A smaller sized touring bike?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

With an aging demographics of motorcycle riders, Is there a market for a smaller sized touring bike with a fairing? Does every touring bike have to be over 1000cc and 600 pounds? Remember back when Honda marketed the 650 cc twin engine Silver Wing? Some riders on here are considering much smaller bikes to tour on in place of a Norge or Big block Guzzi. Many of us are realizing we can get by with a much smaller bike for touring.

They’ve gone smaller with adventure bikes. Is there a market for smaller sized touring bikes with a fairing or is that market segment too small? Or have the adventure bikes taking on that role?

[JJ]

With an aging demographics of motorcycle riders, Is there a market for a smaller sized touring bike with a fairing? Does every touring bike have to be over 1000cc and 600 pounds? Remember back when Honda marketed the 650 cc twin engine Silver Wing? Some riders on here are considering much smaller bikes to tour on in place of a Norge or Big block Guzzi. Many of us are realizing we can get by with a much smaller bike for touring.

They’ve gone smaller with adventure bikes. Is there a market for smaller sized touring bikes with a fairing or is that market segment too small? Or have the adventure bikes taking on that role?

IMHO, I think if you research this a little bit, you will find dozens of excellent, modern, choices for this purpose...

[Dilliw]

Lots of people tour with the NC700 Honda platform, but otherwise you are probably stuck with the adventure styling.  Wee Strom and the Versys are popular with Kawasaki marketing the X300 as a tourer. 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Tenere 700 with street tires?

[twowheeladdict]

Lots of people tour with the NC700 Honda platform, but otherwise you are probably stuck with the adventure styling.  Wee Strom and the Versys are popular with Kawasaki marketing the X300 as a tourer.

Those are all in the adv genre which now ranges from street adventure to off road adventure.  LOL! 

The X300 is fully capable of solo touring.

[sdcr]

And we all remember the Moto Guzzi SP 650, although I don’t think they sold too many.

...Remember back when Honda marketed the 650 cc twin engine Silver Wing? ....

[twowheeladdict]

There are no straight up factory touring bikes in the mid weight category, especially if you want a frame mounted fairing.

There are mid weight sport touring, and adventure touring with frame mounted fairings. And I guess the maxi-scooters.

When you get away from frame mounted fairings the V7III makes a nice tourer, and there are mid weight cruisers.

[Scud]

BMW had the K75 in an RT, S, and standard. But ultimately discontinued.

Honda's PC800 only lasted in production for a short time - but that was an unusually styled bike.

I think the street-touring (vs adventure touring) bikes tend to be focused on the ability to carry a passenger and a lot of luggage. The smaller displacement bikes aren't so fun to ride with so much weight.

So no - I don't think there is much of a market for a smaller touring bike. But I do think there is an aftermarket to add touring capabilities to whatever people want to ride.

[Stretch]

One of those 650 Royal Enfields might make a dandy touring bike with a
PlexiFairing, a tank bag, and some throw-over saddlebags. Either someone
already makes a luggage rack and hard bags for it, or will soon.

I spent 400 miles in the White Mountains in NH on the big Cali on Saturday,
and while it's competent, a smaller bike would have been easier to ride in the
twisties for sure.

                                                              -Stretch

[wavedog]

 Yamaha makes a really nice light weight 700cc twin cyl sport touring bike, but as usual the U.S. gets no respect and the bike is not available here.

[Ncdan]

1983 Honda GL650I Silverwing.

[Guzzistajohn]

Tenere 700 with street tires?

 



Not one, but TWO local dealers! What a concept!

[twowheeladdict]

Yamaha makes a really nice light weight 700cc twin cyl sport touring bike, but as usual the U.S. gets no respect and the bike is not available here.

My perfect next bike would be a Yamaha Tracer 700 with electronic cruise control and the suspension from the R7 tuned for sport touring. 

[Moparnut72]

I have also been asking for something like this. My 1400 has recently become a handful for me but I have solved some of that problem for now but eventually will be an issue again. I also have a V7lll to move to when this happens but I feel it is a bit small for touring but I will use it for that when it comes to that. I do not want to go to another brand, love my Guzzis. I would really like the see MG make a road going version of the V85. Lower, more conventional styling etc. I would trade both of my bikes for one of these if one existed. I also wanted to check out out a Roamer but the closest one was 800 miles or so away. I finally saw one a couple of weekends ago and it probably wouldn't fit the bill anyway.
kk

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I have also been asking for something like this. My 1400 has recently become a handful for me but I have solved some of that problem for now but eventually will be an issue again. I also have a V7lll to move to when this happens but I feel it is a bit small for touring but I will use it for that when it comes to that. I do not want to go to another brand, love my Guzzis. I would really like the see MG make a road going version of the V85. Lower, more conventional styling etc. I would trade both of my bikes for one of these if one existed. I also wanted to check out out a Roamer but the closest one was 800 miles or so away. I finally saw one a couple of weekends ago and it probably wouldn't fit the bill anyway.
kk

Road going v85. Great idea!

