Touring on the S10

[MattR]

Thanks for the replies. I think I’ll stick to the ZX14R for this trip. It’s done it many times before and I can clock up 500 miles per day with ease. It also does 42mpg no matter what speed or weight I’m carrying. To me, the S10 motor doesn’t feel happy at higher revs but that’s probably because I’m used to inline fours. The only thing that the S10 has that would be an advantage is cruise control which the Zx14r doesn’t have. I also steer clear of gravel roads on the Zx14r due to the radiator being exposed to stones flicked up by the front wheel. I’ll be riding the length of the Pyrenees and coming back via the Picos. The Zx14r handles the twisty mountain roads brilliantly and only in the tightest of hairpins would the wide bars of the S10 be an advantage. But there again, there are many gravel roads in the Pyrenees that need exploring…..
I can’t make up my mind!

Zx14r
FAST!
Comfortable at sustained high speed
Crunches miles like no other
Great handling and brakes
Hard luggage
34k miles

S10
Cruise control
Comfortable
Soft luggage
More load carrying ability
Great brakes
OK handling
Can handle gravel
26k miles


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[StefanOnHisS10]

The S10 in my opinion. In this case it is about the destination (as what I read from you) and what you want to do there. And not about the journey to get there.

 

[hulkss]

Odd, I 've found it to be the opposite. She can do 100mph for hours . . . . but the mileage tells you she doesn't like it.

Aerodynamic drag goes up by speed^2. The power required to push the bike through the air goes up by speed^3. So, it takes eight times more power to push the bike through the air at 100 mph than at 50 mph.

 

[Sierra1]

And she is kinda brickish. The ZX-14R is the right tool for this job. . . . not the T-12.

 

[Cycledude]

Different bikes for different purposes

 

[Highwayman]

Good choice on picking the 14 for that trip if the 14 is bagged up.

Love my S10 and its always 1st choice outta my bikes for touring. Personally, yes I run 100 + regularly on my S10. IMHO its happy spot is 80 to 90. 100 and above Ive had some instances where it'd uncomfortably wander in winds too much and pretty easily. Not too mention it gets very thirsty at those speeds. Of course everyones is set up differently with tires, panniers set up and mods.

 

[Longdog Cymru]

For me, the ride is at least as important as the destination, so, although I have done 500+ miles a day many times, I found I miss so much, so my choice would be to take the S10, take time to chill and enjoy your surroundings.

A word of caution, if you are riding through France on your way to your destination, the French are becoming ever more strict on speed limits with a variety of forward facing and rearward facing speed cameras in use. As you know, the speed limit in France is either 130kph/83mph on privately owned Autoroutes and 110kph/68mph on duel carriageways with A and B roads having an 80kph/50mph limit and built up areas having a 50kph/30mph limit. All these are unless otherwise stated. I went through a few towns and villages last September with 20kph limits, so beware!

 

[Checkswrecks]

...A word of caution, if you are riding through France on your way to your destination, the French are becoming ever more strict on speed limits ..

Haven't been to Europe since 19.
I was always really careful in Switzerland but did notice France tightening between my visits.

 

[RCinNC]

Is it Switzerland that bases your speeding fine on a percentage of your annual income?

 

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

I would take the S10 for one reason, you won't know what it will do until you do it. Plus will give you more options as far as paved and dirt. Try it, you may like it. If not it will be a lesson learned.

 

[MattR]

Yep, my mind is made up. I’m going to take the S10 to see how it copes. I hope I don’t regret it. I’m going with a buddy who has a blackbird and an older XT750 and he will take his XT so we will be on comparable bikes.


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