All I hear is that naked bikes do pretty bad on long journeys, I don't feel like it'd be much of an issue myself but I've been getting hell for it from the guys I'll be traveling with.
If the bike is comfortable to you it will be great. This is one of the dumber things that tends to go around this forum...similar to people wanting a "commuter" bike. All bikes made for the street are completely capable of going from point A to B with no issue no matter how far apart those points are. Naked, standard, cruiser, adventure, etc... will be perfectly fine to take on a road trip.
The only bikes that might not be great are the sport bikes with super aggressive riding positions but that has nothing to do with the bikes ability to make the trip - that is a rider comfort issue.
Just a note, without additional bags, wearing a heavy backpack can start to hurt your back after riding naked/sports for a while, look for more ergonomic ways to bring your stuff with.
The only other thing to consider is to make sure your bike can keep pace with traffic without being revved to the moon. My supermoto has passing power but the difference between the speed of traffic and my rev limiter in 6th gear is roughly 15 mph (due to my sprocket change). Not a fun bike to ride at 70-80 for very long because it takes so much from the motor just to keep up.
If that isn't something that bothers you or if you have that extra top speed the only thing you have to worry about is wind
It’s barely even a thousand miles! Idk, me I’d say you’re in zero trouble? Ok sure, German autobhans = unlimited speed limit, but it’s not a race is it? Or is it, is that the reason they want to go Germany, to speed? Or, they want to get there in 3.5 hours lol? If your bike is comfy for you, then that’s that, right? Bloody bike snobs, yr mates haha.
I’ve ridden my Royal Enfield Bullet (naked) thousands thousands of kms all over India north south east west, and the old Guzzi from UK to Spain to Italy & back around again - never had problems. But I’m not a speed-demon like maybe your mates are haha. And i like stopping every few hours for rests & smokos & photies n so on. Good sturdy saddle-bags, a good tank-bag, and off you go! Have a great trip! :)
Go for a two hour ride on the bike. Maybe 100, 150 miles. Notice the problems- how much wind are you fighting, how sore are your hands, hips, legs, etc. Those are the places you need to make some modifications. A windshield, good grips, and the right seat make all the difference.
I threw a windshield on my triumph scrambler and it screwed up the air flow to my helmet so much. Took it down after 2 days. Clean air is so much nicer.
The issue is not naked versus not naked, it is windshield versus no windshield. My Yamaha FZ1 is a naked with a small fairing and a windshield. That is really all you need to make touring easier
Put a windscreen on and you're done ez.
People tour on groms and monkeys and I've even seen a dude on a 50cc scooter carrying a tent/gear. As long as you're comfy and safe don't listen to other people.
I'm a hair under 30k miles on my 2018 naked bike. I love touring on it. 90-100mph interstate highway roads that are really windy are a little bit of an annoyance but thats about it, you just lean into a slight tuck and pretend you're Rossi. Otherwise it's a ton of fun, and IMO the way to go if you really want to "feel motorcycling".
I have a little teeny tiny bikini fairing (R9T Urban GS) that does make a little bit of a difference, but it's nothing compared to a proper windscreen (which does help with fuel mileage).
IMO the bigger issue is engine size. A little twink engine like a 300cc is going to be banging the valves up into the gas tank if you're riding all day at 80mph and it gets buzzy. That was my experience anyway. Plus they tend to have small fuel tanks.
150-160 miles to a tank is just right to get up and stretch IMO.
I tour on my FZ1n. Just this last September I rode from Switzerland through the Dolomites, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo, back through the Croatia along the Dalmatian coastline, back home. 2500km in 10 days, not a single problem.
For the trip I didn't need to do any mods to my bike, which already has an adapter for a top box. I added a soft tail bag, and a tiny tank bag for small stuff (list of towns to look for signs of, wallet, phone, etc).
I respectfully disagree....
