New Touring/2-Up Bike | GTAMotorcycle.com

New Touring/2-Up Bike

Katatonic

Katatonic

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I’m starting the search early because I know I’ll never get anything this season. Over the course of next winter or spring I will be looking to replace my touring/2-up bike. It doesn’t need to be a do-everything bike as I’ve also got a sportier street bike.
For touring I’ve currently got a 2013 Kawasaki Versys 1000. It’s relatively comfortable, wife really likes the passenger comfort and it has more than enough power for what I need it to do.
For its replacement I would like something that has side bags and a top case, cruise control and heated grips wouldn’t hurt either. If it’s got an up/down Quickshifter I wouldn’t complain but that’s not on the ‘must have’ list.
Also, since this is a bike that I will be riding potentially thousands of kms away from home, I’m looking for something that is bulletproof-reliable.
The bike will be either new or a couple years old and the ones I’m currently considering are:
- Kawasaki Versys 1000
- Yamaha FJR1300 (this is probably the biggest/heaviest bike I would consider)
- Yamaha Super Tenere 1200

Does anyone have any experience on the new or newer models of these bikes?
Are there any other bikes that fit what I’m after, especially the reliability part, that I should be considering as well?
 
Katatonic said:
I’m starting the search early because I know I’ll never get anything this season. Over the course of next winter or spring I will be looking to replace my touring/2-up bike. It doesn’t need to be a do-everything bike as I’ve also got a sportier street bike.
For touring I’ve currently got a 2013 Kawasaki Versys 1000. It’s relatively comfortable, wife really likes the passenger comfort and it has more than enough power for what I need it to do.
For its replacement I would like something that has side bags and a top case, cruise control and heated grips wouldn’t hurt either. If it’s got an up/down Quickshifter I wouldn’t complain but that’s not on the ‘must have’ list.
Also, since this is a bike that I will be riding potentially thousands of kms away from home, I’m looking for something that is bulletproof-reliable.
The bike will be either new or a couple years old and the ones I’m currently considering are:
- Kawasaki Versys 1000
- Yamaha FJR1300 (this is probably the biggest/heaviest bike I would consider)
- Yamaha Super Tenere 1200

Does anyone have any experience on the new or newer models of these bikes?
Are there any other bikes that fit what I’m after, especially the reliability part, that I should be considering as well?
Click to expand...

tracer 9/900gt are awesome, the engine is a gift that keeps on giving, and the GTs come very well equipped

Vstrom 1050?

Are the ninja 1000sx and gsxs1000GT just too sporty and not enough touring?

I would also throw in the nt1100, they havent released them yet, but I imagine they will soon...they come very well equipped as stock, though perhaps not as sporty as you would want?
 
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bigpoppa said:
tracer 9/900gt are awesome, the engine is a gift that keeps on giving, and the GTs come very well equipped

Why no Vstrom 1050?

And are the ninja 1000sx and gsxs1000GT just too sporty and not enough touring?
Click to expand...
tracer might have less room then his wife likes, with the smaller motor it's likely got a smaller frame. that being said, beast of a motor.
 
bigpoppa said:
tracer 9/900gt are awesome, the engine is a gift that keeps on giving, and the GTs come very well equipped

Why no Vstrom 1050?

And are the ninja 1000sx and gsxs1000GT just too sporty and not enough touring?
Click to expand...

I forgot about the Tracers. I absolutely love that motor! But it would depend on rider/passenger seat comfort. Does it have cruise or heated grips?
Does the V Strom now come with cruise and heated grips? Last time I looked at them they were still fairly basic bikes.
The GSXS1000GT and Ninja 1000sx are a bit too sporty than what I’m after.
 
Versys seems the treat for your wish list
566 lb vs

The Versys is so much lighter than the ST1300
www.visordown.com

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer | Long termer Part 1 - Introducing Verity!

Back from her first service, Verity and Alex are off to a great start together. Here’s some spec, model history, comparisons, and the first impressions of the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer.
www.visordown.com www.visordown.com

I'm partial to Honda but the ST1100 is new model....I'd think it comes down to pillion comfort.
 
