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

[ducatilover]

Have you ridden one ??? I wil concede theLAMS one is expensive ... but none of mine feel like a "heavy fuckin whale of a thing".

I have.
Nice beige bike, do everything nicely and I agree on long distance, they're fuckin comfy.
I'd prefer something a wee bit more flickable myself


Sent from the future

[Glowerss]

Have you ridden one ??? I wil concede theLAMS one is expensive ... but none of mine feel like a "heavy fuckin whale of a thing".

Yeah, I had a go on one of the LAMS approved ones when they came out. It's sort of OK once you get moving, it carriers its weight well once you're moving. But low speed stuff I wouldn't want to live with it as a daily commuter or whatever.

Could just be I'm used to far lighter bikes, none of my bikes have been over sort of the 190kg wet mark.

The 650 shares basically all of the same structure/frame ect as the 1250, but with far less power behind it. A lot people who have ridden the unrestricted 650 complained that it didn't feel particularly quick because of that fact. The LAMS version is further restricted down from that.

Thing had much more torque then my 250, but it didn't really feel like it.

I'll be the first to admit, however, that this is all touchy feely stuff and your mileage may vary

[EJK]

ZX10 is good for long distance touring (with a crampbuster).

Forget about taking any luggage however.

[Coldrider]

I found he ZX9R C1 to be a really comfortable touring bike as was the ZZR600. Both were my daily commute, the ZX9R also toured me from the UK to Monza in Italy got thrashed at Monza race track and then ridden home agin. My wide preferred the zzr600 for pillion comfort.

The SV650S, though not an out and out sports bikes will commute well, carry loads of luggage and is quite fun through the twisties and on the race track.

+1 for the ZX9R C1, done 8 or 9 Brass's from central north island, a burt or two, many times 1000k days, and a couple of trips to the local dairy, oh, and i still have it parked next to my blade.

[Mully Clown]

I've heard people talk about the Hyosung GT250R as being a learner bike suitable touring (400k tank). Though I'm not sure whether it's wise to buy a 250 with new LAMS laws in place. Or a Hyosung in general.

[bosslady]

Not being funny, if the frame size is OK for you? Try a later model GS500 with the factory fairing, it's LAM's legal, not overly heavy, mild power delivery,, Will top the imperial ton comfortably = cruise at 100-110k's all day. Has a well proven engine, plenty of them out there.......
The Suzook 500 twins over the decades have served a lot of people well for a regular bike (commuter/tourer)

How do you mean? the frame of the bike I have now?

[FJRider]

How do you mean? the frame of the bike I have now?

He means frame/ seat height ... I think. Some bikes are a bit tall without a few modifications to lower them.

Tippy-toe when you are stopped is not a good feeling if you aren't used to it.

[FJRider]

Though I'm not sure whether it's wise to buy a 250 with new LAMS laws in place. Or a Hyosung in general.

Replacing a 250 with another 250 does seem silly to me. Newer/faster/more power ... still a 250 ..

[bosslady]

He means frame/ seat height ... I think. Some bikes are a bit tall without a few modifications to lower them.

Tippy-toe when you are stopped is not a good feeling if you aren't used to it.

Oh I don't know, no problem with the Ginny but that's normal. 173cm tall I think, longish legs and big feet lol so maybe my choices aren't as limited as they are for some women but I've not sat on many bikes so I don't know

[FJRider]

Oh I don't know, no problem with the Ginny but that's normal. 173cm tall I think, longish legs and big feet lol so maybe my choices aren't as limited as they are for some women but I've not sat on many bikes so I don't know

I'd offer to measure you inside leg to check ... but it's a bit difficult from here ...

However ... it always pays to chuck a leg over a bike of the same model .. you are thinking of getting. Just to make sure ...

[CRM]

Sports bikes are over-rated . Unless you want to do track days and get speeding tickets and spend heaps on tyres and chains and gas and repairs. No fun to ride slow at all.

What I'm really trying to say is if you are going touring get something thats more upright, gets better mileage has a comfy seat, has a bit more weight (can be a good thing in wind) and has some decent protection from the elements.

Something like that that is LAMS and a reasonable price?
This Honda NTV with a screen added: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-567615310.htm
BMW Scarver - decent seat height: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-567176574.htm
Another nice beemer set up for distance: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-570485346.htm
Lots of Pegasos around at present - similar to the beemer but maybe higher seat than the scarver: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-565013898.htm
Another Honda - 400 Bros these are great solid little bikes - needs a screen though: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-569186591.htm
This 650 Bros looks like a deal: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-561084394.htm
And has been mentioned a GS500F - this one with full fairing: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-561025896.htm nice

That's the kind of thing I'd be looking at...

[Tigadee]

The Honda Bros 400 is a great bike! I almost bought one (if only the owner could have waited two days for me to get the money together!) but it was snapped up the next day after it got listed! I test rode it and it was a pleasure to ride - surprisingly comfortable and plenty of oomph. That one had cafe racer pipes too and sounded awesome!

If you decide to get one, Bosslady, you won't regret it!

