Warning: this article is a duplicate of my personal article and you may have already read it. However, the administration said to do doubles, so I do them. Sorry.
In the motorcycle world, there are a lot of topics that are not covered for me, and one of them is “long-distance bikes” and the choice of a motorcycle for traveling. No, of course I know that they exist, they come in different types and so on, but, as always, I forgot that what may seem obvious to me is unknown, and what is more important is interesting to others.
Therefore, I am making a separate post dedicated to choosing a motorcycle for travel. It's no secret that you can travel on anything - if you have the desire. The Internet is full of impressive stories... so what, my friend and I went to the sea in the 1989 Cosmich. But we need motorcycles, this is a motorcycle resource =)
Traveling by motorcycle, what is it like? We will have to answer a number of questions to understand what we need, and the first of them is:
WHERE ARE YOU PLANNING TO TRAVEL BY MOTORCYCLE?
If the journey lasts without storming roadsides and ravines and the main thing that your motorcycle will tolerate is the smooth asphalt of Europe or the uneven asphalt of Russia, then you can safely set off on any motorcycle. Note that I mean roads specifically. Russia is a big country, but there are far fewer roads than off-road roads. But if we assume movement on federal highways, then there are no restrictions. If, for example, you are planning a motorcycle trip in Tajikistan along the Pamir Highway (there is no asphalt there in principle), then motorcycles like HONDA GOLD WING covered with plastic after a couple of falls on a grader will turn into a pitiful semblance of a motorcycle. Here you need a heavy or light enduro (for example, BMW R1200GSA). In general, modern heavy enduro bikes are the most popular among motorcycle travelers (especially Europeans) - it’s worth looking at motorcycle travel reports posted on the Internet.
On the left is a Honda Gold Wing (yes, he can do that), on the right is a BMW R1200GSA
(the author of the story does not encourage wheelie riding)
Conclusion: if the roads are normal, there are no restrictions. If you plan to travel country roads, it is more rational to take a motorcycle that has at least some off-road qualities.
HOW MUCH WILL THE MOTORCYCLE WEIGH?
Logical next question. You, plus luggage, plus your significant other... 150-200 kilograms? Add another 420 kg Gold Wing and it will be quite a significant weight. Yes, at speed any motorcycle handles acceptable (your humble servant drives an imposing 240 kg, but I tried driving 380 - the difference disappears after 10 km/h), but pushing such a weight with your legs can be very uncomfortable, and sand and even the slightest off-road can really ruin your vacation.
(yes, this guy did leave)
Conclusion: less weight means easier handling, but less load capacity and traction. Let the heaviest riders (hmm, it’s probably worth talking about the heavyweights too) ride on the highways, but saving every kilogram makes sense if you don’t have much strength or if the roads on the route will be infrequent.
Motor
The engine of the Indian Challenger is the first thing you need to pay attention to. Despite the fact that, to put it mildly, I dislike all motorcycles in this class, both because of the driving characteristics and because of other, so to speak, features, I really love V-Twins, and this engine is worthy of a minute of your time.
The Powerplus motor, new to the Challenger line, is in fact not new at all, but was developed for the liquidated Victory brand, namely the new generation Cross Country, which, alas, never saw the light of day.
This means that, in theory, it should be devoid of childhood ailments and not cause hemorrhoids to its owners, but this is not yet certain. So, POWERPLUS is a liquid-cooled V-Twin, displacing 1768 cc and producing 128 hp. and 178 Nm torque, fully available already at 3800 rpm.
These are the numbers, and they're the ones that will surprise you on the move, given that this thing has a curb weight of 377kg. really going.
Moreover, the Challenger rides by my standards, and my measuring cup is full of fierce hyper nakeds, big evil tourenduros, sportbikes and other really moving motorcycles, for every ruble, dollar, or whatever you have spent.
Yes, our copy was equipped with Stage 1, and these are exhaust tips, filter and firmware. This, of course, added to his agility, and in such a KTM 1190 Adventure spec with a passenger, it was almost impossible to get away from a large suitcase with wheels up to 180 km/h, but after... after - an electronic cut-off in 5th gear, which surprised me very much, because I feel like there’s still a very impressive stock there, and the sixth one is a gift...
