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**The Monk** · 07-22-2017, 12:58 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Query Approved

Get the Versys 650 already

Perfect bang for buck, considering your requirements. Litre class bikes though more powerful are also more bulky and heavier. Which can substantially reduce the fun quotient when riding on broken roads, as touring often throws up.

**Rousha Rider** · 07-22-2017, 01:55 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by DukePete View Post

Hi guys,

I always wished of owning a big bike since my childhood and as I grew up, so did my experience with bikes.

My first long-term bike was Yamaha SZ-R which I rode for some 20k+ kms which included mostly commutes and a few rides to HP and Uttarakhand.

I upgraded to a Duke 390 three years back and have done about 30k kms including many long rides, Ladakh and Rajasthan State ride to name a few both of which were close to 3k kms each to and fro from my location, and countless more to nearby HP and UK locations.

However after 3 years of ownership of D390 and the kind of touring I do, I really feel like upgrading to a fully faired and super-comfy (read proper tourer) bike now, and a powerful one at that.

I'm very confused between Adventure Tourer and Sports Tourer categories.

The bikes I'm considering in both categories right now are Versys 650 and newly launched Ninja1000 SX respectively.

These two may just not be comparable in view of performance or price for that matter but I don't want to spend 10+ lakhs (if I have to) for an ADV tourer like Versys 1000 especially when things like Ninja 1000 SX exist now at mouth-watering prices of less than 10 lakhs ex-showroom.

My heart badly craves for a 4 cyl. inline but the super-comfy nature and equipment per cost of Versys 650 keeps pulling me towards itself.

Not that N1000 is supersport bad or something, but it can't beat the comfort of a Versys, it simply isn't made to in fact.

I'm 6' 4.5" and a Versys 650 makes perfect sense to me but this would be the last big bike I'll ever buy. The only downside of Versys 650 as I see is the engine which although is a gem, but still is a 2 Cyl. inline.

Please highlight any problems I could face in view of the aforementioned requirement/preferences considering accesories, services, maintenance costs, ergonomics and please suggest better options if any. The bike will be extensively used for very long rides (1000km+).

Please note that I rejected CBR650F in favor of Versys 650 already.

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If you are thinking of inline 4 then give it a try to baneli 600 gt.

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**DukePete** · 07-22-2017, 02:02 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

I tried benelli 600i in chandigarh, and though it sounds awesome, it just isn't tuned for low/mid range torque at all and hence it doesn't feel like 85bhp. GT is using the same engine tune and is heavier.

Plus the kind of handling/equipment/efficiency and most importantly fun factor Versys 650 has on offer, GT doesn't even come close. Correct me if I'm wrong.

And the hard-earned money that I'll buy the bike with, I'm not sure if I could go with the GT.

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**DukePete** · 07-22-2017, 02:11 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Query Approved

Get the Versys 650 already

Perfect bang for buck, considering your requirements. Litre class bikes though more powerful are also more bulky and heavier. Which can substantially reduce the fun quotient when riding on broken roads, as touring often throws up.

Hey Monk, thanks for the advice.
Though I feel like you're totally in coherence with what I ultimately want to accept, I was wondering if you could throw some PRAKASH on what kind of differences one should expect between a sports tourer and a road biased Adv. tourer.

The more I'm researching on sports tourers, the more this 4 cyl. growl is growing on me.

Also, can you suggest if N1000SX will fall short for me considering I'm almost 6'5" and my upper body isn't really proportional to my lower body length wise, my legs are kinda really long.

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**DukePete** · 07-22-2017, 02:19 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

The recent split of KAWASAKI from BAJAJ has really shaken up the Kawasaki owners (current and prospective).
They're now charging, as I discussed with Kawasaki Chandigarh Dealer, 1500/- per hour of service charges, consumables/spares extra.

This makes me think, will a Kwacker become expensive to maintain?!

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**The Monk** · 07-22-2017, 02:44 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by DukePete View Post

Hey Monk, thanks for the advice.
Though I feel like you're totally in coherence with what I ultimately want to accept, I was wondering if you could throw some PRAKASH on what kind of differences one should expect between a sports tourer and a road biased Adv. tourer.

The more I'm researching on sports tourers, the more this 4 cyl. growl is growing on me.

Also, can you suggest if N1000SX will fall short for me considering I'm almost 6'5" and my upper to lower body isn't really proportional length wise, my legs are kinda really long.

