Two up touring bike preferred.

[yogidozer]

This question's been around a long, long time.

[PeteS]

I have owned two that my wife could ride and one she couldn't. BMW R100RT with EZ Berg seat and back rest took her over 200k miles plus another 25K for me alone. Replaced with a 2004 Goldwing. Tried a 1998 EV but the hard seat and harsh suspension didn't work. Big plus for the BMW is I felt fairly comfortable on about any type of road including gravel. With the Goldwing its pavement only. Level gravel is doable but hills and curves are always a challange. A modern BMW RT might be a better compromise but I also don't need the complexity plus we no longer have any dealers close. She is short so the Harleys and Indians don't work for her as the saddlebags hit her legs and the Indian seat does not compare with the Wing, not to mention the Indian is almost as heavy as the Wing.

Pete

[Lannis]

I have owned two that my wife could ride and one she couldn't. BMW R100RT with EZ Berg seat and back rest took her over 200k miles plus another 25K for me alone. Replaced with a 2004 Goldwing. Tried a 1998 EV but the hard seat and harsh suspension didn't work.
Pete

I've never left the stock seat and suspension on any touring bike I've owned; it's not possible for any combination of Italian or Japanese test-riders to match our ergonomics.   

I'm assuming that there was something about the EV that made you decide not to put an upgrade seat on it like you did the Beemer, and shocks more suited to you?  It's pretty easy to do ....

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

IMO by the time you get to things like the BMW1600LT (Light Truck) or a Goldwing you don't really want a motorcycle anymore go get yourself a Mazda MX5 (Miata) it will be cheaper and what you actually wanted.

But, there is something about wearing a helmet that makes one feel less exposed than felt while driving a miata with the top down.

[yogidozer]

I've never left the stock seat and suspension on any touring bike I've owned; it's not possible for any combination of Italian or Japanese test-riders to match our ergonomics.   

I'm assuming that there was something about the EV that made you decide not to put an upgrade seat on it like you did the Beemer, and shocks more suited to you?  It's pretty easy to do ....

Lannis

I had my 98 EV seat redone. But unless you use the smaller computer from newer models, as well as the rider's seat pan, the comfort will never be great. The early seat pans had a bump in the pan to clear the computer.

[twowheeladdict]

From SSRealty:
I would venture to guess that H-D wasn't to concerned about making panniers wide enough to hold helmets.

Will also say as a Norge owner it would be a pretty good two up bike if both are not too big and in fairly good shape. With side cases and a top case it takes a pretty good leg left for the passenger to get a leg up and over. Also passenger weather protection is not all that great.
GliderJohn

They do hold half helmets.  The king tour pack holds full face helmets.

[poorBob]

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

Here's a vote for the Stelvio! I will never own a Milwaukee Road Couch because to me, 900+ pounds is a car. I bought my Stelvio when my wife asked me to buy something she could ride on the back of. After several day-long rides, she decided she didn't like the way I ride so now all my riding is solo but when she was riding with me, she was comfortable. We are a combined 320 pounds and she had plenty of room. She even fell asleep one day - I felt her jerk awake and decided it was time she had a coffee.

I rode a Norge once and really liked the bike but found it too cramped for my 6'3" frame. Plenty of torque, just a little small for me.

Halfway thru a 900 mile day, the sight of those Guzzi cylinders providing forward motivation is quite a comfort. I've bonded quite strongly with this Stelvio at 32k miles and can't imagine a better, more comfortable bike for me and for any 115 lb passenger.

[Lannis]

I had my 98 EV seat redone. But unless you use the smaller computer from newer models, as well as the rider's seat pan, the comfort will never be great. The early seat pans had a bump in the pan to clear the computer.

That computer bump IS a bit of a hassle for a seatmaker, and I have never had a seat made for a EV ... but based on my experience with other bikes, I'll wager the price of a seat that Rich Maund (back when he was doing them) or Russell Day-Long (who does them today) could build a true all-day-long seat where you would never notice ...

Lannis

[yogidozer]

That computer bump IS a bit of a hassle for a seatmaker, and I have never had a seat made for a EV ... but based on my experience with other bikes, I'll wager the price of a seat that Rich Maund (back when he was doing them) or Russell Day-Long (who does them today) could build a true all-day-long seat where you would never notice ...

Lannis

Rich Maund did my seat. Much, much better than stock, but at days end, you felt it.

[kirb]

My wife and I don't do baggers...we migrated from an FJR to KTM 990adv to Stelvio. I prefer the Motus for touring, but she is more of a fan of the Stelvio.

