Here ya go.
Ride like the wind!
Posted on 05/06/2007 12:27:25 AM PDT by Xenophon450
Hello FRiends
This is my first and hopefully last thread. I have some questions for you motorcycle enthusiasts and would be forever grateful for polite answers without being called names :D. I was simply wondering what type of motorcycle you would recommend for getting from Kansas to Northern Canada, and if a cruiser would be acceptable to perform that task or would a touring bike be mandatory for such things. Some companies claim cruisers can take you across country but what do they define as "country", a 25 mile Sunday drive?
Anyone have any personal favorite models that get them thousands of miles?
I am saving for a bike ATM and just want to make sure to wisely invest, I have been reading but practical experience trumps all.
Yamaha V-Max...
Suzuki GSXR 1100...
Would any Yamaha V-Star be up to the task?
Here ya go.
Ride like the wind!
Nuthin' beats a V-Max...
If you got a luggage mount I’m in.
Evidence A: I worked during college summers (years ago) for a motorcycle messenger service. 30+ BMW’s (and drivers) of various models and years, though some were ancient classic models from the 60’s. With proper maintenance they go hundreds of thousands of miles. In fact short of frame damage they go in perpetuity and will take a heck of a beating (as my bike did on a daily basis). One of our guys took a “cross country” trip as you’re describing, from DC to the Canadian Rockies. He had some maintenance skills (as one should for that kind of trip) but had no problems. I’m sure there are plenty of BMW and touring clubs out on the Internet that could help your with more details. BMW’s are known for long-distance cruising/touring.
B: When I was up in Denali National Park, Alaska, in rolled several German guys who were on a world motorcycle tour, all BMWs. They’d come in from Japan to the somewhere on the Pacific Coast (Seattle?), and then up the Cassiar Highway to the Alaska Highway and onward. Not a road for pikers, 2500 miles of nothing. They had no problems. Prior to that they’d come across Russia and Mongolia from Germany. So there they were chugging through Alaska and said no difficulties other than normal expected stuff (flat tires, etc).
As mentioned BMWs are known for their longevity so don’s shy away from an older model so long as you;re near a reputable dealer of mechanic and can get a top-notch inspection and/or rebuild. Unlike many other makes, a rebuild on a BMW doesn’t signify aging or obsolescence, it’s only means that its been seasoned. Personally I prefer the older models.
Again, check some of the BMW club sites to see how often they are used for lengthy and grueling trips that might really test other makes and models.
Good luck in your search.
Unless you ride horses for a living or enjoy pain, I’d find the easiest riding bike that I could. Forget Harley Sportsters or any crotch rockets. Go with the big engined Hondas or Yamaha’s with shaft drives, water cooled engines, highway pegs, footboards (instead of pegs), a good sound system, and the most comfortable seat on the market.
My father was a horse trainer and rode horses everyday for a living. He took 3 cross-country trips on bikes, once a Honda CB750, once the same Honda only modified with the above assessories and a Honda Goldwing. By the third trip, he didn’t ride horses as much and had to get a minibike intertube to sit on and cushion the seat a little more.
Now me, I like Harley’s but then a 1 hour trip is far enough for me.
Have fun!
Hey,, list some preferences..
Style
power
hard bags
soft bags
windshield
Seat position (Monkey doin a football, or monkey bangin drum)
Radio
road type
Expierence: expert, beginner, so-so?
Passenger
duh....
ping Hottie.
First priority: an effective windshield.
Then, be sure you’re sitting on a bike you’re comfortable with. Not more than you can pick up, if it tips over in the parking lot, but heavy enough to maintain a true track in a crosswind, as a semi drives by.
Then become familiar with your bike.
Know how it handles, and then how it handles differently, when you’re carrying extra gear.
Finally, ride carefully.
No matter what, a certain small proportion of drivers will simply not see you, nor realize you are even there.
If you always, always ride assuming other drivers cannot see you, you should end up, buying another one... :)
Style as in outward appearance, eh doesn't really matter too much just one that can get the job done, the destination and trip itself are more important that the outward appearance.
Soft bags
Windshield, removable if possible.
The football does sound tempting but I do not have a death wish ;-D. Laid back position is painfully uncomfortable from what I hear after 2 hours or so, probably just verticle.(Beginner)
Eh no radio
passenger or no, doesn't matter.
Road type might be a bit iffy after crossing past Saskatoon, so something that can handle reasonably well.
Power, well that is still what I am determining, how much power DO I need to climb into the rockies. An air cooled V-twin may be prone to overheating which I would suspect but I have been wrong many times.
I have been looking into this however a used model. Although it looks uncomfortable at least to me many have said it is a joy to ride on.
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=f800st
BTW Thanks for the replies thus far, I didn't know so many Freepers stayed up so late or woke up this early.
I live in the mountains 10 miles from the nearest anything, 30 miles from the nearest town. Heavy bikes in the mountains aren’t for beginners so stay light.
Also, it’s not the mountain climb that will give you trouble. Cornering will.
Lastly, being its a purchase for a specific run, consider trade in ability. You may buy something nice but want more or less after the trip.
Good luck.
Yep. You can get a small windshield for them (I never needed one and I like to travel light. They are great for many different types of roadways.
People do drop motorcycles. Look that crank case over really well. The pistons are also something you need to watch. Take a test ride.
Make sure some idiot, wheelie pullin' show off didn't split the seals on the front shocks... A lot of times a bike like the V-Max can flip you right over, even at 100+ mph. Stomping on the back brake will stop you from flipping, but it also slams the front wheel down very hard and it could make you wreck. Know your bike.
I rode one round trip from California to Florida. Hein Gericke or Haro leathers are also a good idea. The only thing that will catch up to you on the open road is a helicopter.
About bikes. Most any street legal bike out there will get you cross country. Here is a writeup of a person doing a 700 mile ride on a 250cc sportbike. People were going cross country on motorcycles long before any of them exceeded 60hp. Ignore any dimwit that suggests that smaller, less powerful bikes are not up to the task. I've got three and the one I have the most fun on is the least powerful.
The question is, what do you want the bike to do for you. You've already expressed a need to travel long distances, but there are a few more options out there. If a lazyboy chair at a nice clip down the road is for you, then a cruiser with a windshield it is. Tons of choices for you. If hardcore coast to coast travel is what you want, then a touring bike is where you want to aim. If the twisties call you then a sport touring model is the ticket. Perhaps fire roads and single track call your name, then a dual sport is just what the doctor ordered. If you're not sure, just go to a few motorcycle dealerships and brouse and see what grabs you up close.
I'd suggest that you start with a good beginners board like www.beginnerbikers.org. I'm Bad company over there.
You should also look into a riding course from The Motorcycle Safety Foundation
My stable
Needs a bigger tank.
Just saw post 13. Sport touring it is. The sport touring bikes are easier on your back, but put more weight on your wrists.
The F800 bmw is a new model. Not a lot of people are going to have real time experience with it. BMW motorcycles though have an almost umblemished reputation for quality.
Comparable bikes.
The suzuki SV650 is one you’ll want to look at. They have a sister model called the V-strom, to look at too. I think there are five models on this platform. They are very popular and reliable.
The Kawasaki ninja 650R is right up that alley too. It’s a newer model that is a big brother of the EX500, one of the most populat starter models out there. They are inexpensive, durable and reliable.
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