Always remember that it's the motorcycle manufacturers marketing team that sell you what they think you need. I bought into the biggest and fastest is best as well as if it's expensive it must be good. Any bike can do anything, but it's important that you feel comfortable and that your bike brings a smile to your face.
Recently switched my touring bike from a Goldwing to a Tiger 900. The Tiger has all the same comfort features of the Goldwing except for wind blocking but it is 370lbs lighter. That makes a big difference and with top box and side panniers, I have more carrying capacity than on the Goldwing. Win Win.
@@jeremywest5433seriously mate, you're overthinking it. I've got a Tiger 900 Rally. It is superbly comfortable on a road day and on the right tyres, amazingly competent off road. If you want to waft around in a bubble get a big tourer or a luxury car. The joy of a bike is to be part of your environment, not detached from it.
This country is huge. It takes me nearly four hours w/o traffic to get from Berkeley to Nevada, so five days @ seven hours or so per day to get back to see family in Milwaukee. People don't realize how big it is and how empty so much of it is, especially west of the Mississippi.
I prefer sport touring bikes, good all rounders with power, handling, wind protection and panniers. I can throw on a tank bag and a tail bag if I need to and still remain nimble. Your comment about larger bikes here in the US, I believe is an expression of our overall culture where bigger is better, whether it's bikes or cars.
Good thoughts and suggestions. I have a Suzuki 650dl and at 75 I’m more than happy with the ride. I’ve traveled only in Europe and I have never had an issue with it. 70% of maintenance I do myself. It carries quite easily all panniers, including camping gear. I ride solo. Range is about 450km or 300miles, more or less, which, at my age is more than I can handle in a day. P. S. It’s a 2007 dl model. 😍Thank you for your vids and ride safe. Alex , Italy
Mój drogi przyjacielu, poruszyłeś wszystkie istotne kwestie. Dodam tylko jedną bardzo istotną : jeżeli podróżujesz sam, musisz mieć motocykl, który po wywrotce sam podniesiesz z drogi. Wiem , Ty jesteś silny, ale wyobraź sobie pusta autostrada w USA , zatrzymujesz się stawiasz motocykl na stopkę i nagle buuuuum, no i nie jesteś w stanie go podnieść :) pozdrowienia z Polski !
In ten years of riding, I've had Hondas and Yamahas. I've logged over 250,000 miles and never had a "service call" problem while traveling. I do all my own maintenance, too. The words Honda and Yamaha are interchangeable in Japanese... they both mean "bullet-proof".
Great video, also nice to see you rocking the Victory tee! All the items you discussed were highlighted when I did my first tour after buying my Victory Cross Country Tour, replacing a Suzuki Boulevard C50. Comfort - the Victory had a more comfortable, heated, seat with a backrest; heated grips; and a full fairing with adjustable louvres. Storage - the Victory has tons of lockable storage. Very dependable, three long distance tours, plus local riding with no issues at all. Range and power was significantly improved with the Victory. The Suzuky has an 805cc engine and a 15.5l gas tank which made for a lot of anxiety and, eventually carrying a small gas can. The Victory has a monster 1731cc engine with a 22l gas tank which made planning stops a lot easier and the ride more relaxing!
Great video as always. I have had all kinds of motorcycles from dirt bikes to big Harley cruisers. Currently I ride a 2017 1200 BMW GSA. I absolutely love this motorcycle and I think it is the best touring motorcycle I have ever owned. I am very comfortable on it and have no problem going long distances. I have taken it off road a lot but as I age (63) i am finding it to be too heavy to throw around in the dirt. Especially with gear. I will be doing some BDR’s this season and I am looking at the Yamaha T7 and the Hondas Transalp for my BDR bike. I will keep my BMW for the road trips.
I once (back in the 80’s) had. Suzuki 650cc bike I rode from WY to MN. Crossing South Dakota was almost too much for the bike due to a viscous cross/head-wind that was at least 30mph. It just bogged down and became dangerously slow on the interstate. I got a 1200cc bike later on for touring and haven’t had that problem since.
Although I am well past my motorcycle days, I could not stop thinking about what bike I would pick. I ended up selecting the Moto Guzzi 85 TT Travel. It has plenty of power. Has a shaft drive. Has a cruise control. Does not weigh 900 pounds . To top it off it has an air cooled engine. No overheating like a BMW K1600. No water pump to break. No chance of a hole in the radiator. The only downside is a small dealer network.
I’ve never had the desire to ride cross country or stay out longer than 3-4 days. Being from North Carolina, I have some of the best roads in the southeast just a few hours away. I’ve “toured” more on smaller bikes than any of the big Harleys I’ve owned. The only things I require these days is cruise control and a decent windshield, which my Tiger has. I do not like having to do chain maintenance, but I love everything else about the Triumph so I consider it a trade off. Good video.
😂😂😂😂😂 I love responding like this when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about: motorcycles or travel. Riding 40 years, spent time in 52 countries, and ridden in 32 of them. @robertstone6874
Absolutely. And, essential to learn how to emergency stop and swerve. I added a brake light modulator because I know the person behind me is likely on their smart phone or eating a happy meal while driving.
Another great video! You are absolutely on point with all of the topics that you covered. I own a shaft-drive Yamaha FJR 1300A. I added bar risers to give me 1" up and 1" back, to enable a more upright seating position, An after market deep-scoop Saddlemen's seat, with a raised lower back-rest. front and rear tip-over bars to protect that expensive Tupperware fairing 😁. Everybody has varying tastes in motorcycle brands and accessories and that is okay, we are all different. The FJR has a comfortable upright seating position, gets great fuel economy and is utterly powerful, agile and extremely reliable for long distance sport-touring. It has two, lockable hard cases with abundant storage. I place a Sadddlemen's contoured tunnel-bag on the passenger seat, that stores a full weeks worth of shoes, clothing and shaving kit. It will digest 87, 89, 91 and 93 octane fuel and is fuel injected, so riding at higher altitudes does not affect performance. This bike has clocked over 40,000 cross-country miles with no failures of any kind. Before purchasing the FJR, I also researched and arranged test rides on the Honda ST1300 and Kawasaki C14. I liked the FJR the best and years later, still love it! My motto is: "The goal is not to have more days in your life, but to have more life in your days" 😎 I look forward to watching your videos, thanks so much for sharing.
97 wing= very heavy, but a great tourer. Add my age and it = to sidecar fitment...no more weight problems ! and I can take the dog with me ! :) on day trips. Thanks for the vid, Be well.
I'm another that have gone the adventure bike route with the Suzuki 650XT V-Strom, not big power but for it's size 72HP can punt my fat arse and luggage down the highway at a good rate of knots. I wished it had cruise sometimes but it's not as bad as my previous Strom primarily because this one has 1 inch bar risers which make a heck of a difference in siting position over long hours. I can comfortable do the 300 miles (520kms ) on the bike in a day but usually limit it to around 2050 miles or 400kms. With hard case luggage , it carries all my stuff including a Cpap device and camping gear.
Another great video. All great points and we all have different perspectives. I'm the same age as you and I've found a 660 Tuareg is my current best choice. Italian yes, so a few concerns that way but it has all the modern conveniences; tubeless, CC, TFT screen, different rider modes you can change on the fly, etc. I never ride two up so plenty of power. I've a 1200 adv tourer and a 250 dual sport but the Tuareg it's the one for now. Ask me again when it breaks down 500 miles from an Aprilia dealer!
comfort, wind protection, heated grips, weren't high on my list when I bought it but I really like them. And to me a my 1200 is a big bike. For now not to big.
I have a Buell Ulysses and call it a mid size. My wife is shorter so lower seat height bikes appeal to her. I can't do super sport or sport position. I do understand arm chair position of Harley's. But like mid pegs to stand on. I need something that can go down 2 tracks and dirt roads. I drive a jeep no doors or top. Never had anything stolen but have had a lot of stuff left for me in the jeep.
I'm on a Kawasaki Versys x300. Awesome bike ( I've only been riding for 13 months), but I dream of cruise control. A 300-400 mile day murders my right wrist, even with liberal use of the Atlas throttle lock. Other than that, 300ccs is enough to get me and my stuff around comfortably, as long as I avoid long blasts on the interstate.
For me, the first question is "what types of roads do I plan to ride on". If I plan to ride on pavement all the time my choice is different from if I plan to ride up to Dempster or Dalton (again). Regardless, the things I look for are: Comfort (all day (12+ hours) of riding), Wind Protection (on the highway at 75+MPH), Luggage Capacity (preferably locking), Ease of Maintenance (and low required maintenance), Power to get out of trouble, Tank Range. For Pavement my choice is a Gold Wing even though it is SADLY in need of a major update to be at least up to date with other current models. And, if I'm doing offroad then my choice is a BMW GS (I currently have a GSA). I'm 73+ and can barely pick up either of the above 2 bikes but I can manage it when I take off luggage and get angry! :). Yup 100HP & Torque is MORE than enough although I do have more but having close to 200HP is WAY overkill. Oh and I REALLY like the reverse gear in the Gold Wing, wish my GSA had it!
