I didn't know you ride.
I've been riding for almost 40 years
Clarification. Even if I get a touring
bike I doubt I'll ride to Phoenix. Bob
Campbell's method would be more
to my liking. Trailer the bike to the
destination area and then ride all
over the place. My thought is to
get something more comfortable for
rides of 200 to maybe 500 miles.
The Burgman is immensely comfortable
and more thanb adequate for around
town riding, but it isn't quite right for
cutting across the state or riding
down to Ft. Lauderdale. Of course,
it could just be that I'm not particularly
proficient yet. We'll see how things
pan out over the next few months.
Honda Deauville would be a great next
bike for you but its not imported. Honda
Pacific Coast would also be a good
choice, but its been out of production
for 10 years, but at $3-4K a good buy...
Price isn't so much an issue as how
it rides. Also, top speed isn't very important
as long as it'll do highway speeds without
becoming too tiring (for machine or rider).
Either would be a good next step from
your Bergman but manageable. If you
want to go long distances, I suggest you
step up from the Bergman into a mid
size bike for a while. There are
differences that you should be comfortable
with before you move on to a large touring
bike.
That makes a lot of sense.
As for serious touring bikes, BMW, Wings,
and HD baggers are all very capable bikes
in a similar price range...
We looked at a Goldwing several years ago
and at the time I think it was ~$28K plus
custom stuff. I suppose they're in the mid
30's by now though I haven't really checked.
Lots of aftermarket support as well. Find
one that is a close fit and go with it. Plan
on doing some customizing such as seats,
and wind protection...
Yep. The first thing I did with the Burgman
was replace the windscreen with a larger
one. The OEM screen forced the wind
directly at the top of my helmet. It was
l-o-u-d. The new screen made it quieter and
not so rough returning home from parties on
chilly nights.
Bob Campbell built his own wind deflectors
for his bike. They looked pro and he says
they work well.
Another key concern would be if you are
solo or two up...
Local rides are often 2-up. Anything on the
highway and my sweetheart prefers to be
in a car. If we decide to do any cross-
country stuff it'll definitely involve a trailer.
My personal ride is a Concours, which is probably a bit tall for you...
IIRC, you're a good deal taller than me 5'10.
My wife rides a PC800. Were we riding
two up it would be a 1800 Wing.
For those interested in serious distance
riding, I recommend:
www.ironbutt.com
(work safe)
Neat. Added to favorites. :^)
--
Regards,
Robert L Bass
=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
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