Economy of touring bikes?

[CRM]

I'm looking at going from my current sports/tourer (VRF800) to something more just tourer (and cheaper) and wondering what I can expect in terms of economy from presumably a less highly strung beast (and probably with higher mileage).

Looking for something around the $4-5000 mark. Longer trips will mostly be one-up but will be times I'm going two-up for shorter trips.

The sort of bikes I'm considering are:
Kawasaki GTR1000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=321202744
Yamaha FJ1200: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=322495105
Yamaha XJR1200/1300: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=314927846
Yamaha TDM 850: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324216639
BMW R80: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=323349778
BMW K100RS: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-321712094.htm
BMW F650: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-307678446.htm
BMW R1100GS: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324060022
Suzuki GXS1200y: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=323902632
Suzuki GSF 1200 S Bandit: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324385220
Honda CB1000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=318547397

I'm not looking for screaming performance, but torque and comfort and reasonable economy (in terms of fuel, tyres, parts, chain and longevity). I prefer the naked bike look to the barn-door fairings but I know there is a trade-off. I also have shorter arms that struggle with the reach on some larger bikes so looking for something that feels reasonably compact (for example my arms got really sore on my Vstrom no matter what I seemed to do).

Any thoughts?

[NiggleC]

I have owned 2 of these bikes on the list - BMW R80G/S and R1100G/S. R80 will get you 45-47mpg which converts to .............some meaningless metric thing. R1100G/S will get you 50-55mpg. This is at legal highway speeds. As for your arms on the VStrom I fitted mine with some motorcross type bars and bar backs. Worked a treat.

[Subike]

IMO
Either of these will give you what you desire.

Yamaha FJ1200: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=322495105
Yamaha XJR1200/1300: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=314927846

They may not be the most ecconomical, but they are probable the most relyable.
Comfortable to tour on,
powerfull enuff to carry everything you need
and a reputable mtr that is known for very high milage.
Hills? , top gear will eat up nearly all you will encounnter.
And still plenty of dress kits for luggage available.

[Shadowjack]

I have two years and 40,000 kms on a '96 TDM850 (same as the red one in the ad)
18-19 kms/l touring gently, one-up.
Easy on chains (due for it's first replacement soon).
On my fourth rear, second front. I replace the rears before they get worn to the point a rock will puncture them.
Have toured on gravel and seal - all good (tyre choice is the crucial factor here - I have a Michelin Anakee2 on the rear, Sirac on the front).
Oil changes every 6,000 kms; tune ups every so often; valves have been shimmed and the service interval on that is 42,000kms!
Has a tendency to use oil between changes (about 750 mls)...they all do that, guv'!
I like it. I may swap it one day for a TDM900. One day...

[CRM]

I have owned 2 of these bikes on the list - BMW R80G/S and R1100G/S. R80 will get you 45-47mpg which converts to .............some meaningless metric thing. R1100G/S will get you 50-55mpg. This is at legal highway speeds. As for your arms on the VStrom I fitted mine with some motorcross type bars and bar backs. Worked a treat.

So the 1100GS is more economical than the R80? I wouldn't mind an 1100 but just concerned with the cost of repairs - the one listed says the clutch was replaced and it cost $3500! I guess I just haven't had much to do with BMW's - they're another world I don't really get. They seem to be good for fuel usage and they seem to run very high mileage if looked after but when they do cost it's major. Would that be a fair summary?

This is also another possibility - seems to be good value for a fairly modern beemer. BMW R850R 1997 - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324758305

Thanks for the feedback.

[CRM]

IMO
Either of these will give you what you desire.

Yamaha FJ1200: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=322495105
Yamaha XJR1200/1300: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=314927846

They may not be the most ecconomical, but they are probable the most relyable.
Comfortable to tour on,
powerfull enuff to carry everything you need
and a reputable mtr that is known for very high milage.
Hills? , top gear will eat up nearly all you will encounnter.
And still plenty of dress kits for luggage available.

Yeah I really like the idea of the XJR's in particular as the FJ's are larger and seem to require a longer reach plus they look a little dated. From research they get about 38mpg or 6.2 litres/100km which is about similar to my VFR. But I suspect they are more sensitive to riding style.

There's a 95 XJR1200 listed today for $3300 that seems a good buy: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324758292

Thanks for the feedback.

[CRM]

I have two years and 40,000 kms on a '96 TDM850 (same as the red one in the ad)
18-19 kms/l touring gently, one-up.
Easy on chains (due for it's first replacement soon).
On my fourth rear, second front. I replace the rears before they get worn to the point a rock will puncture them.
Have toured on gravel and seal - all good (tyre choice is the crucial factor here - I have a Michelin Anakee2 on the rear, Sirac on the front).
Oil changes every 6,000 kms; tune ups every so often; valves have been shimmed and the service interval on that is 42,000kms!
Has a tendency to use oil between changes (about 750 mls)...they all do that, guv'!
I like it. I may swap it one day for a TDM900. One day...