I have a 2019 Tracer GT, coming from an ST1100. For long distance, all day touring you're never going to beat an ST1100, ST1300 or FJR, in particular if you have an RDL seat. FJR has shaft drive, great fairing protection when raining, good reliability, good dealer network and and there are FJR specific forums to support you. Of the 3 bikes you mentioned, this is the one I'd pick.

The Tracer is about 500 lb. vs. the ST's 750, huge difference. The Tracer is not a 2 up touring bike. Mine works for me because of some upgrades, including a Terry Adcox seat, FJR bags vs. the small OEM ones and larger windshield. Snarling beast of a motor, in particular compared to the old ST I had. The new Tracer 9 GT price is up substantially from the last version, so the gap between it and the FJR is actually pretty small IMO.

There are lots of almost new, low mileage FJRs out there. Look for one that the seller has accessorized with things you'll probably be buying anyway and you can save a bundle. My Tracer PO spend about $2,200 on accessories and I paid roughly $200 more than a stock GT when I purchased it based on comparables. Incidentally, the PO traded the Tracer in for an FJR.
 
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Last year, I bought a new 2019 FJR1300 ES after having had a first year FJ09. I chose the FJR because I wanted to do longer trips and for passenger room and comfort. It is the Escalade of motorcycles, with weight being the price paid. The FJ09 was OK, but I think that the motor gets more credit than it deserves. I also considered the Kawasaki 1000SX and know that I would have enjoyed it as well. As it is, the FJR is everything people claim it to be - fast, reliable, comfortable, well-outfitted and easy to maintain. If there is a plus side to its weight, it is that it isn't blown around at speed the way the FJ was.
 
Go buy my FJR from Wolf
Yamaha comfort seats rider and passenger
Denali lights
Touring screen
Trans recall done last spring.
Oh and it’s fast as fuc?(((;;;


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Reliability. Anything from the major four Japanese should be very reliable. The Squeeze and I took week long trips down into the states on a 25 year old goldwing and I never thought twice about breaking down. Did that for 6 or 7 years until my hip issue.
The only issue I ever had was a broken speedo cable. That actually turned out to be a bonus since she couldn't tell how fast we were going and quit hitting me to slow down.
 
fzrcraig said:
Last year, I bought a new 2019 FJR1300 ES after having had a first year FJ09. I chose the FJR because I wanted to do longer trips and for passenger room and comfort. It is the Escalade of motorcycles, with weight being the price paid. The FJ09 was OK, but I think that the motor gets more credit than it deserves. I also considered the Kawasaki 1000SX and know that I would have enjoyed it as well. As it is, the FJR is everything people claim it to be - fast, reliable, comfortable, well-outfitted and easy to maintain. If there is a plus side to its weight, it is that it isn't blown around at speed the way the FJ was.
Click to expand...

I used to have an ‘07 FJR and it was really good. Just wondering if the updated version still keeps the spirit of the older ones.
The weight was one thing I didn’t like about it and that made it a pig on more technical roads, aside from that I really enjoyed it.
 
timtune said:
Reliability. Anything from the major four Japanese should be very reliable. The Squeeze and I took week long trips down into the states on a 25 year old goldwing and I never thought twice about breaking down. Did that for 6 or 7 years until my hip issue.
The only issue I ever had was a broken speedo cable. That actually turned out to be a bonus since she couldn't tell how fast we were going and quit hitting me to slow down.
Click to expand...
It's hard to beat the pillion seat on the wing. You are surrounded by bags and I have known spouses that slept while on a ride (seems like a bad idea but it worked).
 
GreyGhost said:
It's hard to beat the pillion seat on the wing. You are surrounded by bags and I have known spouses that slept while on a ride (seems like a bad idea but it worked).
Click to expand...

Goldwing is way too big and a bit too boring for what I’m after. Even though this will be mainly a touring bike, I still want to have a bit of fun with it!

As for reliability, has Ducati improved at all? I really like the new Multistrada’s but I just don’t think they’d be quite as good as a Japanese bike. Also, is maintenance with them still ridiculous?
 
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