Well actually I want one of everything. :haw:...but with limited room and finances to maintain a number of bikes I gotta pick and choose. Currently the stable consist of a 2007 Honda Ruckus I have owned since new and has tremendous sentimental value. A 2006 GSXR1000 with pretty much every bolt on mod they make, I bought it used that way and I really love the bike but it's brutally uncomfortable if you get stuck in any kinda slow riding tempo/traffic. Then there is my 1975 RD250 which was a fun accident of sorts that I bought it at my local bike shop. I consider the RD a blessing because prior to that I was and still do pine for either an H1 or H2, which are just thru the roof expensive.
So the thing is I really don't wanna let of the power of the gixxer but I desperately need something more comfy and reliable to enjoy. I keep looking at the KTM 1290 adventure R or the BMW s100xr. I guess I like all the new gizmos they possess, hard bags, and nearly the same power output albeit heavier than my gixxer. Anybody own these kinda bikes?...what do you all think? I also like the Honda Africa, it's not quite as powerful but it looks sharp and sporty. I really don't plan on off roading but all these bikes seem so dynamic in a word as they can do quite a bit on and off road and swallow the miles in a sporty way. Also I'm only looking at bikes between the years of 2015-2018. Just curious what you allmay think,sharing my bike lust.
I will say there is a 2017 Honda Africa with roughly 1500 miles on it local to me for 9k, seems like a good deal. It doesn't have panniers but it does have a nice crash bar setup. It's the manual model and I guess you can even put a Rekluse clutch on it.
1000 v strom. decent tractor bike, people that have them love them.
I have an old man touring concours. it splenty fast but def not for off road. the africa is a solid choice
If you're on a budget, get yourself a big bore enduro bike like a DR650. If you have the cash, I've heard good stuff about the BMW GS bikes.
Yeah I see those Vstroms and I always liked them but now that they've been around for so long and it seems this industry segment marches on with the latest and greatest...dare I say they look kinda old and piggy? On the other hand there is some very good deals on them outfitted with extras and even decently low mileage used examples at that. Honestly it's probably more bike than I would ever need but I'm like a kid in a candy store. :devil: In regards to the DR650, I imagine that would be a better bike once the asphalt turns to dirt but in reality I probably will be on the asphalt a lot more.
This genre of bike is amazing to me in how the mfgr's have so many varying degrees of bike with useable power to stupid power. Ability to go offroad vs. stick to road like glue. Low budget vs. the high end with abs and traction control/ride modes. Not to mention style, I have a poster of the MV Tourismo in my kitchen and what a pretty bike it is. :toot: Just so many bikes out there and they're all compromises, LOL...
KTMs are a thousand times superior to the GS bikes if you plan on being more than a tiddler. Think it all depends on what you want to use it for. Those old KLR/DR bikes last a long time and are cheap but relatively boring. BMW GS is likely a step up but more cash then you get into some better options like the KTM and the S bmw (which is a lot more sport than enduro with all that power on tap).
That's interesting as I watched some video's that claimed the new 1290R having a bit more torque on tap than the S1000XR. But the S has those 17' wheels so and on the fly suspension tuning, not sure that helps but it sounds good :whistle:
I have a GS Adventure that I like a lot. I have ridden it nearly 75K miles. I had DR's and KLR's before I bought it.
Its Really TALL though.
Wow thats a pretty bike suey1958! :clap: So how would you compare it to what you had before? In terms of riding on the road?
I realized I liked the adventure concept from having the KLR (which I liked a lot and still do). I haven't ridden the other BIG adventure bikes so I cant really compare those to the BMW.
If I was going to do it again I would probably want to test ride the KTM and the Ducati Multistrada
The off road guys laugh at mine because it doesn't have mud on it.
If you have no intention of going off road, maybe you should be looking at Sport Standards?
KTM 690 Duke would be at the top of my list.
How many miles on your K6 - let me know if you want to sell it
Guzzi V85tt? Love em or hate em...
I like all the creature comforts as well and I have no intention of going off road. My sport/touring bike is a 2014 Triumph Trophy. Ugly as all hell but it's the best motorcycle I'll ever own. The Trophy was designed to compete with the BMW R1200T. It does a very good job.
It's got radio, cruise control, electronic adjustable suspension and windscreen, the hardbags hold full face helmets. The three cylinder engine is about 135 HP and it can keep up all but the craziest of squids. Seating position is about dead upright so you can gobble up the miles without any discomfort at all.
If I could only have one bike, it would be the Trophy.
