Awesome bike!

Which bike is this?

Were they funny about you entering on it? A few years back when I did it on my Bonneville, they were strict about what bikes you could ride on it, although realistically I don’t suppose they can stop you

Be careful brother. It's really a very powerful machine.

The polaroid is a rad shot! I always seem to miss those rides, but I’d like to attend one of these years.

agreed

Just picked one of these up last week. What an awesome machine it is!

I'm not a fan of black, but this tourer does it for me. Very nice.

One of the most underrated touring bikes ever made, they're so good.

I think if I had to choose a touring bike to buy and maintain it would definitely be the Goldwing, but if money was truly no object I might get the K1600 BMW, because I wouldn’t care what it costs to repair.

BMW R1250RT. Great touring bike that handles almost like a sport bike. Active cruise control, self adjusting suspension, adjustable windscreen.

I rode one 12,000 miles from the US to Patagonia six years ago, and I'd do that trip again in a heartbeat. Beat the living snot out of that bike and she just kept going.

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Guzzi California 1100. If you're doing a cross country trip, the bike shouldn't "disappear", it should be a part of the experience. And look fantastic in all your photos.

Damnit. Goldwing. I don’t own one yet but I would travel the universe as long as it had a road.

Lord Splendor, the undisputed king of touring.

Absolutely no doubt, but if u ever get a chance tour on RE Bear.

woooo

Damn what is this place?

On a budget? Used Goldwing. Loaded? HD Road Glide

I’m buying a goldwing for this very thing. Although, I would love a sport touring bike eventually like a FJR or concours.

Goldwing is like a Honda Accord in two wheels. Entertainment system; heat vents off the radiator, comfortable seats, ample cargo space. Cons; it’s a lot of bike and a lot of plastic.I

I did 4000 miles on a Yamaha Bolt. Pros - few, cons - many. I was accompanied by a Gold Wing. Pros - many, cons - few.

5th gen Honda vfr- hits a great balance between sporty and comfy! Also super reliable. I've done many many long days in the saddle, love it!

I’m 6’4” and ~260lbs. I’ve had a lot of bikes, so I’ll give you my pros/cons:

2008 KLR 650 - good starter bike, light, could handle gravel well and two lane. Easy to pickup if you drop it, parts for them for eons. Not enough juice for interstate travel for me, needed something bigger.

2003 Honda ST1300 - Hauled a lot of stuff, moderately comfortable and had some creature comforts for longer travel. Cornered well. Was unwieldy two-up. Sold to get the next bike.

2007 BMW R1200GS - Could do interstate and gravel roads, tons of power, but WAY tall and heavy to pickup. One I had was pretty used and the wife hated riding on it, so it went.

2001 Honda Valkyrie Interstate - Comfortable, powerful, creature comforts and reliable. Had 6 carbs though (spendy to tune), did not have ABS and was a cold starting creature when you’re used to fuel injection. Cornered less ideal, but could ride on it for the 500-1000 mile days without issue. Was starting to nickel and dime me so it had to move down the road before it needed a big overhaul.

2013 Yamaha Super Tenere - Powerful, better handling than my R1200GS and more comfortable too. Wife hated riding on it, didn’t have cruise and could not add it due to undersized electronics in the 2012 and 2013 model years (2014+ comes standard with Cruise). Didn’t have electronic suspension and I’m not as hardcore as I used to be.

2006 Harley Electra Glide Classic - most comfortable ride of any bike I had (for my size). Had cruise, good protection, music and a backrest. Wife loved the ride. BUT TOO LOUD. Thing had Stage 2 from before I got it and couldn’t be made quieter without big money and loss of power. Leaked oil, but hauled lots of stuff. Easy long distance toured. Sold due to loudness.

Current rigs:

2014 BMW K1600GTL - Perfect touring bike for me. Quiet, protected from weather, music and heated grips/seat, comfortable and 160hp/130ft-lbs when you need it. Stores lots and wife likes the ride. Thing weighs 732 lbs wet, almost 200 lbs lighter than it’s Goldwing and Harley equivalent. Handles like a longer sport bike and handles better than the ST, Valkyrie and Electra Glide.

2015 F800GSA - Thing has plenty of power with lowish weight I can pickup if I tip it over on gravel. Stores lots, steers like a dirt bike. Nice commuter. Ride it with my cousin on his Africa Twin to explore South Dakota and such.

