Topic: Bike to ride from VA to Illinois

[70CB750]

A friend of mine rides Kawasaki cruiser and now he is toying with an idea of HD, reason being he would like to ride it to Illinois every so often since he has relatives there.

Told him I would buy Golden Wing for that journey and never look back, it was lost on him 

Anyway, if you were to ride three times a year 1500 or so miles round trip, what would you get?

Me, I would go with Wing, I don't doubt my CB750 would do it too - with new seat of course, the broken down old POS has to go. 

[tbpmusic]

No doubt in my mind, having ridden nearly every bike out there - the Gold Wing reigns supreme in this context..........no contest.
Ultra-smooth, quiet, powerful enough to get you out of trouble if needed, all the attributes you want for a long distance ride.

[Bankerdanny]

Obviously there is no one answer. I just did 1,000+ miles on my dressed GL1000 in the Relay Rally, and it was great, smooth and comfortable. But I did 1,400+ miles on my '77 CB550 in the 2011 RR witn a stock seat and a small windshield. And I was fine.

That said, I would probably look for a GL1500 (the first year of the flat 6) or maybe a BMW R100RT if I were going to start doing an annual 1,000+ miler.

My buddy put 50,000+ miles on his Harley Road King including a month long trip around the country and loved it. It can't just be poseurs on all those Harleys I see on the highway. And if you break down in the middle of nowhere there is something to be said for the simplicity of an exposed pushrod twin vs an overhead cam flat 6 with lots of body work.

[Tugboat]

1983 GL1100.. best of the 1100's and didn't have the charging issues that the 1200's had. Also, you can find 'em for around $1500.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

1500 miles is a short ride, what's the issue?? Good shocks and a dependable bike are all you need.

I've done 50,000 TROUBLE FREE Harley Fat Boys miles on the road without losing the first drop of oil. Great bikes. I enjoy(ed) riding mine. Not a couchy smooth ride like a Wing but better mileage I'd expect and it went at 85 all day long. 600 - 700 miles a day were the norm when on the open road. 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Take a day or 2 off here and there to enjoy friends and the surroundings. I did NOT have to put that sweet 2 into 1 LOUDER pipe on it but hey.....  What did you say, I have ear plugs in......

I have been taken out twice on my 2 Fatties. First hit was a head on by a van. That got me my current/next/last Fattie which I'm still recovering from the head on by a 600 Yamaha. Both bikes probably actually saved my life due to the sturdiness of their build. They both took a better hit than the vehicles that took me on. With this being said I AM a Harley fan.

I'm thinking about a replacement now. A BMW is a strong contender. They are quality and ready to go as is. Smooth and quiet and you don't feel the need to customize as they are what they are - a BMW. I was at the Honda shop last week for (Honda, not Harley!) parts and looked around. They have a few brands but really only glanced around at this point. Won't do a standard type Wing. Just way too HUGE. The new Wing Bagger looked like it could be a candidate as it's much smaller and sportier looking but I don't wish to spend that much cash on a new only model.

When I'm healed and it's getting warm again the bug will probably bite me right in the ass and I'll have to make a decision. In the mean time I'll just repair my old Honda.

Lot's of options for your friend. The Wing would be a great one if he doesn't mind the bulk. I used to think Harley's were big 

[tbpmusic]

.........Both bikes probably actually saved my life due to the sturdiness of their build.
........Won't do a standard type Wing. Just way too HUGE.

Yuk, yuk - Harleys are solid, no doubt of that. If they could figure out a way to make the whole bike with a single pour of molten cast iron, they probably would.

And the new Wings are indeed just too damned big for sure... I like a Necked 1100.....
BMW's are too expensive for my pay grade, unfortunately.