Best "tourer" less than $5k

So I got stuck in traffic on 40 today and saw lots of motorbikes going the opposite way. What passed consisted of TONS of HDs with huge front fairings, windshields, saddlebags, and tail bags. I also saw some BMWs Ks, Rs, and GSs. Lastly I saw some Goldwings with everything imaginable, including one that looked to be pulling a small pop up camper.

In thinking of my motorbike future it led to think what I might want since my wife has shown an interest in going on some trips. But... My budget would be less than $5k.

Things I'd like:

• rider comfort

• passenger comfort

• ability to handle back roads and make them fun, while still being able to eat interstate

• hard cases (or the ability to easily add them)

And go...

A really nice triumph sprint ST sounds like a possibility. Should be easy to find one for less than 5k with hard luggage and whatnot. Good touring bike, lots of power, turns well, reliable.

Here's a list. I might edit this if I think of more options. Some of these options will need a little tweak here and there, like lowering the pegs or taller bars, that sort of stuff.

• VFR800, VTEC or not.
• Sprint ST
• 919
• FZ1
• ZRX 1x00 (and I'd do a round headlight conversion ASAP, because bleh on squares)
• Bandit 12x0
• Z1000
• Moto Guzzi Breva (WILDCARD)
• BMW R1150 R or RT

EDIT - Late additions;

• VStrom

There's tons of options. I have an aversion to inline-four's because of the vibration stories.

There are touring, sport touring and cruiser styles. The choices will make your head swim.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Kawasaki Concours. Here's one from the 1980s:

And the modern version:

Same capabilities as a much more expensive BMW without the much more expensive-ness.

pres589 wrote: There's tons of options. I have an aversion to inline-four's because of the vibration stories.

This isn't the 70's anymore, I-4's are hands down less buzzy than v-twin bikes.

Concours, Sprint ST, VFR, FZ1, and what I just picked up for a smidgen over $5k is a Triumph Tiger.

I'm a broken record, I know.

Honda Pacific Coast. No vibration, tossable, and HUGE luggage capacity. Easily sub $3000

I forgot about the Tiger! What a cool bike.

Also the PC800 (Pacific Coast) is a nice bike if you fit on it. Slow(ish), somewhat difficult to work on (Lots of bodywork), but it is a solid bike with lots of cool stuff.

In reply to yamaha:

Eh. And I'm talking about 90 degree v-twins, not that H-D stuff. Maybe they're about equal now. The crossplane crank setup of recent R1's seems interesting, and I'm not sure why that hasn't been moved to the FZ-1.

The Sprint is a 3 cylinder! Half of a straight six! Nice and smooth.

I'd also look at BMW K75S, K100RS and K1100RS/LT. With a bit of luck you can find a pretty good one for about $3k-$4k. I find them very comfortable (especially the K1100LT) and when looked after properly, they can cover huge mileage.

I do like BMW Airheads as well, but at this point in time, they're all rather long in tooth. If I were to buy another one, I'd probably end up with something like an R60/5 or R75/5 just for the classic fun of it. Wouldn't run one as my main/only bike though.

My neighbor just picked up a sub $5K FJR 1300. It looks new and has low miles. Man, that is a LOT of bike for the money! The seating position is all-day comfortable, it is not a race bike.

My bike (V-Star 950) with full tour gear on the used market is like $4K. And that's a practically new bike. While certainly no corner carver, it is great at eating up highway miles 2-up and cheaper to run than bigger bikes.

Triumphs are also good dual-purpose bikes. Throw some saddle bags and a windshield on and take the wife out for a spin, or strip it down and go have fun. Much easier to tear up the back roads than on a bloated cruiser.

pres589 wrote: In reply to yamaha: Eh. And I'm talking about 90 degree v-twins, not that H-D stuff. Maybe they're about equal now. The crossplane crank setup of recent R1's seems interesting, and I'm not sure why that hasn't been moved to the FZ-1.

Probably because Yamaha replaced the FZ-1 with a better bike(fz-09)

I really like the concours

Pres589 - thanks for the list. Not sure if you have been on a 919, but I put 1k+ miles on one. Great bike, good power, strong brakes. But the way Honda designed the exhaust from the 919 it causes and awful exhaust smell to sit around the rider. It feels like you are in the muffler. And from what I saw there wasn't a cheap fix.