Hi, I am really happy I started this thread. It's nice to see what others have in their stable and believe me I've been temporarily satiating my sport/tourer biker wanderlust with a bit of googling every bike each of you posters has mentioned, LOL. It's an amazing segment of the motorcycle industry and it seems like there can be some fair deals to be had, just depends on the buyer, I think...
Well I had some interest in my K6 which is flattering but I really love the bike. Mostly I just don't like the pressure it puts on my wrists. To further that I'm seriously considering a fix that may keep me from getting another bike. Thinking about getting a set of Helibars or some kind of dedicated bar riser set up.
Anyway if anyone has any more sport/tourers to rave about and the mood strikes you then don't hesitate. Feel free to talk about it. I love looking at em all ;D
Quote from: pdxjim on October 30, 2019, 09:35:38 PM
If you have no intention of going off road, maybe you should be looking at Sport Standards?
KTM 690 Duke would be at the top of my list.
I meant 790 Duke.
The 690 is a single, and OK, the 790 is a twin and very rad.
how about a Ducati Hyperstrada or MultiStrada. Not designed for off road, but sexy looking and should be a load of fun.
KTM 1290 SuperDuke GT
How can you say no to 175HP :vroom:
This thing is beyond words, all the videos and tests that have been done, still don't tell the whole story on how this thing really feels
(https://www.customfighters.com/forums/imagehosting/125615b8a0891dc34b.jpg)
(https://www.customfighters.com/forums/imagehosting/125615ba44379b68d8.jpg)
Quote from: busa1300 on November 04, 2019, 07:14:48 PM
KTM 1290 SuperDuke GT
How can you say no to 175HP :vroom:
This thing is beyond words, all the videos and tests that have been done, still don't tell the whole story on how this thing really feels
(https://www.customfighters.com/forums/imagehosting/125615ba44379b68d8.jpg)
LOL, yeah!
My buddy with the '19 790 Duke originally had a '18 1290 SuperDukeR.
He is by far the fastest/best rider/racer I know, and sold the 1290 'coz it was "too fast".
Quote from: pdxjim on November 04, 2019, 07:24:34 PM
LOL, yeah!
My buddy with the '19 790 Duke originally had a '18 1290 Super Duke.
He is by far the fastest/best rider/racer I know, and sold the 1290 'coz it was "too fast".
I parked my Hayabusa, indefinitely now that I have the SDGT 8).....but yea, it seriously hauls.....
My wife loves it and says it is the most comfortable bike i have ever had...even better than my long gone 72 GT750
A friend of mine got a Super Duke this summer. I got a chance to swing a leg over it. It's just another bike that's way faster than I'll ride. Albeit a very nice one. He wasn't acclimated to it when we took a trip to West By God so I was keeping up quite well.
I tend to forget about the SuperDuke GT. I do remember seeing that bike and the 690 models at my local KTM dealer. My initial impression of both bikes does like this, they are both really sharp looking. The 690 I looked at was the white color model, it looked lighter than the Super Duke which makes sense as I guess you could say it's half that bike in terms of displacement but I guess since I feel kinda out of touch with whats out there for new bikes, I just thought the price of the 690 seemed very affordable for a new performance related bike. And it seemed like a bike that was just a lot of real world fun up to 70 mph and comfy looking with that sit up and beg riding position. Now the SuperDuke GT gave me the impression that touring bikes aren't just for old men, lol. :devil: :vroom: It really looks like it wants to pull non stop wheelies at a 100mph from where I live in Ma. straight to Cali. :righteous: and in comfort and style. Although it's a premium, flagship bike compared to the 690 in regards to price. Also a physically bigger bike in terms of size and weight. Although if I was to get the 1290 Adventure R and not really do any fire road and or some kinda offroad riding then I would probably regret not getting the SuperDuke. As the Adventure just seems a bit bigger, heavier and really at a disadvantage in terms of wheel size and tire selection for the road.
Being addicted to that hand of god at your back feeling I get when I punch it in the first three gears of K6 is why I love it so much. it seems like KTM and BMW are the only two mfgrs. I know of that make sport tourers with a comparable powreplant.
Of course with that kind of power it seems to me you'll never get a back tire to last much more than 5k miles. It's about a inch of width either side of center that wears right down to the wear bars. Annoys me with the K6 and I imagine if I were to take a cross country ride on the SuperDuke I would probably have to consider a tire change or two but I guess that's par for the course.
690 is a single. Lots of torque but a bit lacking top end. Great motor for DS, supermoto or big enduro. Notsomuch on the freeway.