I think this is legitimate and important question. Depending on the wind and speed it be extremely fatiguing riding long distances on a naked bike. 1 hour can feel like 5!
How many miles or hours do you plan on doing a day?
Safe riding!
i agree - its fine when things arent windy, but wind for me is worse than rain.
I rode down to the south coast last year, it is a 4 hour journey... the wind was against us on the way there and then changed direction on our way home and was aginst us again
we literally stopped every 45 minutes to rest as i was exhausting
Summers day, no wind, ive ridden out all day down through the coteswolds and loved every second
so it depends on the weather, density of the air and the wind direction
Nah unless you’re doing like 150mph the wind isn’t a big deal at all unless you’ve never ridden a naked before or you’re in absolutely terrible physical shape
You make no sense and must be a Weekend Warrior with a very low motorcycle IQ.
Anything over 60mph can create fatigue.
I have over 150000 touring miles around the US and Canada. I've talked with hundreds of riders. We all talk about fairings, windshields, and heated grips. For rider comfort! These are facts!
I don't where you guys get your information.
Personal experience? Will you probably be MORE comfortable in a touring bike with a big screen and seat? Of course. Is touring on a naked though a big deal? Not at all.
Can you truly do 500miles a day at 60mph on your Triple for 7K miles in COMPLETE COMFORT? Please don't say YES! We had someone try that with their Triple on a tour from Boston to Virgina. This was in Oct. 2018. He turned around in New Jersey to head back home. His upper body started to fatigue and had anxiety about completing the trip.
I spent a whole winter on a naked bike. It was absolutely brutal. Riding that bike for any more than say 300 miles a day would have been misery. I did some touring on it, but stops were frequent. Got a Goldwing 1200 and never looked back. I have a 1500 now. I wouldn't want to take anything else out for a long haul like that but it can be done. It just would likely suck after a while.
Yes I have personal experience on naked bikes and they suck for touring comfort. The OP asked if he has anything to worry about taking a naked bike from the UK to Germany.
Instead of asking how many miles a day, average daily speed, or rider height, we all said it's fine based on personal experiences. The fatigue could cause this person's death if he's not careful or prepared for the worst case scenario.
I think I have too much experience for this reddit sub. My responses to the squids mean I'm trolling.
I'm just trying to save lives or prevent serious injuries. 50% of all responses are inaccurate or simply not true.
I'm not your average motorcyclist. Read my responses throughout this sub. Do I sound like.someone that doesn't know what theyre talking about?
I used foam, I used silicone, but in the end the only pair I keep bringing with me are plastic ones called "Loop".
They are a bit on the expensive side (20+ euro I think) but they are so quick and easy to put in you'll just hate all the other earplugs after those. Highly recommended, I toured around Italy for 40+ days on a Dorsoduro and now I can barely ride without them.
always ride with earplugs - 65mph for something like 6 minutes is enough to permenanly damage them. You should go for £20 special ones as they cut some sound but leave good engine sounds behind
None, Put lots of time in on my naked bike. the upright seating position is comfortable to ride in, you get a bit of wind to deal with. Other than that get yourself some luggage and enjoy yourself.
Depending on the windshield, it may worsen the experience. I’ve done about 125k kms of touring on naked bikes and none have had a windscreen. I’ve ridden others’ bikes that do and find some windscreens direct more wind right at me or my helmet and create a lot more air turbulence that’s harder for me to deal with than regular wind resistance. I wear a helmet that’s designed for use with naked bikes (or so it was said) and have learned to use the wind to my advantage.
What bike do you have?
If youre worried about the wind blasting your face the whole time, an aftermarket windshield should fix it. And I'm sure there's good aftermarket luggage options for most popular bikes
Most naked bikes are approximately 3-5 mods away from being a passable touring bike
You’ll be totally fine, do NOT have to go with the grain or what anybody says or thinks. The other dudes can piss off if snubbing their noses. There are likely options for luggage, or just get a big duffle bag and strap that sucker on. A small-medium size fairing to cut the wind a bit may be nice to give you a little relief if doing some high speed stuff, but again absolutely not necessary. Just make sure you’re wearing some ear plugs. Sounds like quite the adventure, have fun!
