I think we need a new poll on the forum homepage, so I thought I’d get your ideas on something that’s been rattling around my head since I rode through the Swiss/French Alps last week on a Suzuki V-Strom 650 XPedition.
What bike could I be happy to have for longer distance riding and still have fun on, and use two-up for 350 miles a day?
Would lose a bike for this.
I’m thinking about luggage options as well for any bike, passenger comfort and grunt. Must have grunt.
VFR800 V-Tec, with hard luggage
steer clear of the v-tec and get a early model…least you said vfr800 leon:D…these are great on fuel and can rack up the miles comfortably,more than capable to mix it with sportsbikes on any given sunday too.early ones might be best bit of 13yrs old but i would’nt underestimate hondas remarkable cam driven v4.
Triumph Daytona 955i, Nordcapp, Rome, Alps and Pyrennes nuff said.
Triumph Sprint, but returning to your list then the Tiger. 
Your list of bikes doesn’t really fit the brief.
You have to bare in mind Mark that Jay is verticvally challenged so he will need to be able to touch the floor 
I would vote for the Multistrada, but i told you that 3 times last night at BM 
Out of curiosity, what did you find to be a problem on the WeeStrom ?
Yeah, but your ‘luggage’ solution is a little light for most people I showed my missus a picture of Mrs Jetstream and the rucksack and she told me to go and buy something with luggage
We had absolutely no problems at all with the V-Strom. It’s an excellent bike and exceeded our expectations on nearly all fronts. I just found it lacking in top end grunt. It was superbly torquey, but was not happy to sit on motorways at 100mph (more like 80). More to come on this in a feature.
Thanks all, and thanks especially to PJ 
Mark, it’s an uneasy compromise. Ideally I’d like to consolidate, but I don’t see a bike that could be used in London easily, and with fun, and then used for long distance riding, two-up with luggage. I think two bikes is the only way?
I think with regards to this poll you should probably ask the missus.
Air cooled Multistrada is what you want. ‘Adequate’ performance, can take three hard panniers, fully adjustable suspension, comfy, does about 45 mpg unless you’re pottering round town and much more if you’re cruising on the motorway.
As a Ducati it can have its niggles (a few people at BM last night perhaps may have heard one or two of these) - fuel gauge is a liar so just fill up at 150 miles to be safe - and handling isn’t great in crosswinds. It’s also quite tall.
I never thought I’d be a Ducati fan but the MultiStrada seems like a lot of fun, you’d clock the miles with ease and hard luggage can be clipped on.
Riding round town would be a doddle (providing the bars are not too wide or wrong height clipping mirrors). Nice comfortable riding position.
All the gadgets on there would keep you interested every ride. When you want the adrenalin rush, just flick the power mode switch and grin, there’s enough power there to keep up with the latest sportsbikes.
I want one!
Hah, I never thought I’d hear that Brian!
I’ve seen a MCN video of a review of the new Multistrada, comparing it against comparable bikes. The pillion comment was very interesting. Apparently the GS is best, then the Multistrada, and the Triumph Tiger 1050, KTM SMT, etc all being too uncomfortable for any distance.
The Multistrada is growing on me. PJ will be proud, though I’m not sure why after his Ducati experiences.
I could see myself on the MS, it’s an amazing bike, just horrifically expensive. The enduro mode is a waste, but all the toys would make it a real treat, and it’d be amazing for both fast riding and touring. Wow, what a bike
How about the Kwak Z1000 SX, buy it with hard luggage and remove for those ‘fun’ days and commuting. Loads of grunt throughout the rev range and not too tall a bike either.
I’ve spent 5 years and 3 bike models trying to find the compromise and never managed. Either I was thrilled, my wife was thrilled or we were both miserable (ER6-F). Over about 8,000 miles, we never found a bike that we were both comfortable on. We’ve just bought a WeeStrom, so we’re back to me being miserable and my wife being thrilled.
In a few years time, I hope to buy a second bike that I enjoy for solo and day-to-day riding (CBR, Hornet or Street Triple) but seeing as so many people on this forum have pointed out that it’s irresponsible to own motorcycles without owning a garage, I’m holding off until then.
I’d say the GS is an aquired taste Jay, it’s not cheap either.
Don’t tell anyone that I’ve ridden one but It was not for me. It felt very alien with such a high centre of gravity, like it was going to topple over all the time.
I should have known the MS would cost a fortune…Haggle? You could do a review, a bike for all occasions, Town, Touring and Track:cool:
I’ve spent 5 years and 3 bike models trying to find the compromise and never managed. Either I was thrilled, my wife was thrilled or we were both miserable (ER6-F). Over about 8,000 miles, we never found a bike that we were both comfortable on. We’ve just bought a WeeStrom, so we’re back to me being miserable and my wife being thrilled.
In a few years time, I hope to buy a second bike that I enjoy for solo and day-to-day riding (CBR, Hornet or Street Triple) but seeing as so many people on this forum have pointed out that it’s irresponsible to own motorcycles without owning a garage, I’m holding off until then.
APOLOGIES but I cannot edit this post to fix the quoting 
I’ve read that the panniers limit the leg room for the passenger when fitted.
This is a compromise i was looking for too except without the pillion - which makes it a bit easier, but surprisingly, not much.
Tried the Multistrada. Didnt do much for me for to be honest. Maybe I need to try it on a non-escorted ride instead of being led around like an old lady on Ductati try out session .
There are not many options. A sort of biggere superduke with a larger tank , bit of a screen and luggage capability is what i want. Sounds like a Mutistrada…