I would guess that cruise control is coming to many more mid size bikes in the next few years. We as consumers need to exercise our power by refusing to buy otherwise suitable machines because the manufacturer wants to up sell us to something bigger, more expensive and more complicated than we need or want.
The age and /or the physical limitations of the rider have everything to do with your bike choice, not to mention your financial situation. I'm old, big and broke, my 2007 Royal Star Tour Deluxe for $3k fills the bill.
Craig, you and I think alike and look for the same features. I have been searching exhaustively and have finally decided on a late model BMW GSA. I tried the Super 10 but it was not right. The BMW cuts over 400lbs over the Victory and size wise fits my frame. I can flat foot it no problem. It is already set up for me ergonomically. I should be settling on it today. I am excited about the change, but will miss Victory. It was my cancer recovery vehicle and holds fond memories, but the new motorcycle will be far more versatile and is well suited to the South Dakota demands.
I'll say one thing after a decade of touring on the Victory Cross Country in that low-slung, American cruiser style, then switching to a 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour. After some "getting used to", the Honda's upright, feet back riding position is much more comfortable and less fatiguing in the long haul than the Victory's "C" position with feet out and arms up.
I had a 2010 Honda Sabre 1300 and it was a great bike and more than enough to travel on, except that I hated that there was no luggage. I had to use a back seat bag for it. I did 53,000 miles on it and had it travel as far east as North Carolina, north as Minnesota, south as Louisiana and Texas, and west as the very western part of Wyoming. I did upgrade to a full sized touring bike in November 2022 and put more than 12,000 miles on it in the first year of owning. 2022 Indian Pursuit that is very comfortable, gets 40+ on mpg, plenty of power, locking bags/trunk and I love riding that bike. I know the dealership coverage is not great (203 dealerships I think at end of 2023), I am comfortable with that currently. Cruise was a game changer for me as my right wrist now gets breaks on the road from holding throttle position and creature comforts like heated grips and seat can be handy. I just put taller bars on and am interested to see how they handle for me on a longer trip, I have not ever changed bars on a bike before.
People in Europe usually do not have a good idea of just how big the US and more so, Canada is. You cannot "comfortably" travel the normal distances we travel. Over there, you have nice towns and villages 20 to 30 miles apart. So their idea is different than ours. I am now 70, and have been riding Gold Wings exclusively since 1975. For me, there is no other better touring motorcycle. It meets my needs. Haven't done a 750 mile day since 2015, because I am physically not wanting to do that anymore. I want the quietest bike I can get, as vibrationless as I can. Locking luggage, shaft drive, water cooled, probably one of the most reliable bikes on the market. However, if I lived in Europe, I could easily see myself wanting something different. The final thought, is each to thier own.
I lived and worked in the UK back in the 80s. Most there had no realization of the size of the US. They thought Chester to London was a significant journey. When I went to the airport to pick someone up who was arriving on a 6 AM flight, I got up at 2 AM, drove to London and was back by noon the same day. My British colleagues thought that was crazy as they considered that an overnight journey. To me it was only slightly longer than driving from my home to the capital of my state of PA. 😁. Bikes sized appropriately for most of Europe are far too small for typical US travel. Likewise, a Gold Wing isn’t the best choice for touring Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Totally disagree. My BMW R1150-RS is among the best bikes for touring. You can put a much in the BMW System Cases as you want, and it's as comfortable and reliable as they come. And it will out-handle a bigger cruiser, and has a better power-to-weight ratio. Why do I have to go heavier to be 'better' in your view? Yes many in the UK rarely travel much beyond where they live. So many in the south haven't visited Whales or Scotland. When my wife an I were on our honeymoon we toured for three weeks through each of these, and felt there was still far too much we wanted to see. Came back a few years later with two of our kids and did it again...
@@garymaclean6903 The GSes aren’t even close to being as comfortable for the passenger as is my LT or a Wing. I know a number of women who have ridden both and there simply is no comparison. And the wind protection on a GS pales in comparison to an LT or Wing. I never said you had to go to a heavier bike or do anything. I am just stating what is better. Never said you had to choose better.
@@LTVoyager For me, 'comfort' isn't just about a soft seat and big luggage capacity. It's about such features as not having several hundred pounds of extra weight to brake and wrestle through the corners down a tight mountain road. There are many bikes I'm more 'comfortable' riding on such roads than several bikes that claim to be ideal tourers. I never mentioned the GS, let alone claimed a GS was a better touring bike than some other models.
@@LTVoyager Sounds like an unsubstantiated claim. What actual facts is it based on? The seating and amenities on the RS are much like, if not identical to, the RT, often ranked by many in the industry as the best touring bike on the planet.
Great video, I think it's interesting looking at the difference between touring in the US (one country) and Europe (many countries). I down sized from a Yamaha XVS1300 to a Moto Guizzi V7 (750cc) and find it very reliable, comfortable, great for getting round towns and cities and has a 200 mile range. I recently did a 2300+ mile ride from the UK through Spain and had no issues at all. I would never take my bike to a dealer either, far too expensive, maybe we are spoilt over in Europe, but there seems to be a lot more smaller garages that will help if you wanted to do some maintenance.
I like “smaller” bike touring. I miss my BMW K100RS. I currently have a BMW K1200GT and Moto Guzzi V7 Special. I found a set of hard cases, funny enough, for a mid 80’s K100 RS and mounted those to the V7. I have taken 4,000 plus 10 day trips on both the K1200 and the V7. Both have a comfortable enough riding position, different points of discomfort. The heated grips and wind protection were nice with the BMW while in the Pacific Northwest. The smaller size on the V7 was nice. Tired, unfamiliar places-the smaller bike was nice. I also encountered some dirt, loose gravel roads. The V7 is friendlier in those conditions, if I had been on the BMW I might have taken a different route. The Guzzi gets better gas mileage and tires are less expensive and last longer. I am inclined towards the Guzzi for trips, unless expecting colder weather. I don’t think I would ever get a big Touring Bike.
I sold the Tenere a few years back. Great bike, works very well for touring. Unfortunately Yamaha has not updated the bike since 2014 and I have only seen one on my dealer's floor in more than 3 years.
For me it would be the combination of storage capacity/security, comfort, wind/weather protection, reliability, and sufficient power/range/weight for highway travel, and able to handle campsite roads. I can also only have one motorcycle/vehicle, so flexibility is pretty important as well (thankfully no commuting worries), and I am looking towards a new bike this year. Still trying to decide between an ADV (1200 Tiger, Multistrada, GSA, Pan Am), Tourer (RT/GT/GTL, Wing, Super Duke GT, Tracer GT+), or Full Dresser (R18, Street/Road Glide, Pursuit/Roadmaster). It's a tough choice honestly.
Starting with some self-awareness; I’ll never ride my motorcycle to 100% of its capacity. I’ll run out of talent long before the bike runs out of ability, power, and torque. I’ve gone to the drawing board a million times on this. Insisting on checking all boxes, in no order of importance; cruise control, wind protection, proven engineering, shaft drive, carrying capacity, ergonomic fit for 1k/day (something about IronButts where I come alive), stable in crosswinds, bar risers, lockable hard or soft case available, room to stretch legs/stand up if desired, ability to stay on tarmac (80%) or go off (20%), GPS integration, space for additional mounting options (phone, camera), aftermarket selection (tank bag, case liners, seats, pegs,…) etc. Also, I definitely need to feel as if I’m sitting “in” the bike, not “on” the bike. At 6’2”, this is more of an issue than most anticipate. Basically, I’m looking for the one-bike-that-fits-most, quasi, the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. Able to do it all, with some absence of perfection. Ultimately, I’m always coming back to the GS Adventure. Having tested KTM, Ducati, Triumph, Guzzi, the GSA is the bike that fits me the best. Once I’m too decrepit to get my leg over the GSA, even with “horse mounting”, I’ll switch to something akin to a Goldwing and give up going on gravel/dirt/forest. May this be when I’m 95.
I have been looking for a Tiger. Rode my buddy's 800 and I want one. His 2001 Legend has 100,000 miles and still runs perfect. Over the years the old triumph has had electrical issues. Riding a GL 1200 now snd it has been good for long distance travel.
