A question For the two wheeled crowd

"Joel Ness" (joelness) 10/27/2015 at 13:21 • Filed to: None

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I’m looking for a comfortable motorcycle to ride year round in Portland. I’ve been riding for 4 years now, so I’ve been around the block. I’ve done a 650 and 1000cc bike so far. Both were sports bikish. Now I’m looking for something with all the gizmos and rider aids that has an upright ergo but is sporty. Crucially it needs to be shaft drive. I only know of the vfr 1200 (I don’t think I’d like the magic wizardry of vtech on a bike though) and bmw k1300s that fits that bill. Does anyone know of anything else past present or future that checks all the right boxes?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:24

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2016 Honda Africa Twin? Beemer R series? Triumph Sprint ST?

I’m personally a huge fan of the Ducati Multistrada. The current gen looks tits!

bob and john > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:29

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i WAS going to say VFR800 until i read shaft drive...
also, the V-tec is VERY smooth. hardly notice it. I loved it on my demo.

why shaft? Chains are pretty good you know. and WAY easier to service then a shift drive.
all R1200 motor BMWs are shaft.
the kawasaki concours is another option.
suzuki and yamaha dont have anything. neither do the americans.
ducatis and MVs are also chain.

moto guzzi? dunno if i would trust the reliability.

KTMS are also chain driven.

so yea. 1200 BMWs, the concours, and moto guzzis

RallyWrench > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:33

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Why the shaft drive stipulation, because of moisture? That rules out the V-strom, which is a hell of a good all rounder, and the new ones have ABS.

bob and john > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 10/27/2015 at 13:33

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chain drive.

iSureWilll > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:37

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What PeteBlackSV said.

I would normally recommend the Ducati MTS1200 (Multistrada) but you have the shaft drive stipulation. That gives you the BMW, Concours 1400, and the Guzzis. Out of those, I would probably get the BMW if you want something more refined. I’m guessing the Concours 14 would be a little cheaper and both of them will be fast as hell.

Joel Ness > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 13:44

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Yeah, thought as much about choices. I don’t like motoguzzi’s and I don’t like the more toury sportstourers. Thus I arrive at the bmw k1200s and the recent line of k1300s.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:49

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maybe give the Japanese a shot. Their cops seem to like the Interceptor.

Joel Ness > RallyWrench 10/27/2015 at 13:52

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The shaft drive is because of maintenance. I’ve ridden chain drive nearly year round for the past 4 years and find constantly fiddling and cleaning the damn thing a pain. I want the Apple solution (just want it to work) that shaft drive provides.

Joel Ness > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/27/2015 at 13:54

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The interceptor is chain drive if I remember correctly. The vfr version of the bike is shaft drive though.

bob and john > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:54

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‘recent”? dude Ks have been the same for a good 5-6 years now...

also, shaft has its own issues to deal with. if you want true maint free, your looking at a belt driven bike. but i dont think anyone makes one.

just get a scoot-oiler and a spray on de-greaser.

nlzmo400r > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 13:55

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You’ve essentially boxed yourself into the K12/1300 from BMW. There are many great (better in some ways) alternatives but they resort to chain for final drive.

From a solely objective standpoint, may I hear your reasonings for shaft drive requirement? Specifically, why you've ruled out chains (or belts) completely.

Joel Ness > nlzmo400r 10/27/2015 at 14:07

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I’ve been riding a chain drive sv650 and sv1000 nearly year round for about 4 years now and am ready for something that can be riden in rain without the worry of having to clean and lube it all the time. (Plus the mandatory wheel, wheel well, swingarm cleaning) I am aware that it's technically inferior to chain when thinking about power delivery and unsprung weight. Selection is quite limited and mostly relegated to touring bikes (which I've test riden: fjr for example).

