Alamode
Well-known member
My wonderful VFR is getting a bit long in the tooth. At 12 years old and rapidly encroaching on 100k miles, everything is going fine but i'm basically using that as an excuse to eyeball other bikes that may or may not serve as a good replacement, eventually. The obvious route is just to get another VFR, but if I was entertaining that idea I wouldn't' consider having this discussion.
My criteria is fairly specific, but open ended. I ride a lot, give or take 30,000 km per year. Approximately half of that is commuting and the rest is touring and futzing around. Touring is typically doing 5,000-10,000 km over a week or two, and I like doing 800-1000km per day. I like having a 350+km range per tank of gas, but I don't get upset when more spirited rides reduce that to 250. Spirited riding happens... Often. I'm definitely not the fastest rider and I've never even seen a track, but I definitely like to get my *** off the seat. I like my bikes to be agile. My VFR handles it's weight marvelously, but it's probably at the upper limit of what I like. The FJR feels glorious, but it's just too heavy for what I want. Finally, power is definitely a consideration but keep in mind I'm coming from a bike with 100bhp and weighing in at 550lbs wet plus touring bags. I don't need the front wheel to come off the ground, but I wouldn't be happy with a tractor either.
So with that long winded opening, what are your favourite middle-weight sport touring bikes and why? For the sake of this game lets also say that price is not a consideration, but ease of maintenance and reliability is.
Have at it, GTAM. Shower me with your wisdom!
My criteria is fairly specific, but open ended. I ride a lot, give or take 30,000 km per year. Approximately half of that is commuting and the rest is touring and futzing around. Touring is typically doing 5,000-10,000 km over a week or two, and I like doing 800-1000km per day. I like having a 350+km range per tank of gas, but I don't get upset when more spirited rides reduce that to 250. Spirited riding happens... Often. I'm definitely not the fastest rider and I've never even seen a track, but I definitely like to get my *** off the seat. I like my bikes to be agile. My VFR handles it's weight marvelously, but it's probably at the upper limit of what I like. The FJR feels glorious, but it's just too heavy for what I want. Finally, power is definitely a consideration but keep in mind I'm coming from a bike with 100bhp and weighing in at 550lbs wet plus touring bags. I don't need the front wheel to come off the ground, but I wouldn't be happy with a tractor either.
So with that long winded opening, what are your favourite middle-weight sport touring bikes and why? For the sake of this game lets also say that price is not a consideration, but ease of maintenance and reliability is.
Have at it, GTAM. Shower me with your wisdom!