Rainy Day WG Question - Suggestions for a bad weather second bike

[Nic in Western NYS]

I'm not in the market now, but by next year will likely be interested in a second bike mostly for bad weather. 

Musts:  1. ABS;  2. Not too expensive (under $5k); 3. Standard to sport touring riding position; 4. Full fairing; 5. Hard bags and top case; 6.  Good pep (modified to 55-60 rwhp); 7. Not too massive (less than a Gold Wing).

Thinking a 20 year old RT  https://asheville.craigslist.org/mcy/6087190003.html

Or a 2v Norge with some miles on it so I won't start pampering it, or maybe a Honda ST1100?

All thoughts including 'it's your call, don't bother us with personal preference questions' are welcomed.

[oldbike54]

 Nic , we're talking cool wet weather , correct ? You aren't planning on moving to Yukonica's hood ? An older oil head RT would probably work well , or an early Norge .
The Brits would keep an old MZ around as a bad weather bike , but not really a good choice now . Heck , a first gen SV 650 fitted with an Avon or Pichler fairing would work
also .

 Dusty

[Nic in Western NYS]

Yup Dusty, planning on cool/cold wet weather, muck on the road, heated grips ride in the northeast in March sort of weather.  Do folks with dedicated bad weather bikes make different tire choices?  Trade off wear for grip, more aggressive tread patterns designed for the wet etc?

[Shorty]

BMW K. Any fully faired BMW Kbike from mid 80s to about 1995 has all you asked for , plus a 50 amp charging system, ports for heated clothing or charger hookup. Stainless exhaust. Single sided swingarm and centerstand for ease of tire service. Damn near bulletproof. Plenty of spares available on Ebay and elsewhere.

[RinkRat II]

 BMW Kbike :1:  Kaw Concours  Wet tires a must. My$.02   

     Paul B
 

[Sheepdog]

I'd like a Yamaha TW200 for a local crummy weather bike. I know that misses your criteria, but they make great second bikes. Cheap to own, lots of traction for any road, low seat height, and a pretty high funk-factor (hey, I'm a Guzzi-guy...I like different). Great aftermarket, too.

https://procycle.us/bikepages/tw200.html
http://www.happy-trail.com/find-your-bike/yamaha/tw200.html

[Ncdan]

1100 Suzuki Vstorm

[Chuck in Indiana]

750 K bike. Unbreakable and unlovable. <shrug> Perfect for the job. 

[Nic in Western NYS]

All are great suggestions, making me think about my criteria.  Thanks guys.

[Triple Jim]

I'd definitely want a shaft drive for a motorcycle intended for rain.

[slopokes]

1100 vstrom with shaft drive coming from Japan ,,,,,,, soon

[johnr]

Thought about this a bit as I live in a wet cold place. I think though the answer depends on what you intend to use the bike for.

[JeffOlson]

I bought my Norge for precisely this sort of riding. I traded in a Triumph Thruxton and a Ducati ST2. The Norge has been great. No regrets (except when I see a Thruxton or Ducati ST...).

[Nic in Western NYS]

Thought about this a bit as I live in a wet cold place. I think though the answer depends on what you intend to use the bike for.

Hi John.  I figure I'll use it for what I use the bike now mostly - commuting to work either locally or long distance, and running errands.  Just want to extend my riding season to when there could be a patch of heavy rain, also when the roads are sloppy from sand and even some salt.  I'm too particular about the Duc and don't like taking it out in the slop.

[swooshdave]

Quota?

[Nic in Western NYS]

Quota?

Love the Quota but am mentally hooked on abs.

[Nic in Western NYS]

I bought my Norge for precisely this sort of riding. I traded in a Triumph Thruxton and a Ducati ST2. The Norge has been great. No regrets (except when I see a Thruxton or Ducati ST...).

I've given up 2 ST's and regretted it both times.  Maybe adding a Norge (or a Connie) would just do the trick.   

[JeffOlson]

I've given up 2 ST's and regretted it both times.  Maybe adding a Norge (or a Connie) would just do the trick.   

Yep. I really miss my Ducati ST2:

[Nic in Western NYS]

Looks sharp with the blue and the silver-finish frame combo!  And the 944cc mill has quite a sound.  No more Duc talk!

[JeffOlson]

Looks sharp with the blue and the silver-finish frame combo!  And the 944cc mill has quite a sound.  No more Duc talk!

And the sound! OMG, what a sound with those cans!

[jdgretz]

I had a C-10 Connie for a couple of years along with the Norge.  In wet weather I stayed much dryer on the Connie.  Never ridden a C-14 - the ergonomics don't fit me, so I can't speak to that bike.  The C-10 does not have ABS unfortunately.

jdg

[cookiemech]

Well, you said 80+ hp, so that technically leaves out the K75(RT). However, since I own two K75s (K75 naked and K75RT), plus an R1100RT (which satisfies the hp requirement), I strongly prefer the K75RT for foul weather. It has 70 hp at the crank (probably 59 at the rear wheel), but more importantly, its torque curve is so flat it's like an electric motor. This is important for slippery roads. It also weighs less than an R1100RT.

