Best Long Distance Touring Motorcycle - Bagger vs Sport Tourer vs Adventure Bike

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Thanks you for your comments! I do my best to keep up with them for the first few days after a video comes out, but due to the volume of comments on all of my videos, and to the general hustle and bustle of life, I must give up the fight after a while. If you are leaving a question four or more days after a video comes out I can't guarantee I'll see it, but perhaps one of my other viewers knows the answer and can help out. Thanks in advance to those who contribute and share their knowledge. Cheers and stay safe everyone!

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#differentspokestv

[RiadQa]

I’m 75 years old man planning to ride my Honda Africa Tween DCT in Moroccan Sahara/Desert this coming spring.

[grimmbartrides]

I switched from sport tourer to ADV and don't regret it. The main benefits for me are:
1) riding position, especially knee angle. On long hauls, the more acute bend on sport tourers gets rly uncomfortable. For me at least.
2) ruggedness of the suspension. Goes in the versatility department that you mention, but you don't have to go off-road to notice it. In many regions, especially on the Balkans, many paved roads are in very questionable condition. An ADV with its longer travel can cushion many bumps and potholes that are a nightmare on a sport tourer.

[letitrest]

I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76, 000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR.
Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstates, the FJR does it well. Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR.
With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to stopping place to camp, before dark.
I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was.
Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of.
I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha.
If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30, 000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me.

[baldandbiking]

I took my Africa Twin all around the east coast and Newfoundland last summer. It served well, and on those long trips you will always end up in long stretches of construction zone where having an offroad design really helps. Cruise control is a must on long trips to save your wrist.

[rdintennessee]

Been riding for over 50 years. Owned a bike shop for years. Retired. Have ridden them all, love em all. But when it came time to choose my do it all retirement bike, I got a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It’s a goldilocks bike. Every imaginable creature comfort, 6 rider modes, light(ish) at 201kg dry, all day comfortable on or off road, carves, cruises, gets dirty. Has no lack of power. Moto camping is a breeze and limitless. I don’t “need” over 100hp (who really does, anyway). I have the body size that works on this tall bike, so shorter, or less sure riders should look elsewhere. IMHO the best do everything bike on the market today.

[TrevorDodd-evsx]

I've ridden from the UK to Azerbaijan and back via Cyprus on a Vespa GTS 300. I even by mistake crossed a mountain range off road for 110 km in Georgia.
The bike you already have is the best bike for touring and not what a manufacturers marketing department think you need.
Saying all that I really do fancy a Goldwing.

[randomtraveler]

I toured the Balkans last year on my 2002 Honda NX650 Dominator. It was great, carried all my gear, rode all day ( yes the seat isn't plush, but it managed okay). The big carburated single thumped away happy all day and climbed every hil and twisty with ease.
Best part was it only cost me €2000.
March that with any of the new bikes mentioned...

[UncleWally]

Pragmatically speaking, isn’t “the best” touring motorcycle the one that works and is affordable?

[laddiegill]

Great comparison. I started from Royal Enfields in India to BMW K1300S, K1600GT till I laid my hands on R1250GS Adventure. Adventrue bikes are swiss army knives of all bikes.

[jerryandnancywertzbaugher]

Baggers are too heavy. End of story. Most ADV bikes are actually too narrowly focused; for well healed middle age riders of German heritage who want to ride the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Ocean in style (that actually describes me, except I’d rather ride the Dalton Highway, which is conveniently in my back yard, on my Bonneville 120 than on a tarted up GS). So here’s one middle aged biker who’s only interested in Sport -Turers. Even as a multiple bike owner, all three are variations of Sport-touring machines; all with weights between 425 and 485 pounds.😎

[martenasmith]

I have been a Harley guy most of my life and this includes their big baggers. Traded it last years for the BMW 1250 GSA and was very surprised at how much more advanced it was with the electric adjustments to your riding conditions. Road setting is like riding on air and now I can go on gravel roads which are plentiful where I live. So I am now an adventure rider and can go on roads that I dared not go on my Hog.