If you can get BMWs serviced and afford them, for me they are the best bet. But I was plenty happy with other tourers, just watch what $ you need to keep them in sustainable riding shape.

Can be more specific if you want, ask away.

Put some throw over saddlebags on the bike you have and hit the road. I’ve done long distance on a 20 year old Yamaha Maxim 650 and a Shadow 700 and a Suzuki SV1000. You don’t have to have a touring bike to travel on a bike. Matter of fact, the trip talked about in the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance took place over weeks. Dude carried clothes, enough tools to do pretty much anything short of a rebuild (it was the 60s after all), camping and cooking equipment (canvas tents and wooden poles plus steel pots and pans), PLUS his teenage son. All on a Honda Dream - which came in 305 or 350cc.

If you want a tourer, go for it, and Goldwings are know for reliability, but don’t obsess over the “right bike”. Good luck and enjoy!

Bikes no one can sell also include Honda st1300 and kawasaki concours. An old 2006 FJR would be ideal.

I’ll add the Kawi Versys as another option here.

An older Kawasaki concourse. You can typically pick them up for 2k. They have great engines, are decently powerfull and comfortable with good wind protection and usually hard bags.

Suzuki V-Strom. Either the 1000 or the 650. I put 65,000 trouble free miles on my 2006 1k that I paid $7k for OTD brand new. You can find them for under $3k and in great shape used.

I'm in the market for a tourer and rented the R18-B, a full dress Harley, and the R1250RT. I wasn't into the styling of the RT, but loved the performance. I loved the look and style of the R-18 and felt the ride very close to the Harley. I was seriously considering going for the R18 as I don't like the Harley stigma. However, I realized on my multi-day journeys, I never saw another R18 or the "luxury" RT (I'm in California), and also saw how much the R18's are being discounted. Heavily discounted, and they are all 2023's still on the showroom floors. I loved the bike, but I can only imagine what would happen once I wanted to sell it to trade to something else.

I'm looking at the R1250GS now. Probably renting one in the next week or so to check it out.

I like big twin engines but I hate the styling of the R18. Hopefully they actually build the R20 concept at some point, I would buy one of those in a heartbeat. I had a Yamaha MT01 a while back and a big twin engine in a sporty setup is a lot of fun.

I rode big suzukis for years and switched to a shaft drive BMW boxer a year back and I am a total convert, the absolute grunt is lovely.

Self professed K Nerd.

I test rode one a while ago too.

the full-frame shudder it gives when starting and while blipping from low RPM is hilarious.

I loved that. That's a blessing and a curse for me, though. The whole bike twisting from the torque made me giggle...then it never does it again. In actual riding, it just feels like any other big cruiser.

It's put together well, but the looks aren't my thing. Especially the pregnant fish exhaust.

I think its problem is it tries to compete with Harley, and Harley has been playing the game for years. They're better at it, and the R18 falls short.

Same in reverse for the Pan America. Harley made a damn good Adv bike, and the self-lowering suspension is cool as hell. But then I rode a BMW GS on the same day. BMW basically invented the segment and it shows.

I won't deny the fit and finish and that it's pretty unique, though. It just doesn't quite put its money where its mouth is, don't think.

If you want to log huge miles a gold wing is tried and true, or maybe your looking for something like a Harley street glide?

Suzuki Boulevard C90T (Aka "Intruder" 1500 before '05, they also switched to EFI when they rebranded as "Boulevard" but otherwise they are the same).

Yamaha Road Star Silverado (or really any of the 1700 ones)

Yamaha Stratoliner/Roadliner (great big 1900)

Kawasaki Nomad

Honda VTX series (1300s are carbed but easier/cheaper to come by and basically run forever)

…gold wing? No questions..good; the glowing is the standard indestructible touring bike, miles don’t matter on them either.

I took a rebuilt & modded 2008 Tiger 1050 with 27k miles on it 6500 miles from Emerald Isle NC to North of San Francisco and back... Replaced two tires, a chain and an basic service at a Triumph Dealer in CA. It blew a light bulb. Massive respect for the big old heavy girl, epic experiences along the way.

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Totally! Currently on a 2k mile road trip on mine lol, I’ve been loving it

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Yes

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Understandable

Yup, I use a puig screen, batter crank cover and bag + shad panniers (soft or hard). I have a back sea pack too if needed. Perfectly acceptable touring machine

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