Economy of touring bikes?

[O2R]

Shoot! My 1450cc H-D gets 55mpg when cruising on trips so 38mpg is comparatively thirsty

Wow thats pretty good isn't it? Always thought the H-D's were thirsty Thats a real economical H-D isn't it ?

My V4 cruising does 5.3/5.5 Liters/100kms so thats 53/51 MPG (Imperial Gallon-UK), or 44.38/42.70 (US Gal).

[scumdog]

Wow thats pretty good isn't it? Always thought the H-D's were thirsty Thats a real economical H-D isn't it ?

My V4 cruising does 5.3/5.5 Liters/100kms so thats 53/51 MPG (Imperial Gallon-UK), or 44.38/42.70 (US Gal).

Can't speak for injected late model ones but both my 1450 and wifes 1200 H-Ds will get 55mpg regularly - and more on flat easy trips like Canterbury.

My 1450 will still get 50+mpg two-up and with gear on board.

[O2R]

My 1450 will still get 50+mpg two-up and with gear on board.

We are always two-up also.
For me, range is more important than economy anyway. Had a C90, at 190 kms, your looking desperately for a service station..... that was a Nightmare!

[scumdog]

We are always two-up also.
For me, range is more important than economy anyway. Had a C90, at 190 kms, your looking desperately for a service station..... that was a Nightmare!

Hmm, at a pinch I can get 300km out of my Superglide T-Sport but normajeane can only get 200km out of her Sportster S. as it has a smallish tank.

[CRM]

Thanks for the feedback. Still trying to sell my VFR but gives me time to research and ride other bikes. I rode a 1990 K100LT yesterday and didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the R1100R I rode. Seemed to take a bit of winding up. It also seemed to be a bit strange in the handling - not keeping a good line through corners.

So if my bike sold tomorrow and I had $6-7k to spend my current local TM choices would be:
1996 ST1100 124000km with a spare for parts $7000 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=328499828
1990 ST1100 105000 km $5500 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=327759523
1994 R1100RS 90,000km $6995 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=328024417
1989 FJ1200 62,000km $3500 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=328534980
1999 Trophy 900 74000km $6500 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=296301496
2002 ZZR1200 67000km $8000 (ono) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=294379220
1997 BMW GS 1100 152000km $7900 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=323986066

What would you choose for character, practicality, economy, comfort?

[Highlander]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-322752566.htm

Moved from the CB750 to one of these little over a year ago, absolutely loving it. On my own or two up.

Asked a friend about the Boxer engine longevity and he said you should consider 80,000km to be just about run in. He sold his at 220,000km and wishes he hadn't. Had had no problems what so ever.

[CRM]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-322752566.htm

Moved from the CB750 to one of these little over a year ago, absolutely loving it. On my own or two up.

Asked a friend about the Boxer engine longevity and he said you should consider 80,000km to be just about run in. He sold his at 220,000km and wishes he hadn't. Had had no problems what so ever.

Yeah love those oil-head twins. That's a nice one for a pretty good price. Just doesn't have panniers is the only drawback.

Somebody please buy my VFR It's the best deal on TradeMe

[ynot slow]

My Bandit took 17.2ltr and travelled 315km 2 up with luggage,strongish winds.

[Urano]

lookin' at the bikes you were thinking about, and searching for economy, you missed the bike i'd more likely expected to see. (if this phrase is correct i'll go to buy a lottery ticket.... )

bmw f800 s (and/or st)

simple, reliable, relatively cheap, with good second hand value.

and my second suggestion:

aprilia shiver gt.

[FJRider]

Shoot! My 1450cc H-D gets 55mpg when cruising on trips so 38mpg is comparatively thirsty

but .... it's only running on two cylinders ....

[scumdog]

but .... it's only running on two cylinders ....

But oh how big they are!

[CRM]

lookin' at the bikes you were thinking about, and searching for economy, you missed the bike i'd more likely expected to see. (if this phrase is correct i'll go to buy a lottery ticket.... )

bmw f800 s (and/or st)

simple, reliable, relatively cheap, with good second hand value.

and my second suggestion:

aprilia shiver gt.

Both outside of budget unfortunately - and also pretty similar to my VFR in style.

[nseagoon]

I run a 1988 K100 RT and as a daily runner it gives me just on 6L per 100km.
when cruising I've gotten it down to 5L using 91 octane and 4.9L on 98 octane.
I've had no issues and it can easily be thrown around corners and handles like a dream in full comfort. and from 30kph up you only need 5th gear.
I've been everywhere on it and it's now just tipped 110,000km on the clock....
just watch for tranny oil spills at turn offs....

[CRM]

Just done 5000km to Invercargill and back over the last two weeks on the VFR. Fuel usage was actually better than I thought it would be. Generally It would start flashing around the 300km mark which would generally take about 17.5 litres. Thats about 5.8 l/100km. Sometimes it would be as low as 5l/100km. Funny thing was sometimes when I was caning it (Nelson-Picton running late for the ferry) it actually still did quite good figures.