Touring bike??

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Many many years ago I read in Bike Magazine that the best tourer you'll ever have is the one sat outside your front door.

For the Annual Ride out 2007, I went from London to North Yorkshire on my 2001 ZX6R. And back again. Twice. The first time was the recce and meant 1,000 miles in 3 days (the 2nd day was almost entirely b roads about 300 miles).

I could have bought a bike that was slightly better suited I guess, and my knees were a little achy afterwards, but I really enjoyed both trips. Some soft panniers and a map pocket saw me cheerful both times

*If* you do a long touring trip and then decide you didn't like something about the bike change it, or get a different bike that suits you, but don't ditch the SV because you're not sure it's the right bike before you've tried.
The SV will be fine, people turn up to the Annual rideouts on them from all over the place.

Originally Posted by jambo

For the Annual Ride out 2007, I went from London to North Yorkshire on my 2001 ZX6R. And back again. Twice. The first time was the recce and meant 1,000 miles in 3 days (the 2nd day was almost entirely b roads about 300 miles).

I could have bought a bike that was slightly better suited I guess, and my knees were a little achy afterwards, but I really enjoyed both trips. Some soft panniers and a map pocket saw me cheerful both times

*If* you do a long touring trip and then decide you didn't like something about the bike change it, or get a different bike that suits you, but don't ditch the SV because you're not sure it's the right bike before you've tried.
The SV will be fine, people turn up to the Annual rideouts on them from all over the place.

Totally agree. The SV could do 800 miles in a day. Enjoy the journey, don't focus on what you don't like. Travelling is about what and where you see and do not how far you go, so don't aim to replicate a Charley & Ewan in a week!

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Totally agree. The SV could do 800 miles in a day. Enjoy the journey, don't focus on what you don't like. Travelling is about what and where you see and do not how far you go, so don't aim to replicate a Charley & Ewan in a week!

Agreed - just that I'm 187cm tall (that is over 6 feet for you guys) and the problem was touring with someone sitting on the pillion... We did a tour in Åland (archipelago between Finland and Sweden) last summer, total of about 600 miles with soft bags (Givi Voyager) and a tankbag. It was tolerable, but back seat needed a break every 100km... (62miles ) With a bigger bike with decent fairings I think one could do "a tankful" from one sitting.

I did some other trips alone and then SV was very good - when I get the full fairings I hope it'll be even better.

Although many have toured on it I dont think that the sv is the best tourer, I have only done 3 big trips and my Z750 is far more comforatble over distance than the sv, pillion accomodation is pretty rubbish on both.

The big questions are

does your gf like the pillion seat on the sv
how far are you planning to go
would you sell the sv if it wasnt for this trip

A cheap alternative IMO would be an old style fazer with topbox + scottoiller. They are very comfy bike and have a good pillion seat, not a sporty as the sv so it depends how you ride. They are also pretty cheap now and normally can be got with plenty of useful extras

Get a smaller gf

Dont think I'll sell the SV or gf (wife actually) just yet. Just fancied a new toy really, and its fun to look at different bikes. Cant afford one at the moment, but maybe in a few months. Had a look at a sprint today but decided not to test it yet in case I liked it too much.
Probably do about 3000 miles over 2-3 weeks when we go away. She loves it on the back of the bike but not been too far yet so not sure if it would be ok to use the SV yet. She's decided to take her bike test (8 months ago she said she would leave me if I got another bike, and last week she was egging me on to get a 1 litre triumph ) so possibly will get her own bike anyway

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Get a smaller gf

Nah, do what I do - don't date a burd unless she has her own bike.

[jambo]

How hard would it be to make up some lower pillion peg hangers for the SV?

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

BMW F650 is a bit buzzy for long distances being a single.

Transalp and V-Strom would be my choice if I had to do seriously long days in the saddle and didn't want anything too powerful.

VFR a good option too but over 100bhp so perhaps more than you want.

The Deauville if you'd be seen dead on one.

The faired model Bandit's actually quite comfortable, but not sure if theres a hard luggage option, in which case just use the SV.

If your only riding 300 miles a day though the SV is fine, you just have to use soft panniers and a tankbag 'cos there's no hard luggage.

I missed the fact you were after a litre bike. I thought you were saying as a newbie you wanted something about the same power as the SV.

The Sprint is a damn good option then. I rode Dicky Ticker's Sprint ST 955 for an few hours one afternoon. Very smooth, comfortable and well planted. The power doesn't tend to be any problem at all 'cos it's so tractable and torquey from low rev's you could ride it between 3 and 7k revs all the time. A-road overtakes are done in any gear, just twist the throttle.

Guess the 1050 will be good too, but do a google search on Sprint 1050 front brake problems and just make yourself aware of that before buying one.

I would agree with comments above about only buying a new bike 'cos you want one, not to satisfy the needs of a single holiday. You will do 3k miles in 2-3 weeks on the SV no bother.