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Anybody with a Sport-Touring Motorcycle that Tours?
- Thread starter Triple
- Start date
where in the heck did you get that ? i was not even aware that Honda brought those to Canada anymore ? I had a 91 model
They were only brought into Canada in 1991. They were previously imported from 1982 to 1986, though I have yet to see a 1986 model. They were imported into the US until 2003. This is a 2001 model from Maryland. The previous owner trailored it here two years ago.
Armen444
Well-known member
Very nice setup, i plan to do exactly the same with my 92 Yamaha Seca II!
P.S. is there still room for a passenger with those soft saddle bags attached? reason i ask is because i was thinking of putting them on however i plan to tour with a passenger
Why not? You have a very nice looking bike that has character and a reliable engine that's powerful enough for long distance touring. From what I can see, the ergos are great for touring too, so what's not to like? Kudos on finding what's right for you and screw those that suffer just so they can ride a chick magnet.
daddymakk
New member
I used to have the 750S (same engine) and always thought it would be a great sport touring motor. Europe got it with a 3/4 fairing and dual headlights and we had naked or semi-naked versions only. A few add-ons and you'll have this bike made into a great touring machine!
Very nice setup, i plan to do exactly the same with my 92 Yamaha Seca II!
P.S. is there still room for a passenger with those soft saddle bags attached? reason i ask is because i was thinking of putting them on however i plan to tour with a passenger
I have a similar bike to yours, and the model down from Vlad's (Bandit 600).
With an upgraded seat, we find it's comfty for a few hours for my fiancee but I'm not sure we could do multi-day. Her knees are quite bent and she's leaned over. We've done a 500km day 2-up but she was sore after - and so was I.
At one of the 'super show' motorbike shows, I showed her an old used Kawi Concours and we sat on it. We both went 'ahhhh' when we sat down together on it, it was nice! The looks didn't win her over, but she definitely loved the ergos and could see the appeal.
I use a top box and it works great, and doubles as a backrest. I also have side cases, but haven't tried them yet. They could encroach (not sure), but more than that, my bike is very softly-sprung stock so I don't want to overload it.
From what I've heard and seen, when it comes to touring with a passenger, a touring bike makes more and more sense. I've heard feedback from guys with similar bikes (late-model Katana, VFR) who've told me that it's a good comfty mount solo but not good long distance 2-up. I've heard that V-Stroms work much better that way.
But hey, it's worth a try!
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Armen444
Well-known member
googled "Bandit 600" our bikes are almost identical
Ya i did exactly the same with my tank bag, i just lean ontop of it when i get tired or lazy Definitely, the V-Storm's raised tank/windshield along with a lowered riding position should allow for more comfortable riding even with a passenger. Thanks for the feedback
I think a lot is what you make of it.
I ride a V-Strom and have done a lot of Touring on it. (202,000km+ on my 2006, and my new 2012 I have over 6,000 km but have yet to tour with it.)
last summer I did a 2,000 km ride in Alberta/BC with a borrowed Gold Wing and can say they are fabulous bikes for their purpose. This Past January I rented a Honda ST1300 and spent a week and about 3,000 km riding in California and Arizona with my GF. The bike was fabulous - smooth, very powerful, handled nice, etc. The low handlebars caused me a bit of discomfort but I suspect that is something I could change through the aftermarket. It really is hard to say anything negative about it but in all honesty when I got back I bought a new 2012 V-Strom as that is more my kind of bike.
Ultimately, there is no best or worst bike for touring, but rather what you like and what works best for you.
..Tom
As you may have guessed I ride a FJR which is somewhat modified to be a bit more sporty. Upgraded suspension components, power commander, tires, exhaust etc. it is absolutely perfect for me at the moment. I tour on it all season long, all over the eastern US and Canada and I run into a huge number of "sport-tourers" out there. Just a word of caution on the 650 Vstrom, I find them to be grossly under-powered. A couple of years ago I was on a trip down the BRP with a 650 Vstrom amongst some other bike as well, when we had to use the interstate for a brief time the 650 had a hair raising time trying to not be run over by all the semis running 80 to 85 mph downhill on all the big hills/mountains along the Penn. Maryland West Virginia border. That's just my experience yours could be totally different but I thought he was going to be a hood ornament many times.
