New Zealand's 'perfect bike'?

[Tank]

Question for all - Ive been searching around for information on bikes looking for the next upgrade.

One of Hitchers post got me interested in the Suzuki V-Strom 1000.

What I'm looking for is a do-everything type bike.

• Good handling and reasonable power / speed so I can enjoy a bit of wrist down now and then.
• Comfortable riding for long treks, possibly taking it to o'seas for real long trips
• Ability to take 2 up for a long period (I'm taking my 11yo son with me camping etc)
• Be able to get to most places - although I'm not taking 'really off road'
• OK for commuting around town
• Value for money - the purchase price is not that important - but I don't want to pay double for a BMW that's only 5% "better"

In short - I'm intending of seeing 'a lot of NZ' - what would be the best bike to do this on (and why). I'm also hoping to do a couple of 'decent' overseas rides where Id ship the bike also - although that is later down the line.

Comments / debate appreciated:

[MIXONE]

The previous model of the triumph tiger.Fits perfectly.

[Badcat]

BUELL ULYSSES
cheap to maintain (harley 2v pushrod vtwin)
great on gas (excellent EFI)
BRILLIANT 2 up (and changing all suspension settings for 2 up is a 5 minute job)
great handling
parts are cheap ( i just bought an entire new seat from AMPS $230)
and it looks badass..

test ride one (but make sure the suspension is set up for your weight) -it's all in the manual

ken

[Big Dave]

BD Strom Rating:

Good, versatile, cheap, capable. Excellent all-rounder and possibly the butt-ugliest looking motorcycle available in 2009.

[Jantar]

When the Vstoms first came out I dismissed them as an ugly bike that didn't know what it wanted to be. Then on the 2005 Southern Cross I saw just how well they performed on all surfaces, and soon decided to try one for myself. (see http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12630 )

I have found the VStrom to be a very comfortable long distance tourer, capable of handling any roads and with adequate performance. 2 up with full luggage is no problem, and it has good handling. In fact, the handling in the twisties is better than on many sports bikes.

It is slightly on the thirsty side, and only averages 16 km/l, but that still allows an easy 320 km between fills on trips. I have had up to 18 km/l on steady sealed roads, and down to 12 km/l when slogging over back country tracks.

Overall, its the best all round bike I've ever owned. Its not perfect in any single respect, it just does everything well.

[martybabe]

BD Strom Rating:

Good, versatile, cheap, capable. Excellent all-rounder and possibly the butt-ugliest looking motorcycle available in 2009.

I'm with BD here, I don't think you could do better than the Vstrom, It ticks everyone of your boxes and you can get em with factory panniers. You could travel the world on that mate, at a bargain price.

The only, downside is, It's so functional, it kinda got missed out on the good looks category. Excellent bike though and if it gets the work your proposing, It'll be covered in shite most of the time, so who needs pretty. Oh and there might be a slight question mark on the durability of the finish but if you keep on top of it I think your quids in over a beemer.

Not knocking the wonderful GS but ya can get nearly two Vstroms for the money.

[Reckless]

The Honda VFR might be a contender here! Damn comfy tourer, Good 2 up, good commuter and I have a mate or two that can push them quite capably through the twisties, they ain't that slow when its demanded of them!

Just a suggestion if you like that style of bike!

[Forest]

You're basically describing the BMW GS series bikes. But I guess you already know this.

If price is an issue than buy a used one.

[Tank]

The previous model of the triumph tiger.Fits perfectly.

Only thing that worries me about that (although I admit to being uneducated about this) is the price and availability of parts. Is this still the case (I dont want to end up like my work mate who had to wait 9 months for KTM parts)

BUELL ULYSSES
cheap to maintain (harley 2v pushrod vtwin)
great on gas (excellent EFI)
BRILLIANT 2 up (and changing all suspension settings for 2 up is a 5 minute job)
great handling
parts are cheap ( i just bought an entire new seat from AMPS $230)
and it looks badass..

test ride one (but make sure the suspension is set up for your weight) -it's all in the manual

ken

The Buell always worried me about reliability and was never on my list (Id hate to get stuck at Milford or someplace with a Loooong hike to the nearest Buell dealer. Ill do some reading on it and try to get a better idea - as I know 2/10ths of nothing about them. Ill head down to AMPS Saturday and have a look-see - Ill let you know what I think - looks a nice bike tho'

The Honda VFR might be a contender here! Damn comfy tourer, Good 2 up, good commuter and I have a mate or two that can push them quite capably through the twisties, they ain't that slow when its demanded of them!

Just a suggestion if you like that style of bike!

Looks nice for the road - but I intend to do a fair bit of gravel roading as well - it just doesn't look like the bike for me (thanks for the comments tho')

BD Strom Rating:

Good, versatile, cheap, capable. Excellent all-rounder and possibly the butt-ugliest looking motorcycle available in 2009.

As someone who has ridden more bikes than most - is there anything you would buy in its place if you had the same set of criteria?

[James Deuce]

BUELL ULYSSES
cheap to maintain (harley 2v pushrod vtwin)
great on gas (excellent EFI)
BRILLIANT 2 up (and changing all suspension settings for 2 up is a 5 minute job)
great handling
parts are cheap ( i just bought an entire new seat from AMPS $230)
and it looks badass..

test ride one (but make sure the suspension is set up for your weight) -it's all in the manual

ken

Or, if you are as vertically challenged as me, try the new T model. It's a Ulysses with the suspension travel of the TT (or thereabouts) and all the touring fruit of the Uly.

[Tank]

You're basically describing the BMW GS series bikes. But I guess you already know this.

If price is an issue than buy a used one.

Ive had a look-see at them - money isn't the end all and be all - but I'm more interested in getting value for money.

The big GS is iro twice the price - is it twice as good?

A secondhand one makes the value proposition better - but I always wonder what the previous owners did with them.

[Badcat]

The Buell always worried me about reliability and was never on my list (Id hate to get stuck at Milford or someplace with a Loooong hike to the nearest Buell dealer. Ill do some reading on it and try to get a better idea - as I know 2/10ths of nothing about them. Ill head down to AMPS Saturday and have a look-see - Ill let you know what I think - looks a nice bike tho'

the buell is a pretty low-tech motor - harley have been making the sportster 1200 for a while now so i don't worry about it's reliability. i suppose the EFI is new, but mine's been sweet - ask BD about his uly's reliability - his has a lot more Ks on it than mine.

k

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

My vote would go for the GSX 1400 a good all rounder in every respect except off road!! Big , comfortable, powerful, cheap to maintain and good looking. Get in quick they stopping or have stopped making them. You can get a new one for less than $13,000.

[Badcat]

Or, if you are as vertically challenged as me, try the new T model. It's a Ulysses with the suspension travel of the TT (or thereabouts) and all the touring fruit of the Uly.

good point.
i have a spare lower seat (new '07 seat) for a ULY if anyone in auckland wants to lower the position a little. i'm 6'2 and find the original high seat great - less knee cramp.

k

[Big Dave]

Bugger - I take some of that back too. They have improved the appearance.
Gave Aprilias an aesthetic rocket the other day and they have fixed all that coat-of-many-colours stuff as well.

Tank - Personal taste mate. I'd look at a Tiger and several others too.