HOW MANY DAYS WILL YOUR MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL LAST?
This question is important from the point of view of the amount of belongings carried with you. Almost all models of motorcycles are suitable for carrying a certain amount of luggage (although many have to choose between a passenger or luggage). But for multi-day trips, those motorcycles that are equipped with panniers - metal or plastic - are best suited. From experience, modern motorcycles for touring allow you to take with you the minimum set of things necessary for two people. A trunk is a motorcycle bag, provides fastening to a motorcycle, can be locked or not locked and can be made of leather, substitute, plastic, metal, combinations thereof, a canister or barrel, sheets and rivets, a suitcase on wheels... in a word, there are factory trunks and trunks with your own hands.
If desired, any luggage can be replaced with money, for which you will buy everything you need on the spot or on the way, but this will be... somewhat wasteful. Of course, people’s needs are very different, but keep in mind that things include a canister of oil, gasoline, a set of tools, a pump, a repair kit for wheels, possibly some other consumables or parts for a motorcycle, plus for each person a change of underwear, warm clothes, raincoat, minimum personal hygiene items. All of the above fits into 3 cases with a total capacity of 90 liters and there is still space left, but you will have to come to terms with the thought: traveling on a motorcycle = a minimum of things .
Conclusion : a trip for 1-2 nights at a hotel, a trip with tents for the same 1-2 nights and a trip for a couple of weeks at sea are 3 different trips that require different amounts of luggage. On the one hand, the more the better. On the other hand, larger is heavier and bulkier. But for me, if you are planning something further than 300 km one way and with a passenger, 3 panniers are a must.
By the way, there are trailers for motorcycles. They come on 1 axle, on 2, they differ in price tags and of course sizes... I would generally say that this is a separate topic, so I’ll give a couple of photos and that’s enough about it.
(I think that with a trailer it’s better to forget about off-roading, you guessed it without me)
WHO ARE YOU PLANNING TO TRAVEL WITH?
If you are traveling alone and you are comfortable sitting on a motorcycle for days, you can ride calmly. But if a “number two” is traveling with you, then riding some models of motorcycles can turn into sheer torture for the second crew member. Take a look at the rear seat and seating position of the number twos on sport or sport touring motorcycles. In a few days you may have to continue on your own. Think not only about yourself, but also about your other half.
The issue of the comfort of the fifth point has arisen in people's minds for many years. Specifically for motorcycles, the industry also has something to offer, mainly tied to the word “gel”. However, we must not forget about planting in general. If a cruiser allows you to stretch your legs, lounging almost like in a chair, a sports tourist may not allow this.
It should be noted that the degree of comfort of a sports tourist directly depends on how much sports there is and how much is tourists. And yes, driver comfort and passenger comfort are two different things.
Conclusion: for traveling together, it is worth paying more attention to quieter and heavier devices - they will give much more comfort to the passenger. Although the word “calm” is very relative - the same Gold Wing can accelerate over 200 km/h.
If you are traveling without a passenger, your choice is much wider and you are less limited.
ARE THERE SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE OR REPAIR FOR THE MOTORCYCLE?
Think in advance about how you can repair your motorcycle during the trip. Technology is technology, which means breakdowns can happen at any time. I don’t really know what to advise here. Newer technology is more reliable. But it is often more complicated. Cleaning the carburetor “in the field” is possible. What about the injector? In addition, there are more and less long-lived motors. However, all this is relevant when you have at least some repair skills and are trying to determine the boundaries of your knowledge. If you don’t know anything, the simplicity of the design will not help. There will be no conclusion, except perhaps one thing: timely maintenance and good service with a thorough inspection will completely help you identify problems in advance and avoid most of them.
HOW MUCH WILL A MOTORCYCLE CAN GO ON ONE TANK?
The question of what maximum distance a motorcycle can cover at one gas station rarely worries those for whom a bike is nothing more than a weekend pastime.
