[chevybill]

Asking for opinions and life experiences etc.
I currently ride a 750 aero, roads in my area are very rough and broken up chip and seal pavement. I am considering another bike and comfort is of concern since I commute to work on my bike (90 miles round trip) and kind of feeling beat up after arriving to work.

Do larger bikes ride better over rough roads?

I suspect the touring bikes provide the best ride, however, lets hear the real life experiences.:mrgreen:

 

[cshaw07]

i personally just suck it up. after a couple of weeks of 1500-2000 miles a week, you'll have an iron ass. I'm ordering a new rear tire again, already...

 

[TenDollarBill]

With that kind of road surface you might want to try an Adventure Touring style of bike. I don't have any experience with them, so can't recommend any particular one

 

[Registered Coonass]

Opinions on comfort are so subjective to the rider.

I ride the 750 Aero as well and I feel it is very comfortable.
The roads I travel are bad too.
Especially the road that I live on.
Its the worst!!!!
But you learn the roads and the spots that cause distress and keep going.

But everyone will have differing opinions.

I knew a guy who told me once that he thought a crotch-rocket was the most comfortable bike. Said on the long haul, he prefers that style bike.

I shot him in the face.
With a gun....

He has no opinion now.

 

[cshaw07]

I knew a guy who told me once that he thought a crotch-rocket was the most comfortable bike. Said on the long haul, he prefers that style bike.

I shot him in the face.
With a gun....

He has no opinion now.

LOL literally LOL

 

[LadyBurg]

Our sport tourers are very comfortable. My RT is under 600lbs, so probably not a huge amount heavier than an Aero but the suspension is FAR better.
I upgraded the suspension on my Bonneville but it still can't compare to the tourers.

 

[CSRoad]

For my similarly sized ACE which was plain nasty on rough or cracked roads a switch to Progressive Suspension springs in the forks with a change in fluid made a huge difference in both comfort and control. My butt also likes the comfort of the Mustang seat.

 

[gdb069]

I find my 750 rides better over gravel roads. I think its the weight and ride height difference as my 1100 is higher and a bit heavier. On broken pavement they are about the same and I think the factor may be wheelbase.

G.

 

[Hondaguy]

Light bikes better on dirt.....VStrom is a great multi terrain bike.

 

[thunderglass]

Size matters. Get a Goldwing.

 

[SWOCS]

Take a Pinto and a Cadillac and see which one is more comfortable on the open road. More reasonably, compare a small pick-up (S-10, Ranger, Tacoma) with a full sized 1/2 ton. 750's can be used as distance commuters but that doesn't mean they should; kind of like fat people and spandex! Heavier cruisers with longer wheel bases absorb more of the roads roughness. Suspension mods might help but can't completely overcome engineering. Someone mentioned ADV touring bikes. I recently transitioned from an H/D Road Glide to a KTM 1190 Adventure and I feel the KTM absorbs rough road conditions as well as the heavier cruiser. The 1190 is easier on the body and I believe it's due to the different ergonomic seating position, as well as state of the art suspension and engineering.

 

[Mark-B]

When I took the Big Vic' out for a test ride, the guy took me down this road with about 10 speed bumps on it.. Me? I stood up on my boards for speed bump one and two, the chaperone was sitting down, so I sat for the other 8.. I would have been bucked off the Aero at those speeds, the Vic was .. meh.. meh ..meh....

I thought my Aero was a great long distance machine.. And ..It is.. But if you are covering serious distance, there's definitely something to be said for more room found on a bigger bike, more weight, better suspension, cruise control and a plusher seat..

Having said that, a bigger bike can be a be-atch in traffic, so a person might be more comfortable on a smaller bike in town..

Depends what you are planning to do with the bike to a greater degree.. I sincerely Doubt My Lil' Vicky will be too comfortable on the trails after-all..

If your roads are just that bad and all you do is commute on a bike, an NC700X might be something you look at, a Triumph Tiger, BMW GS, KTM 1190, that kinda thing (Vstrom too ) .. With the right upgrades, those types of bikes would get it done to a more comfortable degree over a larger variety of surfaces..

 

[LadyBurg]

Having said that, a bigger bike can be a be-atch in traffic, so a person might be more comfortable on a smaller bike in town..

EXACTLY....my excuse for multiple bikes. :mrgreen:

 

[CrazyDave]

Never had much of an issue with the Sabre

 

[8675309]

I'd just move if I were you.

 

[chevybill]

Thanks to all for the responses.
Moving is not an option.
My short list is a vulcan voyager, HD road glide and possibly a gold wing.

 

[vito]

Thanks to all for the responses.
Moving is not an option.
My short list is a vulcan voyager, HD road glide and possibly a gold wing.

If you ride a lot on chip and oil sealed roads.....give that some consideration before hopping on a belt drive bike. One stone caught in the right spot can work its' way into the belt and open up a hole, and possibly chew up the rotors.

 

[Leathel]

/\ /\ The main breakdown we have on our rides are blown belts (or pulley once) as loose stones on our road is common..and so are blown belts. I would not own one here (lots do but I travel to many back roads)


I fitted new shocks to my Aero when it was my main ride and it was a huge improvement... although a mate has just got a little CB500fa and thinks its a great commute bike, his long range bike is a ST1300 and its not getting much use lately as the little CB is a great we bike

 

[Hondaguy]

If you ride a lot on chip and oil sealed roads.....give that some consideration before hopping on a belt drive bike. One stone caught in the right spot can work its' way into the belt and open up a hole, and possibly chew up the rotors.

Yeah I would agree. I would stay away from Harley unless you're going to buy a Sportster. That belt can replaced in 30 minutes. The big boys cost about 1200 dollars to replace a belt. Lots of stuff has to come off.

 

[h13man]

Thanks to all for the responses.
Moving is not an option.
My short list is a vulcan voyager, HD road glide and possibly a gold wing.

The Vulcan Voyager 1700 was my 1st, choice but none were available used at the time and my local shop owner said he knew where there was Valkyrie that was available and the rest is history. No Tupperware to remove like the GW to service! $5000-$6000 everyday. No nap needed after a 300 mi. Sunday ride like my 1100 Spirit.