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:12

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Just throwing out an option for you.

nlzmo400r > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:18

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‘Worry’ is subjective, so that’s fair enough. If it’s any consolation, chains don’t need to be worried about in the rain - the lubricant displaces water and keeps the o-rings good and slippery. It’s the dirt/grit that’s the real enemy. I do however, understand your comments about cleaning the chain lube off the machine. I will say that the compromise of weight/geometry/complexity far outweigh the drawbacks of having s dirty bike to clean; for certain regarding something as ‘sporty’ as a K1300. Nonetheless your opinion is yours and makes me wonder if there’s a market for an encapsulated chain system for motorcycles. Perhaps a splittable composite cover that can be easily removed for servicing but covers the chain ill existing your concerns for cleaning etc.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > RallyWrench 10/27/2015 at 14:23

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The shaft is awesome.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:27

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The FJR1300 has been the bike I’ve wanted for a while.

The update Kawasaki Concours would be nice too.

I’ve got the old version, which could be nice as well, just not too sexy any more.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:34

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Also the ST1300

Master Cylinder > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:41

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Not asking for much, huh? lol

Rider aids + sporty is easy. Shaft drive + upright is easy. Even rider aids + upright + sporty gives you a decent selection of bikes. Putting them all together really narrows the field.

Depending on your definition of “sporty” and how fancy you want the rider aids to be, you could also consider the GL1800 (yeah, yeah, it’s a Goldwing, but she really can dance for a fat lady) Connie 1400, or FJR1400? I think they’re all just ABS and maybe a simple traction control system. They’re really only sporty compared to cruiser-style bikes, but I have seen each of these hustle through curvy roads with a good pilot at the bars.

If you drop the shaft drive requirement, then the world opens up to you. It’s pretty much only found on big heavyweight touring bikes.

Hammerdown > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 14:48

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Kawasaki Concourse? It has a shaft, ABS and Traction Control. 1400cc’s(detuned from the ZX-14, still makes almost 160 hp), well proven, and fairly cost effective.

Joel Ness > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 15:06

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I just took a look at the r1200rs and the r nine t. The rs looks about right.

Joel Ness > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/27/2015 at 15:07

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Thank you

bob and john > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 15:09

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the inerceptor is sold here as the VFR ...there is only the 800 now (yes, chain) but the slightly older, 1200 was shaft.

Joel Ness > Master Cylinder 10/27/2015 at 15:14

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Haven’t ridden a goldwing but I’ve ridden an older and new concours and a newer fjr and found them too big. I’ve test ridden triumph sprint st, didn’t like the ergos, an fz1 (balls to the wall mental fast) but need something with more wind protection and a shaft drive, vfr800 (didnt like the lack of power), monster 1200 (naked=really wet in rain), r1200r (naked bike), aprillia v4 r aprc (half naked but crucially chain drive), hyper and multistrata, didn't like the height. I think that's about it.

Joel Ness > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 15:17

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I've looked into the 1200 and truth be told I haven't ridden it. Reviews seem solid but the engine wizardry puts me off a little (low rpm cylinder shutoff) but if I find one for a test ride ill give it a try.

Joel Ness > bob and john 10/27/2015 at 15:19

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Oh that's right, you're in Canada.

bob and john > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 15:20

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its also a honda man. if they know anything, its how to build an engine.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Joel Ness 10/27/2015 at 19:16

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If I’m honest, I’d get over that “Shaft drive is superior” stipulation, and fast.

brianbrannon > Joel Ness 10/28/2015 at 05:57

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Why don’t you just google shaft drive motorcycles?

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Joel Ness 10/31/2015 at 01:01

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Sounds like you are the right person for the new R1200RS.

More gizmos than you can shake a stick at... sporty, but tour-capable, and comfortable enough for big-mile days. Probably can fit removable case mounts.

The R1200R variant with the new water-cooled boxer is reportedly a bit of a sleeper, a better performer than it’s looks suggested.

There is the K1600GT, if you are looking for something with permanent bags, more power, and more gadgetry (Hossack/Duolever suspension, lean-steering-reactive headlight, etc...)

I like both, I just wish the R1200RS were a little less transformer-looking, and I wish there were a K1600R-Sport version, pared down from the touring GT/GTL.

An R1100S is a gorgeous bike, if only the tech of the new R1200RS was wrapped in such a nice form, and had the Hossack/Duolever front end...