Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes No true Triumph touring bike.

Just a question...has anyone that says a HD Road King or other HD touring ever rode one? I can cut tighter circles on my Street Glide than I ever could have imagined on my TBA. Also, if you ever ever go to a bike rodeo, just about all you will see is HD touring bikes because of their manuverability and cornering.
Just wondering,
Brian

shorter rake = better cornering and manuverability (HD touring 26 degrees)
longer rake = better straight line stabiity (TBA 32 degrees)

I think they are talking more about high speed cornering than parking lot speeds like at a rodeo.

bdray, you can't leave out wheel base and weight in your turning equation (don't even say weight doesn't matter!!!). With that being said, I have ridden an FLH (RK shares the same frame) and was amazed at how well it did handle for its size! Makes me think my Triumph salesman is full of sh!t when he bashes HD's handling ability.

I, too, got the large touring fever but asked myself what kind of riding I do? Well, it sure ain't touring unless you count a 4 hour trip from home and back a tour or a weekend getaway a "tour" than maybe yes. "harley Davidson" from MUSA forums chimes in on this subject and brought me back to orbit. 99 percent of my riding is not considered touring so why should I fork out 18k for that 1 percent of my driving? Hmmmm....Ended my desire for a tourer. Now if you have the money to throw at a tourer, go for it!

If I ever decide to tour, I would def go with the Victory Kingpin over the Rk or FLH because it handles better and has much more horsepower stock without dropping 1.5k into a stage1 kit. I test rode a FLH and Victory back to back and was amazed at how much better the Victory felt (subjective), the stock power of the bike (fact), the great braking power (objective), and overall better looks (subjective) of the Vic over the HD. I am NOT saying HD is a bad bike, they are GREAT bikes! Just telling you that my preference would be a vic over HD.

kevin...

kevin...
below is a good link discussing the test beteween and HD RK and a Yamaha. Good article. The feedback is pretty good from a die-hard HD enthusiast on HD touring bikes.

http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/default.aspx?f=43&m=291145

by the way, the streetglide is my favorite looking HD touring bike. I love the low look!

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can cut tighter circles on my Street Glide than I ever could have imagined on my TBA.

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That's because you're moving slower. You just think you're going fast because your little fringe things on your levers are flapping. I'll run circles around you in the twisties. Then wait for you to catch up. I love the Road Glide, but it's about #5 on my wish list.

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bike rodeo, just about all you will see is HD touring bikes because of their manuverability and cornering.

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That's because they handle well at walking speed. And HD riders are all that goes to rodeos, because everyone else is out riding their motorcycles.

Just let me know if you ever make it to Kansas City, I would love to take you up on the twistie challange. Having ridden and owned both, I think you might be suprised.
Keep riding & be safe,
Brian

Yeah before I had my softtail and my TBS,I owned both a TBA and a HD Super Glide Sport.That was one HD that could out do my America in the twisties,I hate the fact that HD quit making the bike and sure wish I hadnt traded it for the softail I got....

Hey.. how come I didn't get to ride that one?

I have ridden quite a few Hardleys and haven't found one I would want to ride a long distance I would ride my SM anywhere and any distance. Ofcourse I am a guy who rode a hardtail chopper with long springer front end from NE PA to NE Wyoming and loved every second of it!! Well except the rainy spots LOL

Actually as far as I am concerned Hardley stopped making motorcycles after the shovelhead.

Brian,

In a couple of years I might be doing the same thing, except I plan to keeping the TBA. My wife had back surgery years ago and cannot ride on my bike more than 45 minutes without having to get off. The only bike thus far that she has been comfortable on has been a Honda Goldwing. Hopefully Triumph will come out with something similar to the Trophy 1200, otherwise I will be looking at a BMW R1200LT. I am not a big fan of the Goldwing.

Tom

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something similar to the Trophy 1200, otherwise I will be looking at a BMW R1200LT. I am not a big fan of the Goldwing.

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I will get a tour bike soon and have looked at the BMW LT. Sweet bike. I will get a high dollar tourer for my wife's comfort as she can't ride alone and I am pleased with my America. We looked at the Victory Kingpin Tour last week and love it. Before pulling the trigger on a BMW, we'll wait for the Victory Vision to arrive late this year. I too, am hoping Triumph will release another Trophy type tour bike during that time. For now, the BMW K1200LT leads the pack.

last year i had the same delima, and as luck would have it I found a great deal on a ST1300. It is comfy enough for 2-4 hour jaunts at a time and it is fairly nimble as well.

The wife likes it pretty well, however it took a little time and money to get it to fit me, peg-lowers, risers, and the heat off of the bike was an issue. had to modify the inner cowl and make blanking panels for the frame cuttouts. Seems to work really well.

But...it has no character....it is a good bike but that's it.

So I have been looking for alternatives I really like the BMW RT have you looked at it? The guys on the ST1300 site have said it is more nimble and more comfortable than most bikes they have riden.

And if you got the cash the K1200GT is way cool. Very configurable and that motor!

Might be the thing until Triumph comes up with there own version.


Johnny

Triumph really needs something... I rode a Sprint ST at the demos, GREAT bike, but WAY too sporty a riding position for me, and I imagine for a lot of real touring guys.

If you look at all the really great sport touring bikes out there, I think Triumph is really missing out. They dumped the Trophy just at the time that the sport touring market was really taking off. I think Triumph is picking it's battles and the sport touring market isn't one of them.

I agree on the Sprint, I like it, but the riding position is just too aggressive for me. I'd have to be 25 again to ride one of those for any length of time, and as much as I wish, that ain't gonna happen.

Cody

Looked at the Victory touring bike today at a bike show. Just really a Kingpin bagger. Stretched out with boards, belt drive, 100 horses. Yep, I liked it as baggers go.

Yamaha (Star) Strataliner was there too. OH MY! what a bike! I loved it. Simply eye candy with quick release components to turn it back into a motorcycle for local driving.

Thanks Grump, You will be able to recognize me this summer. I'll be the one on the Road King with the Triumph patch on my leather jacket. Jerry

We looked at the Victory Kingpin Tour last week. Sweet tourer. After looking at the upcoming Victory Vision, we've decided to wait for it instead of getting a BMW/GoldWing now. Maybe Triumph will get serious about touring in that time. We plan on riding 500-700 miles a day at times and don't want to do it on a Sprint ST or America. The Vision is supposed to compete directly with the GoldWing, so we'll wait and see. I feel like I'm being a bit anal about my selection, but this may be my last touring bike selection. Of course a T100 may be in my future. The Victory Kingpin Tour at #18,500 is definitely an option. I still must question the long term quality of the Victory line since they're made by Polaris - the bottom of the barrel ATV maker.