Just got back from about 800 miles in and around France, 2-up on an ER6-f. So obviously I’m looking for a next bike
The kwak did the job, and the added bits like the Givi and the autocom did their jobs. Although, I’ll never buy another POS givi given the choice, but that’s a different rant.
We struggled with a couple of things. As soon as Mrs Lemming gets on the back, the handling goes out the window. I’ve tried all preload settings up to 7, but the bike just wallows. Turning into corners, it feels like the back doesn’t want to turn with me - it wants to keep going straight.
So what next? Ideally, I’d like something that could fill the following roles:
Commute - doesn’t have to be skinny, I’ll live with sitting in traffic from time to time
Still handles OK 2 up
Fun for weekend hooning
Has decent luggage options available
Would survive 1 / 2 track days per year
I’m looking at the VFR800 and if I sold my parachute and part ex’d my bike, I might be able to stretch to one of these. What other options are there in a similar class to this that I could be looking at ?
How about a Hornet 900. Loads of grunt a comfortable upright riding position and room for a top box. Dont think twos up would be a problem and it’ll be a good commuter too.
Forget the VFR. Go for a Triumph Sprint RS/ST. Far better bike and engine. More comfortable, economical and a much better ride. I had a VFR and prefer the Sprint by a long way.
Triumph is a good option, but I’d also put in a shout for a TDM900 and currently it won’t cost more than about £3-3.5k for a good recent one.
On the wanting to go straight on at bends riding 2-up, is your missus an experienced pillion? Could it be she was trying to counter the lean by either attempting to stay upright or even leaning the other way to compensate, as this isn’t uncommon for people that are new to bikes?
I think the hornet would be a great commuter, but it has no weather protection at all, and I’ve got used to being able to do 100 comfortably without being blown off the bike
I obviously can’t tell too much about her pillion style, but everytime I look in the mirrors, she looks like she’s leaning the right way with me.
We’ve always practiced that when I’m turning, she should try and look over the shoulder that I’m turning into. So if I’m going left, she should look over my left shoulder all the way through the turn. Same for going right. That should in theory put her in the right place, and the little I can see from the mirrors confirms that she’s doing this.
If I understood why the ER6-f was riding like a dog with the back end feeling like it is dragging around, that would help me work out what I need in the next bike quite a bit.
lol sorry yes to clarify I meant he has had both the TDM900 and the TDM850MAN DAMN IT just realised it quoted the wrong blooming post I now see why you may have got the wrong end of the stick!!!