Wow!.....awesome topic!!!!.... I must say this first, I do all work on my bikes, So I would never get any BMW motorcycle, the cost of part's, and tools for that bike is ridiculous! Second I pull a motorcycle camper. So I could never buy a Triumph motorcycle cause they do not make a motorcycle big enough to pull a 300lb camper, and 2 people plus luggage, that's why I ride a Honda St1300. Please don't get me wrong I dig some Triumph, and BMW bike's but when It comes to my type of riding, and touring they don't make the cut. Stay Awesome Sir.
Great info thanks, i have a tiger 1200 rally pro and a harley ultra classic, both very capable but very different, thought i would sell one but enjoy both of them a lot like you said depending on where you go.
At 5'7" and 180 lbs, seat height is important to me. My HD Heritage special has a 25" seat height that works very well for me. It also weighs about 700 lbs so I can handle it and pick it up f I need to. It is a basic bike with a 1700 cc (107c.i.) engine that makes 77 horsepower. People laugh at me, but I have put 30,900 miles on that bike and it has never let me down...and, no, I am not your 'average' Harley rider.
All good thoughts, but I would have to add wind and weather protection. This is a personal preference on what a rider likes, but really needs to be thought about before a purchase. If you’re going to be doing a lot of high-speed long-distance days when protection is a nice bonus, but can be added afterwards, with aftermarket components to some degree. When the rain hits the question is, are you going to stop and take cover somewhere or keep riding through it?
My experience with Yamaha dealers on my Alaska trip was the opposite of yours. I had a blowout on the way up and did a roadside repair and called Yukon Yamaha in Whitehorse as we would be passing through anyway. They worked in doing a more permanent fix for me same day. They also were doing tire services on a GS and a Pan America while I was there among others. Some with appointments some like me last minute. Maybe it was just that I caught the right shop.
Hey Craig....new subscriber here and watching this video after I just watched your "old and alone on a motorcycle" and leaving you a similar question. I really would love your advice about buying my next bike as I just turned 62 years old and have NOT been on a bike since I sold my Harley Street Glide 17 years ago. I live in Austin TX and will spend 90% of time riding the Texas Hill Country. I am not a cross country type of guy but love 6-8 hour day trips. . I love TORQUE and the new Harley Low Rider ST which is 100 lbs less than the Street Glide and has saddlebags, fairing plus that M8 117 engine which must be a lot of fun to ride. Do you think a sports cruiser like the Low Rider ST would be a good choice of a bike for the TX Hill Country? I dig the Indian Scouts as well because they weigh 540 lbs but though a heavier bike like Low Rider at 727 lbs is more stable for longer cruises. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks so much. 🙏
Either of these bikes would be great for the Texas hill country, but of course it depends a lot on you. How do like to ride? What is you skill level? I always encourage new or returning riders to get some training. The classes are fun and you walk away with new skills and confidence. I am taking a refresher course myself next month. Back to the bikes. I suggest riding both bikes, if can and getting to the one you feel most comfortable with, and of course you need to feel good about the dealer too. Good luck and have fun!
@@LTVoyager The Honda Goldwing comes in different configurations, from the base model all the way up to the touring model, and there’s more storage than anyone could expect on a motorcycle! Also, there’s tons of baggage accessories that can be tailored to your own specifications! The 2018- 2021 have a fuel capacity of 5.57 gallons @ 43 miles per gallons, or 233 miles at “normal” highway speeds! Plus it rides like you’re sitting on your sofa! What more could ask for from an extremely low maintenance touring bike? It’s a Honda, they don’t die! 👍
@@LTVoyager BTW, Harley and Indian riders are switching over to the Goldwing in droves! Not only for all that the Honda Goldwing has to offer as far as the ride, amenities, fuel economy, safety, styling, low maintenance costs etc, but also for the weight and maneuverability of the bike! I am all for American made and some foreign made bikes, but I have to be sensible and honest when it comes to quality, reliability and more “ bang for the buck” especially when it pertains to the Goldwing. Take my 2022 Honda Rebel CMX1100 DCT for example, what other manufacturers have come up with a DCT bike?!? And the best part is that it works flawlessly and Honda has perfected it over the years! I have to give credit where it’s due, and Honda has nailed it on a few of their models over the years. Plus there’s an adequate amount of Honda dealerships throughout America just in case I should require service. 👍
@@RollWithSoul317 My wife and I took a long test ride on a 2018 Wind when the new model came out. We liked the power, smoothness and wind protection, but the luggage is too small and the tank too small and the seats too hard. Our packed bags from our BMW would not fit in any of the cases on the Wing and we could not fit our helmets in the side cases or both helmets in the top case. I know you can spend a bunch of money and by the Corbin side case lids and I believe Honda finally increased the top case size using essentially the Corbin lid design. But I really don’t want to spend $30K on a bike and then need to spend $5,000 more for case lids, a custom seat, and additional fuel capacity. My BMW is still reliable so will continue with that for a few more years and see if Honda corrects more of the Wing deficiencies.
@@RollWithSoul317 No surprise there. Harley and Indian still think it wise to copy 100 year old designs and yet charge modern prices. However, those of use who ride BMWs don’t have that same problem. We have a sparse dealer network, but the BMW bikes outperform the Wing in almost every metric. My main beef with BMW is that they are now getting antagonistic against owner repair and maintenance by no longer providing service manuals to owners. Doing my own maintenance and repairs is what makes owning a BMW reasonable. Without that, BMW is now off my candidate list for a new bike. Although, I suspect the other brands will follow suit until we get enough states to pass RTR laws, or better yet get the Feds to mandate such laws.
Size (5'8", 160 Pounds, 27" inseam) has become an issue as I've gotten older. My DL650 was with me for years through Mexico and several trips to AK was a great bike til my mid to late 60's. After disposing of it's replacement, a Honda NT700, which was lower, but too heavy after a serious knee injury, I've mostly recovered and have discovered the strengths of one of the best light weight small almost ADV bike on the market with a great following, the Honda CB500X. I've just brought home it's next gen version, the NX500 and am busy outfitting it with the lighter Givi MonoKey hard bags and top case, that give plenty of capacity for distance touring, plus all of the other touring related farkles I've gotten used to over the years. It can easily cruise at 70mph and 80, if asked, with rock solid dependability. I love the simplicity and lack of distractions it brings. Just like a smaller, lighter VStrom. At 80 Y.O., I hope to be riding for at least another 5 and maybe even 10 years more. I'm lovin your Alaska '24 trip videos. Brings back many memories, starting in Episode 3. Our AK rides have been from the So Cal area up through Western Washington, entering at Sumas and through Frazier River, then normally North until we'd merge with your route, at Prince George. Looking forward to more episodes.👌👍
What a coincidence! Tomorrow I am getting a new bike well suited to touring, an Energica Experia. Unlike the sporty, race bike like, Energica Ego Rebelle, it has a comfortable upright riding position and a screen to take some of the wind off. It has really big lockable panniers and top box, something I would have liked when I took my Zero DSR around Ireland. Having a bag strapped on the seat was a pain, as I had to take it off and carry it every time I stopped. Once in Carlow I fell over with the rucksack and cut my forehead. The weight is low down, so it is easy to handle on the road, and it even has a reverse gear for parking. But it is as heavy as the enormous bikes you mentioned, so don't drop it. Like you, I don't need a lot of power, its 102 HP is enough. But high torque from 0 mph makes it easier to control, not just when taking off, but also when riding at 3 mph (no need to slip a clutch on a clutchless bike). In England 100 miles is a long distance, 100 years is a short time. So I don't need a long range. Riders of the Experia get 100 to 160 miles on a single charge (depending on speed) and DC recharge in 20 to 30 minutes. After riding for an hour and half, I need to stop and recharge myself, not just the bike. My final criterion for any motorbike is how well it copes with and prevents bad weather. I use heated gloves in the winter, but don't have any way to handle the summer temperatures of nearly 40 deg. C we had recently. I am used to the mild climate of England. We rarely get the extremes of heat, cold, wind and rain that occur in parts of the USA or India. So the less carbon dioxide I emit, the better, otherwise I will have to endure more extreme weather. I will never buy another petrol bike and I have never owned a car.
Your list is pretty close to mine. I would add cruise control as I consider that a must for my 64 year old wrist. I also need two-up storage capacity and that is increasingly hard to find as even the new Gold Wing comes up short. Sadly, I keep riding my old K2100LT simply because there is no new bike that meets my needs. If Honda had only given the new Wing at least 130 L of storage and 7 gallons of fuel to match the K1600 BMWs…
I was always one to say I'd never own a Harley-Davidson, but since 2018, we've owned two of them. Now I'm not one to be brand loyal. It's whatever bike suits our needs, and Harley's big touring bikes work best for us. Comfort is excellent, fuel mileage is great, there are plenty of dealerships with good parts availability, and lastly, the cool factor. Lol No, all kidding aside, I've ridden many motorcycles and enjoy riding our Harley-Davidson more than any of them. Thanks for a great video!
