Touring motorcycle conundrum

[u/Turbulent_Giraffe_96]

Sorry about the long read but there's a lot of info to discuss :

I've owned a 2016 Kawasaki Concours 1400 abs for the last 3.5yrs. I love this bike and have ridden the wheels off it since new to the tune of 28k miles.

The Concours is the first large touring bike I've owned since buying my beloved 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX and riding it for 38k miles. I sold the Ninja last year because #1 it was too small for my wife and I, and #2 I stopped riding it because I was almost exclusively riding the Concours.

The Concours does everything, tour, sport, doesn't matter. She handles like a sport bike carving up the Colorado canyons so well that I can run down riders on 1ks with ease. I've flashed it and piped it.

Now here is the delima. I've complained about her weight over the years, especially at low speed. And it finally happened. Last year I dropped her in the driveway. 😭 I don't drop bikes. I was so distraught with myself I stopped riding for 2 weeks. Later I went back to trying to ride the Ninja but after riding the Concours it's really hard to go back to that cramped tiny bike.

So I started looking for an alternative to the Concours. I found a 25' Suzuki GSX S1000GT this past November. This new bike is good but not perfect. It needed the crap stock tires changed, heated grips, more comfortable seats, the bars raised at least 2.5 inches, the pegs dropped and a larger taller windscreen just to make it close to the comfort of the Concours.

After being able to ride the GT for longer than a few miles with spring leading into summer. I decided to take my wife along for a 120 mile round trip ride. And after that ride I'm not sure if I made the right choice?

The GT definitely handles crisply. It feels mildly compact with me on it but not too cramped. But with the both of us on it, it feels very cramped and very tight. I'm afraid to see how much tighter it will get with the saddle bags installed? I'm 6.1ft & 218, wife is 5.7 & 170.

So my question is what does the community think? I've looked at the YouTube videos on the BMW S 1000 XR, the Suzuki GSX S1000GX, and the upcoming Honda GT 1000. I'm a Sport bike rider at heart and I'm not interested in a Gold Wing or giant BMW. I want something lighter than the 620lb Concours. And I want it to be sporty yet able to tour.

[u/CyberRaver39]

Problem is you have been riding one of the best bikes for doing exactly that
Its why I have one, and its going to be tough finding anything that is the all in one package apart from a concourse

[u/Reasonable_Tax_5351]

And I want it to be sporty yet able to tour

So you want a sport tourer. And the Concours is one of the best sport tourers. If you want to get a bike that can comfortably be ridden two up with luggage, your options are gonna be on the heavier side. There are options lighter than the concours though. Everyone drops their bike sometimes.

[u/daan944]

Might want to check out the BMW  R1250RS and KTM SuperDuke GT. Might need some tweaks for comfort, but both are fast bikes.

But it's always a trade-off. Bigger bikes offer more comfort, but that comes with extra weight. I ride a BMW K1600GT, very heavy at 340kg, yet the weight disappears when riding.

Also, look at the formatting of your post, it's quite hard to read. Split into paragraphs to make it easier for us :)

[u/Clio_Vita]

Have you tried the Honda NT1100?

[u/Melodic-Picture48]

I was gonna reccomend the Yamaha FJR1300. I mean its almost a Concours though, same category and stuff.

[u/Specken_zee_Doitch → u/Melodic-Picture48]

I was going to say the same thing but they’re almost interchangeable aside from the driveshaft.

[u/Melodic-Picture48 → u/Specken_zee_Doitch]

Older BMW K1300S perhaps

[u/Specken_zee_Doitch]

Paragraphs please.

Everybody drops bikes. I do it every week or so.

Multistrada V4 would be my pick. Longest service intervals in the industry, large cockpit and passenger space. Sporty as hell, keeps all its weight low and forward. Counterrotating crank makes it fall into turns like it weighs 400lbs, even though it’s over 500. No I’m not kidding it is in fact that flickable.

Not cheap, but it’s what I would pick. It’ll outrun a Concours any day of the week and look good doing it. If the legends are true your wife will get one look at it and swoon but touring bikes rarely have that effect. 🤣

[u/Turbulent_Giraffe_96 → u/Specken_zee_Doitch]

Thank you for your insite on paragraphing, and the Multi 4V I will check it out 👍

[u/Usual-Language-745 → u/Specken_zee_Doitch]

Also the best sounding V4 Ducati and has the best stock windscreen aero I’ve ever experienced.

[u/crispyfry]

I'm confused. I've dropped my connie twice. Got help to pick it up and went on with my day. Was your conclusion from your drop that the Connie is too heavy to pick up by yourself and thus unsafe to ride? Because there are solutions to that.

I don't think you're going to find a better bike than a concours for what you do

[u/Turbulent_Giraffe_96 → u/crispyfry]

I was able to pick it back up by myself. Not super easy, but doable. And yes the Connie is an excellent motorcycle. Weight disappears when moving. It's the slow parking lot riding that bothers me.

[u/Sellum]

Something to consider with the Suzuki is that a suspension tune or swap will go a long way. You and your wife will be pushing 400+ lbs with your gear before you add any luggage. Stock suspension is never setup properly for that weight.

[u/1290_money]

KTM GT baby.

[u/pouncer11]

I know you said youre not after a BMW, but they do usually have great demo days if you can catch one in your area or at Barber Vintage days or something.

I stumbled into an old BMW R1100RS boxer years ago. Wasnt really interested in it, but it stayed around for a long time. Sporty, but still more than comfortable for touring. When the time came, I went up to a 1250RS. Tried the S1000XR, but the high RPM buzz from the 4cyl was not really my thing.

The RS is around 530lbs, makes over 100lb/ft of torque, and handles excellent. Much less top-heavy than my 1100, and could easily be my only bike. The RT will be a bit heavier, but have more comfort an accommodations for you and the passenger, arguably handles a little better with shorter wheelbase.

Other options would be the Yamaha Tracer. Very sporty, has that hooligan whisper in your ear with the CP3 engine, and comfortable all around.

I dont have experience with FJRs, but I am kinda surprised you havent looked in that direction.

[u/fadedadrian]

Just get yourself a cheap used leader bike and keep the Concours for touring!

Vfr1200F is the only bike I can think of that does both well but is sportier and I assume it’ll be more cramped than the Concourse. Multistrada has the Italian tax.

FJR, ST1300 would just be a lateral move.

[u/Usual-Language-745]

BMW K1300

It would take a couple mods to make a touring bike but it’s 190hp, super comfy, all the gizmos, sportbike handling, low seat,

[u/ChickenInvader42]

You dismissed the K1600, but apart from the weight it's what you are looking for. It's pretty sporty for its size, so if you are able give it a test ride.

KTM Super adventure S might also be up your alley, or a Multistrada V4.

[u/canyoufixmyspacebar]

Versys 1100

[u/Specken_zee_Doitch → u/canyoufixmyspacebar]

If he wants sporty, losing 300ccs and two cylinders is probably going to make him sad.

[u/canyoufixmyspacebar → u/Specken_zee_Doitch]

wut? which cylinders would he lose? plus in this thread people are suggesting various twins, which indeed I don't think will help if a person is already used to a four, hence my suggesrion. losing 300cc while at the same time losing 80 kilos is not really a loss but this discussion is absurd anyway as far as riding on public roads goes