I’m looking into buying a motorcycle for transportation. I also need it to frquently travel between Texas and California and also Texas and Colorado when its warmer.
Presently I’m on a very tight budget though and can’t afford a large new touring bike. My last bike was a Honda Rebel, and it was great for getting around town and getting out a little ways from the city.
Ideally I’d like to buy something small like a Honda Nighthawk or a Honda Rebel because I could get one new for cheap and they have awesome mileage, but I’m afraid the small engine won’t stand up to prolonged driving.
A step up I would think maybe a Honda Shadow 750 or a Harey Sportster 883 likely late 90s or early 00’s.
Other than that I have the option to buy a 1989 Honda Goldwing, but would it be a safe investment to get a 20 year old bike?
Any advice on what bike I can look into for relatively cheap that is good for a lot of distance driving?
If you are primarily going to be doing lots of highway riding, invest in the best touring bike you can afford. If that isnt an option, go for the biggest, most comfortable cruiser you can afford. Mid 90’s goldwings, 1100 plus cc shadows are good, stay far away from the sportster or any harley for that matter, (too expensive and terrible reliablity). Your best bet is a Victory Kingpin, which you can pick up used for pretty cheap. Ive owned a shadow 600, harley vrod, harley fatboy, kawi ninja 250, kawi zx6r, and currently ride a Victory Kingpin. Victory makes the best highway motorcycles in the world. Thats my humble opinion. If you want further info on any of the bikes i mentioned email me at pyro8285@yahool.com
Jonathan | Nov 24, 2009
Goldwings last almost forever. Parts are readily available for them. I would stay away from the 883 as it while an okay bike, is not one that given the other list of bikes you are thinking about falls into "distance" type bikes-although there are plenty who ride them all over the place and have the numb hands, butts and shoulders to show for their efforts.
Goldwings are the touring standard. While I myself am not ready for the "lazy boy chair on 2 wheels", there are tons of people of all ages who love them.
The 750 Shadow is a good bike, if slightly underpowered for all day highway cruising. It is capable of 100 mph speeds, but it won’t feel as stable as the wing.
Jancie | Nov 24, 2009
Dude, Honda Goldwings are bullet proof! It might be 20 years old, but as long as it was well maintained, it should last a while. My friend, a motorcycle mechanic, has a Honda Superhawk with over 100K miles!!
You do NOT want another Rebel, and I would recommend avoiding Harleys due to reliability concerns (especially if you are on a budget…) I would also avoid cruisers for the most part – I have a Honda Shadow 1100, and it is great – but that seat starts hurting after just a couple of hours…with a custom saddle, you couyld ride longer, but that will set you back $300 easy…
So-Crates Resurrected AGAIN | Nov 24, 2009
Get a nice used bmw boxer for $2k and it will just keep going and going.
The 883 is worthless, butt jewlery for a sissies.
ninebadthings | Nov 24, 2009
bikes hurt your back because you don’t have anything to lean your back against. but if you can find a seat that slopes up the further back it goes and has a lot of patting for your twins you will be ok.
Any bike with a good seat will do but they are right. goldwings are like a car on wheels. and they age better then cars. If you cant get a goldwing find a cruiser with some power and get a nice seat for it.
I have an 88 zx10 with a nice seat. i can ride a couple of hundred miles easily with no pain however any more then that and i will ride a cruiser.
chuck | Nov 24, 2009
Daily transportation, highway capable, tight budget — you’re talking my ride! Suzuki LS650, Savage or S40 depending on year. Has been in continous production since 1986. It’s a 652cc single, only 50 pounds heavier than your old Rebel, about the same size physically. The big Thumper is wicked quick off the line, agile, a fantastic city bike. Here’s me on mine: http://jagerkin.110mb.com/
I’m an Angeleno, but as you can see, the bike made it to Texas while putting a grin on my face. Did Los Angeles to Amarillo in two 500+ mile days. Saddlebags are Leatherlyke brand — actually hard lockable cases. The green suitcase is a standard airline carry-on, with a bracket to slip over the sissybar — park, grab and go. Will do 65-75 all day and all night, tops out 85+. "Good" is relative, but you’ll be hard pushed to find anything that will do as much for cheaper.
