I own a VFR and a CB750 (Will sell the 750) and I am considering a tourer with luggage, I know the VFR will tour all day but I don’t want to put luggage on it and I am drawn to a shaft drive bike (Although not mandatory) and I think I want a larger engine.
Wont have lots to spend, maybe a max of £2,500 so what are my options apart from a Pan (Yes I know I will probably end up with one anyway).
Bob
Some people tour on a a Bandit 1200. They can handle hard luggage and are pretty good value. Eeezyryda has one and probably tours on it so may be able to add a more qualified view.
Not many bikes come with a shaft.
Old Yamaha Diversion 900 had shaft drive.
Currently bikes with shaft are bike tours like the Honda Pan 1300, Yamaha FJR1300, BMW R1200RT, etc. The only other is the Deauville. Why not get some hard language for the viffer?
I don’t want to put luggage on and then take it off again if I fancy a quick ride out, I have considered getting a Black VFR with luggage and keeping the Yellow one for the more sporty stuff. They would look good in the garage together.
To be honest if it is a chain bike the only reasons to not go for a VFR would be a larger engine and a bit more comfort for the missus, as far as I am concerned the VFR is a great all rounder. I have done a 900 mile trip in a day on a CBf600, and have done London to Thurso (Well Orkney) in a day several times on the VFR. I could easily ride 24 hours straight on a VFR (As long as I had fag, petrol and toilet stops).
In an ideal world I would buy a VFR1200, but money wont go that far just yet.
I was talking to one of our mechanics today, AL have a few Pan’s as taxi bikes, he reckons they are expensive bikes to run compared to the VFR, by that he reckoned parts, servicing and general running costs where higher.
The Dueville is out as it’s a smaller engine.
I am in no rush so plenty of time to think about this.
Bob
Other than the 900 Divvy mentioned by Kevsta I’d say you other shaftie choices are BMWs, albeit they’ll likely be a few years older than a chain drive Jap option for your budget.
You’d probably be able to find a well cared for K series one if you’re not in a rush & do a bit of searching around.
Have a look at SW motech they do a luggage system with quick release bolts http://shop.sw-motech.com/en/by+motorbike+or+scooter/Honda/index.htm
I’ve put luggage on my 1200 bandit and then gone for the gel seat (custom), Renthals,bar risers and geared it to drop the rev’s. to drop the rev’s is only a matter of sprocket change and tour on it all day, the only other thing to consider would be a double bubble if your tall and that makes a big difference.
Regards John
I have a semi-faired Bandit 1250SA and it’s great for touring - very reliable, fantastic engine/gearbox. I have Givi top box (V46) and panniers (V35) which combined with the top box rack and Bagster Athena tank bag hold as much luggage as we need.
Negative points are it is not shaft drive (but not a problem as long as you have a decent chain and look after it now and again) and lack of comfort - despite having gel seats. This is a particular problem for pillions as the footpeg positions are too far back and high up for long rides to be enjoyable, unfortunately. If your pillion has short legs that might not be a problem.
I’m considering getting a new bike - a Triumph Tiger Explorer - which has shaft drive and seems a very good bike. Downside: it costs £11k :w00t:
Blackbird will do all you want for that sort of money will be older one but that doesn’t matter, mines on 70000 miles and still going strong, got Givi luggage that you just unclip from bike if you dont want it on 200+ to a tank even fully loaded and 2 up, risers, double bubble, cruise control fitted job done
oh and a VFR1200 hasn’t got the range, speed, luggage capacity, of a 'bird
It has crossed my mind a few times Steve.
I have to admit I like Honda’s (The Japanese built ones that is, can’t say I like the CBf, its a good tool for work, but I wouldn’t buy one, it’s a bit cheap and nasty compared to the VFR).
Of my possible 3/4 of a million miles on bikes 99% of it has been on Honda’s, the only other bike I ever owned and liked that wasn’t was an LC350.
So far on my option list is:
Another VFR 800 (well built, comfortable for me, but not so great with a pillion as I find I can’t straighten myself out at traffic lights as the wife is in the way, could do with a bit more power when two up and loaded with stuff, although I could slow down a bit)
ST1100 (Has the larger engine, comfortable and a shaft, although could have higher running costs. still looking in to it)
Blackbird (Has the power, probably comfortable as most bird owners, like VFR owners tend to keep them)
Any other suggestions welcome but it will take a bit to get me off a Honda.
Bob
africa twin or a transalp or being a honda man (old honda’s are still good now regardless of their mileage) even the dominator if on a budget :Whistling:
it’s a tough choice really…have you tried a later v-tec 800 ?
Just seen Makman’s add for his Triumph 955 Sprint, slightly larger engine than the VFR, but still chain driven, will add it to my list of bikes to look at, so it’s now:
Pan (Still heading the list for the shaft, larger engine and comfort)
Blackbird
VFR
Sprint
Whatever bike I eventually go for will have permanent luggage attached and hopefully colour matched but seeing as I will probably go for a Black bike if it’s not a Pan, so this wont be an issue.