I use my K75RT exclusively as a winter ride (above 60°F or so, it's unpleasantly warm with full riding gear) and have done so since 2003. It has never let me down, either mechanically or literally, even on days I should not have ridden due to ice and a bit of snow. No matter what heated gear I plug in, that 50 amp alternator handles it with ease.

There weren't all that many produced, but when they show up, they tend to go cheap (sometimes less than $3K), because they aren't "cool". Suits me, because neither am I . . .

[pete roper]

If you want 80+ HP then that counts out any 2V Guzzi but seriously, since you want it mainly for poor weather riding, heaps of power would seem un-neccessary.

I'd strongly suggest you look at a Mana GT. Superb as both a commuter and light tourer, has ABS, plenty of poke, very reliable, good weather protection, dirt cheap, simple to service apart from the 20-25,000km belt change but that isn't a huge issue. Sure they're an orphan, that's why they're cheap! But they are a very competent machine.

Pete

[Nic in Western NYS]

If you want 80+ HP then that counts out any 2V Guzzi but seriously, since you want it mainly for poor weather riding, heaps of power would seem un-neccessary.

I'd strongly suggest you look at a Mana GT. Superb as both a commuter and light tourer, has ABS, plenty of poke, very reliable, good weather protection, dirt cheap, simple to service apart from the 20-25,000km belt change but that isn't a huge issue. Sure they're an orphan, that's why they're cheap! But they are a very competent machine.

Pete

Thanks Pete!  Good point about the HP being at cross purposes with foul weather riding.  I thought my Breva 1100 would have had plenty of power for this job so maybe 55-60 rwhp is more like what I'm thinking of.

Never would have thought of the Mana, sweet looking machine, with CVT which I've never had on a bike.

[Bob Wegman]

I ride a old Yamaha xs650 in the winter because ;1) It was cheap. 2) It starts all the time, electric starter and a kickstart backup, 3) Isn't too heavy  to pick it up when I fall down on the ice or snow, 4)  Nobody wants to steal it, 5) Vibrates enough so I don't think about how cold it is, 6) Used parts are easy to find and not expensive, 7) Reminds me of my youth when I didn't have a car in the winter and had to ride my Triumph 250 and 500 to go anywhere.

[twowings]

Lots of scooters have good weather protection, too...

[JeffOlson]

Good point on the scooter. I have a Vespa GTS 300 that will do nearly 80 mph. With top case and tall Vespa windscreen, it is a great commuter. Plus is has ABS and traction control.

[guzzler]

I ride a old Yamaha xs650 in the winter because ;1) It was cheap. 2) It starts all the time, electric starter and a kickstart backup, 3) Isn't too heavy  to pick it up when I fall down on the ice or snow, 4)  Nobody wants to steal it, 5) Vibrates enough so I don't think about how cold it is, 6) Used parts are easy to find and not expensive, 7) Reminds me of my youth when I didn't have a car in the winter and had to ride my Triumph 250 and 500 to go anywhere.

Good on ya mate
These things have been calling to me for quite some time now and get the feeling I'll have to have one before I hang up the leathers eh!
I'll never part with the V11 Sport though and unlike a lot of you fellas, find it hard to justify more than one bike at the moment.
Hmmm, maybe in retirement?
Be nice to swing along the country lanes round here on an XS ( c or d model )
Arghh better stop this visualizing caper, I can see it leading to tears!
Mine ha ha
Cheers Guzzler
 

[Nic in Western NYS]

I had a C-10 Connie for a couple of years along with the Norge.  In wet weather I stayed much dryer on the Connie.  Never ridden a C-14 - the ergonomics don't fit me, so I can't speak to that bike.  The C-10 does not have ABS unfortunately.

jdg

Interested in the Norge - seems like a great fit - where did you have problems with it not keeping out the wet?  The full fairing seems pretty protective. (Any 6'3" 34" inseam Norge riders out there?)

[jdgretz]

Interested in the Norge - seems like a great fit - where did you have problems with it not keeping out the wet?  The full fairing seems pretty protective. (Any 6'3" 34" inseam Norge riders out there?)

It's not that I got all that wet (mostly legs and hands), but that the Connie kept those parts dryer.  I was rather surprised when I discovered this.  I think the main reasons for this are the placement of the handle bars in relation to the fairing and the design of the main fairing and the "wings" along the lowers.  The C-10 has this nice continuous fairing the directs the air flow away from the body with sort of a lip at the training edge of the fairing.  Right about boot height, there are these air flow wings that add to kicking out the (hot) air from the boots.  The Norge has nothing at the bottom anyway similar to this.  Also, the hand grips on the Norge are more in the air flow rather than behind the fairing.

This photo sort of shows that if you look for it.



This one shows how much the Norge grips are out in the breeze compared to the Connie




Hope that helps.

jdg