But for real hardcore motorcycle travelers, who are ready to cover more than a thousand kilometers in a day, the capacity of the fuel tank and the consumption per hundred sometimes become more important than the natural needs for food and water. In remote areas, where the distance between gas stations exceeds two hundred or even three hundred kilometers, fuel supply and its consumption can become a matter of life and death.
Meanwhile, many motorcycle manufacturers do not always provide customers with accurate data on how far a bike can travel on one tank of gas. This can be explained quite simply: the engine power, its torque, the carrying capacity of luggage cases and the capacity of the fuel tank are easy to calculate, but fuel consumption, and therefore the distance that can be covered without refueling, are individual factors that largely depend on the biker’s driving style . Therefore, motorcycle companies provide average fuel consumption data. However, the minimum consumption for a long-distance motorcycle is only one of two important components. The second is a spacious fuel tank.
It would seem: what is there to think? More capacity, less consumption - these are the key success factors. But you also need to stretch your legs, and lower consumption is usually associated with lower cubic capacity... which in turn complicates such banal things as staying ahead of passing traffic on the highway. And this can be really important, especially if you cannot normally get ahead of a truck traveling 90 and are forced to breathe its exhaust for kilometers.
Conclusion: if your route will often run along major highways, an autonomy of 250-300 kilometers will be enough for you. If you have to choose gas stations extremely pickily or there are none at all, a large tank and low consumption will be undoubted advantages.
Weight
As for weight, the lightest model is separated from the heaviest by “only” 48 kilograms. And the most elegant, oddly enough, turned out to be a six-cylinder BMW, dressed in light plastic, unlike Yamaha, which really wants to be a real American iron cruiser (remember that Star is an American line). Following BMW is Guzzi (360 kg), then Honda. The Road Glide (384kg) and Challenger (378kg) are among the heaviest bikes, with the Vaquero lurking between them at 383kg. Okay, let's be honest: usually weight does play a role, but in the case of cruisers it's far from the main thing. The most important thing for them is to look cool and take your breath away.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
To answer this question, we will have to decide on the direction of further searches. To do this, I will give the classification from which this post grew. Here you need to understand that the boundaries of the categories are very arbitrary and blurred, just like with cars and many other criteria. Moreover, motorcycles have such a confusing classification, in my opinion, because the categories have very blurry boundaries and there are no clear definitions. Just look at this horror:
However, there are also options “for the most indecisive”:
Meanwhile we will continue.
DOPs
Indian, just like HD, BMW, KTM and everyone else, plays LEGO. And believe me, even on a motorcycle for 3+ million rubles, you will very quickly find where to spend more... and more, and a little more.
You, like the owner of this particular motorcycle, will want a good sound and a little more response to the throttle, and this is +/- 150,000₽, then the sound will not be enough and you will need to retrofit the panniers, another +/- 200,000₽, then install heated grips , which are not in stock, and so on until the last page of the catalog of original accessories.
SO, WHAT IS SUITABLE FOR TOURISM?
LUXURY TOURERS
Jokingly called “half a car,” luxury tourers can outperform a whole car in terms of equipment.
Six-cylinder boxer engine, ventilated all-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, navigation system with voice command support, stereo system, separate four-channel amplifier 80 watts per channel with automatic volume control based on speed, heated leather seats, cruise control, ignition key with a microchip, airbag... Do you think this is a list of options for a luxury sedan? No. All this equipment is installed on the production Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.
Luxury tourers are a small elite class of motorcycles. The models of these “moto-limousines” produced over the past 30 years can be counted on one hand. They differ from their more modest motorcycle brethren in their noble origins. While sports-touring motorcycles (plump sportsbikes) fuss in the fight for despicable minutes on the way from city to city, and huge comfortable cruisers try to stun passers-by with a menacing roar of the exhaust (they are the descendants of the great Harley!), luxury tourers imitate everything ... cars, and not cheap ones at all. It’s not for nothing that they are jokingly called “halves of a car” or autocycles.
We must admit that this market is going through hard times right now. Low competition reduces development. But before, there were other models.
