Need advice...best Touring Bike

[PA-guy]

Hi Everyone

This is my first post. I am usually on the Classic site because I own an 05 Bonneville.

A freind and I are each considering buying touring bikes. By touring I'm refering to a bike designed to take the ride on long trips in comfort.

Recently he and I rented 2 2005 BMW 1200RT bikes and rode them for a week in southern Arizona. I believe the 1200RT is BMW's 2nd best touring bike. It had most of the bells and whistles. We especially appreciated the electric windshield and cruise control. However, neither of us were particularily impressed with the bike. Very noisy engine and shifting. Also, not a fun bike to ride and the seat was average at best. We both felt a touring bike should come with a very comfortable stock seat. Another comment about the BMW...IMO, a crusing bike needs to be a 4 or 6 water cooled cylinder anf these BMW's were 2 cyl. and air cooled.

Here is what I consider important in a long distance touring bike and in the order of importance: #1-comfort....seat, rider position, smooth ride, all of the bells/whistles that make a long day in the saddle fun etc. #2-accessories....the ability to put on 2 side and 1 center/rear luggage compartments. The BMW had all 3 and that was not enough. #3-FUN.....meaning decent handling and enough power to make the bike exciting. The BMW was OK but not at all exciting.

Does anyone have a recomendation? I'm sure the Rocket 3 is the hands down winner in the FUN/POWER catagory but would it be as comfortable as some of the other big bikes, like the Gold Wing? Unfortunately,I'm afraid there isn't one bike that will do all I am looking for. I've heard the Gold Wing is flat out boreing to ride but very comfortable. I did read however where it comes in an optional 6 cylinder which may provide the extra power to make it the overall winner. But maybe there are some others I need to consider. As I mentioned above, the electric windshield was great. Having the ability to move it up and down as needed was great.

Thanks
Chuck

[Pig9r]

To make the Rocket what you want to have in a touring bike would take a significant investment and it sounds like you want something set up and ready to go. The Rocket can tour and there are several here that have done just that. But you won't have all of the creature comforts and a huge faring to hide behind.

The BMW K1200LT is pretty much a Cadillac with 2 wheels. It has a inline four and is shaft drive. MP3 players, GPS, electric windsheild and centerstands, heated seats and grips, plug and go intercoms and CB's. Goldwings are about the same but I think they are flat six cylinders aren't they? The HD Ultra Classic is also similarly equiped, but it's a Harley.

I think any of the bikes that are classified as touring bikes are not going to offer too much excitement but they have plenty of comforts.

[Aussiebikerdave]

On 2006-03-18 13:36, PA-guy wrote:

Recently he and I rented 2 2005 BMW 1200RT bikes and rode them for a week in southern Arizona. The BMW was OK but not at all exciting.

Does anyone have a recomendation? I'm sure the Rocket 3 is the hands down winner in the FUN/POWER catagory but would it be as comfortable as some of the other big bikes, like the Gold Wing?

Thanks
Chuck

From what I know about BMWs being the owner of a number of the Barvarian beauties, I think your sumation of the BMWR1200RT is quite correct in every point however I think that the yet-to-be-released BMW K1200RT with it's 4 cylinder 150hp motor will address all of the shortcomings of the R1200RT.

Comfort wise, the thing that makes the boxer twins uncomfortable after 2 or 3 hours in the saddle is not bad seat design but the boxer twin "pulse" that sets your ass on fire after a while. The 1200 series is no better then the preceeding 1150 series or even the 1100 series before that. I know through experience!

Performance wise, the R1200 boxer motor produces good power above 5000rpm but lacks decent grunt at lower revs. This is most noticeable when riding in touring mode when two-up especially pulling out of an uphill bend. You get the feeling there's nobody home when you dial it on a bit.

Otherwise the R1200RT is an excellent motorcycle with many excellent features such as great handling, complient suspension, plus all the aformentioned "bells and whistles".

