Planning for second hand bike for touring only

I am having a caliber 115 for past 5 years, and couldn't be more happy with it. However, on long tours, it is bit tiring for me as well as the bike, to struggle it on ghats/straights. Previously I used to tour alone, then it was great, but now with a pillion, the pickup is not that good on ghats etc. But in city, it's great. Therefore, I am planning my expenses so that I'll be able to buy a bike in early 2009.

I want a bike for solely touring purpose. I will take it out once or twice a week, and it will be for a ride ranging from 25-200 kms. Don't want to sell my caliber115, as the resale value will be very less, and it's absolutely trouble free. Also don't want to give up that 60kmpl city mileage.

I am thinking of buying a second hand bike, either a karizma or a p220/180 (not 200, sitting is not to my liking). As the usage is solely for fun purpose, I am not willing to put 70-80k on a new bike. I am thinking to buy something of the tune of 40k, give n take a few grands. Which year model can I expect in this range?

I was also thinking about bullet, but from many people I heard that the maintenance is bit too much, so it may not be what I need. I would request some views on these points.

Okay,

If somebody wants to keep the bike for their next generation and the next generation, please go for bulls. And please properly maintain it to keep for the next generations.

And if somebody wants to use the bike for 5-6 years (which is reliable for at least 5 years, has good looks, that goes faster, has comfy seat, relaxed and refined engine (no annoying noise at night))and then go to its successor with new technology (which makes it more reliable and enjoyable with very less maintenance) after that, please go for the so called Karizma.

No offences to anybody. Just pun intended. So, the point here is, if somebody likes bull, go for bull. If somebody likes a zma, go for a Karizma, or p220, or P200, or a uni. To ride a bull, you need special character and stamina and special love towards it; in these cases, the obvious choice is a Bull.

+1 to Ravi...

To be honest the P-180 classic that you have is a nice one for touring. If you really intend to buy another bike, use it for other activities (apart from touring).

I'm not going to favour any bike here, but you might want to consider some points before you choose a bike:

1. You might have to transport your bike in trains, trucks at times. And plastics will not be the same after that.
2. There could be chance of some problems while on tour. You must either be very familiar with your bike, or have a bike such that mechanics around are familiar with it. Also, some spares must be easy to acquire. So, if some ubercool FI bike breaks down for a very technical reason, you'll be stumped and you'll have to rely on point-1.
3. If you are really going to tour hard you should think about consumables and fuel economy. Tires, brake pads, mileage etc. These are costs you'll have to bear as you ride. Hint: there are some bikes (similar bikes) where cost comparison for the same parts between manufacturers for those bikes is 5:1 or even 10:1.
4. You need a well built bike. Need not be all metal, but should not be all plastic either. Consider this point from the case where your bike falls, what all could break, bend. How bad a fall can a bike take and how much would you have to spend to mend it back.
5. A nice big fuel tank, comfort while carrying luggage and some decent ground clearance is desirable.

Besides you can always mod your existing bike and make it slightly more tour friendly. Simple things like a softer seat, better lights, better grips, better foot pegs etc can make a lot of difference.

Hello?No need to get arrogant right? I am not forcing some shit into anyone's mouth JFYI.this thread is about a cruiser bike rather than a 120mph racing bike?ring bells?Hence I suggested Bullet after thoroughly knowing the merits and demerits.also ,agreed Bullet is a old machine.bullets are reliable and sure needs more care.but bullets are not as bad as portrayed elsewhere!post 2000 bulls are supposed to be less problematic!

I am not talking about Bullet Std.times had changed dear -there is Electra,Tbird(UCE) etc if you care to know.lastly ,but not all are into street racing with their bikes
and reg ZMA and HH - I never said they are not reliable etc etc.but the reality ,if you agree or not -is HH got problems with ZMA spares distribution.and no crapping OT in the thread will help cover it up.
and where I live if you think is so rural(40kms from cochin in MC road -is that rural?got most car dealers also here -considering you are from kerala) ,they got 4 or 5 service centres(with 2 authorised sales-spares point).even if you inquire with focus or MS&S Kochi ,they will report about scarcity of parts esp of ZMA.

