Best all around road motorcycle (1 Viewer)

[Gumby]

I had 6 hours of droning down the highway to think about stuff today. One of the things I thought about was what kind of bike I could buy next. Lots of stuff I would like as a pure toy, but what needs to I need to fill? Peter Egan said every one needed 5 bikes. I forget his criteria, but here is what I need:

A touring bike - A bike with good highway manners, wind protection and luggage capacity.

A sport bike - Needs to be able to tear up the twisties.

A "standard" - A bike that does well around town. Sits upright and high. Wide bars. Good down low powerband.

A cruiser - not a practical thing, but clearly a popular one given the vast majority of bikes sold today are cruisers. Lets define it as something you could pull up on at a cruise night and people would check it out.

Rating the bikes on a scale of 1-5. 5 being a bike that is as good as 95% of us will ever use.

Of course I think my bike is the best. It's why I bought it.

Honda Valkyrie : touring 5, sport 3 (it's really surprisingly good on curves), standard 4 (it's a little large) Cruiser 5 (great looking bike that doesn't look like anything else)

Honda VFR: touring 4.5, sport 5, standard 3, cruiser 2

BMW R1100 GS: touring 5, sport 4, standard 5, cruiser 1

BMW R90S: Touring 4, sport 4, standard 4, cruiser 4

Who's got something better?

 

[Hilux]

Having no 2wheel experience here, I'm gonna have to say the one that it built (IIRC) on the Ninjas frame...


The Kawasaki Versys.

Engine Type Four-stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder, parallel twin
Displacement 649 cc
Bore & Stroke 83.0 x 60.0 mm
Compression Ratio 10.6:1
Maximum Torque 44.9 lb/ft @6,800 rpm
Cooling Liquid
Fuel Injection Digital fuel injection with two 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
Ignition Digital CDI
Transmission 6-Speed
Final Drive O-Ring Chain
Frame Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake/Trail 25°/4.3 in.
Front Tire Size 120/70-17
Rear Tire Size 160/60-17
Wheelbase 55.7
Front Suspension / wheel travel 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork with adjustable rebound and preload / 5.9 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel Single offset laydown shock with adjustable rebound and spring preload / 5.7 in.
Front Brake Type Dual 300mm petal discs with two-piston caliper
Rear Brake Type Single 220mm petal disc with single-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity 5.0 gal.
Seat Height 33.1
Dry Weight 399 lbs.
Overall length 83.7 in.
Overall width 33.1 in.
Overall height 51.8 in.
Color Passion Red
Warranty 12 months
Good Times™ Protection Plan 12, 24, 36 or 48 months











And the best part!!




* Model not available in California

 

[Happy Trails]

I was in Wyoming last week and came upon the BMW National convention in Gillette. I lost count of how many R1100GS' I saw. Sweet bikes.

 

[97 FZJ80]

Honda Goldwing in bright yellow. touring 5+, sport 4 (yea, you gotta believe it. I have the drag marks under the footpegs to show for it), standard 5 (upright, wide bar, low RPM torque, reverse), cruiser 1 (2 unless you count the yellow color)

 

[FJ40_owner]

After owning 2 Goldwings and rididing tens of thousands of miles on them both on road and off road I am jone-zin for this.

BMW R1100 GS: touring 5, sport 5, standard 5, cruiser 1

 

[JJS]

I was in Wyoming last week and came upon the BMW National convention in Gillette. I lost count of how many R1100GS' I saw. Sweet bikes.

That would be my first choice. You can't really beat it for an all-around package.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Honda PC800--legendary rear trunk, killer styling. Yamaha V-Max. Simple, rip-roaring, this-is-why-I-got-into-biking fun!

 

[Gumby]

I like Mr. Max. The 2009 edition is supposed to be looking close to 200 hp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyUtKtIp8Uo&feature=related

Not a bike for the twisties and useless for touring.

The Pacific Coast has great styling like a Honda Spree is a chick magnet.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Anybody know where a good Honda pc800 is for sale ? Whats the best year? Known problems?

 

[Texx]

Tupperware. Death from boredom. Other than that, it's a big Honda piece-o-plastic.

 

[Jomama]

I really like my "Steamer"... 96 triumph tiger.. Only downside will probably be the PITA associated with long term maint stuff, there are some silly design flaws which make it a bit of a pain to work on....
I still wouldn't mind a smaller bike for running around town, cant really man-handle a 900.... but like Land Cruisers, I would have a stable if I could... Lots of cool bikes out there...


On the Gumby rating scale I'd give it a 5-4-4-1

 

[jonesy54]

PC's never changed significantly throughout their entire production run. Just the color and the later ones have less of a front fender. Same powerplant as an 800 Shadow.

They are smooth queit and can carry a LOAD of stuff in the trunk-thing. My dad has one with about 115k on the clock and has never done anything more significant than changing the battery or sparkplugs. He rides it 40 miles to work and back EVERYday.

The "bodywork by tupperware" is a definite turnoff. They are even uglier with all that plastic off.

I've got 2 votes for great all around bikes. The Beemer GS that everyone has already raved about, and also a Suzuki Bandit 1200 with some saddlebags.

I ride an 89 honda transalp, also a great all around machine. Its just on the slow side.

 

[Jomama]

I ride an 89 honda transalp, also a great all around machine. Its just on the slow side.

There is one just like that down the street from me... Similar stylings to my Tiger... I love'em....

Its unfortunate that bikes like this and the african twin, and other "mid?" size dual-sport like bikes had only limited availability in the US or if sold hear earlier in the model years have since stopped being imported into the US...

 

[FirstToy]

One of my best friends named the Honda Valkyrie. There was a inter-company competition and he won. I think he had some input on the styling as well.

One motorcycle I was very impressed with (another friend just bought one) is the Piaggio MP3. I guess it's a moped but the 500cc looks so cool and it's easily capable of 100+mph & 55+mpg's.
I know motorcycle guys either love or hate mopeds but I think it's pretty cool.

I think it actually hits on most of your major points for best all around. The front end is revolutionary and Piaggio has a patent on it.

 

[Jman]

 

[Mr. Toad]

BMW R90S: Touring 4, sport 4, standard 4, cruiser 4

You mean one of these?

(I agree)

 

[Jomama]

 

[Hilux]

we need a "Review of your bike, or bikes you've had" thread



and the SuperRemoyomotard is SWEET!!! BTW

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Anybody know where a good Honda pc800 is for sale ? Whats the best year? Known problems?

This where I got that pic:

http://www.cappsnet.com/forsale/PC800/index.htm

 

[sirenmoses]

Kawasaki Concours. 5, 5, 4, 2, and an owners group thats almost as passionate about it as Mudders are about Land Cruisers. [http://www.concours.org/]