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

[pritch]

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

Not that good when the ground gets rough even if you are used to it.

Haven't read the whole thread yet but the various manufacturers are having a serious tilt at the Asian market. Something like the new
Honda CBR500R might fit Bosslady's needs. It looks sporty but has hiigh bars so shouldn't be a pain in the wrist. At about $10,500(?) it's not too big a pain in the wallet either?

[FJRider]

At about $10,500(?) it's not too big a pain in the wallet either?

Easy to say ... but it might be a big pain for some though ...

[bosslady]

So I tried the katana 400 (thanks katman you're such a prick!! ;-) ) and I didn't do anywhere near as bad as I thought I would, quite happy with myself actually! Definitely don't dislike the riding style and I guess with time and experience you'd find a way for your wrists to.not hurt so damn much? Now I'm annoyed to know what I'm missing though cause I won't me.able.to.get another bike for 1-2 years. Guts! Nevermind I can still research, look and.dream lol

[PrincessBandit]

There are some that are called Sport tourers ... but most tend to be more Sport Cruisers ...

Sport tourers tend to have more sporty riding position. Not always the full "Racing crouch" position ... but sustained for a days riding ... can be hard on the body. (if you are not used to it)

A good tourer should have a screen/fairing to keep weather and wind off your body. Both of which can make a day ride a real chore in adverse conditions. And have the ability to carry gear. Lots of gear (read weight).

Bandit FTW

You're welcome to try out the 400 Katana next time you're in town.

Great size but my backside found the saddle pretty hard on the run to Wanganui and back...only probably because I hadn't ridden anything but the bandit for so long.

Boring as this thought might be...run the GN until you've got your full licence and then your choices open up nicely. Oh and by then you'll no doubt have saved a few pennies to spend on a new toy?

That whole new or next bike thingee is even a dilemma for us guys who've been riding for years...I'm suffering that torment right now, and I've got my pennies in the bank to spend on the next bike...

'Tis what I did, to avoid the whole expensive constant "upgrading" in cc over time.

I'm a bit frightened of lane splitting, was open to it before, then I clipped a car, I may have still been a little open to it if for not all the abuse in that thread and someone wishing a car would cripple me. Lane splitting just seems very scary... I do wish I could do it though... twice in the past week I've taken an extra 1 - 1 1/2 hours to get where I'm going.

You will know when the time is right for you. Don't feel pressured to do it any sooner than that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying in a queue if you don't feel comfortable to split. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't when I could. I don't give a rats arse what other riders think when they zip past and I'm still in a lane.

Sports/Tourers (loaded to the hilt or not) ... are not city sane. They are a total pain in the wrists ...

Under 10 km/hr they are just hard work.

Yeah nah yeah nah

HUH ?? My sports-tourer Bandits are not like that at all

Bosslady - Have a look at the LAMS version of the 650 Bandit .. I love Bandits long distance, commuting - anything .. one of the most versatile bikes around (as long as you don't try it off-road)



I've seen 200klicks plus on the spedo of my 650 .. so a LAMS version should still get to 140 licks ...

These are comfortable bikes long distance, excellent around town - and just plain FUN

Bandit FTW!!!!!!! Having said that my son had a Suzuki GS 500 and it was pretty cool. They look smart and handle nicely.

[nerrrd]

So I tried the katana 400 (thanks katman you're such a prick!! ;-) ) and I didn't do anywhere near as bad as I thought I would, quite happy with myself actually! Definitely don't dislike the riding style and I guess with time and experience you'd find a way for your wrists to.not hurt so damn much? Now I'm annoyed to know what I'm missing though cause I won't me.able.to.get another bike for 1-2 years. Guts! Nevermind I can still research, look and.dream lol

In the words of Obi Wan, "That's good. You've taken your first step into a larger world."

As far as the wrists thing goes, I think you're supposed to grip the tank with your knees and support your upper body with your "core"...other people have muscles there apparently.

