What's the most reliable tour bike?

[gunnyrob]

It almost pains me to say it but the most comfortable bike I ever owned was a BMW, I'm talking dismounting after 600k and still being able to walk, I know of nothing better for mile eating comfort.

Shaft drive...BMW

Longevity and build quality...BMW

Reliability...BMW always scores very high but to be fair so do many other manufacturers.

If I was in your situation I would be looking at a BMW RS Boxer thing, not the most desirable of bikes, imo, but bloody bloody good for what you want.

I'm not even a big Beemer fan but I know a good machine when I see one, you asked what would suit and I think that ticks every box.

Good luck.

The Beemers' bloody fantastic, but I have had one major drama (See gunnyrob's beemer breaks again).

If you get an ex-rental like I did, you pretty much pay your money & take your chances. I have now since got AA Plus (the recovery service)

Most modern bikes are very reliable, though I wouldn't go Chinese for quite some time. Like any bike, if you're about to go on a South Island Tour, do some preventative maintenance first. (check oil, suspension, chain tension {a big one} tyres & pressures lights etc)

[Jantar]

I know the roads around Middlemarch, and the type of riding required would not suit the big tourers like Honda STs or the Concourse. I would stay away from anything fully faired and go with something semi faired if you intend to do any winter riding, or naked if most of your riding will be in the summer. Talk to the guys at M&V or Otago Honda and see if they'll let you take a bike or two for a test ride in your own area. Try it up the George King memorial road, then back down the highway. You'll soon see what bike types suit you best.

[Maha]

Yeah, I like the Honda ST1300 but i've read complaints about the amount of heat it gives off especially in summer. Otago gets very hot during the summer!

I don't think the smaller bikes will do since there are high winds almost every day in Otago (60k plus.....riding my GN has adapted me to riding in hurricanes at highway speeds!) plus my wife and luggage and 100 kpm over hills dictate more power. I like the R series BMW's and my wife likes the 'Cruisers' (although she bases bikes on looks only). For me reliabilty is the big concern as I'm 100k from any garage.

You need a big naked....XJR/ZXR/GSX/CB.....have a look at the CB1300 in my profile...Just done a 2000+Km tour, two up and packed. Handled the job primo and dont worry about the heat, thats one of the great things about nakeds, plenty of air flow. Cheap as shit brand new, I paid less than $14k for mine, ride away.

[Pedrostt500]

I ve just sold a BMW K100 RT it was very comfortable, even for a 24 yr old bike, I'm currently considering a Suzuki GSF 1200, though if my budget would streatch far enough a new GSF 1250 would be a definite, though I also like the looks of the GSX 1400.
Reliability and modern bikes is realy about keeping the servicing up to date, and regular maintenance, and also how a bike is used and abused.
Shaft drive verse Chain drive, shaft drive systems do require some maintenance, though as stated above good high quality chain and sprockets that are cleaned and lubed regurly will give many thousands of kilometeres of service.
What I would consider in your case being so far from bike shops is a bike that you can do your own service and maintenance on, and nothing to complicated that requires a service tech and service diagnostic computer to do basic maintenance work, wich may be the case with some of the high end European bikes.

[pritch]

You need a big naked....XJR/ZXR/GSX/CB.....have a look at the CB1300 in my profile...

The 900 Hornet is cheaper and I'm told has better pillion accomodation (lower pegs) than the 1300.

I don't know the roads around Middlemarch (yet :-) but an earlier post suggested big tourers weren't suitable so perhaps something like a Transalp do the job.

Marty commented on the comfort of BMWs and I'll second that. They used to be the only bike on which "you could do 1000k and still feel like dancing."

There's a lotta choices, have fun test riding but when it comes to BMWs don't just go for a ride around the block. They are a bit "different" and you need a decent ride to get the feel...

[Snails pace]

thanks Tank,
but aren't the shaft drives more reliable and no maitenence? What makes it less better than the 1000 version you currently ride?

650 vstrom you can't go wrong. 70,000k so far and still counting. New tires, brake pads, oil changes and she keeps going. Sticking to the speed limit and you can expect round 450km from a tank of gas. Cruising over 130kph and expect closer to 350k. Comfortable to ride (longest day 1250km), you can load the girl down and still she is happy. 2 up she is happy enough.