790 is an I/2 and hauls ass up top.
Quote from: pdxjim on November 06, 2019, 12:21:28 PM
690 is a single. Lots of torque but a bit lacking top end. Great motor for DS, supermoto or big enduro. Notsomuch on the freeway.
790 is an I/2 and hauls ass up top.
Yeah I haven't seen the 790 up close. Only in pics. I wonder how it compares to the Honda Africa?
I've owned several adventure/tourer bike and the one thing I always use as the base staring point is, weight.
There are lots of fantastic AD/TR bike out there and they will all get you there and back without much hassle, but once you start loading them up with all "the Gear" they will start to resemble a Pack Mule shipping dope! You can easily hit the 750pound (350kg) mark and if you've ever dropped a bike then you'll know how hard it can be to get it right side up again, and if you start riding dirt then you will drop the bike (in sand, I guarantee it).
A mate of mine has always said, "you'll only buy the bike you're happy to be seen riding"
Personal picks, second hand Husqvarna TR650 (light weight and not as bad as many will have you believe) Brand new, Yamaha T700 (tenere) stunning light weight, slim and very capable bike.
Cheers
Rod
Quote from: Zonda on November 06, 2019, 07:53:21 PM
I've owned several adventure/tourer bike and the one thing I always use as the base staring point is, weight.
There are lots of fantastic AD/TR bike out there and they will all get you there and back without much hassle, but once you start loading them up with all "the Gear" they will start to resemble a Pack Mule shipping dope! You can easily hit the 750pound (350kg) mark and if you've ever dropped a bike then you'll know how hard it can be to get it right side up again, and if you start riding dirt then you will drop the bike (in sand, I guarantee it).
A mate of mine has always said, "you'll only buy the bike you're happy to be seen riding"
Personal picks, second hand Husqvarna TR650 (light weight and not as bad as many will have you believe) Brand new, Yamaha T700 (tenere) stunning light weight, slim and very capable bike.
Cheers
Rod
Hi Rod, great post. I appreciate the input, sounds like wise words. Upon pdxjim's mention of the KTM 790 I googled it and found the Yamaha T700 tenere. In fact I found someone's Youtube video giving a comparison of the two. Honestly I feel kinda superficial in my interest of sport tourers. I just like the idea of sitting more upright vs. my sportbike and also like the idea of a centerstand and panniers....but really I think it's a hoot that there are a few models out there that actually have 150+hp and roughly 90 ft. lbs. torque. I believe at the crank??? Basically I could get a 1290 Adventure R and just about keep up with my GSXR1000, well within my limits of twisting the wrist and that same bike will go off road. However like you guys say it will be a super heavy bike that maybe too much for tighter trails, sand, etc, etc. Honestly as I get more drawn in to this genre of motorcycle I find myself considering just about everything from most affordable to most expensive. As well as most powerful to most versatile or more road worthy vs. dirt. One thing I will say is if I do get something most likely I would like it to be local and I'm really looking at what I believe to be fair deals on used bikes. I honestly really don't want to pay the premium for new.
Street only?
Aprilia Tuono?
Quote from: ~JM~ on November 07, 2019, 10:37:49 PM
Street only?
Aprilia Tuono?
I know that bike, it's got that sensual Italian exotic thing going on and it gets great reviews. I see that as Aprilia's premium "streetfighter" offering. I'm actually more intrigued by the Aprilia Mana 850. Its got their fully automatic CVT transmission. OTOH the Honda Africa is offered with either an automatic or conventional standard transmission. Another thing about Aprilia is their is no dealer nearby to me where as the Honda dealer is only 10 miles away. I guess that's not a big deal when I consider all the parts I've been forced to by online for my RD because it's considered obsolete by Yamaha. Same dealer sells those too. ;D
Just window shopping my local craigslist and found this 1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200s. There was a time someone told me this was the perfect streetbike. I forgot about em but this bike at 1600$ with 13k is dirt cheap and looks pretty decent. What a killer deal for I imagine a great handling bike. Much like a Kawi Concours I find it a bit boorish but it's just one of those tractor like bikes that once you forget about what your seen on I imagine it goes real comfy and a bat outta hell. The bike has probably depreciated its value to about as cheap as one can be had. Compared to all the bikes we've been talking about it's a steal, LOL. :twocents:
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/mcy/d/arlington-1998-bandit-1200s-excellent/7015840021.html
you cant go wrong with a bandit. friend of mine has one, has had zero issues out of it. id snag it.