Triumph and Suzuki have discussed abandoning the dealership as a point of purchase ( like Tesla ). Wonder if they would open regional service centers ( like Tesla)? I just upgraded from an 04 to a 14 Vstrom 1000. Newer bike had enough refinements, and owner had some upgrades I wanted. Then harvested my soft luggage and some upgrades from the old bike before putting it for sale.
I have read about the possibility of purchasing online, but they would still need someone to deliver and service the bikes. Not sure how that would work. Guess we might find out in the future.
Absolutely. CC is a must have for me. And tubeless tires are essential for long distance travel in remove places. Easy to plug a tire compared to patching or replacing a tube.
I always get the wow factor when Ii'm riding my 2016 BMW 1200RT. It's a great sport/touring motorcycle. I also get the wow factor when I get a BMW service bill...lol.
I have a 2010 triumph thunderbird 1600, it's a great touring machine, does everything I want .must be comfortable as the wife falls asleep on the back 😁😴
Touring = Designed specifically for long-distance motorcycle trips. However, I know many riders who have touring capable bikes but, at most, take weekend trips or just show up at rallies. My guess, out of all the touring bikes sold in the USA, perhaps 20% are actually used for "touring". Touring motorcycle, full sized pickup trucks, and grand SUV's, Americans like to use big tools for small jobs.
For me, it’s kind of an illusion to pretend that a big tank for gas can be a piece of mind maker, once that I don’t like to do more than 150/200 kms without doing a stop for stretching and relaxing a bit. So, a bike with a 20 liter capacity will do it perfectly. Hard panniers are important and cruise control is a big advantage. Wind protection is also relevant (for the motorway segments). And that’s it. 👌🏻
Wind protection is key for me. That's part of why I don't quite understand the move to absentia books as touring bikes. They just don't seem to have anywhere near the wind protection, much less comfort.
That's kinda my point though (minus the autocorrect text). Why are adventure bikes replacing touring ones, when they aren't nearly the same thing. It's not just tupperware, it's also tiny poor performing windshields, thin seats, no highway pegs, overly high seat heights and centers of gravity, etc. Do people really have that big a need to look like they can go off road, even though we all know most never do?
@@jeremywest5433 Adventure bikes have an upright riding position I enjoy. Minimal protection (just enough) but you feel like your on an m/c. I'll ride dirt roads that a 2wd truck/suv could handle ( but it is no dirt bike for sure).
The big cruiser mentality is similar to the mindset of how over-bloated cars from the 60's and 70's were somehow 'better' than more compact cars. Similar attitudes today about why pick-up trucks are preferred, when any tester under the sun will say every car on the road will out handle a pick-up doing everything, except maybe hauling manure. (Yes many SUVs and cars have 4WD that works hands down better than on a pick-up, due to better weight distribution.) Comfort on a touring bike is a primary requirement, and yes there are many brands which provide bikes that can be ridden all day in comfort. They don't have to be 800-lb behemoths to be comfortable, and lighter typically performs better. It seems so many American riders, buy the heaviest cruiser they can, strip off many of the stock parts, then pay a premium for aftermarket parts like loud exhausts which are NOT 'more comfortable' after a few hours of droning on a highway. They also pay a fortune for a premium sound system so they can play their 'music' loud enough to hear it over said loud exhausts... If ever there was stupidity, that's clearly it... My preference is a lighter full size bike like many of the European brands, as their lighter weight make them noticeably more agile in corners and on back-roads, where I prefer to travel, vs totally boring interstates. And yes many of those models also have the newest features like ABS, GPS, Traction Control, etc. etc. Even radios, if you think such a sound system is somehow better than playing music through a good blue-tooth helmet-mounted sound system. For storage capacity, many pure touring bikes have permanent cases. My luggage is big enough for multi-day over-night trips, but I like the flexibility of removable locking luggage that doesn't stay on the bike when I'm out on day-long rides and I'm carrying very little. Dependability is a given. For this my preference is a shaft-drive that requires little maintenance and runs clean. No need to haul lubricant and oil a chain, or adjust for wear. I've put over 165,000-km on my BMW R1150-RS and have had minimal issues, other than routine maintenance at 10,000-km intervals, where the valves rarely need adjustment. Bonus is it's super-easy to do all my own maintenance for the cost of my own time alone, and I know it's done properly every time. If you plan your maintenance around your trip it is less of a concern. Oil changes needed every 2,500-miles? That's not a bike anyone should buy, let alone try to tour with... Safety is paramount, and you cannot beat the better handling, stopping and acceleration that a sport-touring bike provides, vs an over-weight cruiser... And they're actually more fun to ride for those exact same reasons. Range? I typically get 5-litres per 100-km, so my 22-litre tank will get me over 400-km. My BMW R1150-RS is a Sports-Tourer and has a smaller fairing than the full-touring RT version. I prefer the smaller & lighter fairing and adjustable windscreen as I get good air circulation in the heat of summer while the highway blast is comfortably reduced. When needed the windscreen can be raised up to almost totally remove wind flow. While you can tour on almost any bike, some are just significantly better at it. The biggest bikes aren't always the best.
To use an old time cliche - it’s horses for courses. Touring in the western USA is not the same thing as touring in Europe or Scandinavia. In the US you can ride for days on nice wide roads that are not technically challenging so a big cruiser does the job just fine. In Europe you’ll be on wide sweeping country roads one minute and then on single track potholed with switchbacks and steep inclines the next where a big cruiser would be a real handful.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is you can’t really take European’s opinions on touring seriously. They ride a KTM 1290 3,000 miles a year and say “Oh it’s been dead reliable, I had this bike for 5 years and went to 20 different countries on it” Then an American gets a KTM 1290 and rides it 800 miles in one day and it overheats.
It really depends on what you think touring is. My best tour was with my son on his UK legal learner bike, an MT125, limited to 12bhp, me on a Husqvarna 701. So not classic touring bikes. We rode the Scottish North Coast 500. It was magical. Around 120 miles a day in the draw droppingly beautiful Scottish Highlands. Don't overthink it, especially you American lads. You worry too much. I see Yanks taking firearms with them for a motorcycle trip. I've ridden from Arctic Finland to Saharan Morocco and never had a thing stolen (I only ever use soft luggage and I do lock my bike up) or ever felt the need for a firearm. I'm ex British military so not especially worried about firearms, but outside of the Army, guns are pretty pointless. Btw hard cases are a piece of piss to break into. With my MoskoMoto rackless 40 I can easily carry my stuff into a hotel but I've left my kit on bikes in big cities (Barcelona, Porto and Lisbon) and dozens of small towns across Europe and North Africa. With zero problems. So just do it, without thinking too hard. A chain really isn't a problem.
The Victory shirt informs our understanding of your understanding of "newer" bike.
Always remember that it's the motorcycle manufacturers marketing team that sell you what they think you need.
I bought into the biggest and fastest is best as well as if it's expensive it must be good.
Any bike can do anything, but it's important that you feel comfortable and that your bike brings a smile to your face.
Recently switched my touring bike from a Goldwing to a Tiger 900. The Tiger has all the same comfort features of the Goldwing except for wind blocking but it is 370lbs lighter. That makes a big difference and with top box and side panniers, I have more carrying capacity than on the Goldwing. Win Win.
Is the wind not an issue for you though? What are you doing to compensate? Better clothing, windshield extensions, shorter days riding?
@@jeremywest5433 I turn the dial up on my heated jacket a little more. 🙂
@@jeremywest5433seriously mate, you're overthinking it. I've got a Tiger 900 Rally. It is superbly comfortable on a road day and on the right tyres, amazingly competent off road. If you want to waft around in a bubble get a big tourer or a luxury car. The joy of a bike is to be part of your environment, not detached from it.
This country is huge. It takes me nearly four hours w/o traffic to get from Berkeley to Nevada, so five days @ seven hours or so per day to get back to see family in Milwaukee. People don't realize how big it is and how empty so much of it is, especially west of the Mississippi.
I prefer sport touring bikes, good all rounders with power, handling, wind protection and panniers. I can throw on a tank bag and a tail bag if I need to and still remain nimble. Your comment about larger bikes here in the US, I believe is an expression of our overall culture where bigger is better, whether it's bikes or cars.
Good thoughts and suggestions. I have a Suzuki 650dl and at 75 I’m more than happy with the ride. I’ve traveled only in Europe and I have never had an issue with it. 70% of maintenance I do myself. It carries quite easily all panniers, including camping gear. I ride solo. Range is about 450km or 300miles, more or less, which, at my age is more than I can handle in a day. P. S. It’s a 2007 dl model. 😍Thank you for your vids and ride safe. Alex , Italy
Mój drogi przyjacielu, poruszyłeś wszystkie istotne kwestie.
