Cruiser versus Touring bikes

Hey all, wanted to post something here that has me thinking a bit. I have an '85 XJ700 in excellent condition. A few scratches from the first owner, but I bought this bike in '86 with 1500 miles on it. It now has 12k on it and runs great still.

I'm with a woman now that has zero interest in learning to ride a motorcycle yet she LOVES to go with me where ever I want to go. She much prefers to be a passenger.

I have some sentimental attachments to my little cruiser but am seriously contemplating selling it to help save up for a 2001 or later Goldwing to go on some day trips around here in the pacific northwest. Am I crazy for thinking about selling this thing? I long for a much more comfortable bike that is a bit more stable on the interstate and will allow for further distances to be traveled without feeling beat up.

 

I wouldn't trade one for the other if you can save and have both, the problem I have (and it's not greed!!) is that your going to love a goldwing on the open road but it's going to suck everywhere else!! its a big, heavy tank of a bike that was never meant to ride back and forth to work or the mall or whatever short trips you make on an average sunny weekend but thats just my opinion
Shaun

 

I loved my Maxim... had it for 18 years. Never in the world did I think I wanted a touring bike with full fairing & bags. They were station wagons on 2 wheels.

But then I rode one.

Wow. I love my 1st Generation Venture. It's not a Goldwing, but similar, with much sportier handling. I can slalom pot holes (real or imaginary) at speeds as high or higher than I could on my Maxim, and in complete comfort. I ride it to work as often as I can, around town, or 3-4 hour tours. Next year, I am thinking of a week-long trip with it.

My wife & kids both love it as they have a full padded backrest integrated into the rear trunk. It has lot of lights on the back (aftermarket) which makes it highly visible. The addition of the intercom system makes 2-up riding more fun, and talking bike-to-bike is great too, if you have the radio.

My suggestion is go ride one.. see what you think. No one can tell you what you like, but I am definitely a convert.

Good luck !

 

I have a very similar story to Dave.

I see two drawbacks to the touring bikes around town:

1 - fuel mileage.

2 - Tourers are designed to protect you from the wind on an all day freeway ride. That means very little breeze around town.

What is nice about the tourers around town is they are much more visible and all that luggage comes in handy when your trip involves a stop at the store. Nice to be able to listen to the radio too.

I kept my Maxim for awhile but found I just didn't ride it very often.

 

I have a Seca and a Venture--- and I am still learning what the Venture is best for. I was lured into buying mine when I went on a group ride and had a great time. It is definitely a big comfortable bike-- with very different qualities than the Seca. I second Dave's recommendations and experience.

If your Maxim is running well, it would seem to be a great bike for shorter trips.

 

Keep the XJ and get the Gold Wing!

I sold my bobbed FX Super Glide when I started a family. After a few years (15) without a bike I picked up my Seca.

I like the Seca better But I am saving for Triumph's new Thunderbird. The Seca is just not the right bike for a weekend trip with the wife but I don't want to give up the XJ.

 

Keep the XJ. I don't think it is worth giving up for how much money you can get for it. I have the 08 C90 and it is a great bike for doing allot of riding which I do at times but would not think of taking it out just to take a quick ride to the store or short trip. These are two completely different bikes and designed to do different kinds of riding.

 

You want to buy a Goldwing for daytrips? That is alot of bike for that. Huge. Have you considered something smaller, sport tourer maybe? Have you taken a Goldwing for a ride yet. You may just realize its too much. I sure did. It does have all day comfort but so does a ST1300. Plenty of storage for daytrips but much lighter, more nimble, much more fun, good wind protection but not too much, and as far as I'm concerned, much cooler. There are many others, look beyound the GW, don't limit your options.

 

I would definately consider getting a Venture or even an FJR1300 if one became available in my price range. But I'd keep my Maxim.


Silverlake..........Is that the one near Everett?

 

Keep it! The proper number of bikes to own is 7! IMOOC

 

Wow! A lot of us here think along the same lines.

I wanted something a little bigger and newer for longer trips so I bought a 2000 Kaw Concours to go with my XJ.

Having both is great. One is for bopping around town and the other is for the longer drives. Plus, since the Kaw is "old school design" I can still work on it myself.

 

Another thing I'm wondering....how long have you been riding? Reason I ask: My Maxim is my first bike, and when I first started riding it almost three years ago I was nervous on the freeway as well. But I found that the longer I rode, the more used to it I became, and now I am much more confident on the slab than I once was. There is still a benefit to having a bigger ST bike on long trips, but I have been very happy on my 650 for day rides around here. If you've been riding for years you know what I'm talking about, but I just thought I'd toss that in in case it applies.

 

I don't think I could part with my XJ700.
I plan on getting something for longer trips with the wife
now that the kids are grown up and moved out....
But in the mean time, I have put a windshield, backrest/luggage rack,
and saddle bags on. I am also going to purchase a luggage system to
mount behind the backrest on the luggage rack.