I would predict that the new four cylinder "K" model K1200RT will address all of the shotcomings of the R1200RT but on the other hand, why not dress up the Rocket for touring and enjoy most of the benefits of the BMW plus, exclusivity, street-credibility and gi-normous power-ability! Yeah... now we're torque-ing! Davo

[jamboa2003]

I had a GL1800 Goldwing. I was imppressed with the bells and whistles for a while. My wife caught alot of air turbulence no matter what windsheild I tried. I traded it with somone who had a Honda ST1300. After I was finished with the farkles I felt it was more comfortable than the Wing. Still not that exciting. I have it for sale on www.cycletrader.com. I am leaning on going smaller again with the Tiger or turning the RIII into a tourer. I can tell you intercoms can be a pain in the ass when passenger does like the way you drive.
Jamboa

[rad-lefty]

For what your describing, I can't think of anything better
than the BMW K1200LT. My brother absolutely loves his,
does a lot of 2 up touring and living in Tucson is able to use it
as a daily commuter year round. Personally its too Buck Rogers for me, I call it his hovercraft. I'll take a little turbulence and vibration for the pure adrenaline rush I get
every time I ride the Rocket. Now if only this snow would melt, so I get back out there.

[sbljr]

On 2006-03-18 13:36, PA-guy wrote:
Does anyone have a recomendation? I'm sure the Rocket 3 is the hands down winner in the FUN/POWER catagory but would it be as comfortable as some of the other big bikes, like the Gold Wing? Unfortunately,I'm afraid there isn't one bike that will do all I am looking for. I've heard the Gold Wing is flat out boreing to ride but very comfortable. I did read however where it comes in an optional 6 cylinder which may provide the extra power to make it the overall winner. But maybe there are some others I need to consider. As I mentioned above, the electric windshield was great. Having the ability to move it up and down as needed was great.

All new Goldwings are 6-cyl and have been for several years. And yes they have all the ponies you'll ever need for touring and then some but still can't hold a candle to the Rocket's mind-bending torque. The Wing's motor has the smoothness of an Acura...and that's exactly what you'll think you're driving minus 2 wheels and a tin top. We're talking the parade marshall's bike at the National Yawning Festival. But if you want the most gizmos for the money in a good turnkey tourer, it's hard to beat.

The current Rocket requires some aftermarket equipping to be a good "touring cruiser" but it's easy to do. However "touring cruiser" is all it can be--there's no practical way it can be equipped with the full assortment of bells & whistles you get on bikes like the 'wing and K1200LT beemers. But IMHO you'll have more fun! There are strong rumors of a Touring Rocket in the next model year's lineup but who knows whether it'll be a more "spartan" tourer like the Trophy was or a rolling Circuit City like the 'wing.

For me old fashion "touring cruisers" also called "baggers" are more fun than the 2-wheeled luxury cars (as you can tell by the bikes I own) but that's not the case for everybody or bikes like the 'wing wouldn't be so popular. That's the part the individual rider has to decide for him/herself.

[Rocketime]

Can't say enough about my Goldwing. I ride the R3 for excitement and fun and the Wing for comfort during long distance and overnight rides. The storage space for packing on the Wing is un-matched.

[MikeRokkit]

I used to have a Honda Valkyrie Interstate. It had all the goods that I wanted for a long-run tour. Radio, bags, trunk, and torquey as hell. The only thing it didn't have was the Goldwing pricetag.

Unfortunately, Honda quit making these. Yamaha has a similar bike... the Venture. Could be worth a look.

Mike

[SteveRed]

Yeah... The big Honda's for reliability and long distance comfort... Dress up a Rocket and you will go the distance or wait for the Touring Rocket 2007. My money is on a 'BMW 1200GS Adventure' and I will ride this sucker either from Patagonia to North Alaska or the other way around some time before 2008 is over :-D

[Royal-R3]

PA Guy;

Well you are going about this the right way, by identifying what you are using the bike for... That's a real good thing...
I have two bikes at the time - my R-III and a Yamaha Royal Star -Touring Classic. I am familar with Wings, Beemers, etc. Personally, Royal Star's 1300cc 16 valve DOHC, 100hp, Venture is a great bike for touring. All the creature comforts and some decent power to boot. The 5 year warranty isn't too bad either. Should I ever sell my Royal Star TC-- I will get a Venture. In the meantime, I have modified my stock R-III into a modified tourer - with the Beetle Bags, Corbin Saddles, and Corbin's Trim Tab. I have a trunk to install - when I figure that out.. and an alarm system as well. But to me, it's just a mater of time before someone modifies an existing fairing to fit our dual headlights.. or creates a new one. But this bike with its 140hp, 147lbs of torgue, 6.1 gallon tank and an absolute BLAST to ride... does turn heads, from everyone.

If you have more questions, I will share more responses...