Touring motorbikes - what to look for

All bikers have their favourite bikes, ask any of them and they will be able to reel off several "love to have" bikes for various reasons fastest (R1, Fireblade etc), most iconic (Ducati), loudest (Harley)and so on but would you want to go on a long tour on any of those? Well if you were off to do the Alps or the Pyrenees and there was a luggage vehicle involved it's not that impractical (if somewhat uncomfortable on the Ducati).

However there are plenty of people who do tours on sports bikes - often with a willing pillion passenger - and despite the fact it was not what it was designed for they do a good job. So when you are trying to work out the best bike to go touring it is a good idea to decide exactly what you want from the tour in the first place.

Tours tend to break down into different categories. From breaks where it doesn't actually matter what bike you have got to long multi-country and region tours where a specialist touring bike is essential.

What ever the bike if you are going to be spending long periods riding on a daily basis a making sure it is in good condition is essential and a screen of some sort makes it a lot less tiring. As talking between rider and pillion is not easy by just shouting to each other through helmet and engine noise an intercom is a great idea, most of the modern ones allow plug-ins to MP3 players and if you really can't be without it - a mobile phone.

Comfort
But more than anything else you HAVE to BOTH be comfortable on the bike over distance. So do a few longer distance rides before you head off abroad and work through any shortcomings of the bike before you ever venture abroad. Sort out the disagreements and difficulties this side of the Channel where problems are more easily and readily resolved.

On a longer tour you may be a bit more prepared to invest in a more suitable touring machine. Nobody ever went far wrong on a BMW. The GS models have developed a strong following and the new generation water cooled bikes are seriously powerful pieces of kit. The K1200GT and K1200S models even have handlebar-mounted suspension adjustment at the press of a button.

Price
Obviously quality comes at a price and for that reason a lot of people invest in BMW or Honda motorcycles - simply because the build quality is so superior. No one ever regretted the purchase of a VFR for touring, even the Deauville has a bit of a following and for those who wish to travel at a pace the Honda Blackbird and Fireblade set benchmark performance standards.

Given a generous budget the Pan-European and Gold Wing take motorcycle touring to a superior level where 400 mile daily journeys are not just achievable - they become very much the norm.

Routes and Mates
However, when you first decide to pursue your dream of a continental tour it is too easy to get carried away. There is plenty to see in France and Germany without tormenting yourself with 400 miles in the saddle on a daily basis! Keep the distances realistic - no more than 250 miles and you will see much more and enjoy the scenery. Rather than a flashing blur of autoroute or worse still a flashing blue light... Plan the route, decide where you want to stay in advance and resist the temptation to do the whole of Europe in a week. It's a holiday - remember? And if the planning is all a bit too much put yourself in the hands of other people who can sort this side of things for you.

Either choose friends, a bike club or take advantage of a self-guided tour programme where everything is done for you. There are many biker friendly bed and breakfasts or campsites on the continent and they will be only to glad to help you plan your journey. More often than not they may come on the ride with you.

Which Bike?
Back to the bikes. Though BMWs and Hondas mentioned not all Hondas are perfect for touring. The Firestorm has too small a tank range, the CBR 600 is not ideal two-up (bit cramped and thirsty) and the SP-2 has a fuel range of substantially less than 100 miles at sustained high speed on the autobahn. As for the pocket rockets (ZXR400, RGV250, CBR400) they are usually popular with girls who have recently passed their test but these are not easy bikes to ride comfortably over distance. Narrow power bands, cramped riding position and a need to work the gearbox all make it a tiring experience.

Bigger capacity bikes certainly make more sense where distance is involved. The Kawasaki ZX-9 makes a good cheap tourer and if you are on a budget there is nothing wrong with a Bandit 1200 - although the 1200S with a sports screen would be an easier ride however if you like your bike what ever it is then go for a tour on it.

If you are feeling patriotic Triumph now have an excellent range of desirable bikes that have developed a following - the Tiger and ST are particularly popular.

Yamaha have three bikes that make good tourers - the often underrated but perfectly capable TDM900, the FJR1300 that is arguably a better choice than the Pan-European and then take a look at the older Fazer 1000. Fitted with an aftermarket screen and an Ohlins rear shock (and maybe some hard luggage) the Fazer really is a go-anywhere bike with plenty of power two-up.

If you have the enthusiasm you really can ride your bike for long distances abroad - it doesn't matter that much what you ride so long as you are comfortable on it.

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