Best touring bike up to 3k

[Kinioo]

Hi All,

Was thinking of what would you recommend as a best touring bike, must have / be:

- up to 3k (ideally less)
- comfy riding position,
- good wind protection '
- capable of two up plus luggage
- enough power to cruse on motorways
- reliable.

????

[joeymc]

there are many options, 3k could buy a decent second hand bike. a triumph tiger 995 for example,07 models are well within budget

[-Ralph-]

As said, loads of options, you need to narrow it down a bit TBH. What style are you after, Adventure, Street, Sports Tourer, Tourer?

[sprintster]

A 955 or 1050 Sprint ST ticks all the boxes you've asked for. (thumbs)

[Kinioo]

As said, loads of options, you need to narrow it down a bit TBH. What style are you after, Adventure, Street, Sports Tourer, Tourer?

Fair point,

Was thinking along the lines of XJR, BMW Rs, big bandit, big versys.

Don't like sports bikes due to riding position probably the sportiest I would go is VFR.

Don't like GSs either.

Chris

[Rederic]

The best touring bike I have had in that price range is without doubt, a ST1100 pan it's got everything you want and can be had for a lot less than three grand (thumbs)

[Dazzer]

BMW R1100RT

[skipper]

as rederic says- you can get an old pan for under £2k in great shape - fantastic touring bike.

[Godspeed]

Seen a few TDM900s for under 3k and they seem to get good reviews

[92kk k100lt 193214]

A few years back I was in the same dilemma.

My shopping list was Pan European, Gold Wing etc.

Someone persuaded me to try a BMW K100LT. Lets just say it was not on my list and there was nothing wrong with the others, especially the Pan. But I tried the K and immediately fell in love with it. And 6 years later wont go for anything else, bought a second one and done some serious miles with camping gear. I go through 2 sets of tyres a year through a lot of use and its a real mile muncher. If height is good enough you have a choice up to K100RT K100LT K1100LT and full weather protection is fantastic. Never had to use the rain suit. Motorway or back roads are fun because of huge torque. They are a bit of a Q bike, handle much better than you expect and very comfortable.

For your budget you will buy one for about half, spend part of the other half making it suit you and going through everything and you will have a bike that's also extremely comfortable for the pillion. Parts availability is brilliant and the quirks are well known. You can do a lot of your own maintenance, service parts are cheap and a surprising amount of stuff can be done with limited resources.

I found 2 up and gear on was incredible fun even off the motorway, especially up in Antrim! They will go all day on the motorway.

One word of advice, try out whatever you are after 2 up with whoever will be travelling pillion. You need the pillion to be comfortable and you need to feel the same confidence in the bike two up that you feel riding solo.

There was mention of a VFR [800?] my son has one and its okish for rider position but not for pillion. 4 x H7s give it good night lighting too. The weight difference between his VFR 800 and my K100RT is only 4 kilos, 249/253kg. K1100LT I think is about 293kg.

Last summer we had friends on a FJR........add it to your shopping list, it was very impressive and the FJR lady owner who travels Europe often 2 up also has a K100LT.