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Two-Up bike for USA trip Two-Up bike for USA trip
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  • 1 Post By John Ferris

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  #1  
Old 24 Oct 2016
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Two-Up bike for USA trip
In the early stages of planning a USA road trip two-up with the girlfriend. Trying to spend as little as possible on the bike so that the trip can be longer. Any suggestions on bikes capable of two up and powerful enough for this trip?

Won't be doing off-road, but hoping to avoid as many interstates as possible. We are starting in Vancouver, British Columbia, crossing into Washington and heading down to Pacific Coast highway then will make our way down and east.

Trip is planned to be about 30 days, camping along the way, a few cheap hotels/airbnb, tent space (advrider), and some family/friends' places.

There's an 80's yamaha virago 1100 in my area for pretty cheap. $2000 CAD. Not sure if that'd be capable for long distances and being loaded up... any thoughts?

Any cheap two-up favourites you guys have out there?
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Old 24 Oct 2016
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We did this last year (and next year!) and my wife had the final choice of what bike we used on the basis of how comfortable it was for her sat on the back for hours and hours. We did look at quite a few bikes (in dealers) that looked good on paper and were fine for the "driver" but had minimal pillion comfort built in. She vetoed the lot. On the basis of my past experience with uncomfortable (and eventually unhappy) pillion passengers I took this seriously.

In the end we went with a secondhand GoldWing as rear seats don't get much more pillion friendly than that and it worked fine (there wasn't a single complaint in 10k miles (NY-LA-NY)). OK, you might not want to struggle around the states on something heavy enough to leave grooves in the tarmac as you pass but my advice is not to dismiss pillion comfort and security as something secondary to looks, fuel economy, power, cost or whatever criteria you'd used for a solo bike.
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Old 24 Oct 2016
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I'll second the above comments. You can ride anything but the pillion will suffer much earlier. My wife and I have used rental bikes on a few trips, and smaller ( 125cc ) bikes don't have many comforts settings! It is possible to travel great distances but you must stop more regularly and after very short periods. On our Vstrom many hours or 300 miles is not an issue for either of us. On a YBR125 stops every 1hr reduced to 45mins then 30 mins, which is ok if you don't have to be anywhere at any given time. Some of the scooters have been quite comfy so they may be worth considering too. But if you can find a Vstrom 650 / 1000 for your budget that will serve you well, your pillion will be happy.
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Old 24 Oct 2016
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I don't think that the Virago 1100 seating position is good for touring.
Look for something with more upright seating. A VStrom would work better. Look at the maximum weight of the bike. You and the passenger with luggage thats a lot of weight. You want a bike over 1000 cc of a major brand that has good luggage made for that model.
Our first long trip was on a Honda 500-4. The second a Honda 750-4. The first cross country was on a BMW R80. Then we went to a BMW R100R and did 7 cross country trips on that.
We now have a BMW R1200GS. I prefer a bike without a big fairing, one with a small windshield. That saves on the total bike weight and you get more wind in the heat. You want a gas range of over 150 miles on a tank and a good aftermarket seat.
You have to have good riding gear for rain and cold weather and room to store it on the bike when its hot.
Don' go for the cheapest bike the does not fit you or might have maintenance problems.
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Old 24 Oct 2016
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for 2000 bucks I would look at an individual bike on its own merits, as in how buggered is it. Forget being picky about the model!!
eg I prefer a good kawasaki concours to a neglected harley...
IMHO anything large will do (you mention camping..)
Travel in the USA is so easy that any bike will do, specially if you think of their silly speed limits.
(PS interstate junctions are a good place to find cheap places to sleep)
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Old 25 Oct 2016
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Last year I bought a 2002 DL1000 Vstrom in LA. Paid a little bit more than your 2k budget. It ended up costing about 3.5k after registration and insurance etc.

We did about 10k miles touring around before putting it into storage at a friends place in LA. Heading back next week for a 3 week tour into Baja for the Baja 1000, then will head back in May for another 3 week tour.

Has been a great bike for 2 up touring. Comfortable powerful and reliable.

Can highly recommend the Vstrom ? When are you starting off? I will probably be selling it after our May 2017 trip and it will closer to your budget by then.

Has panniers, top box,gps, Crash bars and bash plate etc.
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