when it's above 40 degrees I commute 30 miles each way on a Vstar 650. I'd like to try some 600-1400 mile trips but I don't find the Vstar comfortable for more than a few hours, and the vibration above 60 drives me crazy. I know there are a TON of good choices out there - my list changes daily and has included FJR1300, a Dyna, Versys 1000; a friend recommended a Honda F6B. (a variation of a Gold Wing). has anyone ridden a Gold Wing? they just seem so BIG !!!
has anyone gone "Gold Wing"?
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I haven't ever ridden a Goldwing, but here's my 2¢: The most comfortable I've ever been was on a BMW R1200GS with an aftermarket seat that had some extra squish to it. I prefer the upright seating position.
Yeah, they're big and heavy, but really no more so than any other full-dress touring bike. I'm 6'2", and find them to be comfortable enough. Once they are rolling, they feel much more nimble than you might expect, and I like the sound of their H-6 engine. It always reminded me of a Porsche 911.
Try one and see. The newest model is/was designed by a crotch rocket engineer so it handles very well and is still comfortable for loooong trips.
You can also go broke buying accessories for it.
You can also go broke buying accessories for it.
I ride with a group of folks and several of them ride gold wings. And they all LOVE them. Many of them are on their second or third wing.
Reliable machines, good power, and the resale value holds up well because people like them and buy them. Some motorcycles value falls off quickly due to lack of demand when you want to trade or sell them.
Reliable machines, good power, and the resale value holds up well because people like them and buy them. Some motorcycles value falls off quickly due to lack of demand when you want to trade or sell them.
I've ridden a gold wing, though not the current one. I liked it OK. They are big bikes. though the F6B is kind of a stripped down version (Think Street Glide)
Are we talking new bikes?
I note the GW is the only "touring" class bike you mentioned, you mentioned a Dyna but not a Street Glide or Road King (might want to look at those).
Are we talking new bikes?
I note the GW is the only "touring" class bike you mentioned, you mentioned a Dyna but not a Street Glide or Road King (might want to look at those).
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FJR is your best choice among the mentioned bikes for smooth silky long distance touring yet practical for short trips and local riding around. Not sure if you're talking new or used but the new FJR starting with 2016 model yr has LED headlights which can translate to other drivers noticing you better, i.e. better safety in traffic.
Second the FJR from your list. A wonderful machine, and in the used market, reasonably priced. The Honda ST1300 is worth a look, as well as BMW R1100RT or its 1200 brother. Kawasaki Concours, (the older 1000) is a mature platform with a strong following. They just don't break. The new Concours, IMO is a lousy replacement. YMMV.
I rode an ST1300 for a while. Very comfy, shaft drive, torquey V4, many accessories in the aftermarket. Mine had a Corbin seat, firm but eventually broke in and gave good support. Pirates Lair backrest for the co pilot and 2 up is good. Factory heated grips are always failing on them, there are aftermarket solutions. The ST, FJR, BMW and Kawasaki Concours all have hotel friendly bags for travel.
I rode an ST1300 for a while. Very comfy, shaft drive, torquey V4, many accessories in the aftermarket. Mine had a Corbin seat, firm but eventually broke in and gave good support. Pirates Lair backrest for the co pilot and 2 up is good. Factory heated grips are always failing on them, there are aftermarket solutions. The ST, FJR, BMW and Kawasaki Concours all have hotel friendly bags for travel.
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Originally Posted By: dwendt44
Try one and see. The newest model is/was designed by a crotch rocket engineer so it handles very well and is still comfortable for loooong trips.
You can also go broke buying accessories for it.
I hear you can get a Porta John for the back.
Try one and see. The newest model is/was designed by a crotch rocket engineer so it handles very well and is still comfortable for loooong trips.
You can also go broke buying accessories for it.
I hear you can get a Porta John for the back.
I got a free 1984 Gold Wing Interstate 1200 a few years ago. All it needed was a stator (PIA job). My wife calls it the Old Wing. I would love to get a new one, but boating and kids school saps out my cash. Maybe one day I'll get a new Gold Wing or Electra Glide. Currently, I'd need to win the lottery for that to happen. I drove a 2015 Gold Wing and fell in love with it. I have never driven an Electra Glide. In the mean time, I'm immensely enjoying my 1984.
I like the concept of the F6B more so just because its a change with the engine, a couple years back when they first came out my wife and I REALLY looked at them at a pretty good discount no less.
I just cant get over the lack of quality feel to the plastics and most of all the paint, I can live with the plastics. Even in the showrooms, unless its been improved, the paint just marks up and scratches so easy. I even remember the sales person acknowledging that. here we were, two new F6Bs, maybe three and no miles on them, scratches so easy.
One other pet peeve, only 5 speeds, as one who does a fair amount to a lot of interstate I cant settle for 5 speeds. There are those who say the bike is made for it but everyone who has a 5 speed says the same thing, yet if you cruise the forums of those bikes, there are always those who wish for the 6th gear. I am one of those and why the Road King, I regularly cruise at true GPS speeds of 75/77 MPH and many wing owners can confirm, MPG which is already low goes in the toilet at those speeds.
Im not knocking the bike, again, love the whole concept but just not right for me and the way I ride with those two major changes it very well might be.
