[quote=BigButSlimmerBloke ]If, by "touring" you mean [s]walking around the bike with a spanner in your hand, swearing loudly and kicking the it from time to time, [/s] riding with a mate from Edinburgh, via London to the south of France loaded up with camping gear to watch the Bol d'Or then firing across the Mediterranean coast to Bologna, turning up at Borgo Panigale to be given a free lunch while the mechanics take your bikes away to give them a wee service, complete with new chain and sprockets then returning via France, Switzerland, France and Belgium in a mad one day trip being followed by a couple of English guys in a TVR that cottoned on to your "co-operative overtaking" strategy then Ducati's what you want..
FTFY
Oh, how I miss the Bol d'Or
Best year for me was the year The Stranglers and Motörhead played, can't remember who won the race though 🙂
There was a race?
I was just there for the free Ricard 🙂
Oh - and the Guinness. Why did they have free Guinness??
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/15140290883_c9b6e9bdc1_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/15140290883_c9b6e9bdc1_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/p4TWZZ ]img173[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
I didn't know they had colour film that long ago.
Bol D'or is back at Paul Ricard next season 😀
As has been mentioned in earlier posts,what touring bike you need depends on where you're touring.I went to Circuit Paul Ricard on a 250LC,it was great fun wringing it's neck on those twisty roads..
Had 5 Transalps, not too mention numerous other bikes XJR 1300s, Honda CBs and the transalp is the one I always go back to. Great for touring and seeing the sights and goes off the beaten track very well. Not so good if you want to do ton up on the motorways mind, but bulletproof and far more character than Dullvilles that share the same engine
Bustaspoke - MemberBol D'or is back at Paul Ricard next season
Funny.
It was that announcement that prompted us both to consider a bike again.
More Bol pictures please.
🙂
Cheers for the thoughts everyone, time for a think and a good few test rides over winter.
Bike's going to be used for Euro jaunts two up, UK tours and weekend trips.
So far, I think the VFR's winning. 🙂
Mrs Spanner, my co conspirator wants a Pan.
I've told her that's fine as long as she picks it up every time I drop it at the lights.
For Rusty..
The start/finish straight
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15759745991_73622a9b67_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15759745991_73622a9b67_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q1CPqt ]img194[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
Early evening on the Mistral
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15141636514_f428421eea_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15141636514_f428421eea_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/p51R1w ]img203[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
Night descends
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15759731151_e722d512c2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15759731151_e722d512c2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q1CK1B ]img105[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
and the camping....
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15761608215_e1350512eb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15761608215_e1350512eb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q1NmZM ]img109[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
Note the footprints up the side of the tent 🙄
A man with plenty of time on his hands to scan all his old photos 🙂
Some reading
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/top-10-tourers-under-3000/24023.html
I rest my case re the FJR 🙂
Some readinghttp://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/top-10-tourers-under-3000/24023.html
I rest my case re the FJR
and all 10 of them look gopping 🙂
For me I have to look at the bike and want to ride it 🙂
[i]I got a Ducati ST4S earlier this year.
Superb. Exceeds all expectations.
£2000 with all luggage. [/i]
Hmm, that'd be the one that my local dealer wouldn't let me buy when they were new - he wanted to keep me as a customer and no way did he reckon it'd be up to what I needed from a bike; ie reliability for a 100 mile per day commuting.
Got a Fazer 1000 instead, hated it. Then he opened a Triumph dealership, I went for them and stayed - ace.
What about a Fazer 1000, loads of space and plenty of go?
TDM - I had one, thirsty and a thirsty thing
Tiger 1050 was my most comfy bike for touring on, I did 3 weeks solid on it without a problem! But a bit expensive for maintenance, which is why it went!
Off the wall suggestion - Moto-Guzzi Norge. Really comfy, surprisingly agile and a shafty so much less hassle to deal with touring 😉 I love my Griso even if it is the most impractical bike on planet Earth!
R1100rs, comfy two up and can cheap do big mileages and be hustled along. Avoid any k1100lt probably the worst bike I ever owned. I did go across Germany on one of the bonneville 800 and it was surprisingly comy even at six foot one
Quick edit pan Europeans are great bikes.
Rusty Spanner - MemberCheers for the thoughts everyone, time for a think and a good few test rides over winter.
Bike's going to be used for Euro jaunts two up, UK tours and weekend trips.
So far, I think the VFR's winning.
Mrs Spanner, my co conspirator wants a Pan.
I've told her that's fine as long as she picks it up every time I drop it at the lights.
Just out of interest, how tall (short) are you?
Pan's aren't really tall, it's just getting used to the weight.
My 1200GSA has got a seat height of 890mm and I can get both balls of my feet down at only 5ft7. I [i]think[/i] an ST1100 has only got a seat height of 800mm.
Edit - Even VFR is no mean feat to pick up by yourself.
I'm 5'6.
I think the heaviest thing I've ridden is a Kwak 750 Turbo, but that had a nice low seat and decent balance.
Have test ridden a Pan, which was fine once moving, but putting my foot down on greasy, off camber city streets was a bit scary.
A confidence thing, like you say, I'm sure.
Rusty Spanner - Member
I'm 5'6.I think the heaviest thing I've ridden is a Kwak 750 Turbo, but that had a nice low seat and decent balance.
Have test ridden a Pan, which was fine once moving, but putting my foot down on greasy, off camber city streets was a bit scary.
A confidence thing, like you say, I'm sure.
The weight often disappears once you're moving and personally I find a bigger heavier bike easier and more relaxing to ride. My 1200GSA is a doddle to make progress on as it's so torquey and planted.
If you can't flat foot it though, don't try to push yourself back whilst sat on the seat, get off and push it. If you loose your footing even slightly, you'll drop it. Oh and obviously don't park on a decline if you need to get it out backwards 😉
If you use the main stand, put it in gear before you take it off and let the clutch out as it rolls forward onto both wheels. Just reduces the risk of the bike running away from you.
If you get a Pan, VFR or CBR6F for £3k or under and don't like it; you should have no issues moving it on* and getting your money back.
* Unless you try and sell it during snowmageddon 😀
flange - Member
Do you even ride bro?
Haven't had a bike for about 6 years. Why do you ask?
+1 for the Blackbird (mine's a 1996 carbed jobbie). almost 70k miles and the engine still purrs - even with absolute minimal maintenance.
I've used it for all day touring, weeks away (with hard luggage) and even a couple of track days - putting a few power rangers to shame in the process. Great bike.