So that the post is of a reasonable size - just the title, a photo and maybe a couple of lines about the device. I don't know much myself =3
Kawasaki Voyager XII (1986-2003)
Suzuki Cavalcade(1985-1989)
Honda Gold Wing (1972 - present)
in various modifications from 1972 to the present, in fact, the first luxury tourer can be considered the modification of 1980
BMW K1200LT (1999-2010)
more recent modifications can more likely be attributed to sports tourists, although this one is not without fault
That's basically all. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I really don't see an alternative to the Gold Wing in the luxury tourer class. Maybe because such devices are no longer needed? I look at the market and see that any class can be “tourist” - even a cruiser, even a sport, even an enduro. There is no need to be tied to a class if you want to travel. So let's continue.
CRUISERS
While Honda is marking time with its Goldwing, the rest of the world has long recognized cruisers as having the right to be touring motorcycles. Heavy, high-torque - that’s basically all you need. Well, you can always buy all sorts of cup holders - like DLC in games.
Here you need to understand that if I start listing ALL cruisers that can be used as tourist ones, only the list will take up the remaining space. Because literally ANY cruiser can be adapted for travel. An example of this is my own Firetank. The previous owner simply put 2 huge side bags, footrests, a gel seat and a large windshield hood on it, and I added a rear bag:
However, there are also models that are ready to go on the autobahn straight from the factory. And the first of all are Harley & Davidson devices - where would we be without them? However, the Americans build a body kit around several basic frames, so there is no point in writing models here - the name depends on the body kit. Models are Road King, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Road Glide and others with combinations of these words:
As you can easily see, they have the same base. And when choosing a touring Harley... you choose a touring Harley. All. Yes, they have different faces and body kits, but by and large these devices behave and are equipped similarly. Not as powerful as Gold Wing, but there are enough goodies for you, for example, there is a music system here too. Just like the on-board computer.
However, you need to understand that Harleys take a slightly different approach to how the engine should behave. And if you are not ready for large vibrations at idle (which, by the way, disappear as soon as you press the gas a little) or do not like the signature Harley sound (which you can imitate with your mouth by repeating “potato-potato”), then this vehicle is not for you . By comparison, the Gold Wind's flat-six doesn't vibrate at all.
And the price, of course. This is Harley... Of course, it’s not only Harley that produces ready-made motorcycles.
Indian Chieftain
To sum it up with touring cruisers: most of the time you don't buy, but rather build a touring motorcycle based on a cruiser, adding exactly what you need to it.
Expressing the brief idea of a tourer, that is, a tourist cruiser: “get there with things and comfort, without losing the features of a cruiser”
BAGGERS
Since I talked about it there, I need to say a few words here too. So, a bagger is a motorcycle concept with large side bags but no central one. Strictly speaking, any motorcycle can become a bugger if it is sealed properly, but there are also factory versions. Such motorcycles are also suitable for travel, but I don’t see much point in singling them out.
Honda CTX1300
SPORTS TOURISTS
When talking about a sport-tourer, always remember: it is a compromise between the speed of a sportbike and the capacity and comfort of a touring motorcycle. A sports tourist looks at comfort differently than a tourer-cruiser, but he also has a different goal:
“get to the point quickly, but with things.”
... and in the first place - quickly, and in the second place are things or comfort. But we’ll start with the motorcycle closest to a luxury tourer:
BMW K 1600 GTL
BMW R 1200 RT
Yamaha FJR1300
moto guzzi norge 1200
Triumph trophy
Honda ST1300 Pan European
Honda VFR800
Strictly speaking, there is not enough tourism left in VyFeRe, but there is more than enough sports.
So, in theory, panniers can be attached to any sports motorcycle. Will this make it a tourist destination? No. A sport-tourist means not only high speed and luggage compartment, but also advanced wind protection, comfortable gadgets and a position that allows you to spend more time in the saddle than required for a circuit race.
And if you want to travel from Moscow to the Black Sea for the weekend... well, maybe this is what you need. Unless, of course, you are ready to break traffic rules, which I do not recommend =3
And we move on.
