Speedmaster As A Tourer

My guess is that @Dartplayer will be able to give you a bit more info, as he has done some fantastic tours in New Zealand.

 

Hi Stefan, I did 43k km in 5 years on my 2018 Speedmaster using 1 or 2 Krega 20l drypacks for touring.
You could get the set and mount behind you and they act as a comfy backrest. I didn’t have to take fuel, as we have Petrol every 300km at max, so that would be the only question for your travels. The 16litre tank was economical and even better with higher octane if wanting to go further.
I added a Corbin seat to get 300km without stopping, but found 200km was fine on a new standard or comfort seat replacement.

 

Hi Stefan,

I would strongly recommend you try and get a long test ride before purchase. I bought one after a short test ride, but found it very uncomfortable after an hour in the saddle. Changing seats didn't help.

Dartplayer is right about fuel economy, surprisingly good. I bought a 2L fuel can to carry extra fuel but never needed it.

I decatted mine and fitted an x pipe. Engine spins up quicker and sounds nicely deeper.

I sold the bike after my first tour on it. Went back to a sports tourer.

 

Hi Stefan,
My 2018 has now 40,000 km and most of that was a trip across Canada in 2022. I do have a few additions for comfort: Corbin Solo Seat, Risers and up and overs, long haul Triumph Windscreen. After the trip, I realized that this bike was totally capable of the long journey, but it excels on more secondary highways as opposed to the high speed freeways. Mostly because of wind, which can wear you down over long periods of time. The windshield does help but it would depend on a persons height and the type of helmet.

 

Me too Stefan, I use on my Thunderbird Storm now. Being 6’3” you would benefit from a Corbin, as they sat me down and right back for more leg room. Not sure of freight, but reach out if you buy a Speedy as I still have mine for sale.
US$1800 replacement cost with glove box, but would consider decent offer

 

Hi I had no problems touring on my speedmaster 1200. Like @Dartplayer I used a roll pack with plenty of room for the essentials. Fuel economy was good and no problems in UK or Europe finding fuel in my experience.

 

Hi, Stefan! I'm a 5'5" 65-year old woman, but a veteran (>40 yrs.) motorcyclist and a serious long-distance rider. Last summer I traded in my 2007 HD Ultra Classic (pretty heavy at 850 lbs. without gear, that I had ridden from Florida to California and back) for my 2020 Speedmaster. BTW, when I first sat on the Speedmaster it was love at first sit! I love the stock seat! Anyway, it had a few mods when I got it (with 3K miles) and I did a few more. It had the mini-apes and the waxed cloth side-bags (add-ons from Triumph), and I added the highway bars that meet at the bottom of the radiator (also from Triumph), the Triumph passenger backrest and pad, and the rack behind the pad. In addition, I'd saved my Harley Kuriakin (sp?) pegs and put them on the highway bars, and, best of all (because I couldn't ride without it), I added a full-fairing-style Slipstreamer windshield that has plastic lowers that protect my knees. That was a godsend! This past August, after I'd had it for 6 weeks, I rode it from Florida to the last four US states I needed to complete riding in "the lower 48," a bucket list item for my old age (they were ND, ID, WA, and OR). That was about a 6400 mile ride that (since I took my time), I finished in three weeks. The motorcycle needed nothing on the trip but a new back tire. I was cautious, so I only rode 110 or so miles before I stopped for gas (I planned the route and gas stops the night before with Google maps). No problems whatsoever, and I loved loved loved the cruise control! I did find that the gas mileage dropped precipitiously when I rode over 70mph (the highway speed limit in some western states is 80), so I didn't speed much. The other thing I love about this bike is, the more I thrash it, the more it loves me! So take your long-distance trips without hesitation. If this old woman can do it, I know you can too!

 

Closest I've come to a long tour is 5 hours from Canberra (Australia) to Albury - New South Wales. It was my first long'ish trip with my 2009 Speedy and also my first on a forward control bike. There was a novel written about the trip by an army friend of mine...Major Bumsore. I'm saving my pennies for a Corbin seat now, so he doesn't have to write any more chapters!

 

I did the trip alone, but a nice lady at a convenience store took this pic. Turns out I took more clothes than I needed. Since I was only riding 6-7 hour (300-350 mile) days, I threw my clothes in the hotel washers/dryers whenever I needed clean clothes. My 17" laptop was in a knapsack in a plastic bag in the milk crate tied on the rack. Those (too-small) Triumph side bags certainly were stuffed full! That's how I did it.

 

Where was the kitchen sink. . Nice one, you look well happy too. Good for you.

 

Hi Chrisfla1, I took too much stuff on my bucket list trip across Canada. Most of it I did not use. You learn as you go I guess...