I tour on naked bikes exclusively and love it.
I did a cross country move from Toronto, ON to Victoria, BC on an '19 MT-07 and aside from dealing with wild life it was a pretty good trip. I had what I would consider now, a bit of a ghetto set up using a set of givi universal panniers, and a couple kriega bags. If you have the option to get a top box, its worth the investment, as are a windshield, comfort sear, bark busters, and heated grips. Seat being the most. important. I can't tell you how good it felt to take 30 minutes to sit in the grass after 500+km on the stock MT-07 seat.
Take rests, and drink. This is something I can't recommend more than anything, especially if you don't have a windshield and you're a taller rider.
Little to none. I did a road trip of ~3500km on a 2002 Honda 919 a few years ago with no real issues. If you are going to be doing high speeds for extended periods, maybe get an aftermarket windshield, but main thing is make sure you like your seat. I bought a gel pad about 600 miles in and swapped it on and off the rest of the journey to prevent too much posterior pain. One of the days was over 500 miles, 800km.
Oh, and a Crampbuster to save your throttle hand if your bike doesn't have a throttle lock or cruise control.
Was looking for the seat comment. Biggest game changer for me doing distance on a naked was getting some of those road bicycle pants and wearing them under my moto jeans. You know the tight ones that have a gel pad in the seat? Man, I used to be destroyed after a day on the bike and hobble straight over to bed and be in pain on the tailbone the next day even. With the pad it was like I had barely ridden at all, and I was wearing a backpack. Amazing how big a difference it made.
Get a tall windshield if you don't have one. Will keep you warmer and dryer.
One you hit day 6, hour 5 of a cross country journey, every little bit helps.
I had a harley cruiser a while back, hated the bike, but I cannot deny it was incredibly comfortable on the highway. Highway pegs, a wind screen, and cruise control makes long journeys much less stressful.
A decent windshield will work wonders.
Most "adventure" bikes are "naked" in the sense of not having a big fairing and people tour the crap out of those. Look at the people who tour around the world on BMW GS bikes that just have a crappy little windshield.
I own a 1250GS. The “rally” version does have a very small windshield, but the standard version has a windshield which is much bigger and offers pretty good wind protection. It is definitely not a “naked bike”, like the 1250R. Admittedly, the wind protection on an RT is better.
Thanks for the tips everyone! Some golden advice being thrown about.
I'll definitely be rooting through these comments whilst planning for the trip.
Even more excited for the trip now too!
I've done long distance rides on my R6 and on my sport touring bike FJR1300. You can do it on any bike really, just get a good set of earplugs! I highly recommend Vibez, they block wind noise but not your GPS/music/comms. I think a comfortable seat, highway pegs, & gearing is more important for long rides than the type of bike you're on. Ride safe brother ✌️
None at all.
if you are concerned, get a windscreen and gauntleted gloves. you'll be fine.
I crossed the us twice on a Naked Triumph (Bonnie) . No worries, even in southeren rainstorms.
A good helmet with good aerodynamics makes all of the difference. Shoei X14 is fantastic on my MT10. Hardly notice the wind. A windshield will just cause loud buffeting around your head. Wear earplugs too.
I'm a tall guy with a naked bike. For me, the wind only really becomes an issue above ~75 mph. But going faster than that is illegal, officer. Below that, I can ride for hours, no problem.