TURENDURO
“Everyone will ride enduro” © folk wisdom
Any traveler across the expanses of our vast homeland quickly comes to the conclusion that we have good roads mainly on federal highways, in regional centers and capitals. But what to do if the path lies where few tourists step? (deserted beach, resort village.. eh) We need transport that can handle both the road and the bad road. If such a vehicle had 4 wheels, it would be called a “SUV”. Among motorcycles, some representatives of tourenduro fall into this category.
In general, the tourenduro is positioned as an all-terrain motorcycle - not to be confused with an off-road one. Having less cross-country ability than its off-road brothers, the tourenduro develops greater speed on the highway, takes more luggage and provides a greater level of comfort.
As a result, touring enduros are a fusion of road motorcycle, touring motorcycle and off-road motorcycle. Moreover, the proportions of these 3 components may vary significantly among different manufacturers.
BMW r1200gsa
BMW F 800GS
Triumph Tiger Explorer
yamaha super tenere 1200
Yamaha XTZ 660 Tenere
Yamaha TDM 900
Honda Transalp 650
A slight digression is required here. There are both 600th and 700th models. Why 650? 600 cc Transalps are already quite old; it is very difficult to find a live machine in Russia. In turn, the 700 has tighter suspension compared to the 650, a smaller front wheel, etc. In general, the 700th Transalp loves good asphalt more than its 650cc predecessor.
Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin
Easy to operate, phenomenal reliability. Africa seems to have been created for our roads... and was discontinued in 2003 for the sake of a line of transalps. My conscience will not allow me not to mention it.
Honda CRF1000 Africa Twin
Last year we saw a renewed Africa. Whether she will be able to win her hearts is still a question.
Honda XL 1000V Varadero
KTM 1290 ADVENTURE
KTM 990 adventure
Kawasaki KLR650
A motorcycle that is knee-deep in the sea. The Kawasaki KLR650 touring enduro was originally created for traveling in difficult conditions - on off-road it behaves no worse than on the highway, and it can overcome water obstacles with equal ease, both on a bridge and ford. It can also set records for travel distance, although, to be honest, I don’t really want to go on a trip in the uncomfortable saddle of this bike with a rigid suspension. However, in terms of its parameters (consumption 4.3 liters per 100 km, tank capacity - 23 liters), it is also quite a tourist because without refueling it can travel about 530 kilometers, of course, if you drive on the highway.
In general, you can still type and type, so the last one is enough:
Suzuki DL 650 V-Storm
In general, there are a lot of questions about Suzuki V-Storm. Overall the bike is good, but there are some nuances. In terms of reliability, the Transalp is clearly better than the V-Storm, in terms of speed the TDM is better than the V-Storm, in terms of cross-country ability the KTM Adventure is better than the V-Storm, in terms of comfort the BMW F 800 GS is better than the V-Storm. So it turns out that it is not clear what this touring bike from Suzuki is good at.
Let's try to characterize the V-Storm 650 briefly. V-shaped 650 cc engine. A good engine, but still not a Transalp. Very noisy, compared to the Honda it's just a tractor. There are often stories about how, with short runs, the V-Storm’s gearbox begins to act up and neutral begins to disappear, but here, of course, everything depends on the quality of the oil and how much the motorcycle is “raped.” V-Storm alloy wheels are clearly a minus; tourenduros should have spoked wheels, if according to Feng Shui (if only because a light eight, as a logical consequence of off-road rides in the case of spoked wheels, is much easier to fix than casting).
But they say that the V-Storme has a very comfortable stock saddle and very good wind protection. So it turns out that the B-storm is generally a good enduro, but there is always a better option.