[mtiberio]

Super scooters, or a Loop

[LowRyter]

my solution to the question.  (450lb gassed up, 113hp) (add the bags and luggage) (it's still light)  (I've added some bar risers)

[Perazzimx14]

Problem is if you look at a lot of the smaller displacement motorcycles are still heavy just less HP.

The NC700 is 480lbs curb weight no bags. Heavy little devil.

The V-Strom 650. Weights as much as a Hexhead GS with 1/2 the suspension, 40 less HP, shitty brakes, dimensionally as big or bigger but cramped ergos. The advantage is it gets 3MPG more than the Hexhead.





 

[ohiorider]

I wasn't overly-excited by the small block Guzzis from 2003-2005 (?)  Having said that, I recall several trips my buddy Denny and I took on our Guzzis, me on my 1200 Sport, and Denny on his 750 Breva (I think a 2004) with HB hard bags and a windshield.  He ran the wheels off that little machine, and it never let him down.  Now there was a small but capable sport tourer! 

Bob

[9fingers]

Road going v85. Great idea!

Road going V85:
https://www.motoguzzi.com/us_EN/models/v85-tt/v85-tt-travel-850-v-twin-4s-2021/

And someone will figure out how to lower it an inch or two, like some do for the VStroms.
Scott

[tazio]

It's time is now. Purpose built mid displacement Touring machine.
There's an older age group that ain't dragging their wives around on trips.
Maybe some of us? 
 

1983 Honda GL650I Silverwing.

[twowheeladdict]

Problem is if you look at a lot of the smaller displacement motorcycles are still heavy just less HP.

Yep.  800cc to 1200cc is very little change in weight.  At least you are spending less $$ and insurance is usually less.

[Shorty]

I was never much of a tourer, but these days I can ride this as far as anything else: 

     That DR650 engine would be fab in a TU250 style frame. Suzuki will never build it. Maybe the Royal Enfield Shotgun will be a player when it is released. Depends on the ergos.

[tazio]

Beautiful!

[Testarossa]

I don't understand this topic. What's a touring bike? A bike you tour on.

I've toured on a Honda CB500/4, a BMW(Aprilia) F650, a Suzuki VX800, my 850T and of course my Mille. All you need is bags and maybe a fairing. I've gone long days two-up on the VX, T and Mille. (Of course Gail and I together weigh only 260 lb). And 200-mile stints two-up on the /4 and Funduro. I don't need cruise control, liquid cooled saddle, surround sound or electric cupholder.

If I could have just one bike, I guarantee I could ride fireroads, twisties and superslabs on it with equal confidence -- and pick it up if necessary.

What passes for a "touring bike" in dealerships is apparently half a Cadillac. But we shouldn't let the industry tell us what works and what doesn't.

Bottom line: There are plenty of lighter touring bikes available, new or used. Always have been, always will be, and plenty of riders who buy them, beginning with older gentlemen and the inseam-challenged.

Meanwhile, Huzo is touring on a postie bike.

[elrealistico]

Lots of folks have been touring or at least doing long distance rides on their V71,2,3s, that I have seen on other media this summer. I'll probably do the same, after I get the time and money to do the front end, and get thru another set of tires.  I still may go with a 1000cc or bigger machine at some point. I can see the appeal of the big cruisers/tourers, it's nice to be comfy, and if you ride the major highways to get where you are going, or are a mileage collector. When I get to that stage in life where I can just go and not have to be responsible for anything but myself, I'll take the long way---

[SIR REAL ED]

Problem is if you look at a lot of the smaller displacement motorcycles are still heavy just less HP.

The NC700 is 480lbs curb weight no bags. Heavy little devil.

The V-Strom 650. Weights as much as a Hexhead GS with 1/2 the suspension, 40 less HP, shitty brakes, dimensionally as big or bigger but cramped ergos. The advantage is it gets 3MPG more than the Hexhead.

Yep.  IIRC, my V-Strom 650 was 120 lbs heavier than my DR 650.  And you could feel every lb.

[SIR REAL ED]

I was never much of a tourer, but these days I can ride this as far as anything else: 

     That DR650 engine would be fab in a TU250 style frame. Suzuki will never build it. Maybe the Royal Enfield Shotgun will be a player when it is released. Depends on the ergos.

I supposed that a bike that is often used for Round The World travel would have to be considered a touring bike.

I agree with the above.  I have often thought that a Honda Rebel 300 or 500 would be a good home for a DR 650 engine, or for that matter an XL650R engine.

I think emissions regulations makes those bikes impossible.  My understanding is that the big single won't meet a lot of new emissions standards, but that all current designs are "grandfathered" in.

[LowRyter]

Another one, the Yamaha FJ900/Tracer.  It's as fast as my Duc but a little too upright for sportiness & handling. Still faster than anyone can ride.   Might be just the ticket.  It's not pretty like my Duc.

[LowRyter]

Beautiful!

You're a scholar and a gentleman.  Thanks.  It was the motorcycle I was always looking for.