Having owned a DL650, there must have been something wrong with your friend's bike, or with your friend's right wrist.. Solo, but loaded, my bone stock bike ran 100 mph (160 kph) all day long (on the James Bay Road). It was limited to that speed, but got up and stayed there just fine.
There's no reason for any "word of caution" on the DL650.
There's no reason for any "word of caution" on the DL650.
For sure, and for Armen44, I'd say give it a try and see how it goes!
I test rode a VStrom 650 (the 2011 model before the revamp) in last year's Suzuki demo day. I thought it was great - nice ergos, comfty riding position, very upright and nice and light. The handling was quite good - I prefer my Bandit a bit but with the right tires I'm sure you could run some twisties. The power was about adequate - wouldn't hesitate to do freeways on it, but coming from the Bandit's inline 4 the V-Strom has great midrange but fades at the top end a little. I could see limitations if the 'strom were heavily loaded or 2-up but I wouldn't hesitate to take one on a trip.
I have heard better observations about 2-upping with V-Stroms than other sport tour bikes so I thought I'd bring it up. There aren't a lot of inexpensive, light, low-power touring bikes like it.
Anyways, I didn't mean to say you couldn't tour 2-up with the SECA. We just find that the passenger suffers a bit more than the rider on trips on a similar bike. Give a try and see how you find it - there's lots of great places within 3 hrs of the GTA.
I think something was seriously wrong with your friend's bike!
This past September I rode back from Utah to Toronto area at the end of a 10,000 km ride. temperatures were typically 90 to 100f in the three days I rode back. Bike was loaded down with tent, etc. Speeds in Utah are 80mph and, because of the wide open spaces, most traffic there travelled around 90 mph. I had no problem.
I also had occasion to give a fellow rider a ride back from Ohio to Pickering a few years ago. He crashed his bike and was hurt so we travelled 800 km home on the interstates. I weighed around 240, and he was similar weight. I had a topcase on the back and side cases. Most of the ride was at a (real) 120 to 140 kph and the bike had no problem at all handling it.
There are plenty of bikes that are faster and have more power, but in reality the DL650 has plenty of power for my uses. Even when coming back from California after spending the week on the ST1300 I didn't feel the DL650 was underpowered.. sure it had much less power but certainly has enough for touring two up.
..Tom
Thanks!... Actually I love it, and it actually inspires me. Its no stump puller like my previous three beasts: SV1000S, Tiger 955i, and K1200RS, but its fairly light and has excellent, smooth acceleration. It also has a lower center of gravity unlike my prevous 4 motorcycles (add KLR650), which makes its very easy to navigate in tight traffic. That motor is an absolute gem, and the stock non-adjustable suspenders actually work!!
BTW, after 16 years of "togetherness" with my current wife, I ride to run away from women in general!!
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Very nice setup, i plan to do exactly the same with my 92 Yamaha Seca II!
P.S. is there still room for a passenger with those soft saddle bags attached? reason i ask is because i was thinking of putting them on however i plan to tour with a passenger
To be honest, I just pop the saddle bags off when I have my 10 year old son on the back, but if I slide the bags back, there seems to be ample room for a passenger.
I might invest in a caribou (pelican) top-box, and only use the saddle bags for solo touring.
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Yeah, the S models were kind of neat, especially with the shaft drive.
Armen444
Well-known member
PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME!! as to what BT headset you are using
i searched it up and on ebay you can get the 500m chinese bluetooth interphone system or the NOISEHUSH N800 for relatively affordable prices
Armen444
Well-known member
BTW!!!! the SMH10 looks amazing on its spec sheet! after reading it i instantly wanted it! then i ebay'ed it.... ya $200 for just one is way out of my budget, let alone the second set for the time being i ordered this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Motorcycle-H...ccessories&hash=item231b5b44d6#ht_3614wt_1270
at $8 how could you say no? i thought i would give them a shot considering its insanely cheap, and so am i
for the time being i ordered this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Motorcycle-H...ccessories&hash=item231b5b44d6#ht_3614wt_1270at $8 how could you say no?
i thought i would give them a shot considering its insanely cheap, and so am i |
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