Best bike for motorway

[Biker Biggles]

If it's an S you could try a double bubble screen and a tank bag to lean on a bit.As for fuel consumption,the cheapest mod must be one tooth up on the front sprocket costing about £12.The bike is good for the mileage as long as you change the oil regularly and keep it serviced.

The SV should be fine for fuel.
Are you talking comfort?
A Bandit 6 would be ok and cheap.
The 500cc twins are good for fuel and tank range...and comfort.
A Pan Euro or Blackbird...or any BMW.

It's got to be the Deauville, boring workhorse but motorways and commuting is it's niche.

Originally Posted by The Basket

A Bandit 6 would be ok and cheap

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Originally Posted by richbeales

Does anyone have first hand experience of modifying the SV-S for long motorway slogs (changed gearing/screen etc)?

That would be me then

My commute, from home to where I park by work, the odometer reads 49.7miles. I can choose to do a little more distance and go other routes if I want, but the shortest route is just shy of 50miles, almost entirely on the A55 (tantamount to a motorway).

I've changed the gearing to get more acelleration (2 up on the rear sprocket). I've also got a Fabbri DB fitted, a loud can with baffle removed, snow shovel has gone, and a small plate (7x5).

The last tank, I got 147miles (I think - put petrol in this morning). The tank before that was 170 miles on the dot! I put 15.66litres in to fill it up, so still had 1.3litres left to play with. The light was on solid though. I generally fill the tank every 3 journeys (day & a half if you like).

Before I changed the gearing, she'd comfortably cruise along at 120, but now 120 feels like you're pushing it a bit hard, so I generally cruise around 100 (all numbers are in kmh officer!!). Generally, it runs 500 rpm higher in 6th to hold 70mph, which no doubt uses a little more jungle juice.

Overtaking is overtaking is overtaking, and the SV definitely doesn't complain.

Comfrot, not an issue for me & genuinely never has been. I started life on the SV commuting this distance, and it wasn't like I needed to get used to the seat, the seat kind of moulded around me.

Generally I ride with a tank bag, and pretty much lay down on it. This will help reduce drag but also I find it makes it more comfortable as your weight isn't on your wrists any more. Its also fun being able to close the throttle & sit bolt upright & use the air as a brake, or is that just me?

The DB helps a lot as it directs wind around me perfectly. Still get it on the head/shoulders unless I tuck down, but sometimes it's a bit welcomed to be honest.

The thing that will probably hit you hard is the servicing schedule. 50miles each way works out at 500miles a week!! That means services come & go approx every 8 weeks, faster if you use the bike for pleasure too (like I do). You quickly learn how to service the bike yourself if you don't already know.

Anything else you want to know, just shout

So it looks like a DB screen is almost essential, however Baph, you seem to have gone 2 up on the sprocket for more acceleration rather than (say) 2 down for increased economy.

Has anyone gone for the more sluggish but better mileage sprocket? How much of an effect does it have on economy?

the famous wise words of Baph strike again.

Is a bigger tank a possibility?

Even looking at the Deaville the tank range is only around 180miles. Surely manufacturers must have thought that some people do high mileage!

[dyzio]

Originally Posted by plowsie

the famous wise words of Baph strike again.

what he said

A tankbag is compulsory for me on longer trips.
Doing around 120miles commuting a week - 130 miles to a flashing light. 160-170 when out riding.
Think I'll get one of the Fabbri DB screens as well.

Speak to Lynn, she has a CBF1000, which I reckon could be exactly what you need.

Want a quiet lid ? Schuberth S1, no contest....

(Both my own opinion of course...)