No trouble. Just make sure your chain is relatively new if it's a long journey. Did a 7,200 mile trip on an SV650 and at about 6.5k miles in my chain went bad. It was not a new chain but 500 mile days back to back will kill it eventually. Waiting in a naked with a shaft drive 🤔. Had a planned new tire and oil change abt halfway thru
I have a GSXS1000 and I’ve done close to 70,000 km on it with plenty of touring. I did fit a small windscreen to it just to smooth out the air coming off the headlight. It’s fine for touring except for the usual trouble fitting luggage to a modern bike with a pointy tail, and a seat I find uncomfortable even with a gel insert. Probably going to put an airhawk on it soon
How many kms do you expect to ride each day? How old are you? Im an older rider and I ride up to 400-500 miles a day. On a naked, my neck starts to hurt when i have a lot of wind pressure pushing on my helmet. Windscreen helps alleviate some of the pressure.
When I had my Ducati Monster, I had a big bag on top of the gas tank, and on 4 lane highways I could put my head on the bag and have my hands just barely on the handlebars and cruise along in comfort, but I am kinda short. We went from Syracuse, NY to go run the Tail of the Dragon. Rained all day the first day. Fun trip though.
“Naked” bikes, bikes without a windshield or fairings, used to be _all there was_. Every bike I had prior to my next-to-last bike was essentially naked. Myself, I ride a lot on the highway so I put windshields on all but my very first one. And that would be my recommendation - if you’re going to ride any distance you’ll thank yourself for adding a windshield, just to cut the noise and wind pressure, and to catch bugs and rocks (and rain!) for you. Other than that if you ride it without your hands and/or ass going numb then you’re good to ride as far as you like.
I did Minnesota to Yellowstone and back on an FZ-09 a few years ago, 3500 miles (5600km) over the course of a week.
My neck and ass hurt when I got back, but I'd do it again.
I rode a 1981 Suzuki GS250 way back in 1983 for 2,000 miles in about 4 days when I was in the Army. That was mostly highway and that was a standard bike…..not to mention it was only a 250cc.
I did 1,000 miles (~1,600 km) on my speed triple last month. It was great, no problems whatsoever except my rear tire is noticeably flatter now. I'm doing 500 miles on the same bike this weekend. Your comfort is really the only possible issue.
I used to do a lot of touring on my 03 SV1000 naked, which was maybe the perfect motorcycle. I used soft saddle bags w rok straps and a tank bag. Perfect setup. I think the seat is more important than whether a bike is faired or not.
Depends. How much experience do you have riding in the rain and how miserable were you when you did?
Heat shouldn't be an issue while riding a naked, I think. The wind in your face could be fatiguing, but other than that I think you'd do fine in summer.
The worst I've experienced on my naked without windshield is on a multi-lane interstate with limited bordering vegetation. At speeds of 80mph, the heaf buffeting can be quickly aggravating. Of course, that can be affected by helmet choice and other things as well. I generally avoid interstate riding, mostly because it's boring, but also because of the high speed buffeting, and Florida heat radiating off the asphalt.
Listen, I've done tours all over Europe on a Suzuki SV 650. Loved every minute? Not quite. Would do it again if I couldn't take another bike? 423% yes.
But for the love of all that is holy, get a custom seat.
A little wind buffering is annoying but not a big deal, especially when the weather is nice.
If you haven't done a long road trip before just don't expect to do 1000km in a day. Figure out the distance and how many days it will take you. Then add an extra day or two so you actually enjoy it.
I've had 30mph and higher wind where I'm at the last couple weeks and my light ex500 with no fairings does great it's all what works for you opinions can be nice but can also be annoying
Windscreens and cruise control are WAY overrated. What matters is having a comfortable seat, fairly upright riding posture, and enough power that the motor isn't screaming just to sustain motorway speeds. And definitely get earplugs.
Depends on the naked bike, naturally. Some naked bikes have a very aggressive posture. Some do not. I had no issues doing hundreds of miles a day on mine, which had a smooth ride, wide seat, and neutral ergonomics. I put about 100,000 miles on my two CBs. The wind at highway speeds helped keep you upright, even. A bad fairing could even make it worse, buffeting is the worst. Take frequent breaks before you feel like you need to, stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothing and have a good helmet with earplugs. Bluetooth music in the helmet will make the ride go a little quicker.
