My better half would like to come on more trips out but has a bad back - so having a comfy seat is essential. She also struggles with pillion perches which have to much wind blast. Current Daytona 955 does not appeal! So I am thinking a flat seat best rather than the usual stepped variety, and wider for more cushioning. Add in a top box/back rest and she should be sorted. Which model offer these features best? Russ
tiger 1200 looks very comfortable, best bet is go and test ride some and when you've had your fun tell the missus you've short listed some and take her out
Depends on budget mate, the 1200 Tiger I tested back in the summer would be awesome 2 up machine albeit with a hefty price tag, back in the day I did a lot of miles 2 up on a Trident Sprint (1996 model) with full Givi luggage inc a back rest, my missus found it very comfy. She hated my Daytona 955 that I had a few years later.
Scotdoc. I think I would go for the Sprint st. There is seats galore for it. I would also fit a backbox with the pillion back pad on there. Just my thoughts. Ride Safe Joe.
Tiger 800 xrt does it for me. My wife enjoys the pillion ride on it too. She had stopped riding with me when I bought a tiger 1050 back in 2009. She didn't like the 865 efi Bonnie I had until recently either. Down side of my new found ( welcome ) pillion is that none of her riding gear fits any more. Its gonna get spendy come the spring. Btw, the 800 tiger has plenty of poke for 2 up and is easier to manage with a lower seat height than the 1200. Waaaay lighter too.
America. My missus loved it, and she has two slipped discs. Big comfy seat and rear rack / sissy bar are great. Did round Ireland tour, two up and all the luggage easily. Keep the Daytona for fun runs by yourself
Agree with you MrOrange. Great machine and low seat height. Just right if the back is playing up. And again every seat you can think of. Very laid back cruiser. But it no Daytona. Ride Free Joe.
Also done many miles 2 up with Givi luggage etc on my Trident 900 all over the UK and much of France with bits of Belgium and Switzerland thrown in for good measure. Spookily we also had a Daytona 955i for about 12 years (at the same time) which SWMBO was not as keen on but still enjoyed shorter trips on it. The old carb'd triples are good strong workhorses with added pleasure and are well worth considering if you want a good, strong two up long distance machine. AND they don't cost a fortune!! Look .......
The T100/T120 doesn't have the most comfortable seat for either solo or 2 up touring but alternative seats are available and look like they would make quite a difference. We just stop for a break a bit more often than we would on the Harley.
Some good recommendations already posted, but for me the Thunderbird LT is a fantastic x2 up touring machine. I have done many trips into europe and UK x2 up and have never had any complaints from my pilion passanger...... by far one of the best touring bikes for comfort on the market. Wessa
I've got a few bikes in the garage - mainly sports orientated because my wrists/back/knees still function pretty well! Budget not a huge pressure although I do baulk a bit when the price goes beyond £10k - plus I really feel there are so many great bikes from the recent past that still deserve to be on the road. Looking at both day trips and longer haul to Europe Needs a fairing, a reasonably compliant ride and a couple of hours before numb bum sets in. I am looking at other marques too for the right combination of features
ScotDoc You take any of your bikes photograph your seat and talk to R K LEIGHTON they will give you a seat to mimic an armchair. Ride Safe Joe
Now then young Ade ..... just to be a bit controversial about necessary power for touring, may I say that the first bike I did any 2 up touring on (Normandy and Brittany) was a 1972 Suzuki GT550J. A few years later we used a 1976 Kawasaki Z750 twin (Loire Valley and across to the Jura). A 1979 BMW R100RS was used for a trip to the Isle of Man for the Manx GP in 1980 and other long weekends away etc. None of these bikes produced more than 70bhp and were more than adequate for the job in hand. My Trident has never been lacking in power (around 100bhp - 98 claimed) and has been a great bike for touring on with the ability to run for long periods at around 90mph for miles on French autoroutes. Okay, I will concede quite happily that more power can be very welcome and we all have our ideal power level. But I'm not sure that much over 100bhp is that necessary. But then again, I am now an old fart, even if I wasn't way back when! Perhaps torque is more useful for touring? Anyroadup, whatever bike is used there is much fun and pleasure to be had from touring, and if you feel more power is needed, or you have too much, it's a good excuse for a new bike!! Just grab what you have and go for it!!! YEE HAA!!