Dodam tylko jedną bardzo istotną : jeżeli podróżujesz sam, musisz mieć motocykl, który po wywrotce sam podniesiesz z drogi.
Wiem , Ty jesteś silny, ale wyobraź sobie pusta autostrada w USA , zatrzymujesz się stawiasz motocykl na stopkę i nagle buuuuum, no i nie jesteś w stanie go podnieść :)
pozdrowienia z Polski !
In ten years of riding, I've had Hondas and Yamahas. I've logged over 250,000 miles and never had a "service call" problem while traveling. I do all my own maintenance, too. The words Honda and Yamaha are interchangeable in Japanese... they both mean "bullet-proof".
Great video, also nice to see you rocking the Victory tee! All the items you discussed were highlighted when I did my first tour after buying my Victory Cross Country Tour, replacing a Suzuki Boulevard C50. Comfort - the Victory had a more comfortable, heated, seat with a backrest; heated grips; and a full fairing with adjustable louvres. Storage - the Victory has tons of lockable storage. Very dependable, three long distance tours, plus local riding with no issues at all. Range and power was significantly improved with the Victory. The Suzuky has an 805cc engine and a 15.5l gas tank which made for a lot of anxiety and, eventually carrying a small gas can. The Victory has a monster 1731cc engine with a 22l gas tank which made planning stops a lot easier and the ride more relaxing!
Yep, Suzuki AN650 Burgman maxi scooter-excellent touring bike
Great video as always. I have had all kinds of motorcycles from dirt bikes to big Harley cruisers. Currently I ride a 2017 1200 BMW GSA. I absolutely love this motorcycle and I think it is the best touring motorcycle I have ever owned. I am very comfortable on it and have no problem going long distances. I have taken it off road a lot but as I age (63) i am finding it to be too heavy to throw around in the dirt. Especially with gear. I will be doing some BDR’s this season and I am looking at the Yamaha T7 and the Hondas Transalp for my BDR bike. I will keep my BMW for the road trips.
I once (back in the 80’s) had. Suzuki 650cc bike I rode from WY to MN. Crossing South Dakota was almost too much for the bike due to a viscous cross/head-wind that was at least 30mph. It just bogged down and became dangerously slow on the interstate. I got a 1200cc bike later on for touring and haven’t had that problem since.
I like that you put comfort and fit at the top of the list. 😊
Comfort, cruise, fuel range, weather/wind protection, maintenance intervals and luggage capacity.
Although I am well past my motorcycle days, I could not stop thinking about what bike I would pick. I ended up selecting the Moto Guzzi 85 TT Travel. It has plenty of power. Has a shaft drive. Has a cruise control. Does not weigh 900 pounds . To top it off it has an air cooled engine. No overheating like a BMW K1600. No water pump to break. No chance of a hole in the radiator. The only downside is a small dealer network.
I like the looks of that bike a lot! Is it still working well for you?
I’ve never had the desire to ride cross country or stay out longer than 3-4 days. Being from North Carolina, I have some of the best roads in the southeast just a few hours away. I’ve “toured” more on smaller bikes than any of the big Harleys I’ve owned. The only things I require these days is cruise control and a decent windshield, which my Tiger has. I do not like having to do chain maintenance, but I love everything else about the Triumph so I consider it a trade off. Good video.
You may not know what you are missing. There are some amazing roads and scenery in this country and all are best experienced from a bike.
@@Marc-zf3xv I’ve been in 49 states and a dozen foreign countries. I don’t think I’ve missed as much as you think 😊.
😂😂😂😂😂 I love responding like this when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about: motorcycles or travel. Riding 40 years, spent time in 52 countries, and ridden in 32 of them. @robertstone6874
ABS and Traction Control are essential to me
Absolutely. And, essential to learn how to emergency stop and swerve. I added a brake light modulator because I know the person behind me is likely on their smart phone or eating a happy meal while driving.
Another great video!
You are absolutely on point with all of the topics that you covered. I own a shaft-drive Yamaha FJR 1300A. I added bar risers to give me 1" up and 1" back, to enable a more upright seating position, An after market deep-scoop Saddlemen's seat, with a raised lower back-rest. front and rear tip-over bars to protect that expensive Tupperware fairing 😁. Everybody has varying tastes in motorcycle brands and accessories and that is okay, we are all different. The FJR has a comfortable upright seating position, gets great fuel economy and is utterly powerful, agile and extremely reliable for long distance sport-touring. It has two, lockable hard cases with abundant storage. I place a Sadddlemen's contoured tunnel-bag on the passenger seat, that stores a full weeks worth of shoes, clothing and shaving kit. It will digest 87, 89, 91 and 93 octane fuel and is fuel injected, so riding at higher altitudes does not affect performance. This bike has clocked over 40,000 cross-country miles with no failures of any kind. Before purchasing the FJR, I also researched and arranged test rides on the Honda ST1300 and Kawasaki C14. I liked the FJR the best and years later, still love it!
My motto is: "The goal is not to have more days in your life, but to have more life in your days" 😎
I look forward to watching your videos, thanks so much for sharing.
97 wing= very heavy, but a great tourer. Add my age and it = to sidecar fitment...no more weight problems ! and I can take the dog with me ! :) on day trips.
Thanks for the vid, Be well.
Very cool on your desion to add a side car. Much cheaper than a trike conversion + no leftover parts. I am sure your 🐶🐕 dog loves it too.
I'm another that have gone the adventure bike route with the Suzuki 650XT V-Strom, not big power but for it's size 72HP can punt my fat arse and luggage down the highway at a good rate of knots. I wished it had cruise sometimes but it's not as bad as my previous Strom primarily because this one has 1 inch bar risers which make a heck of a difference in siting position over long hours. I can comfortable do the 300 miles (520kms ) on the bike in a day but usually limit it to around 2050 miles or 400kms. With hard case luggage , it carries all my stuff including a Cpap device and camping gear.
Great topic! On ergos, I have to change stuff to fit my 6'5" self no matter what bike I get, so that leaves a lot of choices.
Another great video. All great points and we all have different perspectives. I'm the same age as you and I've found a 660 Tuareg is my current best choice. Italian yes, so a few concerns that way but it has all the modern conveniences; tubeless, CC, TFT screen, different rider modes you can change on the fly, etc. I never ride two up so plenty of power. I've a 1200 adv tourer and a 250 dual sport but the Tuareg it's the one for now. Ask me again when it breaks down 500 miles from an Aprilia dealer!
comfort, wind protection, heated grips, weren't high on my list when I bought it but I really like them. And to me a my 1200 is a big bike. For now not to big.
I have a Buell Ulysses and call it a mid size. My wife is shorter so lower seat height bikes appeal to her. I can't do super sport or sport position. I do understand arm chair position of Harley's. But like mid pegs to stand on. I need something that can go down 2 tracks and dirt roads. I drive a jeep no doors or top. Never had anything stolen but have had a lot of stuff left for me in the jeep.
I'm on a Kawasaki Versys x300. Awesome bike ( I've only been riding for 13 months), but I dream of cruise control. A 300-400 mile day murders my right wrist, even with liberal use of the Atlas throttle lock. Other than that, 300ccs is enough to get me and my stuff around comfortably, as long as I avoid long blasts on the interstate.
For me, the first question is "what types of roads do I plan to ride on". If I plan to ride on pavement all the time my choice is different from if I plan to ride up to Dempster or Dalton (again).
Regardless, the things I look for are: Comfort (all day (12+ hours) of riding), Wind Protection (on the highway at 75+MPH), Luggage Capacity (preferably locking), Ease of Maintenance (and low required maintenance), Power to get out of trouble, Tank Range.
For Pavement my choice is a Gold Wing even though it is SADLY in need of a major update to be at least up to date with other current models. And, if I'm doing offroad then my choice is a BMW GS (I currently have a GSA).
I'm 73+ and can barely pick up either of the above 2 bikes but I can manage it when I take off luggage and get angry! :).
Yup 100HP & Torque is MORE than enough although I do have more but having close to 200HP is WAY overkill. Oh and I REALLY like the reverse gear in the Gold Wing, wish my GSA had it!
My Honda NC750X DCT with Puig touring screen, Givi Hard Cases, and dropped foot pegs is a comfortable touring machine.
Does the NC 750 have cruise control?
Cruise Control
I would guess that cruise control is coming to many more mid size bikes in the next few years. We as consumers need to exercise our power by refusing to buy otherwise suitable machines because the manufacturer wants to up sell us to something bigger, more expensive and more complicated than we need or want.