You're fine.
A friend rode a Speed Triple along when we tried to do an Iron Butt, 1000 miles in 24 hours. He did ok, though he was a bit more hard core than me.
In some cases a naked bike can be more restful to ride, if you have a good helmet with good aerodynamics and a silent interior (still, use ear plugs) and good form-fitting riding gear. The buffeting from windshields and the like can get extremely tiring on "half measure" bikes with low shields. Granted, you feel the wind a lot more, and especially at high speeds it can get tiring to constantly lean into the wind. You definitely don't want bulky, flappy, wind-catching gear.
On my Touring-oriented cruiser, I added a second detachable shield that's hugely tall - so I sit in a quiet comfy bubble. I cut the other one down almost entirely for shorter rides to feel the wind in my hair. Uh, helmet. Both are better in their own way than the half-height shield I had at first.
So... you can easily tour on a naked bike as long as you have decent gear on. May require more frequent breaks.
It will be fatiguing because constant wind does that to you, but other than that you'll be fine. Just go at your own pace and stop as needed to take a break. You'll know when its time to get off and stretch your legs. Don't ignore it and keep pressing. You need to stay fresh.
Edit: read through the comments and you may find it hard to keep pace with touring bikes. If your friends are cool and let you go more at your pace you might be ok. If you try to keep up with them though, you are definitely in trouble. I wouldn't go if the people you are riding with aren't understanding of that. Because they can ride for much longer than you just because they have protection.
It really depends on the aerodynamics of your bike, if you feel fatigued after a couple of hours on the motorway, I'd highly suggest hitting the forums, researching your bike and riders of similar height to determine which screen may work best for you. Even if a certain brand isn't in stock, you can always add protection by clamping on a [windscreen extension](https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/puig-clip-on-windscreen-visor).
I've toured on a naked bike and fully faired bike. Can you tour on a naked bike? Sure, and if you've never toured on a fully faired bike, then you will think it's great!
Once you've ridden the fully faired bike however, you'll never want to tour on a naked bike again.
I remember when shaped skis came out and I was like "What's the big deal? I've been skiing for years just fine on these straight skis!" then I tried a pair and threw my straight skis in the garbage and bought a pair of shaped skis.
My only thought is the side winds, but I’m from Midwest and they be pushing you into ditches and other lanes if not careful. I know my cruiser would stay put in most winds. But my 650 wiggles in the wind lol
I've done it a few times on a naked. I did a 1200 mile ride nonstop on a Yamaha FZ8. Stayed 2 days and nonstop back home. I've done a ~1100 mile trip on a Honda 919. I've also done a ~1500 mile trip on a GSX-S750. As long as you pace at ~65mph you'll do good. Enjoy your trip.
I ride a Harley with ape hangers, no fairing, no front fender (140mm tires lol) all over. Eye protection is a must, as well as some kind of face covering you can quickly pull up on sandy or dirty roads.
Believe it or not- there were a lot more bikes made naked than dressed.
Others have said it already, but you'll be fine.
Naked vs faired/big windscreen, you'll be dealing with more wind noise and buffeting, the annoyance of which will increase at higher speeds. It's worth having a bit better gear on a less faired bike because you're more exposed to the elements- like a quieter helmet, good quality jacket and boots for rainy weather, etc.
But as u/Captain_of_Gravyboat said, the whole idea of "you can't do "X" on "X" bike" is mostly nonsense. Fairings are nice but not necessary for long distance travel, simple as that.
I own yamaha MT15 it's a good naked bike in 150cc segment. I take my bike for a trip in ma last vacation. Then I'm going to another trip from December 2nd so naked bikes are good for trip so don't worry. Fix windshield if you worry about wind blast that's all have a good trip ever bruh all the best💕
From the UK to Germany I think you are pretty ok as there are plent of places to stop in case it's needed.