Specifications of INDIAN Challenger 2020
ENGINE TYPE PowerPlus engine, V-twin VOLUME 1768 cm³ CYLINDER DIAMETER / PISTON STROKE 108 x 96.5 mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.0:1 POWER 122 hp TORQUE 177 Nm TRANSMISSION GEARBOX TYPE Mechanical NUMBER OF GEARS 6 CLUTCH Multi-disc in oil bath ELECTRONICS ELECTRONICS SYSTEM Smart Lean Technology CORNERING (ANGULAR) ABS Yes TRACTION CONTROL Yes ENGINE OPERATING MODES Sport, Tour, Stand art CONTROL UNIT 5-axis IMU Bosch MULTIMEDIA Ride Command with 7″ touchscreen display, Bluetooth®, navigation and a full-fledged on-board computer TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS Yes WINDSHIELD Electric OPTICS LED BRAKES FRONT BRAKE Radial 4-piston Brembo calipers with 320 mm floating brake discs REAR BRAKE 2-piston Brembo caliper with 29 disc 8 mm SUSPENSION FORK TILT ANGLE 31° FRONT SUSPENSION 43 mm inverted fork REAR SUSPENSION FOX monoshock absorber with hydraulic adjustment DIMENSIONS LENGTH 2500 mm WIDTH 990.2 HEIGHT 1428.5 mm SEAT HEIGHT 672 mm DRY WEIGHT 361 CHARG LOADED MASS 377 FUEL TANK 22.7 l. VOLUME OF CASES 68 l. WHEELS FRONT WHEEL 19x3.5″ – Metzeler Cruisetec 130/60B19 66H REAR WHEEL 16x5″ – Metzeler Cruisetec 180/60R16 80H
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Indian Challenger American motorcycles Videos Inmoto test motorcycle reviews Tests and Reviews
RESULTS
Luxury tourers : maximum comfort and load capacity. They have no other interesting properties; traveling on good roads is their main specialization.
Tourer-cruisers : an add-on to a motorcycle originally intended for the highway in order to increase its carrying capacity. Not as stuffed as suites, but more individuality and style is preserved.
Sport Touring : An add-on to the sport to increase comfort and capacity without significantly sacrificing speed. One of the differences, besides the class of the motorcycle itself, is the wind protection of the legs, which is installed at the factory. It is an element of the body. This is also possible in cruisers, but only Harleys install any kind of protection from the factory..
Tourenduro : Mix of road/off-road/load capacity in various combinations. There are many options, you need to choose based on how much you need it, this off-road capability.
It turns out that touring motorcycles, for the most part, have evolved from specific classes (be it sport or enduro) and are intended primarily for those who want to maintain their style, but be able to travel. What advice can you give to someone choosing their first touring motorcycle? Think, go on test drives, look for the device that will satisfy most of the requests.
But the main thing is desire. There is no point in having a Gold Wing if all you need it for is to get to Smortovaya in Moscow and show off the light bulbs. There is no point in having a GS if it has never been driven off the road in its life. The main thing is desire, and needs will grow themselves - from experience.
NoAdO was with you. Not an expert, but he has sifted through a ton of information.
Technical data: 3027 words, 51 pictures.
And yes, I invite you to comment: for discussion.
Pendants
In terms of suspension, neither Harley nor Indian stand out in any way. The Harley has a 49mm fork and dual rear shocks, while the Indian has a 43mm inverter at the front and a monoshock at the rear. All the rest remain adherents of the genre: a simple telescopic fork and two shock absorbers at the rear. But - again - except BMW and Honda: the Bavarian has a Duolever front, and the Gold Wing has a double-wishbone independent front suspension. Considering their purpose as baggers - comfort on long hauls - one would think that any of these options would be better than a conventional fork.
However, in real life, regular sure bets turn out to be no worse. Although you can always tell by the sensations whether the front is equipped with a conventional telescopic fork (as an option - an inverted one) or some kind of exotic one, the good old classic quite copes with the tasks that face it - be it on the highway or on small asphalt paths.
But the rear suspensions are really different. On the one hand, a bagger is an American cruiser, and cruisers came out of hardtails. On the other hand, if you are a touring motorcycle, then why shouldn’t you provide the owner with some degree of comfort? But alas: cruisers are traditions. So the Harley comes in last place here with its 53mm of rear suspension travel. The rest of the baggers also have purely asphalt suspensions, but there are at least about a hundred millimeters, give or take. And again, BMW and Honda stand apart here - they didn’t even try to play American games and just made normal touring suspensions on their transcontinental touring motorcycles.
