but you'd have to sit on em to see if they're comfortable for you or not.