What’s comfier than a BMW R1200ST?

[Malky]

Hi guys, my wife and I are both 5’9” tall in our 50s and fed up with only being able to ride for about 1 1/2 hours before being in discomfort.

Wanting a tourer (just back into bikes after 30 years) rather than use my Thunderace I bought the beemer for 2 up riding.

It’s ok for short trips up to an hour and a half but a 2 hour trip at the weekend was no fun..... and it was a nice sunny day!

With a budget of around £5,000 any ideas? I’ve no objection to any make or age - we just want to lose the discomfort.

I’d thought of a Goldwing / F6C but don’t want to lose the essence of using the bike and getting wedged in traffic.

Thanks in advance,
Malcolm
 

[finnerz89]

I'd suggest any of the usual adventure style bikes. Tiger 800, GS1200, Africa Twin etc. They tend to have more leg room for the pillion. 

But then again, I never ride for much longer than that when 2 up with my Mrs so I don't think it would bother me too much

[Malky]

Thanks for your suggestions - I think I'll see if I can have a shot on the Tiger & Africa Twin.....I'm a little reluctant to go the Beemer route again.  On another note - how's the Street Triple...?  I tried a V4 Tuono and that was bonkers and would have seen me pushing up daisies in short order.  The Street Triple I'm guessing is a competitor for the Tuono - is it less bonkers?

[finnerz89]

The streets only a 675/765 so no contest mate. I guess the speed triple would be closer but the tuono is another step above that. You're into mt10 or superduke r territory

[blackhat250]

FJR1300,, deffo comfy,,,   great long distance,,,  the Speed & street    will be no use for pillion ,  they"l be perched up high,  

[Cynic]

Being a bit dim here maybe but?

The chunder ace has got to be up there as a sports tourer these days. Anything sporty come modern will be harder and less supple than the ace.

I think your looking for what you have, unless you feel like going chrome, the BEST distance riding i did round Derbyshire a few years back was on my dads Suzuki intruder. 

Miles and miles, straight back, comfy seat it just eat the miles. I wasn't breaking into hairpins but i could have rode from dawn till dusk without trouble. No silly crap on it like noisy exhausts etc, just a stock 750 V twin. Shocking front brake and shite in corners but it was comfy.

Or go old, FJ will take some beating as a mile eater, or one of the old gs shafties. 5k gives you a lot of choice, i would ignore the newer stuff.

 

But hey, i have been known to do over 700 miles in a weekend on my TDR 250, probably THE most non distance bike in creation. Yes i was hurting afterwards.

[finnerz89]

My experience of the FJ is not great for pillion. My Mrs is 5'8 and felt really cramped on mine.

I'd say you need something with a flattish seat so your pillion isn't sticking up high in the wind (as blackie said)

[Campaman]

I was in a similar position when I changed from the XVS650, I tried a lot of different touring bikes, BMW & Triumph just didn't feel right, It came down to either the Yamaha FJR1300 or the Honda ST1300, I ended up with the Honda as my budget wouldn't run to the newer FJR which I preferred to the older one.

At some point I may swap the Honda for the newer FJR once the prices come down, but at this point the Honda does everything I need it to and a 2 hour non stop trip to the coast is not a problem for me or the wife.

[Malky]

Brilliant, thanks for all your help.  I always lusted after the 'new' FJ1100 in the 80s so I'll have a shot on one of those even newer more fangled FJ1300 too if I can.

 

Edited April 24, 2018 by Malky

[slice]

Malky don't buy the auto adjusted rear suspension version of the FJR if it goes wrong the bill starts at £5 grand.

[Malky]

Oh wow, many thanks for that pearl of wisdom slice!  I think at that price you'd just have to break the bike rather than repair it!  Crazy!

[mike1949]

Hi Malky, maybe I'm wrong and mis-reading your original post. Is your discomfort a "numb bum"?
If it is, that's quite normal. When in a car you can move about and make yourself more comfortable but on a bike you just have to sit on the seat in the same position for the duration. Quite often I travel on the motorway (M4) for about an hour and a half and by the time I get there, boy, am I glad to get off the motorway, sometimes I get off before I should.

[Keith Inglis]

I have had five BMW's over the years but the last one I sold for that reason they have got worse over the years I went to Honda and I have not looked back.

Keith

[Katie1]

Or go for the most comfortable bike in the world (including for pillions), an Aprilia Futura

[Campaman]

Interesting you recommend that as it was designed to be in direct competition to the Honda VFR800 :-)

[Katie1]

No coincidence, I've now got both