The age and /or the physical limitations of the rider have everything to do with your bike choice, not to mention your financial situation. I'm old, big and broke, my 2007 Royal Star Tour Deluxe for $3k fills the bill.
Craig, you and I think alike and look for the same features. I have been searching exhaustively and have finally decided on a late model BMW GSA. I tried the Super 10 but it was not right. The BMW cuts over 400lbs over the Victory and size wise fits my frame. I can flat foot it no problem. It is already set up for me ergonomically. I should be settling on it today. I am excited about the change, but will miss Victory. It was my cancer recovery vehicle and holds fond memories, but the new motorcycle will be far more versatile and is well suited to the South Dakota demands.
I'll say one thing after a decade of touring on the Victory Cross Country in that low-slung, American cruiser style, then switching to a 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour. After some "getting used to", the Honda's upright, feet back riding position is much more comfortable and less fatiguing in the long haul than the Victory's "C" position with feet out and arms up.
I had a 2010 Honda Sabre 1300 and it was a great bike and more than enough to travel on, except that I hated that there was no luggage. I had to use a back seat bag for it. I did 53,000 miles on it and had it travel as far east as North Carolina, north as Minnesota, south as Louisiana and Texas, and west as the very western part of Wyoming. I did upgrade to a full sized touring bike in November 2022 and put more than 12,000 miles on it in the first year of owning. 2022 Indian Pursuit that is very comfortable, gets 40+ on mpg, plenty of power, locking bags/trunk and I love riding that bike. I know the dealership coverage is not great (203 dealerships I think at end of 2023), I am comfortable with that currently. Cruise was a game changer for me as my right wrist now gets breaks on the road from holding throttle position and creature comforts like heated grips and seat can be handy. I just put taller bars on and am interested to see how they handle for me on a longer trip, I have not ever changed bars on a bike before.
In Belgium is wind, cold and rain protection very important....so I have a legcover, adapted windshield and believe it or not even a removabel roof...
People in Europe usually do not have a good idea of just how big the US and more so, Canada is. You cannot "comfortably" travel the normal distances we travel. Over there, you have nice towns and villages 20 to 30 miles apart. So their idea is different than ours. I am now 70, and have been riding Gold Wings exclusively since 1975. For me, there is no other better touring motorcycle. It meets my needs. Haven't done a 750 mile day since 2015, because I am physically not wanting to do that anymore. I want the quietest bike I can get, as vibrationless as I can. Locking luggage, shaft drive, water cooled, probably one of the most reliable bikes on the market. However, if I lived in Europe, I could easily see myself wanting something different. The final thought, is each to thier own.
I lived and worked in the UK back in the 80s. Most there had no realization of the size of the US. They thought Chester to London was a significant journey. When I went to the airport to pick someone up who was arriving on a 6 AM flight, I got up at 2 AM, drove to London and was back by noon the same day. My British colleagues thought that was crazy as they considered that an overnight journey. To me it was only slightly longer than driving from my home to the capital of my state of PA. 😁. Bikes sized appropriately for most of Europe are far too small for typical US travel. Likewise, a Gold Wing isn’t the best choice for touring Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Totally disagree. My BMW R1150-RS is among the best bikes for touring. You can put a much in the BMW System Cases as you want, and it's as comfortable and reliable as they come. And it will out-handle a bigger cruiser, and has a better power-to-weight ratio. Why do I have to go heavier to be 'better' in your view? Yes many in the UK rarely travel much beyond where they live. So many in the south haven't visited Whales or Scotland. When my wife an I were on our honeymoon we toured for three weeks through each of these, and felt there was still far too much we wanted to see. Came back a few years later with two of our kids and did it again...
@@garymaclean6903 The GSes aren’t even close to being as comfortable for the passenger as is my LT or a Wing. I know a number of women who have ridden both and there simply is no comparison. And the wind protection on a GS pales in comparison to an LT or Wing. I never said you had to go to a heavier bike or do anything. I am just stating what is better. Never said you had to choose better.
@@LTVoyager For me, 'comfort' isn't just about a soft seat and big luggage capacity. It's about such features as not having several hundred pounds of extra weight to brake and wrestle through the corners down a tight mountain road. There are many bikes I'm more 'comfortable' riding on such roads than several bikes that claim to be ideal tourers. I never mentioned the GS, let alone claimed a GS was a better touring bike than some other models.
@@garymaclean6903 My bad. I misread RS as GS. What I said about the GS applies even more to the RS. 😁
@@LTVoyager Sounds like an unsubstantiated claim. What actual facts is it based on? The seating and amenities on the RS are much like, if not identical to, the RT, often ranked by many in the industry as the best touring bike on the planet.
Great video, I think it's interesting looking at the difference between touring in the US (one country) and Europe (many countries). I down sized from a Yamaha XVS1300 to a Moto Guizzi V7 (750cc) and find it very reliable, comfortable, great for getting round towns and cities and has a 200 mile range. I recently did a 2300+ mile ride from the UK through Spain and had no issues at all. I would never take my bike to a dealer either, far too expensive, maybe we are spoilt over in Europe, but there seems to be a lot more smaller garages that will help if you wanted to do some maintenance.
I like “smaller” bike touring. I miss my BMW K100RS. I currently have a BMW K1200GT and Moto Guzzi V7 Special. I found a set of hard cases, funny enough, for a mid 80’s K100 RS and mounted those to the V7. I have taken 4,000 plus 10 day trips on both the K1200 and the V7. Both have a comfortable enough riding position, different points of discomfort. The heated grips and wind protection were nice with the BMW while in the Pacific Northwest. The smaller size on the V7 was nice. Tired, unfamiliar places-the smaller bike was nice. I also encountered some dirt, loose gravel roads. The V7 is friendlier in those conditions, if I had been on the BMW I might have taken a different route. The Guzzi gets better gas mileage and tires are less expensive and last longer. I am inclined towards the Guzzi for trips, unless expecting colder weather. I don’t think I would ever get a big Touring Bike.
Still have the Super Tenere? What makes this Triumph better enough than the Tenere for this purchase?
I sold the Tenere a few years back. Great bike, works very well for touring. Unfortunately Yamaha has not updated the bike since 2014 and I have only seen one on my dealer's floor in more than 3 years.
For me it would be the combination of storage capacity/security, comfort, wind/weather protection, reliability, and sufficient power/range/weight for highway travel, and able to handle campsite roads. I can also only have one motorcycle/vehicle, so flexibility is pretty important as well (thankfully no commuting worries), and I am looking towards a new bike this year.
Still trying to decide between an ADV (1200 Tiger, Multistrada, GSA, Pan Am), Tourer (RT/GT/GTL, Wing, Super Duke GT, Tracer GT+), or Full Dresser (R18, Street/Road Glide, Pursuit/Roadmaster). It's a tough choice honestly.
Starting with some self-awareness; I’ll never ride my motorcycle to 100% of its capacity. I’ll run out of talent long before the bike runs out of ability, power, and torque.
I’ve gone to the drawing board a million times on this. Insisting on checking all boxes, in no order of importance;
cruise control, wind protection, proven engineering, shaft drive, carrying capacity, ergonomic fit for 1k/day (something about IronButts where I come alive), stable in crosswinds, bar risers, lockable hard or soft case available, room to stretch legs/stand up if desired, ability to stay on tarmac (80%) or go off (20%), GPS integration, space for additional mounting options (phone, camera), aftermarket selection (tank bag, case liners, seats, pegs,…) etc.
Also, I definitely need to feel as if I’m sitting “in” the bike, not “on” the bike. At 6’2”, this is more of an issue than most anticipate.
Basically, I’m looking for the one-bike-that-fits-most, quasi, the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. Able to do it all, with some absence of perfection.
Ultimately, I’m always coming back to the GS Adventure. Having tested KTM, Ducati, Triumph, Guzzi, the GSA is the bike that fits me the best.
Once I’m too decrepit to get my leg over the GSA, even with “horse mounting”, I’ll switch to something akin to a Goldwing and give up going on gravel/dirt/forest. May this be when I’m 95.
Here in Thailand 450 would be my limit , last bike in U.S. 650 BMW . Hope for belt drive.
I have been looking for a Tiger. Rode my buddy's 800 and I want one. His 2001 Legend has 100,000 miles and still runs perfect. Over the years the old triumph has had electrical issues. Riding a GL 1200 now snd it has been good for long distance travel.
Having nearly 8 gallons when I had my GSA was great. 7 gallons on my Grand America is nice as well. But am looking for the 900 size bike soon.
Wow!.....awesome topic!!!!.... I must say this first, I do all work on my bikes, So I would never get any BMW motorcycle, the cost of part's, and tools for that bike is ridiculous! Second I pull a motorcycle camper. So I could never buy a Triumph motorcycle cause they do not make a motorcycle big enough to pull a 300lb camper, and 2 people plus luggage, that's why I ride a Honda St1300. Please don't get me wrong I dig some Triumph, and BMW bike's but when It comes to my type of riding, and touring they don't make the cut. Stay Awesome Sir.
