Two up touring bike preferred.

[LowRyter]

500-550 lb bike for two up?  Heck that eliminates my '98 EV.

[rocker59]

500-550 lb bike for two up?  Heck that eliminates my '98 EV.

How is that?  They are listed at the top of that range, 553 lbs.  Close enough for government work...

[roadscum]

Don't know what "best" means to you but the Honda Goldwing is almost always rated and reviewed as being the most comfy two up tourer.


I consider my BMW GSA to be the best all arounder for two up touring. It's comfortable enough, is reliable, eats miles, adjustable suspension to accomodate different loads & road conditions, ride mode(very handy when it starts to rain or snow), has an almost 400 mile fuel range, weather protection is suprisinly good, and when the pavement runs out you can continue on over the gravel roads in comfort with no worry.

Just my $.02 based on 55+years of riding and doing 20-15K miles a year since retiring 15 years ago.

Paul

[LowRyter]

How is that?  They are listed at the top of that range, 553 lbs.  Close enough for government work...

The EV is 600lb with bags and rack.   And it's hardly a two up tourer in my case.  Great to buzz around two-up for a couple hundred miles.  Not so much for real travel.  And I don't think sport tourers are the ticket either, they are one-up.

Hey I am not talking about anyone else but myself and what suits me.  I don't care if you wanna ride to Gnome two-up on a Honda Cub.  But I am thinking touring bike for two-up distance travel.  The RT is great, I think the Trophy might be better.  I don't want a cruiser, sport tourer or adventure bike.

[PeteS]

What I was trying to say if my wife didn't ride I would not own a bike, for myself, heavier than 550lbs. The bike that leaves my garage most often is my KLR. Never cared for big machines, 2 or 4 wheeled.

Pete

[twowheeladdict]

This really sums it up. for two up let your S.O. decide whats best for them, not you. If my wife didn't want to travel on two wheels the Wing would be long gone. 500-550 lbs is as big as i want to go, preferably lighter.
FWIW my 2004 Goldwing gets between 44-46 MPG any day of the week and 20% better at altitude.
Pete

Your on the high end of the bell curve according to fuelly.

[PeteS]

Your on the high end of the bell curve according to fuelly.

Seriously? A sample of 6 is statistically significant? Gotta love the internet.

[canuck750]

I have ridden several of the purpose built two up touring bikes and my Wife has owned a Miata and then a Z4 for over decade, comparing the ride experience of a touring bike to a small rag top is apples to pineapples. I can't understand how anyone can think riding two up on a bike or two side by side in a car is remotely similar. As to describing touring bikes as trucks or lead sleds, please try a modern one out.
If ones goal is to provide the passenger with the most comfortable mount possible and be able to share the open road for days and weeks on end then a big touring rig is the ticket.

HD is the most popular bike on the road anywhere in the USA and Canada, a 2018 HD Ultra Classic weighs in at 904 lbs wet. 2019 Goldwing weighs 787 lbs and the BMW K1600GTL weighs 772 lbs wet, by comparison a 2018 Eldorado is relatively light at 692 lbs. I would encourage anyone to try the new Goldwing or K1600 and press it to ones comfort zone, the capability of these bikes is so far beyond 95% of most riders skill set (mine included) that I am sure the most die hard sport rider would be impressed.

Most any bike can carry two persons, the point is what bike is comfortable for the passenger, carries hard luggage, has good range etc... If I wanted a bike that 'could' take a passenger for the odd one or two day ride the options are endless but that is not 'touring' in my opinion.

[twowheeladdict]

Seriously? A sample of 6 is statistically significant? Gotta love the internet.

6 is just the center column.  That is 6 bikes that got 39 mpg. 

[Lannis]

I have ridden several of the purpose built two up touring bikes and my Wife has owned a Miata and then a Z4 for over decade, comparing the ride experience of a touring bike to a small rag top is apples to pineapples. I can't understand how anyone can think riding two up on a bike or two side by side in a car is remotely similar.

Fay and I have owned 33 bikes, an MGA, a Honda S600, an MGB, and a Morgan.    We think there ARE a lot of similarities between riding in a small, primitive open roadster with side-screens and a string you pull to open the door, and a big 800-pound touring bike with 60 plus electrical switches and controls on it.   And we've decided that if we have to go to a big huge bike, bigger and heavier than anything we own, to get the feeling we want on the road, we'll get a little open roadster and enjoy it instead.   

Since our opinion about the pleasures of road touring is based on experience and personal preferences, and wasn't derived from debate, the opinions are thus not susceptible to change by debate, so all we can do is say what it is we like .... 

Lannis

[canuck750]

Fay and I have owned 33 bikes, an MGA, a Honda S600, an MGB, and a Morgan.    We think there ARE a lot of similarities between riding in a small, primitive open roadster with side-screens and a string you pull to open the door, and a big 800-pound touring bike with 60 plus electrical switches and controls on it.   
Lannis

I agree with you on that description of a roadster and likeness to motorcycling  (which is nothing like a Miata, Z4 or any other current crop of nice two seaters, other than 4 wheels and a rag top). 