I know that bike seems like a steal and seems like a legit ad. It was posted 12 hours ago so I imagine maybe there is some interest but then again the ad is still up and fresh. I hate to say it as I am 45 and getting older but I'll say it anyways....I sort of think of sport/tourers as old man's bikes or at best real world bikes. However I know that the Bandit can be an absolute monster of a wheelie bike in the right hands and just look as those bars and fairing. Looks like all day riding comfort!
You know a set of Helibars new on Ebay for my GSXR is like 300$, almost a quarter of the total asking price for that Bandit. I don't know...even if I didn't like it after awhile I don't think I would lose money on it.
im 47 have had the concours for 2 years. (and it has helibars.. lol). 1200 bandit is a way cooler bike. and you don't have to go with helibars, they got stupid expensive over the years. You can retrofit bar adjusters, we had to do it to derons bike, set em back 2" and golden. (like me hes 5'8")
you wont lose money. throw 1500 at him, i bet he bites. also, delkevik makes a nice slipon for it.
To add more irony to this...so I'm looking further into Boston CL motorcycle ads and see a 17' KTM SuperDuke built to the hilt with add ons. What a monster but at over 15.5k it's big bucks compared to the Bandit. I know they're different bikes in many ways but I'm not sure the KTM would give me 14k more smiles.
BTW a week ago I did see a beautiful Concours recently serviced and well kept with its hard bags. I think it was priced at around 3.5k-4k. You gotta love the added value of older bikes but still great machines if they're well stored and ridden maturely.
I love the new bikes for everything that they are but it's hard to spend all that money at once on one. :drool:
2nd gen concours or 1st gen? if it s 2nd get its a good deal, but they are monsters. and fast as hell, ive ridden them. the 1st gens should never be over 2k, most are around 1500 for a well sorted one.
Mine? was basically free. sort of.
I had the Concours 1400 ABS . I loved it.
Just thought I would check in on this thread I started and say to all that put in their two cents, in big words.... I Give You All Mucho Thx cause I wound up pulling the trigger on a 2016 SuperDuke GT. :clap: :vroom: :clap: Put a deposit on it two weeks ago(day before I turned 46) and took possession of it last fri. and just got the insurance and registration for it today.
What can I say about it except its like nothing I have ever ridden. First of all I never owned a bike with side bags and it's the most advanced motorcycle I have ever ridden. It's the newest gas powered anything I own and it's got just too much in terms of electronics. Despite being a big heavy bike the torque is incredible and it's weight disappears quickly with a twist of wrist. Really glad I got this model as it excites me. just as I was gassing the bike for the ride home from the dealer a fella in a Suzuki Bandit pulled up and I took notice. Loved his bike but just feeling bike love in general. This was the bike that had me spending hard earned dollars cause bikes like the bandit came and went with my youth and I needed a bike that would peak my interests. As far as KTM's adventure line goes the dealer had those too and since I don't go off road much it didn't seem to make much sense to get one but as an aside standing at only 5,10 those bikes are too freaking high off the ground for me. Even the GT has me on my tippy toes at a light. Jus say'in.
NICE! congrats. :toot:
Thanks Mark. I mean that sincerely as I can not put that adventure bike lust behind me....I hope. I just wish I had more room for all the bikes I want. For some reason they're all living in my house with me. LOL. Well I don't have to worry about mice eating the wires and I get to enjoy my cold brewskis admiring the toys and such. Today here in Ma. it's a super hot day, a first for our 2020 year summer temps in the nineties. I wanna rider her but I just don't wanna break out in a killer sweat with all my riding gear on.
Congrats on the new ride! :vroom:
Quote from: SoCal250 on June 19, 2020, 08:15:40 PM
Congrats on the new ride! :vroom:
Thank you. What can I say except everything you ever heard about the Superduke is true and much more. This bike is quite the eye opening experience when you really lay into the beans :devil: :taz: It's funny cause my other two bikes are the 75' rd250b and a 06' gsxr1000 with a full ti force system, power commander and a set of Marvic magnesium wheels. The gixxer is just so super smooth compared to the KTM not to mention light on its feet and much more narrow at the tank/frame and seat. I used to think it a bit bulbous vs. the RD but this KTM seat is a very very wide plank of a saddle not to mention the 6 gallon tank. However it has the standard/dirtbike handlebar much like the RD and has me sitting in a much more civilized manner. Also the torque is so much more so happening in the low rpms vs. the gixxer. This beast gets very front end light thru the first three gears. Not to say the gixxer can't but it won't in ways the KTM will and that's with traction control on which the gixxer doesn't even have. Oh the irony.