Great info thanks, i have a tiger 1200 rally pro and a harley ultra classic, both very capable but very different, thought i would sell one but enjoy both of them a lot like you said depending on where you go.
At 5'7" and 180 lbs, seat height is important to me. My HD Heritage special has a 25" seat height that works very well for me. It also weighs about 700 lbs so I can handle it and pick it up f I need to. It is a basic bike with a 1700 cc (107c.i.) engine that makes 77 horsepower. People laugh at me, but I have put 30,900 miles on that bike and it has never let me down...and, no, I am not your 'average' Harley rider.
If your a handy person Victory Vision is still the way to go you can find a low mileage 2011 or newer for under $7000
All good thoughts, but I would have to add wind and weather protection. This is a personal preference on what a rider likes, but really needs to be thought about before a purchase. If you’re going to be doing a lot of high-speed long-distance days when protection is a nice bonus, but can be added afterwards, with aftermarket components to some degree. When the rain hits the question is, are you going to stop and take cover somewhere or keep riding through it?
My experience with Yamaha dealers on my Alaska trip was the opposite of yours. I had a blowout on the way up and did a roadside repair and called Yukon Yamaha in Whitehorse as we would be passing through anyway. They worked in doing a more permanent fix for me same day. They also were doing tire services on a GS and a Pan America while I was there among others. Some with appointments some like me last minute. Maybe it was just that I caught the right shop.
It is not Yamaha, it is the individual shop.
@@LivingOffTheSlab I completely agree. I have had shops in other places fail me and others go above and beyond for me.
Thanks
Hey Craig....new subscriber here and watching this video after I just watched your "old and alone on a motorcycle" and leaving you a similar question. I really would love your advice about buying my next bike as I just turned 62 years old and have NOT been on a bike since I sold my Harley Street Glide 17 years ago. I live in Austin TX and will spend 90% of time riding the Texas Hill Country. I am not a cross country type of guy but love 6-8 hour day trips. . I love TORQUE and the new Harley Low Rider ST which is 100 lbs less than the Street Glide and has saddlebags, fairing plus that M8 117 engine which must be a lot of fun to ride. Do you think a sports cruiser like the Low Rider ST would be a good choice of a bike for the TX Hill Country? I dig the Indian Scouts as well because they weigh 540 lbs but though a heavier bike like Low Rider at 727 lbs is more stable for longer cruises. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks so much. 🙏
Either of these bikes would be great for the Texas hill country, but of course it depends a lot on you. How do like to ride? What is you skill level? I always encourage new or returning riders to get some training. The classes are fun and you walk away with new skills and confidence. I am taking a refresher course myself next month.
Back to the bikes. I suggest riding both bikes, if can and getting to the one you feel most comfortable with, and of course you need to feel good about the dealer too.
Good luck and have fun!
2021 Honda Goldwing All Day, Every Day!!! Enough Said, Case Closed. 👍
If only it had baggage capacity for two and decent fuel capacity.
@@LTVoyager The Honda Goldwing comes in different configurations, from the base model all the way up to the touring model, and there’s more storage than anyone could expect on a motorcycle! Also, there’s tons of baggage accessories that can be tailored to your own specifications! The 2018- 2021 have a fuel capacity of 5.57 gallons @ 43 miles per gallons, or 233 miles at “normal” highway speeds! Plus it rides like you’re sitting on your sofa! What more could ask for from an extremely low maintenance touring bike? It’s a Honda, they don’t die! 👍
@@LTVoyager BTW, Harley and Indian riders are switching over to the Goldwing in droves! Not only for all that the Honda Goldwing has to offer as far as the ride, amenities, fuel economy, safety, styling, low maintenance costs etc, but also for the weight and maneuverability of the bike! I am all for American made and some foreign made bikes, but I have to be sensible and honest when it comes to quality, reliability and more “ bang for the buck” especially when it pertains to the Goldwing. Take my 2022 Honda Rebel CMX1100 DCT for example, what other manufacturers have come up with a DCT bike?!? And the best part is that it works flawlessly and Honda has perfected it over the years! I have to give credit where it’s due, and Honda has nailed it on a few of their models over the years. Plus there’s an adequate amount of Honda dealerships throughout America just in case I should require service. 👍
@@RollWithSoul317 My wife and I took a long test ride on a 2018 Wind when the new model came out. We liked the power, smoothness and wind protection, but the luggage is too small and the tank too small and the seats too hard. Our packed bags from our BMW would not fit in any of the cases on the Wing and we could not fit our helmets in the side cases or both helmets in the top case. I know you can spend a bunch of money and by the Corbin side case lids and I believe Honda finally increased the top case size using essentially the Corbin lid design. But I really don’t want to spend $30K on a bike and then need to spend $5,000 more for case lids, a custom seat, and additional fuel capacity. My BMW is still reliable so will continue with that for a few more years and see if Honda corrects more of the Wing deficiencies.
@@RollWithSoul317 No surprise there. Harley and Indian still think it wise to copy 100 year old designs and yet charge modern prices. However, those of use who ride BMWs don’t have that same problem. We have a sparse dealer network, but the BMW bikes outperform the Wing in almost every metric. My main beef with BMW is that they are now getting antagonistic against owner repair and maintenance by no longer providing service manuals to owners. Doing my own maintenance and repairs is what makes owning a BMW reasonable. Without that, BMW is now off my candidate list for a new bike. Although, I suspect the other brands will follow suit until we get enough states to pass RTR laws, or better yet get the Feds to mandate such laws.
Size (5'8", 160 Pounds, 27" inseam) has become an issue as I've gotten older. My DL650 was with me for years through Mexico and several trips to AK was a great bike til my mid to late 60's. After disposing of it's replacement, a Honda NT700, which was lower, but too heavy after a serious knee injury, I've mostly recovered and have discovered the strengths of one of the best light weight small almost ADV bike on the market with a great following, the Honda CB500X. I've just brought home it's next gen version, the NX500 and am busy outfitting it with the lighter Givi MonoKey hard bags and top case, that give plenty of capacity for distance touring, plus all of the other touring related farkles I've gotten used to over the years. It can easily cruise at 70mph and 80, if asked, with rock solid dependability. I love the simplicity and lack of distractions it brings. Just like a smaller, lighter VStrom. At 80 Y.O., I hope to be riding for at least another 5 and maybe even 10 years more.
I'm lovin your Alaska '24 trip videos. Brings back many memories, starting in Episode 3. Our AK rides have been from the So Cal area up through Western Washington, entering at Sumas and through Frazier River, then normally North until we'd merge with your route, at Prince George.
Looking forward to more episodes.👌👍
Nice job!
Would be interested in seeing a Can Am Spyder RT included in one of these comparisons.
What a coincidence! Tomorrow I am getting a new bike well suited to touring, an Energica Experia. Unlike the sporty, race bike like, Energica Ego Rebelle, it has a comfortable upright riding position and a screen to take some of the wind off.
It has really big lockable panniers and top box, something I would have liked when I took my Zero DSR around Ireland. Having a bag strapped on the seat was a pain, as I had to take it off and carry it every time I stopped. Once in Carlow I fell over with the rucksack and cut my forehead.
The weight is low down, so it is easy to handle on the road, and it even has a reverse gear for parking. But it is as heavy as the enormous bikes you mentioned, so don't drop it.
Like you, I don't need a lot of power, its 102 HP is enough. But high torque from 0 mph makes it easier to control, not just when taking off, but also when riding at 3 mph (no need to slip a clutch on a clutchless bike).
In England 100 miles is a long distance, 100 years is a short time. So I don't need a long range. Riders of the Experia get 100 to 160 miles on a single charge (depending on speed) and DC recharge in 20 to 30 minutes. After riding for an hour and half, I need to stop and recharge myself, not just the bike.
My final criterion for any motorbike is how well it copes with and prevents bad weather. I use heated gloves in the winter, but don't have any way to handle the summer temperatures of nearly 40 deg. C we had recently. I am used to the mild climate of England. We rarely get the extremes of heat, cold, wind and rain that occur in parts of the USA or India. So the less carbon dioxide I emit, the better, otherwise I will have to endure more extreme weather. I will never buy another petrol bike and I have never owned a car.