The FJR was a good touring rig, but the seat/peg relationship was not working for me.
The KTM was GREAT touring rig despite the lack of wind protection. The wife didn't like lack of seat room after I put a flat aftermarket seat on it (I would keep moving back). I might go back to a KTM 1090 someday.
The Stelvio has everything we need- lots of storage, comfy seats, good wind protection, etc.
The Motus has everything we like, but the storage is slightly less and the turbulence for her is a bit more.

Other friends who tour do it on a Multistrada, BMW GT1600, Honda FB6, Triumph Tiger, or just about anything.
Best is what YOU like.

[poorBob]

My wife and I don't do baggers...we migrated from an FJR to KTM 990adv to Stelvio. I prefer the Motus for touring, but she is more of a fan of the Stelvio.

The FJR was a good touring rig, but the seat/peg relationship was not working for me.
The KTM was GREAT touring rig despite the lack of wind protection. The wife didn't like lack of seat room after I put a flat aftermarket seat on it (I would keep moving back). I might go back to a KTM 1090 someday.
The Stelvio has everything we need- lots of storage, comfy seats, good wind protection, etc.
The Motus has everything we like, but the storage is slightly less and the turbulence for her is a bit more.

Other friends who tour do it on a Multistrada, BMW GT1600, Honda FB6, Triumph Tiger, or just about anything.
Best is what YOU like.

You got her on the Motus? Good job! My wife won't even consider it.

[kirb]

You got her on the Motus? Good job! My wife won't even consider it.

My wife is a trooper. She will ride just about anything. The only bike she wasn't a fan of was the Buell 1125cr ("I don't think my knee should be touching the pavement"), or the Griso due to the seating position (felt like she was going to fall off all the time).

The Motus is easy- comfort, heated seat, not sitting up too high. I do have to keep the highway roll-ons to a minimum with her. Anyone who has ridden a Motus knows what those are like.  She prefers the Motus for around-town runs to dinner or the like.

[PeteS]

I've never left the stock seat and suspension on any touring bike I've owned; it's not possible for any combination of Italian or Japanese test-riders to match our ergonomics.   

I'm assuming that there was something about the EV that made you decide not to put an upgrade seat on it like you did the Beemer, and shocks more suited to you?  It's pretty easy to do ....

Lannis

I still had the BMW and kept it for 5 more years. There wasn't much motivation to make the changes. I eventually got a Ned's seat for it but after I got the Goldwing. Otherwise the EV was fine for a me as a one up touring bike.

Pete

[Tusayan]

BMW R100RT with EZ Berg seat and back rest took her over 200k miles plus another 25K for me alone.

Ez was a neat old guy who knew his craft    He used to tour around the western US before sleeping bags were invented, before paved roads, so he had a while to come up with a seat that worked.  I knew him as a kid, after he'd sold the business but would still do the occasional job in his garage.

[flower_king001]

Quote from: Lannis on Today at 06:42:02 AM
I've never left the stock seat and suspension on any touring bike I've owned; it's not possible for any combination of Italian or Japanese test-riders to match our ergonomics.   

I'm assuming that there was something about the EV that made you decide not to put an upgrade seat on it like you did the Beemer, and shocks more suited to you?  It's pretty easy to do ....

Lannis
I had my 98 EV seat redone. But unless you use the smaller computer from newer models, as well as the rider's seat pan, the comfort will never be great. The early seat pans had a bump in the pan to clear the computer.


I purchased a Corbin seat fro my 98 EV and never looked back. Stock I would ride about 50 miles top and with the Corbin unlimted.

[Furbo]

We had a comedy radio show in Tulsa in the AM. "Roy D. Mercer"  His tag line was "How big a boy are ya?"  I suppose that is the question, as well as your passenger. If you are on the small side, a European "standard" liter bike with windshield and bags and a few comfort mods will do ya, and you still get good corner carving. They were designed to ply autobahn or mountain passes... a 3/4 size tourer.

If you guys are large, then you need a bigger sled just for legroom.  How tall and how heavy?  Again, ergos. When the wife and I used to ride cross country, we did it on a BMW R90/6, a Convert, or Loop frame bike. Hell, we used to fit on a Yamaha Radian.  These days we are bigger, and would need a Hog, Wing, or similiar.   I'm liking the Yamaha:   https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/transcontinental-touring/models/star-venture

  ding ding ding...we have a winner!  When I was a svelte Army Captain back in the 90's SWMBO & I did Switzerland very comfortably on a bone stock '72 850GT. These days a Kawasaki Concours (C-10) is our 2 up sled.
 

[yogidozer]

Quote from: Lannis on Today at 06:42:02 AM
I've never left the stock seat and suspension on any touring bike I've owned; it's not possible for any combination of Italian or Japanese test-riders to match our ergonomics.   

