| Author | Message | ||
     Scottorious |
looking for something to get on and go. The 1125r just might be a tiny bit uncomfortable for the really long rides. I am kind of looking into the older bmw k series bikes. Anyone have any experience with those? | ||
| Drkside79 |
I hear the BMW R 1200 R is comfortable. | ||
| Trevd |
You need a Ulysses XT. | ||
| Malott442 |
Do you still want to corner? If so, the K bikes are about 29 feet long. They handle well, but won't get you around a bend any faster than you would in a full sized van. The R bikes handle well, and have a surprising amount of acceleration, not to mention there are a slew of them out there on the CHEAP. I've got my R1200 ST(SPORT TOURING  ) up for sale haha, shameless plug The r1100/1150/1200 RT's are just great. | ||
| M2statz |
S3T | ||
| Bartimus |
Honda ST1300  This is what I use when I'm not on one of my Buells... | ||
| Scottorious |
hmmm when you say on the cheap...what exactly are you referring to as cheap. That seems to be a relative term. I like the IDEA and maybe idea alone of an S3T, but honestly the reliability of buells has left a sour taste in my mouth. I dont want to give up the Buell yet but between the X1 and 1125R I have I spend more time wrenching or waiting on parts than I do riding. I like the idea of the 1125R for close to home and something that is known for easily going 100,000 miles for taking long trips. | ||
| Kenm123t |
M2 is the way to change it to a M123T you ll love it better than a BMW | ||
| Scottorious |
you have a picture of this creation? | ||
| Jaimec |
"K" bikes do just fine in the twisties. It's the rider, not the bike that makes the difference. Many years ago I passed my share of squids on the dragon with my K1200LT carrying a passenger. Okay, I cheated a LITTLE -- the LT has Ohlins suspension front and rear... but that's it. The "R" bikes have more of that thudding twin character than the turbine-like power of the "K" bikes. They're also more user-serviceable if that's important to you. | ||
| Scottorious |
the R bikes are more user serviceable? | ||
| Jaimec |
Yup. Don't know about the 2010 ones, but the previous models (cam-in-head) use screw-and-locknut valve adjustments. I'm not familiar with the 2010 Overhead Cam heads. The "K" bikes require a $10K diagnostic computer in order to perform valve adjustments. Not many private owners have one (nor do many independent shops either). Fortunately, the K's don't require valve adjustments that often. I'm talking about the modern Ks here. The older, 8-valve K bikes from the 80's were actually very user serviceable. That all changed when they went to the 16v head. | ||
| M2statz |
I have an M2 with the S3 fairing and hard bags on it. | ||
| Doug_s |
don't forget ducati's - multistrada, sportclassic gt1000, or st2/st3 doug s. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
As for a Buell sport touring motorcycle, I would think the ST3 is possibly the best even though I Really enjoy my Ulysses, it's not a true sport touring motorcycle because of the lack of overall wind protection. I would lean towards a Honda ST1300 or a Education Multistrata. From what I've read about the new Multi, I Really like it but I haven't seen one yet so it's just what I've read. I always like to see a motorcycle before judging it. | ||
| Reindog |
Laurie and I rode 2235 miles in California for 12 day last year on my Uly and it never let us down. It was fully loaded and handled buell-ti-fully. At times, we did some relatively aggressive riding and she handled perfectly. I never noticed wind as a problem with a short windscreen but did with the tall windscreen. | ||
| Irideabuell |
I rode 2500 miles in 4 days a few years back on my 12s. I had a Laminar lip on it and I hit every possible weather imaginable with no problems at all. My 2004 has 42,000 trouble free miles with the exception of having to replace the steering head bearings. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Honda ST1300 This is what I use when I'm not on one of my Buells... Was that your ST1300 at homecoming? Sport touring? Well, open up your wallet and check how much you want to spend. Nearly every bike listed as sport touring is in the 16-20K range. With the Yen/Euro/Dollar conversion believe it or not, European bikes often beat the Japanese bikes in the price/options department. But a lot of the Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJRs, and Kawasaki Concours are heavily discounted if bought new, so MSRP is only part of the story. I own both a Uly and BMW R1200RT. I have owned the previous version of the RT as well; R1150RT. I have ridden the ST1300 and thus have at least some comparison data to go on. I do like the Ulysses, but after a 3100 mile trip I have to say that it's not up to the comfort level that I have on the RT. I can eat up the miles on the RT and not even notice it. After about a 120 miles, I was ready to get off the Uly and rest my legs/rear. What I've discovered is that the very thing that I love about the Uly around town is the thing I hate on long trips, that is the seat. The wide seat tended to rest on my leg/buttock areas in places that were fine for the first leg of the trip, but cut into those areas as time wore on. This I'm sure could be fixed with many of the seat cover options out there. But out of the box, the RT has a seat I've done consecutive 800+ mile days on without complaints. Although there are those that do complain about it as well. I don't have long miles on the ST, and the ST I rode had an aftermarket seat on it, that I wasn't fond of, so I'm not sure I have a great data point there. To be fair, I "saved" a buddies aftermarket seat on his RT because mine was in the shop getting repaired (road accident) and his was just totaled by the insurance company after his wreck, we swapped seats until he bought his new RT, and then swapped back. Anyhow, I hated those seats as well. But there are other options for most sport touring bikes in the seat area that we don't have with the Uly. For a time, in Europe Touratech had a Uly seat option. When I inquired about it here in the states, they