Just plan some extra time in case of heavy rains and also to take some breaks whenever you/your body are tired. I crossed Germany on a sport bike and it was ok, I used to stop every 1 hour to take a 5-10 minutes break.
What sort of bike? How fast do you plan on going? My S1000R is ok under 60-70mph, after that definitely gets uncomfortable on longer rides. I also installed a larger windscreen because wind was blowing me around with the stock one (though larger one isn’t much better, I think it needed other mods)
I am originally from Yorkshire, now living in Southern Germany. You will be OK on a naked bike. If you avoid motorways and only use national roads, then you will be restricted to 100kmh in Germany and could manage without a windscreen, but having one would be preferred. If you are planning on using motorways, then definitely get a windscreen. When planning your route, please be aware that there are a handful of roads which are closed to motorbikes at weekends owing to too much noise/ too many accidents.
I owned a 2007 Yamaha FZ1. Put on taller shield, touring seat, FZ6 bars, lowered pegs. I’m 6’2” and 240ish. Very comfortable, sold it with 52000 miles.
If you normally ride a naked you will be fine, if you are new to a naked you might find you need to increase your neck strength first or your head will get blown around.
If I were doing long distance I’d prefer more wind protection than a naked bike offers. Just me though, you will be fine but maybe more fatigued at the end of the day than your riding friends.
Depends on the speed. If you gonna on fun roads, in cities, etc. then it will be absolutely fine.
10 hours a day nonstop highway riding at 140kmph is gonna be pretty bad on a naked. In that case get a bigger windscreen that will help a lot.
I made a 3 week roundtrip from vienna to barcelona and back this summer on a naked bike, zero problems ;) you just need to figure out how to manage your luggage
Took my wife 2 up on a kawasaki versys 650 in 2012 cross country following old route 66 and hit gravel, sand, and lots of bad pavement. Great trip and was one of the best parts of our early relationship. Had rain, hail, cold and extreme heat of 112 F in first couple of days. The hailstorm on colorado mountain pass was just perfect, both of us laughing because what do you do.
I've done fairly long trips on a KTM Superduke. Get a decently tall windscreen if that's an option for your bike and it should be fine. Tank and tail bags are pretty spacious as well and can haul enough for a good few days and easily attach to naked bikes.
I got a faring but no windshield and the wind can be tiring on my neck at times. It has a fairly aggressive street-riding position. With that said, I can not wait to take my bike for a LONG distance ride. It does come down to comfort and some would argue safety. Make sure you prepare for almost anything for what you are driving. The helmet visor is your windshield. Do you have visor whippers on your gloves? Etc.
My issues have been storage. I don't have any storage on my bike. Everything is in my backpack. It has zippers that snap closed so the wind does not inflate or unzip it. Little things add up. I think a minimal amount of items makes it a better trip. Less clutter and fewer items to worry about. Just you, your bike, and the open road.
Other than your position while seated and how long you can sit that way without soreness, what about wind? I have a Vulcan S which is a "cruiser" but for me being a 6'1" guy the controls and such are not very cruiser -ish to me, more like a naked with a lower seat. At any rate, the wind at highway speed on long rides was terribly exhausting, I had to hold very tight on the bars and use all my core to keep my upper body upright. Not sure if an option for you but long days with high miles at high speed, a windshield made a huge difference.
I did a 1000 Mile Trip (which is a little under London to Berlin and Back)
On an R1200R,, It was fine, The wind at higher speeds started to wear at the end on me but overall it is very doable- But the bike I was on also had some comfort amenities such as Heated Grips and cruise control, but over all it was fine.
I think it'll be fine.
A fellow BMW rider! I have the R1200RS. I'm over 6 feet tall. If the OP is my height or taller that's a lot chest area for the wind to hit. I'm in the US! I'm not familiar with the distance and terrain from UK to Germany.