Your list is pretty close to mine. I would add cruise control as I consider that a must for my 64 year old wrist. I also need two-up storage capacity and that is increasingly hard to find as even the new Gold Wing comes up short. Sadly, I keep riding my old K2100LT simply because there is no new bike that meets my needs. If Honda had only given the new Wing at least 130 L of storage and 7 gallons of fuel to match the K1600 BMWs…
I was always one to say I'd never own a Harley-Davidson, but since 2018, we've owned two of them. Now I'm not one to be brand loyal. It's whatever bike suits our needs, and Harley's big touring bikes work best for us. Comfort is excellent, fuel mileage is great, there are plenty of dealerships with good parts availability, and lastly, the cool factor. Lol No, all kidding aside, I've ridden many motorcycles and enjoy riding our Harley-Davidson more than any of them. Thanks for a great video!
Triumph and Suzuki have discussed abandoning the dealership as a point of purchase ( like Tesla ). Wonder if they would open regional service centers ( like Tesla)? I just upgraded from an 04 to a 14 Vstrom 1000. Newer bike had enough refinements, and owner had some upgrades I wanted. Then harvested my soft luggage and some upgrades from the old bike before putting it for sale.
I have read about the possibility of purchasing online, but they would still need someone to deliver and service the bikes. Not sure how that would work. Guess we might find out in the future.
Cruse control & tubeless wheels (spoked or not)…
Absolutely. CC is a must have for me. And tubeless tires are essential for long distance travel in remove places. Easy to plug a tire compared to patching or replacing a tube.
I always get the wow factor when Ii'm riding my 2016 BMW 1200RT. It's a great sport/touring motorcycle. I also get the wow factor when I get a BMW service bill...lol.
Weight & center of gravity, those factors will have a great influence on all other aspects..🤔🧐
I have a 2010 triumph thunderbird 1600, it's a great touring machine, does everything I want .must be comfortable as the wife falls asleep on the back 😁😴
Touring = Designed specifically for long-distance motorcycle trips. However, I know many riders who have touring capable bikes but, at most, take weekend trips or just show up at rallies. My guess, out of all the touring bikes sold in the USA, perhaps 20% are actually used for "touring". Touring motorcycle, full sized pickup trucks, and grand SUV's, Americans like to use big tools for small jobs.
For me, it’s kind of an illusion to pretend that a big tank for gas can be a piece of mind maker, once that I don’t like to do more than 150/200 kms without doing a stop for stretching and relaxing a bit. So, a bike with a 20 liter capacity will do it perfectly. Hard panniers are important and cruise control is a big advantage. Wind protection is also relevant (for the motorway segments). And that’s it. 👌🏻
Wind protection is key for me. That's part of why I don't quite understand the move to absentia books as touring bikes. They just don't seem to have anywhere near the wind protection, much less comfort.
True ADV bikes do not have the kind of wind/weather protection as a big touring cruiser or Goldwing. It all depends on the kind of riding you enjoy.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Adventure bikes don't have all the tupperware body bits to remove just to keep an eye on mechanicals on the road.
That's kinda my point though (minus the autocorrect text). Why are adventure bikes replacing touring ones, when they aren't nearly the same thing. It's not just tupperware, it's also tiny poor performing windshields, thin seats, no highway pegs, overly high seat heights and centers of gravity, etc.
Do people really have that big a need to look like they can go off road, even though we all know most never do?
I guess that does go along with the trend to suv's, when a sedan would do just fine as well for the majority of people.
@@jeremywest5433 Adventure bikes have an upright riding position I enjoy. Minimal protection (just enough) but you feel like your on an m/c. I'll ride dirt roads that a 2wd truck/suv could handle ( but it is no dirt bike for sure).
Do you still have the trailer?
No sold after getting rid of the BMW.
For touring I like GT. Dodge Challenger GT, Triumph Rocket GT. 😉
The big cruiser mentality is similar to the mindset of how over-bloated cars from the 60's and 70's were somehow 'better' than more compact cars. Similar attitudes today about why pick-up trucks are preferred, when any tester under the sun will say every car on the road will out handle a pick-up doing everything, except maybe hauling manure. (Yes many SUVs and cars have 4WD that works hands down better than on a pick-up, due to better weight distribution.) Comfort on a touring bike is a primary requirement, and yes there are many brands which provide bikes that can be ridden all day in comfort. They don't have to be 800-lb behemoths to be comfortable, and lighter typically performs better. It seems so many American riders, buy the heaviest cruiser they can, strip off many of the stock parts, then pay a premium for aftermarket parts like loud exhausts which are NOT 'more comfortable' after a few hours of droning on a highway. They also pay a fortune for a premium sound system so they can play their 'music' loud enough to hear it over said loud exhausts... If ever there was stupidity, that's clearly it... My preference is a lighter full size bike like many of the European brands, as their lighter weight make them noticeably more agile in corners and on back-roads, where I prefer to travel, vs totally boring interstates. And yes many of those models also have the newest features like ABS, GPS, Traction Control, etc. etc. Even radios, if you think such a sound system is somehow better than playing music through a good blue-tooth helmet-mounted sound system.
For storage capacity, many pure touring bikes have permanent cases. My luggage is big enough for multi-day over-night trips, but I like the flexibility of removable locking luggage that doesn't stay on the bike when I'm out on day-long rides and I'm carrying very little.
Dependability is a given. For this my preference is a shaft-drive that requires little maintenance and runs clean. No need to haul lubricant and oil a chain, or adjust for wear. I've put over 165,000-km on my BMW R1150-RS and have had minimal issues, other than routine maintenance at 10,000-km intervals, where the valves rarely need adjustment. Bonus is it's super-easy to do all my own maintenance for the cost of my own time alone, and I know it's done properly every time. If you plan your maintenance around your trip it is less of a concern. Oil changes needed every 2,500-miles? That's not a bike anyone should buy, let alone try to tour with...
Safety is paramount, and you cannot beat the better handling, stopping and acceleration that a sport-touring bike provides, vs an over-weight cruiser... And they're actually more fun to ride for those exact same reasons.
Range? I typically get 5-litres per 100-km, so my 22-litre tank will get me over 400-km.
My BMW R1150-RS is a Sports-Tourer and has a smaller fairing than the full-touring RT version. I prefer the smaller & lighter fairing and adjustable windscreen as I get good air circulation in the heat of summer while the highway blast is comfortably reduced. When needed the windscreen can be raised up to almost totally remove wind flow.
While you can tour on almost any bike, some are just significantly better at it. The biggest bikes aren't always the best.
To use an old time cliche - it’s horses for courses. Touring in the western USA is not the same thing as touring in Europe or Scandinavia. In the US you can ride for days on nice wide roads that are not technically challenging so a big cruiser does the job just fine. In Europe you’ll be on wide sweeping country roads one minute and then on single track potholed with switchbacks and steep inclines the next where a big cruiser would be a real handful.
Do you ride 300 plus miles without taking a break?
No, but I have ridden many times where it is 200 miles without a gas station.
Breaks have nothing to do with range. I want close to 300 miles also and ride a K1200LT and a KLR650f for that reason.
Wind buffeting is a deal breaker. You can spend a small fortune to try and beat it and still get little or no improvement.
7500 horsepower? I want that bike!
One thing I’ve learned over the years is you can’t really take European’s opinions on touring seriously. They ride a KTM 1290 3,000 miles a year and say “Oh it’s been dead reliable, I had this bike for 5 years and went to 20 different countries on it”
Then an American gets a KTM 1290 and rides it 800 miles in one day and it overheats.
It really depends on what you think touring is. My best tour was with my son on his UK legal learner bike, an MT125, limited to 12bhp, me on a Husqvarna 701. So not classic touring bikes. We rode the Scottish North Coast 500. It was magical. Around 120 miles a day in the draw droppingly beautiful Scottish Highlands. Don't overthink it, especially you American lads. You worry too much. I see Yanks taking firearms with them for a motorcycle trip. I've ridden from Arctic Finland to Saharan Morocco and never had a thing stolen (I only ever use soft luggage and I do lock my bike up) or ever felt the need for a firearm. I'm ex British military so not especially worried about firearms, but outside of the Army, guns are pretty pointless. Btw hard cases are a piece of piss to break into. With my MoskoMoto rackless 40 I can easily carry my stuff into a hotel but I've left my kit on bikes in big cities (Barcelona, Porto and Lisbon) and dozens of small towns across Europe and North Africa. With zero problems. So just do it, without thinking too hard. A chain really isn't a problem.
At 15000 miles my gold wing isn't even broke in yet
Easy.
A sidecar.
I will never understand the "BIGGER IS BETTER" mentality of a lot of fools. One of the very first round the world bikes was a 350cc....
Warranty
I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine. I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years.
👍🏻 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻
Does your wife now stay home.
Yes. Her long trip days are over.
Goldwing. Period. Nothing more to say.
I much prefer my K1200LT to a Wing, but sadly BMW makes nothing equivalent anymore nor does anyone else.
Shaft or belt drive, chain drive sucks!