mentioned it wasn't available outside of Europe. Not sure why, but that was the case. In the handling department, of the three I've ridden, do think the RT is the most comfortable, but the Uly the most fun in the corners. The ST wears it's weight pretty well at speed, but in low speed areas, you really feel the 600 lbs that it lugs around, and it lugs that weight pretty high up. The RT weights less, and with the boxer engine wears the weight fairly low. The Uly is the lightest bike and is quite nimble. In corners, the Uly is tops, but we all knew that. Heat and heat management. This is an area that kills me on both the Uly and ST1300 in low speed, Texas heat in stop and go traffic. The Uly has some REAL competition in the heat area. In fact one local police department switched from BMWs to ST1300 and then back to BMWs because of all the complaints they got from the motorcops about the heat. From what I understand, initially there was some cost issues that made them switch, but those turned out to be a wash in the long run. I guess my point in this whole long post, is that I don't think there is a perfect sport touring bike for every condition. Make a list of what's important to you and figure out if you want new or used, then go try as many of the bikes as you can. Most non-Japanese shops around here will allow test rides, which are too short, but give you some idea at least of the ergonomics of the bike. Some bikes I would look at (in no order): Ducati Multstrada (looks nice for the road, not for the dirt). Uly Moto Guzzi Norge (I came close to buying one of these) Moto Guzzi Stelvio BMW RT Ulysses I wasn't impressed enough in the ST to really look at it, and the FJR and Concours just didn't fit me all that well. So, there you go. My two cents... and it's just that. | ||
| Scottorious |
I appreciate all of this advice. But it seems like the pricetag just keeps going up. hha. I understand reliability and comfort go down as we move back to the 80s or early 90s but I think thats what I can afford. For the most part its just going to be transportation and with a fairing I hope it to be more all weather transportation. I like that BMW's have a history of high mileage. It doesnt have to be posturpedic in comfort just something thats a bit more comfortable for long miles than the 1125R | ||
| Jaimec |
Scottorious: My advice -- find a used Concours (the old ZG1000, not the new Concours 14). They made those things FOREVER, there are lots of support groups out there and TONS of accessories. This from a die-hard BMW fan (139,000 miles on my current K1200LT and proud member of the BMW 300,000 mile club). | ||
| Swordsman |
I don't think the Uly in any incarnation should be considered a "touring" bike. Yes, you can tour on it, but you can do that on a Ninja 250 if you want. While the XB platform is relatively versatile, I don't think you can really put it up against a purpose-built sport tourer in terms of comfort and functionality. ~SM | ||
| Sifo |
I had a line on a 1999 Triumph Sprint ST this spring for $3900. Only had a bit over 800 miles and looked brand new! I'm wishing I would have grabbed it, I just didn't have room in the garage. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I dont know, I changed the bars and added bags to the CityX and hell I will sport tour with it, dual sport it, camp with it, commute... the only thing I wont do is single track | ||
| Buellhusker |
Jaimec Your K1200LT had a 16 valve head 2 intake & 2 Exaust per cylinder times 4 cylinders = 16 valves | ||
| Trevd |
I don't think the Uly in any incarnation should be considered a "touring" bike. You're right - I don't think you could consider it a "touring" bike - those are Gold Wings, Geezer Glides, and the like. But the poster is looking for a "sport-touring" bike, and for me, my Uly XT fits the bill perfectly. For 9 years I owned a Honda ST1100, and was putting about 15,000 miles per year on it, riding all over the US and Canada. Now that I have a kid I can only get away 1 week a year, and the Uly fits the bill perfectly for that. It's not the type of bike that you want to spend 1 week on the interstate, but for a couple of interstate days, and several smaller road days, it's perfect. Comfortable, decent upper body wind protection with my Madstad brackets and screen, decent lower body protection with the frame pucks, full set of luggage, and a comfortable upright seating position. The only bad thing is the crotch heat, but event that is much better since I got my comfort kit and reflash. I've done 1,000 mile days on my ST, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it on my Uly XT as well. I think there are many bikes that can be considered or made into sport tourers, but the Uly XT comes "ready to go" as a sport tourer, with more emphasis on sport than some of the other, heavier ones. It all depends on what you want to do with it... | ||
| Jaimec |
I know that. Your point? | ||
| Hotrats |
we put asb bars, lower pegs, made a mount for a 37 liter trunk, on the 1125R. added gps. just went from nc to homecoming, worked like a champ for us. could use a little taller windscreen though. | ||
| Doug_s |
earlier multistradas in good shape can be had for ~$5-6k... doug s. | ||
| Ducxl |
I just bought an '02 Ducati ST2 for commuting.VERY sporting but short on power. It handles outstanding but makes only about 80RWHP.Got it from my Buell dealer used for 5k/w LOW miles.Saves my Buells' from unnecessary milege and has factory bags too for my lunch/change of clothes. For 5k i figger if'n i drop it i can just walk away. A Uly (if cost effective) would be a better choice. | ||
| Jaimec |
Another option if you want to save money, but buy a brand new motorcycle with a full factory warranty: You can probably get a 2010 Suzuki Bandit 1250 with Givi bags out the door for less than $11,000. That is a 1,250 cc, water-cooled, fuel-injected motorcycle WITH ABS. Right now I think that bike is THE "Screaming Bargain" for someone looking for a good, all-around motorcycle (it used to be the original Concours till it was discontinued for the much more expensive Concours 14). |