Dimo J | Nov 24, 2009
If the Gold Wing has been cared for, that would be the best bike for your purpose.
bluff mike | Nov 24, 2009
The Honda Rebel is definitely too small for the long distance rides you are thinking about. Try shopping for a good used BMW. Their R-series horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ twin cylinder engines seem to last forever, and you can find them rangeing from 650 to 1200 cc for a fair price. The larger BMWs make excellent long-distance highway bikes, as they are exceptionally smooth and efficient at highway speeds.
Check out this one on eBay right now…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-BMW- R100RT-With-22-497-original-miles_W0QQit emZ190351358353QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_mot orcycles?hash=item2c51d33991
JetDoc | Nov 24, 2009
I recommend looking for a BMW that you could afford. They’re made specifically for what you want and the Boxer engine is time tested. I’ve known more people do the four corner run (San Diego, Key West, New York, Seattle and back) on variations of mid 80′’s boxers than any other bike. You may even find a good deal on one model in particular that has a 14 gln. tank. Go on the BMW mortorcycle site and you’ll find the link to the enthusiasts site. I’ve seen some boxers lately for about $4,000.
Enjoy whatever you get.
Sleepy | Nov 24, 2009
Don’t overlook the Kawasaki Voyager XII (12). They were in production for 19 years I think. They first came out in 1986, had some minor updates in ‘87 and pretty much stayed the same from there on out. Since they weren’t changed, you can still find parts stocked for even the oldest ones, something that can’t be said for some of the older 4 cylinder Gold Wings. The Voyagers are full dressers with fairing, bags, trunk, stereo and so on. They’re relatively light for a dresser, are pretty fast, get great gas mileage and are very reasonably priced.
bikinkawboy | Nov 24, 2009
You have a lot of choices.
Kawasaki Concours will give you tons of bang for the buck. Expensive to repair, buzzy.
Goldwings are reliable way past 20 years. Not much for gas mileage though 32-36 mpg
Yamaha Venture Royale if you can find one has the motor of a VMAX, detuned.
BMW Kseries, or Boxers any age will go forever. Great bikes if cared for,
And despite what some think. My Harley is 10 years old and has been
the most reliable bike I’ve ever had, including a string of Hondas, Yamahas and Kawis
Wait, my Z1-900 Kawi was very reliable and the Yamahas too.
Harley has way more fun factor though. Over 1 million owner group members can’t be all wrong.
Let the haters begin.
BL | Nov 24, 2009
For cross-country touring, you will need at least 650cc, preferably more. I am an old BMW rider, and would readily recommend a middle-aged airhead boxer. For $2500-5000, you can find one that still has 100,000 miles left in it. For purely paved road work, the K75 and K100 are also fairly economical. I prefer the 750 and 800cc boxers, and the 3-cylinder K75 over the K100.
For a bit more dough, the Kawasaki Concours has a huge following, and the Honda ST1100 is a brilliant touring bike for about $5000-7000 used.
If you are on a budget, you might consider a Honda CX500 (one exception to the 650cc rule) or the 650 Silver Wing, the old v-twin, not the scooter.
Stay away cruisers of any stripe, and do not ever consider a Sportster as a tourer.
Buster Brown | Nov 25, 2009
A new Honda CB250 Nighthawk would be ideal for touring on a budget! It runs 77mph, gets 85-90 mpg, and sells for $3699. With an aftermarket windshield, and rear carrier with a top case, or milk crate, it would really make you happy. I had a Honda CB360T that I put 42,000 miles on in just over two years, with no problems. If you learn to do your own maintenance.(oil changes,valve, and cam chain, adjustments.) you not only can save money, but extend the life of your bike.
gabe502000 | Nov 26, 2009