I just cant get over the lack of quality feel to the plastics and most of all the paint, I can live with the plastics. Even in the showrooms, unless its been improved, the paint just marks up and scratches so easy. I even remember the sales person acknowledging that. here we were, two new F6Bs, maybe three and no miles on them, scratches so easy.
One other pet peeve, only 5 speeds, as one who does a fair amount to a lot of interstate I cant settle for 5 speeds. There are those who say the bike is made for it but everyone who has a 5 speed says the same thing, yet if you cruise the forums of those bikes, there are always those who wish for the 6th gear. I am one of those and why the Road King, I regularly cruise at true GPS speeds of 75/77 MPH and many wing owners can confirm, MPG which is already low goes in the toilet at those speeds.
Im not knocking the bike, again, love the whole concept but just not right for me and the way I ride with those two major changes it very well might be.
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Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Mileage for ALL bikes tanks at high speed...no bike is especially aerodynamic, especially a giant touring bike.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate.
Not mine
Mileage for ALL bikes tanks at high speed...no bike is especially aerodynamic, especially a giant touring bike.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate.
Not mine
Mileage for ALL bikes tanks at high speed...no bike is especially aerodynamic, especially a giant touring bike.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate. He and my uncle are planning an Iron Butt ride this year.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate. He and my uncle are planning an Iron Butt ride this year.
Big and heavy is a good thing when you are doing long distance rides, especially on long stretches of straight road. Big and heavy bikes at the speed limit resist being tossed around by the wind. I once did a 100 mile commute a day on a 320 pound bike. Going to a 500lb bike was night and day better on windy days.
My Dyna gets 45 mpg if I don't ride it hard. I once got 50 mpg when I rode it for fuel mileage. I have a Power Commander 5 on it now and went from a 14.7-15.2 AFR to a 13.6 air-fuel ratio so I don't know if the mileage will change.
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
when it's above 40 degrees I commute 30 miles each way on a Vstar 650. I'd like to try some 600-1400 mile trips but I don't find the Vstar comfortable for more than a few hours, and the vibration above 60 drives me crazy. I know there are a TON of good choices out there - my list changes daily and has included FJR1300, a Dyna, Versys 1000;
600-1400 mile trips isn't that much. Cruisers are often uncomfortable and tend to be underpowered for the displacement. Simply because that one doesn't work for you doesn't mean you need to go all the way to a 900# bike, or even a 700# FJR. Versys 1000 might be top pick on that list for me.
Best ride-all-day-day-after-day comfort I've had was a Versys 650. 650ccs in a standard like that is nothing like 650ccs in a cruiser. The Versys 650 could cruise at 90MPH all day. If you want to go over 100MPH get a different bike. Else it's adequate. Comfort and agility is a good combination for 1-up touring. I think you give up agility with nearly any cruiser (due to slack steering angles), and touring bikes too (due to weight).
Other bikes I've enjoyed touring on include my naked R1200R (which I regularly do a 100 mile round trip freeway commute on), and my FZ1.
Do your rides have tight twisty bits? Do you value agility? Do they have long freeway stretches? Do you want electronic cruise control? Do you want one bike for everything (commuting, touring, and so on)? Will any of the touring be 2-up? Personally I understand heavy touring bikes for 2-up travel. For 1-up use they don't make as much sense to me. Have you demoed any of the bikes on your list?
when it's above 40 degrees I commute 30 miles each way on a Vstar 650. I'd like to try some 600-1400 mile trips but I don't find the Vstar comfortable for more than a few hours, and the vibration above 60 drives me crazy. I know there are a TON of good choices out there - my list changes daily and has included FJR1300, a Dyna, Versys 1000;
600-1400 mile trips isn't that much. Cruisers are often uncomfortable and tend to be underpowered for the displacement. Simply because that one doesn't work for you doesn't mean you need to go all the way to a 900# bike, or even a 700# FJR. Versys 1000 might be top pick on that list for me.
Best ride-all-day-day-after-day comfort I've had was a Versys 650. 650ccs in a standard like that is nothing like 650ccs in a cruiser. The Versys 650 could cruise at 90MPH all day. If you want to go over 100MPH get a different bike. Else it's adequate. Comfort and agility is a good combination for 1-up touring. I think you give up agility with nearly any cruiser (due to slack steering angles), and touring bikes too (due to weight).
Other bikes I've enjoyed touring on include my naked R1200R (which I regularly do a 100 mile round trip freeway commute on), and my FZ1.
Do your rides have tight twisty bits? Do you value agility? Do they have long freeway stretches? Do you want electronic cruise control? Do you want one bike for everything (commuting, touring, and so on)? Will any of the touring be 2-up? Personally I understand heavy touring bikes for 2-up travel. For 1-up use they don't make as much sense to me. Have you demoed any of the bikes on your list?
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Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Mileage for ALL bikes tanks at high speed...no bike is especially aerodynamic, especially a giant touring bike.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate.
Define high speed . . .
Mileage for ALL bikes tanks at high speed...no bike is especially aerodynamic, especially a giant touring bike.
My uncle's father has an older Wing...I think a 1200 Interstate.
Define high speed . . .
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