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Looking for another bike

I may be a bit biased but You can also find Honda Valkyrie Interstates on the market reasonable. They may be older but very reliable as they use Honda Holdwing engines but have 6 carbs instead of two. With the fairing on front they get around 45 or so mpg, maybe more. You can go to the VOAI forum for more info. Boxer flat 6 sis smooth as silk and requires very little maintenance, shaft driven and liquid cooled. Lots of torque and can handle two up with no problem. I ride a Honda Valkyrie Tourer. It has windscreen and hard bags but no fairing or trunk. She has 108K with minimum maint. Two up on it is no problem also as far as power and handling. Not as fancy as a Wing but less expensive. The boxer engine is good for well over 200K miles. And it doesn't vibrate like a V engine. My thoughts.
 
I am trying to be as practical as I can be. I'm trying to get the most bike for the money. If I can find a left over or lightly used GW for less than $20k I think I would have to go for it.

I am ready for comfortable 2 up touring. I have a few rides I want to do.

1. Route 6 from P-Town, Mass to Cali. And back
2. Clearwater FL for spring training.
3. Run for the wall from Ontario CA to D.C.

I'm thinking the GW is going to be my best bet, I may just have to put off the dream a little while longer to find the right deal.

This will definitely be a test of my patience.



Primum non Nocere
 
Therapy said:
2015 for 17k. 800mi!!

2015 Honda Goldwing F6b *BUDZCHROMENUTZ.COM*

I have no idea what an F6B is. Looks.......OK I guess.
Click to expand...

F6B means Flat 6 (cylinder) Bagger. It's like a Goldwing 1800 but with a short windshield, no trunk, and a longer, lower seat. I didn't find it comfortable but I expect it would work well for someone with long legs that would otherwise be cramped on a GL1800.
 
No disrespect for the Voyager and it's owners and fans but I wouldn't consider a Goldwing and a Voyager in the same sentence if traveling is in the mission brief. The GW is a traveling machine that handles better than any 900 lb motorcycle has a right to. A good GW rider gives up very little to much sportier machines on a curvy road and eats up miles in comfort. Good luck with your decision.
 
jggassert said:
I am trying to be as practical as I can be. I'm trying to get the most bike for the money. If I can find a left over or lightly used GW for less than $20k I think I would have to go for it.

I am ready for comfortable 2 up touring. I have a few rides I want to do.

1. Route 6 from P-Town, Mass to Cali. And back
2. Clearwater FL for spring training.
3. Run for the wall from Ontario CA to D.C.

I'm thinking the GW is going to be my best bet, I may just have to put off the dream a little while longer to find the right deal.

This will definitely be a test of my patience.



Primum non Nocere
Click to expand...

Look around the country for dealers. My CEO bought a new 2015 Honda Goldwing F6B last fall, new, for approx. $16,000.
here is one (used):
2015 Honda Gold Wing F6B Deluxe, Ellsworth ME - - Cycletrader.com

here is another one (new):

Look at cycletrader.com...
2015 Honda Gold Wing F6B Deluxe, Springdale AR - - Cycletrader.com
 
A few years ago, I bought a 2012 Suzuki V-Strom DL1000 Adventure for this exact reason. I kept my NC as my primary commuter/zip around/short trip bike, but wanted something that the wife and I could load up and head out of town on. Regrettably, I sold that bike and a few times a week I still feel the bite of that poor decision.

I know that's not what many in this thread and elsewhere would think of when it comes to 2-up touring, but it will do the job and will do so very comfortably and with plenty of power.

Why the hell did I sell that bike... damn. :(
 
Gbjbany said:
Here's another suggestion - Yes i know its a BMW and i dont want to start a discussion on the merits costs etc - but you can get 2012 k1600 GLS for about the same momey as the GW of the same age maybe a bit higher mileage - Many comparisons between GW and K1600 with pros and cons out on youtube

2013 BMW K 1600 GTL, Riverside CA - - Cycletrader.com
2012 BMW K 1600 GTL, Rowlett TX - - Cycletrader.com
2012 BMW K 1600 GTL, Raleigh NC - - Cycletrader.com
Click to expand...

I love the look and performance of the BMW's but I have major concerns with reliability.

Here's the chart from Consumer Reports

296638b818b4c16cdc0e53cbb5cdc806.jpg
 
I wonder what the reliability for KTM is like. Never been a dirt guy so never gave them much thought but the 1290 Adventure has everything I want plus easy maintenance of chain drive.


Primum non Nocere
 
670cc said:
Surely that was sarcasm.
Click to expand...

No. Granted it needs to be maintained and lubricated regularly. It has the least power loss and probably the cheapest replacement cost. I'd like the super low maintenance shaft drive but I have a lot of friends that went the shaft drive route and had to have them replaced...and spending thousands of dollars in some cases unexpectedly doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me.

So if a gold wing with its known reliability doesn't come along I am seriously considering the KTM. Every long term review that I've heard is good.
 
jggassert said:
No. Granted it needs to be maintained and lubricated regularly. It has the least power loss and probably the cheapest replacement cost. I'd like the super low maintenance shaft drive but I have a lot of friends that went the shaft drive route and had to have them replaced...and spending thousands of dollars in some cases unexpectedly doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me.

So if a gold wing with its known reliability doesn't come along I am seriously considering the KTM. Every long term review that I've heard is good.
Click to expand...
Shaft drive on my 07 Suzuki C50 is going strong after 76,000+ miles...proper axle tightening and changing the shaft oil regularly helps with shaft life.. I wish the NC700x was shaft driven.
 
I've not seen the stats on KTM failure, but it seems I frequently read about problems. BMW guys carry final drive rebuild kits, KTM guys carry fuel pumps.
 
I'm not nitpicking about other people's preferences. Everyone has different experiences and exposures to problems on shaft drive bikes. I have owned 3 different shaft drive bikes. I have spent way more time and money already in less than 4 years on my NC's chain drive than I did in the combined 35 years of shaft drive ownership.

I hope I never buy another chain drive street motorcycle. That's one reason the Africa Twin is out of the question for me (tube tires is the other).

But that's why they make different kinds of bikes, since people have different likes and dislikes.
 
Last edited:
cost is a consistent theme for some (me)... I would have loved it if the NC came shaft drive... but that would have made it $1000 more expensive.
Of coures, I've spent more than that replacing chains and sprockets.... would be nice to have the option on the NC... sigh....

Do I read correctly that shaft is less efficient than chain? Would a rider have noticed the difference on a 670cc engine?
 
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