Anyone knows which Class 2 bike is best for touring?

[Running_Man]

Been itching for a new ride. Looking to buy a class 2 bike best suitable for touring, probably till thailand.

 

Which has the most comfy seat for both rider and pillion? Hopefully with backrest. Reliability is a must as well.

 

Recommendations anyone?

[Strong Eagle]

Without question, the Honda Goldwing 1800 is the best touring bike. Following closely are the Honda Goldwing 1500 and the BMW KT 1100. My Valkyrie is also an excellent touring bike.

 

Other bikes you could consider are the Kawasaki Concours, Honda ST1100 or ST1300, or other two cylinder large V twins. Also various BMW boxer engines.

 

Besides comfortable seats you want to consider the following in a touring bike.

 

a) Good upright seating position - the lean forward position of many sport bikes puts a lot of your body weight on shoulders and arms and is tiring on a long trip.

 

b) Substantial bike size - Most class 2's are larger bikes. They tend to resist crosswinds and blowback from lorries, absorb bumps better, and tend to ride like an armchair.

 

c) Lack of vibration - Nothing is worse on a long trip then to have your hands/feet go numb because of buzzing in the handlebars from the engine. This is one reason I do not recommend Harley as a touring machine... the single crank pin engine is guaranteed to vibrate and the only way to isolate it is with rubber mounts all over the place... but note that pillion riders still complain about vibration.

 

More cylinders means less vibration although some ST1100 owners have complained of buzziness in the V4 engine at highway speeds.

 

d) Storage space - if you are going for a while, trunk and bags are real helpful.

[GuiNNeSS]

dunt forget the go anywhere do everything GS 1150

[Scorpione_phantom]

dunt forget the go anywhere do everything GS 1150

 

I must agree gs 1150 is the best manz. seen many video and documentaries where they use gs1150 to tour from continents to continents, thru deserts and roads!! for this power machine.

[hydrop]

The Yamaha FJR1300 and the Honda ST1300 gets my vote.

 

Lower cost options like the yamaha Fazer 600 and Suzuki Burgman 650 are good as well

[Speedpass]

Been itching for a new ride. Looking to buy a class 2 bike best suitable for touring, probably till thailand.

 

Which has the most comfy seat for both rider and pillion? Hopefully with backrest. Reliability is a must as well.

 

Recommendations anyone?

 

Wats ur budget ?

[Running_Man]

Wats ur budget ?

 

 

Good question! Forgot to mention this. Am looking at between 12k to 15k.

[Running_Man]

Without question, the Honda Goldwing 1800 is the best touring bike. Following closely are the Honda Goldwing 1500 and the BMW KT 1100. My Valkyrie is also an excellent touring bike.

 

Other bikes you could consider are the Kawasaki Concours, Honda ST1100 or ST1300, or other two cylinder large V twins. Also various BMW boxer engines.

 

Besides comfortable seats you want to consider the following in a touring bike.

 

a) Good upright seating position - the lean forward position of many sport bikes puts a lot of your body weight on shoulders and arms and is tiring on a long trip.

 

b) Substantial bike size - Most class 2's are larger bikes. They tend to resist crosswinds and blowback from lorries, absorb bumps better, and tend to ride like an armchair.

 

c) Lack of vibration - Nothing is worse on a long trip then to have your hands/feet go numb because of buzzing in the handlebars from the engine. This is one reason I do not recommend Harley as a touring machine... the single crank pin engine is guaranteed to vibrate and the only way to isolate it is with rubber mounts all over the place... but note that pillion riders still complain about vibration.

 

More cylinders means less vibration although some ST1100 owners have complained of buzziness in the V4 engine at highway speeds.

 

d) Storage space - if you are going for a while, trunk and bags are real helpful.

 

Wow good info. Give me some time to digest the info. Not really keen on getting a goldwing though.

[dinie]

how bout gettin a many-many(not second i mean) hand goldwing? i think can get it at ur price..

[hachi]

My fazer 1000, I had go to thailand with it...After I sold it off and return to my F4i...No doubt is a FZ1 had better position but it is not suitable for very long trip cos most of the weight are on ur butt. But sport bike u basically lying onto the tank and relax ur arm.

IMO, sport bikes are better for longer trip >6 hours I can go genting with my F4i without a sore butt but with FZ1 I cant even feel them...

Sport bike do have disadvanage that is u can really put boxes onto them cos it would spoil the look...I sold off my fazer after 1 month.

 

However if shorter trip like rounding in singapore or not more than 4 hours trips with slower speed...Then IMO upright position is much better.

 

Not to mention, sport bikes do have better brakes, handling and corner like on rail.....

[bryantlin]

actually you can consider Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 saw it at PSC and its nice. HERE is a link to read more on that bike.

[Speedpass]

Good question! Forgot to mention this. Am looking at between 12k to 15k.

 

Wif ur budget , 2nd hand bikes like ST11 , Fazer , STX13 or FJR r within ur budget . if i can , i would go for an FJR .

[GuiNNeSS]

VFR 800 ...carves tracks and smokes highways

[Zig Ziggler]

anyone knows how much the new BMW R1200 GS Adventure costs ?

[GuiNNeSS]

alot alot .

[Guest NPNT]

anyone knows how much the new BMW R1200 GS Adventure costs ?

$43K if im not wrong.

[Running_Man]

actually you can consider Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 saw it at PSC and its nice. HERE is a link to read more on that bike.

 

That looks like a fantastic bike. I guess the price is equally fantastic!

[jojojo]

hayabusa not bad for touring also.. but best choice think still FZ1...

[rhema83]

For that budget, my vote definitely goes to ST1100. I don't think you have enough to get a BMW.

[philiplolc]

can consider the blackbird.. price can get lower than your budget.. and you get renowned Honda quality & reliability..

[RustyStar]

I would vote for blackbird. High stability, riding comfort and good all-round performance.

[endlessloop]

Strong Eagle has given very clear and good advice.

 

To ride to Thailand is actually not very far. The southern Thailand is within reach from just one day of riding. But riding to northern thailand is another matter

I previously owned a Fazer1000. I rode a comparison of current and previous FZ. I also wrote a comparison of Fazer versus Hornet. I rode before VFR. I also owned a litre sportsbike last time. Currently I ride a STX1300

Also consider there are different styles of tour riding.

 

Some like to do a lot of northsouth highway riding at a brisk, but not full-blown speeds (110-150). Most up-right riding position class2 bike with a screen can do this.

Some like the excitement from doing a lot of northsouth highway at full-blown speeds (150-200+). Blackbirds, Hayabusas, ZZ-14, FJR.

Some prefer to do more trunk road riding for the cornering.

Some like to tour the cities and built-up areas.

Then you need upright bikes and not forward-leaning bikes.

[Nighthawk_250]

I ish think strong eagle addresses ur key requirement most accurately.

 

Long distance, pillion comfort, reliability.

 

I only want to add one more input.

 

Get a Honda.

[mctan]

Get a Yamaha Diversion 900, can bring you from SG to Cambodia.

[bikee69]

With your budget, you can get a 98-00 Goldwing 1500. You and your pillion will love the comfort that the bike can provide.