[mightyjoe]

FJR1300 for me! Looks, comfort, Power to spare!!!

[nbrider]

I rode across North America on my 2003 HD Night Train, 12, 000km in just under 30 days. That was with my wife riding 2-up and all our camping gear, what an awesome trip. I ride a Pan America now.

[chrisrocker]

Hi. I am now in my 10th year with my Kawasaki Concours 14. You mentioned the tire pressure monitor, but I think mine is the only bike that has one. The FJR fiit me better I am only 5'8, but after 31 years riding a KZ 650 I bought the C14. All day comfy ( O have done 1200km in a day and 2 days of 950km in the same week, and still fun in twisty roads. The ADV bikes are too tall for me but I am thinking about adding a 300 cc dual purpose also. Thank you for your good Canadian bike videos.

[assessor]

I had an ‘07 Honda ST1300 and it was fantastic…but heavy - so I finally bought my dream bike: a BMW R100RS. Mine is an ‘83 and while it doesn’t have ABS or EFI, it is smooth, quiet, handles well and is dead-nuts reliable AND it weighs about 230 lbs less than the ST1300. It also gets about 55 mpg and while not as fast as the ST, it is no dog and is plenty fast enough for me.
I have a bar-mounted Garmin and a PackTalk Bold - and all of it - INCLUDING the bike (!!) cost less than the sales tax on a new Harley or Gold Wing.

[jvl]

A very competent and fair comparison of the different touring bikes. I prefer the all-round capabilities of the BMW GS. It is such a comfortable powerhouse of a bike and decievingly nimble in the twisties despite its’ weight. I have never ridden a bagger, but I am certain on the long and endless highway, it is probably the better choice, however; when roads get a bit more challenging, I have more confidence in an adventure bike. At the end of the day, it is a matter of taste and preference and perhaps riding skills. They are all great bikes and whatever suits your needs. Main thing, ride safe and enjoy the freedom! Thank you for the time and effort of producing this video.

[VermontMan]

This video certainly shows why ADVs keep growing in popularity. The only issue I experienced is too much weight for technical off-roading. Hopefully my rally 300 will be here this month 🤞🏻

[grahamfraser]

I love the Honda Goldwing tour but it is not as practical here in Australia because when I go touring I go along roads that I am not sure could actually be classified as roads but generally that where you find the most interesting places. For that reason I chose the Triumph Tiger 1200 rally explorer as my bike of choice. Being 6'4" it is really comfortable and I can stand flat footed.

[tigercoward]

Another great video!

I have been riding since 83 and took my first camping tour on a Yamaha FJ600. Not bad at all, but I was a lot younger then. I have done long trips on the supposed world touring KLR650, and it buzzed so hard at highway speeds that my hands and other bits went numb. I then got into Triumph Tigers: 955, 1050 and now 1200. All great long distance touring bikes. My 2019 Tiger 1200 is the perfect long trip bike. Great in every way, even 2Up, and importantly it is roomy. I stand 188cm tall and it is easy on my old hips!

So what? None of them had good seats!

Here is what I know for all of the bikes that I have ridden; stock seats are terrible! Especially on long days.

I recommend that everyone invest in a Russel Day Long saddle, or something similar. I have been told that my seat is ugly and doesn't belong on an ADV bike. Wrong! I have 65, 000km on my current saddle, and I have done both pavement and gravel roads. I have traversed Labrador and had to do an 800km day. I couldn't have done it on the stock seat.

So, I think that your video is dead on, but special notice should be taken to your backside! Perhaps a video on the conspiracy of motorcycle manufacturers to create evil, uncomfortable seats.

Thanks for always producing great content.

Dave 🇨🇦

[davidgearardo]

ninja 1000 sx all day in the saddle and no fatigue, looks great, got torque and power on tap, it’s the best all around coast to coast bike hands down, I know it wasn’t included, but honorable mention👈 right here