Topic: Non-Goldwing, non-CB750 bikes for touring?

[Tugboat]

My wife & I are thinking about selling our 1983 GL1100. It's fun, powerful, totally goes the distance BUT.... my wife has a bad knee and between the placement of the passenger pegs and the huge, stepped seat (which forces her to use her legs more when stopping/cornering) it's just too uncomfortable for her to tour on. She prefers my CB750 - or KZ400 for that matter - because of the bench seat and peg placement.

For reasons I won't go into here, my CB750 isn't going to be a 2-up touring bike. What I'm looking for, then, is a good replacement for the Goldwing. 1980's would be nice, though I'm not opposed to it being a '70s bike. It doesn't need to be 1000cc or bigger but it would need to be at least 750cc. I dig the Vetter on our Goldwing so maybe I'd want to mount one of those to whatever I get, or maybe it would have a stock fairing like that? Could be a 4-banger or a V-twin, though I don't have much experience with the latter. I like the shaft drive on the Wing....

Anyway, what are my options here? Dependability & parts availability are my major concerns; and our budget would be around $2k-2500.

[Bankerdanny]

Look for a Honda V65 Sabre with the optional Hondaline fairing. Fantastic smooth engine, lots of power for 2-up, still plenty of accessories available (like the Corbin 2-up seat) and generally not expensive. BMW K100RT's can be had for a good price too. I spotted one on Craigslist the other day for $2,500. Fuel injected, shaft drive, full fairing. A nice option.

You might look for a late 70's early 80's XS1100 or even a CB900 Custom with the overdrive box that effectively makes it a 10-speed transmission.

[strynboen]

vfr 750 is a stabil solid v4 honda...or a cbx 1000./ or prolink type.frame are like a 750..but breakes seat... elektric .......yes all are better..only fuel eco are bad..and the tank kapasity are not perfekt for touring

[Bankerdanny]

Sadly the CBX would be far outside Tugboat's price range. But thinking along those same lines, he might find Kawasaki's mighty KZ1300 six for the top end of his range.

[Bankerdanny]

Have you looked at alternative seats and perhaps floor boards? I think the 75-77 GL1000 seat can be adapted to the GL1100

[strynboen]

the kawasaki are heavy...like the cbx..its lighter..and runs smooty...
think a prolink costs less...specily if it are modified..peapel goes after stock bikes...so "mod" bikes kosts less

in denmark they all koste abaut the same...kz1300 cbx 1000 cb1 and old naket goldvings almost as mutch...the later kosts less ,,,a 1982 goldving are almost imposibel to sell in denmark

have you think od a different type like a honda transalp 650..they runs fast..have a fine fairling..and are nice for 2..mine brother have one ,,it goes 180 kmt easy and steady..it are light more modern bike..solid and stabil

[2wheels]

Suzuki GS850
I think it is the 1979 that has a flat, and very comfortable, seat.

[simon#42]

i have a couple of bmw's i use for touring these days . a 1971  r75 and a 1982 r80st both are great at covering ground . cheap to buy great spares back up and very reliable
i would recommend you have a look at a r100rt , could be right up your street .

[calj737]

+1 on bmw though the R bikes tend to be a bit pricey in that era. A great option would be a K1000LT. Very much a Goldwing type bike, fully faired, integrated luggage, inline 4, shaft drive. Wicked easy to maintain and dead nuts reliable.

I rode a K75s over 190k miles without so much as a hiccup. From DC to Chicago in a day, from coast to coast. And into Central America. Will always be my most highly rated bike.

[Terry in Australia]

I've had 3 "K" series BMW's and 2 R100RS', the 1993 K1100LT was the best, a superb tourer, faster than a 'Wang and easier to move around at slow speeds, with incredible fuel economy good handling and ABS brakes.

The K series bikes here are generally cheaper than the R series twins, and in my opinion, much easier to live with. I wouldn't swap my current K100RS SE ABS1 (what a mouthfull!) for another R100RS, I was disappointed with both of them, although the later (post 1980) 1000cc twins were much better behaved, if not much slower.

GS Suzuki's are great bikes, I've had a heap of them, and the GS1000G (shaft drive) was a brilliant bike, fast, smooth, and bullet proof. I wouldn't buy an XS1100 Yamaha as the handling was terrible compared to anything else of the era, but the FJ1100/1200's are incredible long distance bikes, with 130 BHP, good brakes and good handling.

Really though, you need to take your wife with you when you start looking at bikes, because she needs to try them out to make sure that they suit her requirements. Happy wife, happy life........ Cheers, Terry.  

[70CB750]

Honda PC,  ask MoMo how he likes it.

[Bankerdanny]

I forgot about the PC. That is an interesting option.

[Terry in Australia]

And it doubles for a golf cart!

[754]

Get her to sit back on a Burgman... She may like that..
My buddy put 70,000 km on his in 2 years.

[kghost]

Just get a second CB750 lol

[Terry in Australia]

If you don't know what a Burgman is, it's a Suzuki Scooter on steroids, they come in different capacities up to 800cc's, and while manly men don't ride scooters, I wouldn't mind one, but of course I'd have to register it in my wife's name............

[Terry in Australia]

Just get a second CB750 lol

What about a trailer behind your bike with a Jason Recliner bolted in?

[kghost]

Just get a second CB750 lol

What about a trailer behind your bike with a Jason Recliner bolted in?

What about a sidecar for that matter....that'll fix up the missus knee

[Terry in Australia]

That's a good point Tim, over on the Naked Goldwing site there's a really good thread about a guy in Perth building a sidecar rig, if I had room in my garage I'd strap one on my big black 'Wang!

http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=51412

[Tugboat]

Thanks for the tips fellas. I hear ya about just getting another CB750 but I'd probably be hard-pressed to find one around here that's not a project for under $2k. I might have more luck with a DOHC 750, and am keeping my eye out for one. One of the positives about looking for something like this is that nobody is looking for an "old man" bike with the fairings and whatnot, so that gives me a bit of an advantage

There are a few K1100LT's around for ~$2500-3k. Definitely towards the high end of my budget but it might just be the ticket.. spend the extra $$ so I don't have to spend all summer in the damn garage! Are there any known issues that I'd need to look out for with those?

[calj737]

Make sure the output has been serviced and lubricated regularly is all. Everything else is general stuff.

The best part of the owners as a general rule is they tend their bikes very well. Should have fully documented service book and their dealer will know their bike well. Despite year. Don't let mileage worry you. They run forever if properly maintained, perhaps more so than another bike I know of.

The LT will almost undoubtedly also have hard luggage with it. Bonus for touring!

[fmctm1sw]

Someone already said it but yeah what about those old Pacific Coast bikes?  I think they were the progression from the old Silverwings and then they gave way to the ST bikes..

[Tugboat]

This Sabre V65 looks pretty cool, and has been on CL for a couple of weeks. What would be a reasonable offer for this "rare bike"
http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/4432340927.html

[Bankerdanny]

It should be worth the top of your price range considering the mileage and the color matched Hondaline fairing. Kelly Blue Book says $2,100 in excellent condition (which would not include the fairing, but KBB doesn't assign much additional value for an aftermarket fairing on a bike that old). I would offer $2k and see what response you get.

[Bankerdanny]

So what's the scoop Tugboat? Did you go look at that V65?