Honestly I was waiting on some responses before I said anything. I like the FJR, BMW 1100-1200RT, and Honda ST1300.

I would like whatever I get to be fun in the corners, and not just go in a straight line.

Also thinking about maintenance, accessories, reliability, etc.

So do the HDs and Goldwings make that much better at touring? Or is it those are just popular bikes and people are using them for touring?

Is the build quality on the Concours better than other Kawis?

I ask because I have a Kawi now and in comparing my bike to the Honda 919 I rode for awhile, the Kawi quality just isn't quite as nice as Honda. It's not awful, it's just not as tight or as sharp.

I know of the 919 "stink". It seems to vary somewhat. Perhaps custom extended cans would work or some other way to get the outlets into a different airflow situation. Vfr's like mine have a somewhat similar exhaust configuration and I've never heard of this being an issue.

octavious wrote: Honestly I was waiting on some responses before I said anything. I like the FJR, BMW 1100-1200RT, and Honda ST1300.

My neighbor had the same list, plus the Concourse. He test drove them all before going with the FJR.

Some people say that cruisers are better for touring because they are more comfortable. I say BS because most Iron Butt riders and people who set long-distance records are NEVER on a Harley. They ride sport-touring bikes.

octavious wrote: Is the build quality on the Concours better than other Kawis? I ask because I have a Kawi now and in comparing my bike to the Honda 919 I rode for awhile, the Kawi quality just isn't quite as nice as Honda. It's not awful, it's just not as tight or as sharp.

Well, they're a bike that sells new for 2x what the 650r does....and while the 650 is a pretty good bike, they weren't worth what they sold for new. Lots of cost savings went with them. The rest of the Kawi line is on par with the others. ;-)

And yes, FWIW, the FJR is an epic touring machine that still handles. I always forget about them when these questions are asked though.

FJR is yummy. I have looked at those off and on for awhile. And the seats look slightly elevated and wide for the passenger too.

How are cruisers for the passenger? They look so small, but I see some BOGs on the back HDs.

Take your Porsche up to the dragon on a Saturday, about a quarter mile past where Killboy usually is there is a pull of next to a big rocky hill. Walk up to the top of the hill and just watch for a little while. You should get a pretty good feel for how the big cruiser bikes get through there vs. the sport tourers.

Living where I do now, a big cruiser bike makes more sense because everything is flat and straight for hundreds of miles around me. I would still rather have any of the big sport touring bikes.

Living where you do the big sport touring bikes would be far superior to a big cruiser simply because of the much higher performance capabilities. Even if you're not a fast or aggressive rider. There is something to be said for having plenty of turn or stop or go in reserve.

But Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson will rent you one to try out if you must.

I would say FJR, Concours or one of the BMWs just for the rider comfort. If the wife doesn't like it, you won't go on many trips.

Having just spent 1500 miles in 6 days on my new to me '98 VFR, I'll have to give it a thumbs up for touring. Just a shade under 50 mpg with soft saddlebags. Handles the curves like it should. Pretty comfortable except it needs an aftermarket (Sargent, Corbin) saddle.

pinchvalve wrote: Some people say that cruisers are better for touring because they are more comfortable. I say BS because most Iron Butt riders and people who set long-distance records are NEVER on a Harley. They ride sport-touring bikes.

And I say BS to Iron Butt riders NEVER being on a Harley. 15 of the 30 bikes that completed the Lake Michigan 1000, in 2014, were Harleys, mine being one of them, along with the two other bikes I was riding with.

IBA Member 59448

In 2013, I went out west. Just a tick over 5000 miles in 11 days. Three days were spent riding around St. George, Utah - OMG, is that area beautiful!

Next year, I'm tentatively heading to Alaska.

Long distance riders are never on a Harley... pish

octavious wrote: How are cruisers for the passenger? They look so small, but I see some BOGs on the back HDs.

A Harley Touring bike's* passenger seat is wide and thickly padded. Add a Tour Pak with wrap around back rest, and Mrs Octavius will be comfortable for days.

*A real Touring bike, not a bar-hopper bagger, like a Street Glide or Road Glide Custom. Those two have butt-floss passenger portions of a seat.