I'm assuming that there was something about the EV that made you decide not to put an upgrade seat on it like you did the Beemer, and shocks more suited to you?  It's pretty easy to do ....

Lannis
I had my 98 EV seat redone. But unless you use the smaller computer from newer models, as well as the rider's seat pan, the comfort will never be great. The early seat pans had a bump in the pan to clear the computer.


I purchased a Corbin seat fro my 98 EV and never looked back. Stock I would ride about 50 miles top and with the Corbin unlimted.

Hey, that's what I said

[PeteS]

Ez was a neat old guy who knew his craft    He used to tour around the western US before sleeping bags were invented, before paved roads, so he had a while to come up with a seat that worked.  I knew him as a kid, after he'd sold the business but would still do the occasional job in his garage.

Thats cool. He made a fine product. Both of us could string a week of 5-600 miles days and never got really sore.

Pete

[Lannis]

Why limit the search to juts a two up capable bike?

No fair.   All four of them probably don't total 190 pounds together .... !!

Lannis

[Huzo]

Have we reached a conclusion Yogi..?
I hope not, or I might have to concede that I have the "second best" touring bike around.
(Unless the answer they come up with, is a pre 2012 Norge..)
Jeez, what a let down that'd be..

[severely]

My wife prefers the Gold Wing for US roads, we both prefer our Stelvio for rides south of our borders. My wife actually compared the ride quality of the Stelvio to our Wing. I'm happy, she's happy.

[jumpmaster]

2 years ago I bought an old Ural with sidecar. I have since upgraded to a newer one. She likes to ride in the sidecar. It is much slower than the Norge and I think she likes that too. No chance of the bike falling over at a stop. Huge trunk. Good wind protection. Lots of fun. This is my 2 up preferred transportation.

Three years ago, my wife rode in a sidecar for awhile on a weekend group ride, to get a break from the hard seat on the bike I was riding.  She didn't like it much - maybe it was because of the dust of horse droppings on the road she had to deal with (1. we were in PA Amish country, and 2. when she rides behind me I get to deal with most of the dust & debris).  Up to that point, I'd thought a sidecar rig was eventually in our future as we got older.  Now, we occasionally look at trikes...

[Scott of the Sahara]

Here is my wife posing with the Norge on the first trip in 2010. Glacier Montana
DSCN4835 by atlasheating, on Flickr
Someone asked to see the Ural....
This was our 2018 Christmas card. (note the dog does not ride in the sidecar)
DSC03891 by atlasheating, on Flickr

[kballowe]

[twowheeladdict]

My wife did not like our extended test ride on an 1800 wing.  Said it felt like she was straddling a draft horse on that bike.

[cloudbase]

Honda ST1300.  Dead smooth, carries a ton with a tail case, all day comfort, almost 8 gallon tank.
Universal parts and service availability.

[Lannis]

My wife did not like our extended test ride on an 1800 wing.  Said it felt like she was straddling a draft horse on that bike.

Mine said the same.   She's all for the Stelvio, the Triumph, the Multistrada ... but she said before she'd enjoy a Gold Wing, we might as well be honest about it and get a Miata ... !

Lannis

[Tusayan]

In addition to four motorcycles on which we can enjoy riding double, including the R100GS and Ducati ST for touring, my wife and I did get a Miata...  They are very good value used, $9K with 20K miles in our case, and if it looks like the weather may be a factor we sometimes choose it for a trip at the last minute. Also good for local use, visiting friends etc.

For us, the only advantage of something like a Gold Wing over the Miata would be fuel mileage, our Miata isn’t the most efficient ride and gets maybe 30 mpg.  However I think I enjoy driving it more than I would a huge touring bike.

[twowheeladdict]

In addition to four motorcycles on which we can enjoy riding double, including the R100GS and Ducati ST for touring, my wife and I did get a Miata...  They are very good value used, $9K with 20K miles in our case, and if it looks like the weather may be a factor we sometimes choose it for a trip at the last minute. Also good for local use, visiting friends etc.

For us, the only advantage of something like a Gold Wing over the Miata would be fuel mileage, our Miata isn’t the most efficient ride and gets maybe 30 mpg.  However I think I enjoy driving it more than I would a huge touring bike.

I want the new Miata RF with Recaro seats.  I'm saving for it and hopefully there will be one available when I have enough saved.  The ND is rated to 36 mpg which is in Goldwing territory.

[PeteS]

Mine said the same.   She's all for the Stelvio, the Triumph, the Multistrada ... but she said before she'd enjoy a Gold Wing, we might as well be honest about it and get a Miata ... !

Lannis

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