And it's good to have plenty of time to try lots of different options, instead of possibly rushing in and buying something you might regret. It's a hard road finding the perfect motorcycle...

[Madness]

173cm tall I think, longish legs and big feet

This thread needs moar pics.

[Tigadee]

Definitely don't dislike the riding style and I guess with time and experience you'd find a way for your wrists to.not hurt so damn much?

How long were you on it riding?

[bluninja]

So I tried the katana 400 (thanks katman you're such a prick!! ;-) ) and I didn't do anywhere near as bad as I thought I would, quite happy with myself actually! Definitely don't dislike the riding style and I guess with time and experience you'd find a way for your wrists to.not hurt so damn much? Now I'm annoyed to know what I'm missing though cause I won't me.able.to.get another bike for 1-2 years. Guts! Nevermind I can still research, look and.dream lol

Go faster! the wind pressure against your chest takes some of the weight off your wrists :LOL: Dreaming is good....I'n dreaming of a ZX14R in blue

[Ocean1]

I guess with time and experience you'd find a way for your wrists to.not hurt so damn much?

Yup, change bars for some slightly higher ones, spend a bit of time rolling them back or fwd and experimenting so that the weight on your wrists is comfortable. Bear in mind that you're used to a cruiser, arguably the opposite to a sports bike as far as load on the hands is concerned. Don't forget wrist pressure is going to be less at cruising speeds too.

[bosslady]

In the words of Obi Wan, "That's good. You've taken your first step into a larger world."

As far as the wrists thing goes, I think you're supposed to grip the tank with your knees and support your upper body with your "core"...other people have muscles there apparently.

And it's good to have plenty of time to try lots of different options, instead of possibly rushing in and buying something you might regret. It's a hard road finding the perfect motorcycle...

Core aye, needa strengthen that shit up then!

This thread needs moar pics.

Not worth the nightmares...

How long were you on it riding?

I'm honestly not sure. Not long. Maybe 15 mins max? I don't know, Grashopper she would know she went too.

[bosslady]

Yup, change bars for some slightly higher ones, spend a bit of time rolling them back or fwd and experimenting so that the weight on your wrists is comfortable. Bear in mind that you're used to a cruiser, arguably the opposite to a sports bike as far as load on the hands is concerned. Don't forget wrist pressure is going to be less at cruising speeds too.

it was just the throttle hand not the other one, weird? but man compared to the Ginny it sure did make me work to take corners that were hardly worth calling corners!

[bluninja]

I'm honestly not sure. Not long. Maybe 15 mins max? I don't know, Grashopper she would know she went too.

Wow sore wrists after less than 15 minutes

BTW does the Katana make your bum look big? (compared to the Ginnie of course)

[bosslady]

Wow sore wrists after less than 15 minutes

BTW does the Katana make your bum look big? (compared to the Ginnie of course)

Hey I've come from a Ginny where there's no weight whatsoever on the bars so nyah nyah :P I think it was fifteen minutes it could have been longer or shorter than that I was sad when it ended! And I'm not sure. I'd say ask Katman but he was in front. Ask grashopper?

[bluninja]

Hey I've come from a Ginny where there's no weight whatsoever on the bars so nyah nyah :P I think it was fifteen minutes it could have been longer or shorter than that I was sad when it ended! And I'm not sure. I'd say ask Katman but he was in front. Ask grashopper?

I'm sure Grasshopper was looking at the road and not your derriere I know what you mean about feeling sad when you get off a bike that makes your current bike seem not as exciting as it was before you rode something better.

[bosslady]

I'm sure Grasshopper was looking at the road and not your derriere I know what you mean about feeling sad when you get off a bike that makes your current bike seem not as exciting as it was before you rode something better.

Yup. Was pretty sweet. Think I was only going 90-100kmh but usually at that speed I'm ringing the fuck out of my bike but on that one I'm pretty sure I was only in 3rd gear, possibly should have been in 4th gear (?) but I wasn't too sure and figured if I wasn't red lining it that was probably ok!