[Tank]

thanks Tank,
but aren't the shaft drives more reliable and no maitenence? What makes it less better than the 1000 version you currently ride?

Chains last a long time with basic maintainance, and when things go wrong they are a lot cheaper to fix than a shafty.

What makes the 650 less better than the 1000 I ride? - nothing. In fact I think it may be a better bike (its lighter and slightly lower). I was looking for a 650 but got the deal of the year with the 1000 - so the decision was totally financial.

The 650 is a bloody good bike - people have ridden right across the globe on one (I will see if I can find the link)

[slimjim]

yea..try before you buy..however as all things will break one day..its how you treat it that matters.and really between shaft...quieter..change hub oil once a year...chain adjust and oil.. every 40000 -50000kms change sprockets and chain..its your choice on what you wish to ride..cause you'll sit and ride..its only what you are riding is the differance..wife an i have covered 55000kms on the xjr..only just replaced chain-sprockets..hasn't missed a beat..its a naked model..bullet proof motor..only down fall..it loves eating rear tires..and we only get 285kms til refill

[buellbabe]

I 2nd Scumdogs vote for the Sporty although I would go for a bigger Harley. They are blimmin reliable and they are go-anywhere bikes. I know of a bloke who uses his FXDS as a farm bike. They handle pretty much all terrain :-)

Of course my preference is my own Buell, and yeah I know most of ya probably won't believe this but it really IS the MOST supremely comfortable bike I have ever ridden. I can do 600-700kms only stopping for gas (at the 300km mark) and get off it at the other end ready to party.

[The Baron]

Get a BMW. Yes they are ugly and yes they sound funny but you just can't beat them. The boxer engine is basic and strong.... A lot of police forces all over the world use this bike.

[pete376403]

Get a BMW. Yes they are ugly and yes they sound funny but you just can't beat them. The boxer engine is basic and strong.... A lot of police forces all over the world use this bike.

Fortunately for the police someone else foots the bill when they (BMWs) break.

The old air head Beemers had a deserved reputation for quality, especially if you go way back to the R69 era. However the more modern ones are not much better than the equivalent Japanese bike in terms of quality, while still retaining the price tag of something a lot better.

It seems sometime BMW specialise in finding complicated solutions for simple problems. A friend has a GS1200 which requires, after correcting the cause of the fault, a special diagnostic tool to reset overcurrent conditions If you don't have this tool it's back to the dealer on the back of a truck. The same condition on my KLR requires replacing a fuse.(again, after correcting the cause of the fault)

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I live in the middle of nowhere so even going to the nearest town is "long distance touring". I'm looking to buy the most reliable and comfortable touring bike. Less maintenance and repair the better, since i'm so far away from any mechanic.
TIA

Well we shoot through MM all the time... on the main road any bike that is well maintained would be ok... we do it all the time.

but if you are wanting to more of the back roads gravel I would vote for the V-Strom. I took Malcolm's (Jantars) for a ride and was very... very nice to ride, handled well, comfortable, and would handle the back roads a lot easier than the sports torurers etc...

[cheshirecat]

Got a 94 vfr750, 72,000km (10th Honda) and am finding it great though maybe not everyone's taste. been to Auckland and back getting 330 to the tank ($33ish) and use it for every including our welly wet breezes. Have new Shinko front to replace a Pirrelli and it seems slightly better in the wet plus a lot cheaper. Easy to do basic stuff ones self even front spark plugs. Pilions like it and seems to carry 20kg luggage on rear ok without tail shake. Guess other bikes are pretty good as well so personal emotions come in.

[Jantar]

Oh dear. I've just read your GN thread and realised that you only got your learners a little over 6 months ago, and just recently moved to your restricted. That being the case, none of the bikes suggested on this thread are likely to be suitable. The VStrom 650 would be marginally so, but not the 1000. You should not even consider any of the big tourers like the BMWs, Honda STs, Concourse etc.

I would suggest something like a SV650, Hornet 600, Yamaha Radian etc. as a progression once you get your full. Better still would be a transalp, XT600, DR650 or similar, but you indicated that they may be out of your price range.

[shafty]

Chains last a long time with basic maintainance, and when things go wrong they are a lot cheaper to fix than a shafty...

.....Did someone mention my name????