I have been umming and ahing about my best options for long distance touring lately because my current 3 bikes are not really built for long journeys, they have no luggage capacity and are also too uncomfortable for more that just a day out.
I nearly bought a new Tiger 1200 GT Pro but could not justify the £18K price tag and I think a Sports Tourer would be better for me than an adventure bike anyway.
I am 6ft with long legs (steady now!) so I need a higher comfort seat to prevent cramping.
What would you consider (Triumph or otherwise) in the region of £5K second hand?
I had an R100s in the 80’s when i was regularly going home to Ballyfermot every weekend, brilliant bike but they’ve all been café racered by hipsters by now. The R1100/1200s are ugly but very capable and easy to work on.
+1 for the SprintST 1050, I had one for 5 years, good OE luggage if a little restricted on capacity. SWMBO liked the pillion, quite high compared to rider so good forward vision. Go for a later steel tank version ('08> I think), a few bugs were fixed by then.
And if you do buy a Sprint, get a red one. Apart from being the fastest colour, I have a Bagster tank jacket for one, complete with clips for a tank bag…
And, by the way, either of those bikes completely outclasses a VFR of any stripe, whatever Hondaistas may try to tell you.
Other big sports tourer I’ve owned was a ZZR1200. Had it sixteen years. A sofa with a rocket engine strapped on. Big, ugly but brilliant on juice, regularly was doing 200+ miles between stops, comfy, very easy to cover distance quickly.
The sprint St 1050 is ok, but if you want something a bit higher I’d look for an africa twin.
My Sprint St is fantastic on motorways, but despite bar risers, could be more confortable.
And it’s not the best for the pilon. (I bought an old Goldwing 1200 for madame)