Best touring bike?

[all sorts]

Well the thought of a shaft driven bike hadn't even crossed my mind.
I guess that's pretty obvious why its better than a chain.

[The Stig]

Having never ridden ethier bike I'm about to comment on I know I'm trusting hearsay but heres my two pence anyhow

ST1300 & pans have both been used by the police for years so that in it's self has to count for a lot

£££'s have been spent on research before the police force even consider a model of bike
& one major point is comfort as these boys will spend up to 12-14 hours a day on them

Second is safety

Third is reliability

I don't think you'll go wrong with either bike

[lumberjack]

 for that money you could get a tidy zzr12, comfy all day, keep up with a new zzr14 to 120 , cruse all day 100 two up and very reliable, why look anywhere else  , and they tell me if you take your time 200 miles to a tank 

[ridgeback]

Police stopped using Pans some time ago!
Looks like the UK police have pulled all the police spec ST1300's off the road

To Quote

Police across the country have stopped using Honda Pan Europeans following safety recommendations by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The step comes after a coroner said at an inquest into the death of a police motorcyclist that Pan Europeans posed a “serious and continual” threat. PC David Shreeve lost control when his Pan European ST1300 developed a violent high-speed wobble, the inquest heard.

An ACPO spokesperson said on Monday: “Concerns raised by colleagues and a lack of confidence in the motorcycle means that as a precaution, and to safeguard the interests of all relevant parties, we have recommended a temporary withdrawal while we examine further evidence.”

The inquest in April heard that the problem affected only police versions of the bike, fitted with heavy communications and emergency equipment which alters the centre of gravity.

Dave Hancock, Honda’s technical development manager, said police-spec machines where “completely different to standard bikes.” He said: “They carry heavy equipment and have different suspension to cope.”

I agree with Lumberjack, ZZR 12 is a great tourer a bike with a lot of character, also you could put a Carb Blackbird on your list, smooth as cream engine, buy a nice one for £2k and a bit. Pistonheads seem to have a good selection of both bikes.

[Don]

Police stopped using Pans some time ago!
Looks like the UK police have pulled all the police spec ST1300's off the road

To Quote

Police across the country have stopped using Honda Pan Europeans following safety recommendations by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The step comes after a coroner said at an inquest into the death of a police motorcyclist that Pan Europeans posed a “serious and continual” threat. PC David Shreeve lost control when his Pan European ST1300 developed a violent high-speed wobble, the inquest heard.

An ACPO spokesperson said on Monday: “Concerns raised by colleagues and a lack of confidence in the motorcycle means that as a precaution, and to safeguard the interests of all relevant parties, we have recommended a temporary withdrawal while we examine further evidence.”

The inquest in April heard that the problem affected only police versions of the bike, fitted with heavy communications and emergency equipment which alters the centre of gravity.

Dave Hancock, Honda’s technical development manager, said police-spec machines where “completely different to standard bikes.” He said: “They carry heavy equipment and have different suspension to cope.”

I agree with Lumberjack, ZZR 12 is a great tourer a bike with a lot of character, also you could put a Carb Blackbird on your list, smooth as cream engine, buy a nice one for £2k and a bit. Pistonheads seem to have a good selection of both bikes.

Typical Police mentality, test a bike for months, ma be years decide that its the one to have and then add so much stuff that it alters the stability. My pan has been at and above these speeds and the stability and handling are as good as you can expect.
Maybe there's a lesson here, Don't think that you can alter a bike from the factory standard and expect it it perform as it should.

[trafford davies]

Some of my paramedic friends under very rapid , blues & twos runs say they have experienced  some wobbles but nothing to worry about they say.

As Captain Sensible I will not be attempting any such runs as I don't have class 1 qualifications.

[daveb]

have you looked on ex government vehicles web site, they have a Pan ST1300 and a BMW K1200GT

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login