Bambayy or Dehli will not represent all india status regarding spares availability !and HH is not a maruti dear anoopi ! HH is like Indica(where you have to order OEM parts from metro cities) here while Bajaj is the maruti! spares available -no problemo!

Hey Prakash! Chill dude. Nobody is saying that Bullet is not a tourer. It is also a best tourer and it is the choice of the buyer. I have seen only people who have a special love for it buying them.

Also, a bullet-lover never asks for anybody's suggestion in buying.

I beg differ that HH is Indica. HH is like Maruti (Maruti uses Suzuki's technology and Hero uses HOnda's technology). Bajaj is the Tata here.

For me Bullets... Yuck

I vote for ZMA for touring

no problem.I agrees Bullet needs some one who really wants to keep it.but then -the title is about cruisers.right?
@ravi: I said that reg the spares the comparisons with indica .
Dont know much.but ZMA's are not that common as p200s or p220s here.

220 ? maybe not .....

I'll just talk about the 220 here as a touring bike.

The bike might be great for touring as it has good headlight , good brakes , great fuel economy and Fi (read great pickup) which helps in avoiding frequent gear shifts and provides great ease in overtaking.

The negatives count for any rides > 500 kms a day. That'll include uncomfortable seats , hard rear suspension and "too" sporty seating position for a tourer which makes you tired for any 500-600km a day touring.

Of late, the sales of Zma have picked up really well. Now, everywhere I see karizmas. In my colony I used to see only around 4 bikes one year back, now I am seeing almost 15 karizmas. The other day, when I went to Parsads Imax, in the parking lot I noticed many karizmas, and just like that I counted. I found 45 karizmas.

I have never faced any problem with the spares till now. I never waited for any spare part. In fact, the spares are available more now because of the increase in sales.

On the same note, getting spares for a P200 and P220 is really a pain here. I have here two xbhp mate with two P200s and one p220. They always curse the Bajaj when comes to the spares and service.

historically ,bajaj is easier to get spares .but what you said will be true elsewhere except kerala.people are locked into bajaj pulsars ,I think .they dont want choices?just different pulsars.else unicorns or apache's.

I guess pulsar 150 ,200 is common(180 is not available here when I last inquired bajaj dealer).220 is college favourite followed by ZMA's.and I joined the forum when had a p180 dts-i .and I like to travel once in a while around 200kms.here pulsars are PITA to be exact .turned to bullets after 8 years(used bull std briefly during 98-99).

What is the usual ZMA mileage?

~40-45 in city and 35-40 on the leh ride.

I've wondered about this many times - I own a zma and personally I missed the huge amounts of torque that a bullet has (esp. on the hills).

However

For each of the 8 days we rode, I never even had to worry about the condition of the zma. Got ready in the morning, put the choke and she started with the first press of the starter. Warm up of 2-3 min and away we went on the day's journey. This was the routine day after day in that grueling terrain.

My question to the bullet owners - Can a bullet do that?

I'm not tryin to put down the bullet here, but If I can convince myself that the bullet can be so reliable, I'm ready to swap my zma for a bullet for touring.

This post of mine was added to this thread, but it was bit behind, so maybe it got ignored. Can the members give views on these points?

@ Animeher : As per your requirements and the the budget available....!! You would be able to get a good 180....say of '06 make or may b a '07 make(very rare u wud be able to find ) also...

But, in the current scenario...the ZMA is considered to be the best touring option bike....now coming to the budget thing....for 40K you would be able to get a '05 ZMA only...even a '06 one would cost you close to around 47-50K....!!

And, for the 220s....as they are only approx. 1.5 years old....so their resale value would be above 60K for sure..!! you wont get a 220 for below this...

Note: All figures mentioned for 2nd hand bikes...!!