| When you think of big touring motorcycles, do the | | | | than I suggest you add at least a windshield to your |
| big Harley Davidson cruisers easily come to mind? Or, | | | | ideal tourer. If you've ever put more than a couple of |
| does a big Honda Gold Wing with all of the doo-dads, | | | | hours in the saddle, then you know the fatigue a |
| lights and a trailer on the back make you think, "now, | | | | constant barrage of wind in the face will provide. |
| THAT'S a touring bike!" If either of these big bikes | | | | Are you a long-distance rider, or more of an |
| comes to mind, then you're not alone. But, are these | | | | around-town person? If you go the distance, better |
| two big touring bikes the last word on touring | | | | make a good riding posture a priority for your touring |
| motorcycles? | | | | motorcycle. Some of the sit-upright bikes can prove |
| Some motorcycle riders have to have a full fairing | | | | tiresome on the highway as you hold on for dear life |
| and windshield, while others insist upon a face full of | | | | with an 80 mph wind constantly battering your chest. |
| pure air hitting their helmet at 80 miles per hour, no | | | | I always thought the BMW with its slightly forward |
| fairing and leather saddlebags holding a change of | | | | sitting position as superbly comfortable. I would think |
| clothes and lunch. This can be a touring bike as well, | | | | that a crotch rocket could prove tiresome on long |
| but probably is not one that easily comes to mind. | | | | rides - no? |
| Surely, there's got to be some middle ground - right? | | | | If you do most of your riding in town, then real |
| To me, the truth surely does lie in the middle, as any | | | | comfort may not matter much. Without the wind |
| motorcycle can be an ideal touring bike - your ideal | | | | pushing against your chest, a big cruiser Harley |
| touring bike. For me, I've had at least three ideal | | | | Davidson's upright posture is probably real nice - and |
| touring bikes - motorcycles that I put a lot of miles | | | | it looks great. |
| on through the years. The first one was a Honda 350 | | | | Do you like to ride in cooler weather? As I |
| twin. You may snicker a bit, but to a young man on | | | | discovered, completely open motorcycles (those |
| his first motorcycle, it was truly great. | | | | without fairings or windshields) can be downright |
| Then came the Triumph Bonneville 650. Now, that | | | | miserable in cool or wet weather. These motorcycles |
| was a great touring bike - as long as you didn't need | | | | offer no protection, so at speed your body will take |
| to see how fast you were going, as that British twin | | | | the full brunt of whatever weather you have. I |
| engine vibrated so heavily at speed that the | | | | remember riding for over three hours on a cold, wet |
| speedometer was virtually useless. But, it looked | | | | Spring afternoon. I was soaked to the bone, and |
| great, was very reliable, handled well and was a great | | | | when I tried to dismount the bike, my muscles were |
| touring motorcycle to me. | | | | so cold that I fell right over! |
| Now, your turn. What do you think makes a great | | | | How about handling? Do you like to ride in a straight |
| touring bike? Do you ride alone, or do you usually | | | | line, mostly on the highway, or do you like to hit the |
| have your wife or girlfriend on the back (but not | | | | curvy portions of the road? That's called handling, and |
| both at the same time)? I always rode alone, but if | | | | some of the big, low-slung cruiser bikes can be |
| you ride tandem, you will need a motorcycle with | | | | absolute elephants on roller skates in the twisties. For |
| some power for two-up riding. Probably something on | | | | me, I like my motorcycle to be a "handler." I like to |
| the 750cc + range would provide the power you | | | | ride the curvy secondary country roads more than |
| need. Plus, two will need to haul twice as much stuff, | | | | interstate highway jogs. But that's just me - some |
| so better add some type of motorcycle saddlebag | | | | folks really like the straight-ahead cruising, and they |
| to your ideal touring motorcycle. | | | | may get nervous and uncomfortable in the twisties. |
| Are you a wind-in-the face person? Then you'll | | | | You see, there are many different definitions of the |
| probably want to avoid a fairing or a windshield. One | | | | best touring bike - have you decided which |
| word of warning here - if you like to ride any | | | | motorcycle is your best touring bike? |
| distance at all (beyond an hour or two in the saddle), | | | | |