When the day comes that two wheels are not an option a real nice MGA rag top would sure be a nice alternative.

[Ncdan]

About 3 years ago Wife and I decided we had put enough miles on bikes touring the eastern part of the country with no mishaps. In the spring of 2015 bikers were killed every weekend for a month straight in our area, I decided to sale the ole 03 Electra glide that had clocked 55k. We decided to buy a new Jeep and if wanted wind in our hair we would take the top off and rock and roll. Mistake mistake mistake, the wind woukd beat you to death!!! Especially with the doors off. I kept the Jeep and bought my second guzzi, the 07 vintage. As far as the touring bike discussion, I woukd give the Harley Electra glide and the Goldwing we had equal marks for everything a touring bike needs.  Just my take on the matter.
There are some great opinions here and the versatility and different strokes are interesting to say the least. It's been a great thread.

[Huzo]

I never perceived the problem to be so difficult to solve..

[Lannis]

I never perceived the problem to be so difficult to solve..

As several have mentioned, you can tour on ANYTHING if you've got your mind right.

And TWO people can tour on anything if BOTH of them have their minds right.

The issue being dealt with here is how do you get that last 10% of ideal comfort on a really long ride based on the bike you've chosen, and TWO people do it in parallel .... ONE person is easy; just grab something and go ....

Lannis

[roadscum]

Way too much attention being spent on the tool when it's actually the task that counts most. Do it, just do it.

Paul

[Lannis]

Way too much attention being spent on the tool when it's actually the task that counts most. Do it, just do it.

Paul

We ARE doing it!   This is just daffing about online on a rainy day .....

[rocker59]

LOL!  Arveno dropped this bomb and hasn't been back to the thead... 

[Lannis]

When the day comes that two wheels are not an option a real nice MGA rag top would sure be a nice alternative.

The sad part is that once two wheels are not an alternative, getting into and extracting oneself out of an MG may not be possible either ... !!

Lannis

[Lannis]

LOL!  Arveno dropped this bomb and hasn't been back to the thead...

Actually he did, checked himself out of the thread with a "Thank you for the info"! about halfway down page 2 ....

Lannis

[rocker59]

Good day to all and happy new year!!
Thank you so much for the feedbacks.

Right now my two up touring bike is a R100GS

I think I will stick with it for awhile....I have never ridden the Stelvio which I will consider.
The new GS are gone way to far with electronics etc and they don’t really appeal me much .
The Milwaukee couch is nice but not ready to get one yet.

Thank you
Marco

I missed this earlier. I'm guessing some others did, too.



 

[Ncdan]

The sad part is that once two wheels are not an alternative, getting into and extracting oneself out of an MG may not be possible either ... !!

Lannis

Lol lannis, just get a Jeep, you'll love the wind:)👍👍👍

[Huzo]

Lol lannis, just get a Jeep, you'll love the wind:)👍👍👍

So is overtaking a Jeep the same as "passing wind" ?

[jumpmaster]

When the day comes that two wheels are not an option a real nice MGA rag top would sure be a nice alternative.

Be sure to get one with front disc brakes (1961 (?) or later)...

[Murray]

I would encourage anyone to try the new Goldwing or K1600 and press it to ones comfort zone, the capability of these bikes is so far beyond 95% of most riders skill set (mine included) that I am sure the most die hard sport rider would be impressed.

Wieght an mainly wheelbase wieght chews into braking and grip but wheelbase is a killer, sure you can have hard bits touching down with your knee on the ground but with a long wheel base you simply will not achive the turn rate of a shorter wheel base with the same or less lean. The smaller ligher bike will do it easier and its typically not obvious untill you ride them side by side.

[arveno]

LOL!  Arveno dropped this bomb and hasn't been back to the thead...

 

I had too much fun reading ...
jokes aside lots of good feedbacks from different kind of  riders.

Thank you !!

 

[Ncdan]

So is overtaking a Jeep the same as "passing wind" ?

Lol, you boys down under crack me up, good one Huzo😂😂😂😂

[Huzo]

Lol, you boys down under crack me up, good one Huzo😂😂😂😂

Thanks you're a great audience, I'll be here all week...
And this can be a tough room.
Also.
I would have preferred the title be..
"Preferred two up touring bike" rather than "Two up touring bike preferred"
I guess a lot of guys noticed that, but I'm the only one childish enough to mention it..!
Maybe I have C.O.D.
I used to call it O.C.D. But I didn't like the way the letters were..!

[PJPR01]

Is it still called Two Up touring even when riding Down under?  :)

COD. - is that Cash on Demand??

[Huzo]

Is it still called Two Up touring even when riding Down under?  :)

COD. - is that Cash on Demand??

Touche'