[Banditbandit]

I have.
Nice beige bike, do everything nicely and I agree on long distance, they're fuckin comfy.
I'd prefer something a wee bit more flickable myself

Beige huh ??? MY first reaction was annoyance ... but I can see why you would think that ... for me the 650 is the most fun daily commute bike I've every had ... it's also the first four I've every owned - previously had singles and twins only ... (So I don't have any comparison with other fours) If you are a real sports bike rider (and real applies to rider not bike) then yes, the 650 would feel slow ... and beige ..

When I got it I lived 55 ks from town - so I needed reliable transport - (too far to a mechanic if somethign doesn't work) ... and it just runs ... starts every day - runs no hassles .. anything else is a bonus ... and there is quite a lot of bonus with the 650 ... the 55k trip (on a twisty Hawke's Bay back-country road) to town took my 28 minutes ... (and many rear tyres chewed to hell after 3000 ks ...)

Yeah, I had a go on one of the LAMS approved ones when they came out. It's sort of OK once you get moving, it carriers its weight well once you're moving. But low speed stuff I wouldn't want to live with it as a daily commuter or whatever.

Yeah - a LAMS version is likely to be under powered ... Mine is a daily commute bike .. but then, it's not the LAMS version ... But I have also heard similar comments from others ... the thing is to keep the revs up ... around town I would never be more than third gear ... more usually second ... the trick is to balance them on the throttle - and you need revs to do that .. they do counter-steer well .. but having the higher revs in corners is more important ... and they pull out of corners well if you open the throttle and power out - quickly pulls the bike upright ... It took me a few ks to work out how to ride a Bandit - but wen I got it I found them stunning bikes ..

Could just be I'm used to far lighter bikes, none of my bikes have been over sort of the 190kg wet mark.

The 650 shares basically all of the same structure/frame ect as the 1250, but with far less power behind it. A lot people who have ridden the unrestricted 650 complained that it didn't feel particularly quick because of that fact. The LAMS version is further restricted down from that.

I have a carbed and oil-cooled 650 and the injected liquid-cooled 1250 ... they are different bikes ... even if they look the same ... peak horsepower on the 650 is at 9,500 revs .. which is the red line on the 1250 .. you do need to get the revs up on the 650 to really make it boogie ... under 6,000 revs it is quite slow ... In top gear at 9,500 revs (peak horsepower) the bike is doing around 175-180klicks ... so if you open the throttle it takes off like a missle ... at 100klicks I bang it down two gears to pass other vehicles ... and leave it in fourth till about 140 klicks ... even then it's a long way off the red line ... I once used the red line in second gear ... the car I was passing went backwards so fast and the corner came up so fast ... the moment was a blurr until I back off the throttle ..

The 1250 is much more low down power ... and of course has more power on tap ... All the 1250 owners I know are serious long-distance riders ... its what the bikes are best at ... but they are fun and will upset many sports bike riders ... who don't think Bandits are as fast as they actually are ... and the sweet spot is around 180 klicks ... where they will sit and purr all day ... (or at least until the popo see you ...) don't even think about cruising at 100 klicks in top ... the bike just does not like it ...

Thing had much more torque then my 250, but it didn't really feel like it.

I've heard this from other people too - the bikes are quite deceptive ... the lack of sound and the lack of vibrations is part of that .. I chased an SV1000 across the Napier-Taupo road with my 650 - he was doing around 190-200 klicks and when we got to Taupo he was surprised I was only on a 650 - he thought it was a 1200 (and he was pissed that I kept up so easily - but that was more about his riding ability - or lack of it - than mine ... ) You also have to use the revs ... otherwise the 650s just plod ...

I'll be the first to admit, however, that this is all touchy feely stuff and your mileage may vary

Each to his own ... I'd recommend the Bandits or the TNAB as Hitcher calls the new versions .. to anyone ... once you've got the hang of them they are just fucking fun ...

[ducatilover]

Beige huh ??? MY first reaction was annoyance ... but I can see why you would think that ... for me the 650 is the most fun daily commute bike I've every had ... it's also the first four I've every owned - previously had singles and twins only ... (So I don't have any comparison with other fours) If you are a real sports bike rider (and real applies to rider not bike) then yes, the 650 would feel slow ... and beige ..

When I got it I lived 55 ks from town - so I needed reliable transport - (too far to a mechanic if somethign doesn't work) ... and it just runs ... starts every day - runs no hassles .. anything else is a bonus ... and there is quite a lot of bonus with the 650 ... the 55k trip (on a twisty Hawke's Bay back-country road) to town took my 28 minutes ... (and many rear tyres chewed to hell after 3000 ks ...)

Remember beige isn't always bad my CB400 was far more beige than a Bandit to ride, but was the best bike I've owned.
I would recommend the Bandit to anyone looking at doing proper distances, or somebody who doesn't want the sportier edge of a Hornet. They are a fucking good bike and second hand B6s and B12s are very, very good value.
I'd own one as a commuter, and long trips bike.

[silver_duck]

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

Yes,

It's called a Ducati ST (Sport Tourer) - and it even comes with it's own luggage system.

But you'll have to wait until you have a full license.