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If i were as tall as you, i would use an ADV to go buy vegetables as well

I am 'just' 5' 11" and most bikes feel tiny. I cannot even begin to imagine how terrible life would be for you. Check with owners of the Versys 650 on ownership costs.

But it should be cheaper than a 1000-1200cc ADV motorcycle.

**utk0212** · 07-23-2017, 04:04 AM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Definitely versys 650, it gives you the best of both worlds IMHO.

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**zestbiker** · 07-23-2017, 09:35 AM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

If you are not averse to buying used,for the price of a new Versys650,a lot of sparingly used Triumph 800 dualie models can be had-big rangie motorcycles which will fit you better than the V650

**riot** · 07-23-2017, 07:33 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Versys 650 is a great buy however, As you said this will be the last big bike you will be getting, I will strong recommend you to stretch up the budget a bit more and get Triumph Tiger 800. Its cheaper to maintain, is a better tourer and is more powerful. As you are tall and will be munching a lot of kms, it will be well worth the budget stretch.

Ninja 1000 is great, but for serious touring I will definitely recommend a adventure tourer over a sports tourer. You can take them anywhere without thinking twice.

Just dont get something that will leave you wanting more in just few months of ownership.

**krishna77** · 07-23-2017, 08:57 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Though not a fully faired one, Triumph Bonneville T100 is a good option for your requirements. Specially the riding posture and seat is great for long distance touring.

**DukePete** · 07-24-2017, 11:41 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by riot View Post

Versys 650 is a great buy however, As you said this will be the last big bike you will be getting, I will strong recommend you to stretch up the budget a bit more and get Triumph Tiger 800. Its cheaper to maintain, is a better tourer and is more powerful. As you are tall and will be munching a lot of kms, it will be well worth the budget stretch.

Ninja 1000 is great, but for serious touring I will definitely recommend a adventure tourer over a sports tourer. You can take them anywhere without thinking twice.

Just dont get something that will leave you wanting more in just few months of ownership.

Hey Riot,
Think of me as someone totally void of any info on a big bike maintenance. Can you please explain a bit how a Triumph Tiger 800 will be cheaper to maintain?

If you could use some numbers (approximate service costs, spares/consumable spares costs), it would be great.

Too much to ask, but do you know anybody who can tell me about current scenario of service costs for Versys 650? I heard they're charging on hourly basis for service time.

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**DukePete** · 07-24-2017, 11:47 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by zestbiker View Post

If you are not averse to buying used,for the price of a new Versys650,a lot of sparingly used Triumph 800 dualie models can be had-big rangie motorcycles which will fit you better than the V650

Thanks Zestbiker for the advice, off course buying second hand is a great option.
But I normally do not believe in reselling things I love (bikes almost top the list), and in such cases I've never been able to convince myself for a second hand purchase.

New is new, what say?

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**DukePete** · 07-24-2017, 11:54 PM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by riot View Post

Versys 650 is a great buy however, As you said this will be the last big bike you will be getting, I will strong recommend you to stretch up the budget a bit more and get Triumph Tiger 800. Its cheaper to maintain, is a better tourer and is more powerful. As you are tall and will be munching a lot of kms, it will be well worth the budget stretch.

Ninja 1000 is great, but for serious touring I will definitely recommend a adventure tourer over a sports tourer. You can take them anywhere without thinking twice.

Just dont get something that will leave you wanting more in just few months of ownership.

Actually, I thought about it already, and found that in the price of a Tiger 800, I can potentially buy a Versys 650 and a Ford Figo Sports Diesel too, which I crave for my love of 4 wheels, if I add a budget of say, 3-4 lakhs.
No doubt Tiger 800 has its advantages over a Versys 650, and can fill my soul with the charming 3 cyl intake growl too [emoji7], I think I need to give it a serious thought before I could favour the Tiger.

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**DukePete** · 07-25-2017, 12:14 AM

Re: Proper touring upgrade from Duke 390

Originally posted by krishna77 View Post

Though not a fully faired one, Triumph Bonneville T100 is a good option for your requirements. Specially the riding posture and seat is great for long distance touring.

Hey Krishna77,
You're right about the T100, its excellent in what it is.
However, like I said about my body structure and height, even a full blown supersports kinda windscreen will suffer big time providing me any save from windblast even if I totally lay down on the fuel tank [emoji14], the scenario is that bad.

While a low seat height might be a boon for some, its more than a curse to me [emoji28]. I really need something tall.

I could rest both my feet together on the ground sitting on the saddle of versys 650, with regular Puma sports shoes. Need I say more? [emoji4]

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