I've ridden a TDM and like them a lot but hard to find one in good condition that's not too expensive - not that many around. I've heard that the fuel consumption can go up a lot as they get older and the answer is new emulsion tubes? That puts me off getting an older one like the one listed.

Thanks for the feedback.

[AllanB]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-313775781.htm


Get some higher bars from F1 Engineering and you'll be set for the open road. Big grunty engine that will go forever. Loved mine, but I kept finding myself well over the legal limit on the open road ...........

[Shadowjack]

I've heard that the fuel consumption can go up a lot as they get older and the answer is new emulsion tubes?

Yep, true - this other idiosyncrasy is a function of kms travelled - I watched the fuel consumption increase, did the emulsion tubes (replaced with aftermarket jobbies from Factory Pro, via Triple Zee Cycles in Auckland), had the carbs cleaned out and tuned, etc, etc, and have now returned to normal fuel usage and startlingly improved performance.

[ynot slow]

The bandit,comfy,effortless torque,about 18km/ltr,15000 out of tyres,and can go,seat can be in need of attention.

[BMWST?]

FI bikes are more economical than carbbed bikes in general.The BMW 850 would prolly be a good buy.PArts can be expensive but if you can do your own oilchanges and valve clearances they are easy to work on.K100RS are economical but have a longish reach to very narrow bars.K75 could be nice if you can find one.Lots of BMW will be already set up with luggage.
The F650 are VERY economical on gas

[CRM]

FI bikes are more economical than carbbed bikes in general.The BMW 850 would prolly be a good buy.PArts can be expensive but if you can do your own oilchanges and valve clearances they are easy to work on.K100RS are economical but have a longish reach to very narrow bars.K75 could be nice if you can find one.Lots of BMW will be already set up with luggage.
The F650 are VERY economical on gas

What are the F650's like two-up? There's an 05 ex-rental here for $5000 that looks like it might be a good buy http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-324568570.htm

[xgnr]

Hi

I am biased (what a surprise) but from personal experience, a BMW K75 or a BMW R1150 RS or R1100 are great touring bikes and economical as well.

They generally come with the hard cases (make sure they included) and both do 20-22 Km/l (or around 60 odd Mile Per Gallon) pretty consistently regardless of how you rode them.

Cheers

Stu

[wingnutt]

I'm looking at going from my current sports/tourer (VRF800) to something more just tourer (and cheaper) and wondering what I can expect in terms of economy from presumably a less highly strung beast (and probably with higher mileage).

Looking for something around the $4-5000 mark. Longer trips will mostly be one-up but will be times I'm going two-up for shorter trips.

The sort of bikes I'm considering are:
Kawasaki GTR1000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=321202744
Yamaha FJ1200: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=322495105
Yamaha XJR1200/1300: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=314927846
Yamaha TDM 850: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324216639
BMW R80: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=323349778
BMW K100RS: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-321712094.htm
BMW F650: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-307678446.htm
BMW R1100GS: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324060022
Suzuki GXS1200y: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=323902632
Suzuki GSF 1200 S Bandit: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=324385220
Honda CB1000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=318547397

I'm not looking for screaming performance, but torque and comfort and reasonable economy (in terms of fuel, tyres, parts, chain and longevity). I prefer the naked bike look to the barn-door fairings but I know there is a trade-off. I also have shorter arms that struggle with the reach on some larger bikes so looking for something that feels reasonably compact (for example my arms got really sore on my Vstrom no matter what I seemed to do).

Any thoughts?

the goldwing is a great tourer made for the job, my 1200 gives about 58mph, I believe the fuel injected 1800 do about the same. they have huge torgue and the shaft drive delivers it smoothly.

full fairing but I have never found this a problem, makes for pretty tireless long distance riding a breeze.

good luck with your choice.

[FJRider]

Yeah I really like the idea of the XJR's in particular as the FJ's are larger and seem to require a longer reach plus they look a little dated. From research they get about 38mpg or 6.2 litres/100km which is about similar to my VFR. But I suspect they are more sensitive to riding style.

As an FJ owner/rider .... and altitude impaired (short) .... I have NO issues with the distance of reach to the bars ... short arms (deep pockets)

Fuel consumption depends ENTIRELY on your right hand position / use ... but I have found that 120 km/hr is most economical speed wise ..... FEW cops will concur .... or allow ..