Bob
GOLDWING !!! 
the only other bike I’ve tested that rides similar albiet slower than a 'bird was a K1300GT its got all the luggage, electric supspension, adjustable bars/screen/seat was very comfy as well, I also keep looking at the Pan 1300 but not ridden one yet
No to a Goldwing, it still has to be a bike;)
I prefer “Road” bikes so the Transalp etc are out.
I would guess the BMW would still be out of my price range.
Been thinking about the Sprint, I would guess it would suffer with the same problem as the VFR, the position for me is spot on, but when the wife is on the back, she adopts a position based on me, so we both end up leaning a bit forward, when we get to lights etc, if I try to straighten up, I bump into her.
As I mentioned, I could ride a VFR all day and pretty well have done so many times, but two up it does have issues.
I would also guess on a Pan, the riding position is more upright, so this would give more comfort two up, although I am still open to ideas, and will have a good look at all the bikes that make the short list.
Outright speed isn’t an issue, the VFR is plenty fast enough for me. Having a bit more low down poke for two up so not having to think about changing gear would be a plus point
Bob
for £2500 you can get a ST1100 Pan - I have a W reg one just done 48K miles (thats the big service cam belt, valve clearances etc) but they are very cheap to service and run - the big engine kills a battery every 2 years but other than that its a lovely bike. Panniers are decent size and I have a top box fitted for touring and the honda tank bag which is enormous !
and I get around 45 mpg normal riding - better on motorway cruising
my 2 pence worth as iv run a pan st1100 and a vfr800 vtec side by side, yes the pans great for touring and everything else the vfr to but also good for a bit of sporty fun.
i used the pan daily for work to as my instructor bike the vfr for more serious riding and a few good long trips but heres the thing iv now sold them both since buying a new bandit 1255 erm gsxf1250 as suzuki call it now and it made both bikes redundant over night so with your budget you could pick up a tidy late 1250 carb model fully faired with luggage with everything a bandit needs already done, handle bar replacement is a must with these bikes iv done it to every bandit iv owned including the gsx1400 which would be another good choice but lacking fairing makes those long journeys a pain. i did go to the milou viaduct and back on mine a fews years back so doable.
hope that helps
I have ridden a GSX1400, not into naked bikes, flexible engine though (God knows why I bought the CB750, it just sits in the garage taking up space) .
I was riding through Fulham today chatting to a FJR1300 rider (Brand new but he had owned two before), looked comfortable, shaft drive I think I will add this to the list.
Only using MCN as a guide to prices at the moment, lowest price for a FJR I can see is £2999 but cant find any GSX1300f’s for less than £3500
I really can’t ever see me parting with my VFR so it’s the two bike option for me.
Bob
Interesting couple of days.
I had to go up to Lincoln for me mother in laws funeral. The first part of the trip was taking the wife to Peterborough to her sisters so she could get changed etc and travel up the rest of the way by car, I then went up the A15 (A road I know very well as we used to live in Lincoln when I first became A dispatch rider and commuted home every weekend for a few years).
The lack of luggage was an issue on the VFR with the wife onboard and although the bike handled the trip in it’s normal way, showed why we are considering a proper tourer (We clashed helmets twice and I tend to forget she is on the back and ride a bit faster than I need to).
On the other hand the VFR was in it’s element on the A15 with just me and no luggage (apart from a rucksack with me clothes for the funeral), and I really enjoyed the run back down to Peterborough last night.
It was heavy rain today so I decided to come home after it stopped raining at about 8pm and again the VFR was faultless with just me and the rucksack (Wife coming home on Monday after some sorting out), the A1 was a bit damp for 30 or so miles, but once it dried out the speeds crept up and it was fun.
But during the day I had some time on me hands so with my sister in law living within less than 1/4 of a mile away from Peterborough’s two largest bike dealers, I paid them a visit and got to sit on some bikes.
The Blackbird is similar to the VFR in riding position so apart from the larger engine, we would still have the leaning forward issue, the Pan on the other hand (1100 and 1300) was just perfect for what I need, to straighten out at traffic light, just put feet down as it’s a very upright riding position.
The 1100 is obviously older so cheaper and one insurance bracket down from the VFR (1300 the same as the VFR), shaft drive, larger torquey engine, very comfortable, will eat up long trips and carry all we need.
So it looks like it will be a Pan, with funds deciding which engine.
As mentioned, I am not in a rush so can afford to bide my time for the right bike at the right price.
Many thanks for all the input.
Bob
Just went down to Doble’s and took a Pan 1300 for a short test ride.
Smooth engine, very comfy although I did experience some wind buffeting but had the screen on it’s lowest position, very easy to control.
I only went about a mile or so (That was enough to show me the tractability of the engine) and when I got back to Doble’s I did a few tight circles in the short bit of road by their workshop, it has a turning circle as good if not better than the CBf. I could easily join a display team with one of these.
In some ways the perfect bike for what I want with one exception and that is the price.
Anyone know where I can get a shot on an ST1100?
Bob
