Backroad Touring

[coyok]

Hi everyone!

This is to share views on my experience as C series owner. Basically, I come from sport bike and adventure/dual purpose bike for few years before enjoying my C600 sport since 2014. My reason to change was just getting bored to engage clutch and gear manually. For two years I really enjoyed this Maxi for the plus I gain like helmet and personal luggage storage, decent compartments for keeping knick knack, head light that come with LED and many more. But I find when come to back road, fire road, semi gravel which are few but quite long stretch at my place, this Maxi is somehow no match. That sometimes put me to think of getting another DP/Adv bike but I could not afford two bikes at one time. I really love this Maxi and wish to keep it for long time. So my options go like this:

1. Upgrade the rear and front suspension so I would brave through bumpy, semi gravel roads like R1200GS
2. Upgrade the seat to address the pain at the pelvic part during long distance ride

or I just to trade in the lovely c600 for any reliable DP/Adv bike which is quite hard for me

Appreciate views and advice from you all guys!
cheers!

 

[exavid]

I don't think it would be worth trying to upgrade any scooter's suspension for rough riding. For one thing the dual purpose bikes have quite a bit larger diameter wheels which makes a big difference. It's easier to engineer a chain or shaft driven bike to have more rear suspension travel and the longer front forks make for more travel on a motorcycle. When I set the monoshock on my GT for a softer ride I can't make the same speed in the twisties without dragging the center stand. The seat of your scooter would be the best place to improve the ride. I've had Corbin seats on a couple bikes I owned and find their usually quite a bit better than the OEM seats. Firm but comfortable.

 

[SteveADV]

Well, there is a reason BMW refers to the C bikes as UMVs. That doesn't mean some back road stuff can't be done. Where there's a will there's a way.....

(Not a Beemer but close enough) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ADlzuziODgw

 

[Snowdog]

Maybe Honda will make that adventure scooter concept I saw on the Adventure rider forum. I think Honda actually made a small dirt bike with a CVT in the eighties.

 

[Snowdog]

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/honda-–-new-urban-adventure-concept.1106312/

 

[exavid]

Well, there is a reason BMW refers to the C bikes as UMVs. That doesn't mean some back road stuff can't be done. Where there's a will there's a way.....

(Not a Beemer but close enough) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ADlzuziODgw

Actually my GT does well on dirt Forest Service and BLM roads in the mountains around here. Most of them are similar to the roads in the video but a bit wider and often rougher. Lots of pot holes, wash boarding and loose gravel. I don't push it on the roughest of the roads but enough to know the GT handles gravel and dirt pretty well.

 

[JaimeC]

There is a reason hard core dirt bikes have 19 and even 21 inch front wheels. No matter what you do to a scooter, those smaller wheels will never give you the same kind of confidence in the dirt that a proper off-road bike gives you. That, and the CVT really doesn't do well in the soft, slippery stuff either. The tendency is for the driving wheel to just suddenly spin up once the traction goes down and you can't control that with the throttle like you can with a conventional transmission.

 

[coyok]

Hi guys!
It seems that CVT type is just as it is and not meant for rough riding. Nevertheless, scooter still can take rough ride with proper techniques but couldn't expect it to behave exactly like DP/adv bike. All these somehow suggest to me personally that i need proper bike for the type of ride i am looking for. Nice video and views anyway. Thanks.

 

[JaimeC]

By the way, your definition of "Backroad Touring" is my definition of "Offroad Touring." To me, a backroad is PAVED... just off the beaten path. Those lovely little two-laners that wander through the countryside through quaint little villages. That's MY idea of "Backroad Touring."

For THAT kind of "Backroad Touring," my C650GT is just PERFECT.

 

[SteveADV]

.... I don't push it on the roughest of the roads but enough to know the GT handles gravel and dirt pretty well.

Requires a different (or rather an additional) skill set. Some of my best drops have been on gravel and dirt.

 

[Snowdog]

By the way, your definition of "Backroad Touring" is my definition of "Offroad Touring." To me, a backroad is PAVED... just off the beaten path. Those lovely little two-laners that wander through the countryside through quaint little villages. That's MY idea of "Backroad Touring."

For THAT kind of "Backroad Touring," my C650GT is just PERFECT.

Jamie,
You live on long island where almost everything is paved, a lot of areas of this country the main roads are paved and the back roads are dirt. I live thirty miles outside of Boston and there are still dirt roads around. Dirt roads are usually the prettiest ones to travel.

 

[JaimeC]

The unpaved roads on Long Island tend to be SAND. Been there, done that, would prefer NEVER to do that again.

http://www.nassauwings.org/photos/2016/0228_Cook_Room_Ride/0228_15_NoyacPath.jpg
http://www.nassauwings.org/photos/2016/0228_Cook_Room_Ride/0228_16_NoyacPath.jpg

 

[SteveADV]

I want sand between my toes. Not under my motorcycle tires. So, yeah.

 

[coyok]

Jaimec,
I do agree perhaps my definition here is like yours - paved but just off the beaten path. Wish the Honda adventure type will hit market soon at my place. The look is so appealing to me.

 

[Snowdog]

Jaimec,
I do agree perhaps my definition here is like yours - paved but just off the beaten path. Wish the Honda adventure type will hit market soon at my place. The look is so appealing to me.

I am waiting for it too!!

 

[Snowdog]

Yep, sand is no fun!!