Second Bike For 2-up Touring

[SwissMotard]

Howdy chaps,

Now I love my Street Triple, and while the 420KM Alpine pass run I did today was perfect for me, the missus would not cope on the back for that long

Since we are planning some long weekends to France, Italy, Germany etc and a 14 day tour to Scotland in the next year or so I thought it might be worth looking at a second bike.

My current preferences (which are not all requirements and subject to change) are:
- Comfortable for rider and pillion (i.e. no clip-ons)
- Panniers and top box
- Not hugely affected by the extra weight (the ST become a unicycle with a pillion)
- Can cope with riding hairpins all day long up and down the mountains
- Great value for money
- Happy and low revving at motorway speeds (80-90mph)
- Decent fuel economy but tank range is way more important

My current top choices (in no particular order) are:
- Suzuki GSX1250 FA (best value by far)
- Kawasaki Z100SX (expensive but ticks every other box)
- Triumph Tiger (It's a Triumph... >_>)

I'd appreciate any help at all, especially from seasoned long distance riders in the twisties (alps, jura, pennines etc).

 

[Lurch]

I'd say for two person comfort and luggage and designed to take you're looking Pan European, Triumph Trophy or Sprint GT SE (great VFM), BMW RT. All the above bar the GT are shaft driven, so less maintenance. Mid size if you don't want those, Deauville. Munch miles all day in comfort, not gonna set any speed records, but loadsa Deauvillers taken theirs all over Europe at 60mpg two up. The 650 is the better of the two bikes in many ways, although the 700 has a pinch more poke.

On your list I'd possibly avoid the Z, not sure be great for a pillion if doing serious distance each day. Not been on a Tiger, could be a good un, no idea what the back seat is like.

 

[Lurch]

For the bikes more suited to two up touring, have a look to see if you can get King and Queen seats for them. I know the proper tourers can have the seats re-covered, and many do.

 

[SwissMotard]

There's a great place in France that makes custom seats for any bike, you just have to post them your original.

 

[BlackMamba]

DL1000 or dl650 both fantastic for 2 up i have the older dl650 with full luggage (side boxes top box and tank bag with the wife) we do the weekly shop on it we have so much space.

 

[SwissMotard]

I had an SV650 before and there's no way I'd want to be 2-up plus luggage with that engine in the mountains!

The 1000 engine is worth a look at though, cheers

 

[BlackMamba]

I had an SV650 before and there's no way I'd want to be 2-up plus luggage with that engine in the mountains!

The 1000 engine is worth a look at though, cheers

The SV handles a lot differently to the DL and has very different configurations

 

[SwissMotard]

It's the lack of power that would be the issue.

 

[BlackMamba]

It's the lack of power that would be the issue.

Cool beans the 1000 is a better bet that doesn't lack power

 

[revvinrav]

Id definitly go with the Triumph Tiger, ive ridden one myself with a pillon for about 2 hours and it was the MOST comfortable ride of my life haha

 

[SwissMotard]

I'll definitely check out the Tiger and the VStrom.

 

[Lurch]

To me, for touring, don't you want torque more than power?

My Deauville has 55bhp and has no issues with the Yorkshire depart Tour de France categorised climbs. Admittedly maybe not quite the same as some Alpine ones, but with a passenger do you need the massive surges in power?

 

[SwissMotard]

Torque will affect acceleration and going up the mountains, power will help overcome wind resistance from having all the luggage, particularly at motorway speeds.

I need a decent amount of both at relatively low RPM.