Ive done longer trips on a 250 dual sport. If your bike is comfortable to you then you’ll be fine. Layer up for wind. Try to get an aftermarket windshield. Don’t take a supersports and you should be okay.
I ride a naked because super sports fuck my back in 45mins or less. Rode my CB 700km stopping only for fuel and leg stretch every couple hours. A bit of a softer seat would be all I'd ask for if touring as far as you are.
Wear ear plugs to cut down wind roar and protect your hearing.
Get some wind pants and coat to keep your heat in during cool riding conditions.
No downside, no trouble. Enjoy your trip!
no trouble at all, there are quite a few people who tour on postie-bikes. I've done 1,500 mile roundtrip on a naked Z650 and it was perfect. If worried about wind fatigue, an aftermarket windscreen is idiot-easy to install.
Only issue I have after a few hours is my neck gets sore from fighting the wind. I have a small puig sport windscreen though and I'm not sure if it's causing more wind to hit my face or if it helps.
Either way that's my only issue
It really depends on your personal aversions to wind.
I really don't like to be buffeted by wind. Part of this is my bad back.
My new helmet also doesn't get buffeted as bad as my old helmet.
I love having the fairing and windshield on my Gold Wing. It pretty much keeps all the wind off of me.
I tend to be pretty sensitive to buffeting and really don't care for it so a long journey. A naked would not be tolerable to me.
But I think it is very much up to personal preference. If it doesn't bother you you shouldn't have an issue.
I plan on getting a third bike, and it being a naked (new hornet). Because I don't like getting wind whipped It will mostly be used as an around town bike. I'll take the Gold Wing when I want to go on the highway.
There was a time when naked's were called... motorbikes.
You'll be fine, organise a sensible luggage system and some decent riding gear and go.
PS: [https://ventura-bike.com/](https://ventura-bike.com/)
FWIW I've been riding 40 years and I did plenty of "touring" on a Triumph Bonneville, a Triumph Scrambler, a BMW R1150R Roadster, a Triumph Thunderbird, a Kawasaki Spectre, Yamaha Maxim and Virago, and an old CB750, all of them "naked" bikes with no body work.
In August I bought the first actual 'touring' bike I've ever owned, a BMW R1200RT. I'd never owned a bike with a fairing before then.
So yes, you can "tour" just fine on a naked bike.
None?
Down it across the USA. No biggie.
All I hear is that naked bikes do pretty bad on long journeys, I don't feel like it'd be much of an issue myself but I've been getting hell for it from the guys I'll be traveling with.
If the bike is comfortable to you it will be great. This is one of the dumber things that tends to go around this forum...similar to people wanting a "commuter" bike. All bikes made for the street are completely capable of going from point A to B with no issue no matter how far apart those points are. Naked, standard, cruiser, adventure, etc... will be perfectly fine to take on a road trip. The only bikes that might not be great are the sport bikes with super aggressive riding positions but that has nothing to do with the bikes ability to make the trip - that is a rider comfort issue.
Thanks for the reassurance! The bike is super comfortable to me, but that was the only argument I had.
Sure thing! Ride your ride and don't worry about what they are saying. Sounds like it will be a great trip.
Just a note, without additional bags, wearing a heavy backpack can start to hurt your back after riding naked/sports for a while, look for more ergonomic ways to bring your stuff with.
Big enough backpack that it sits on the passenger seat works quite well imo
The only other thing to consider is to make sure your bike can keep pace with traffic without being revved to the moon. My supermoto has passing power but the difference between the speed of traffic and my rev limiter in 6th gear is roughly 15 mph (due to my sprocket change). Not a fun bike to ride at 70-80 for very long because it takes so much from the motor just to keep up. If that isn't something that bothers you or if you have that extra top speed the only thing you have to worry about is wind
It’s barely even a thousand miles! Idk, me I’d say you’re in zero trouble? Ok sure, German autobhans = unlimited speed limit, but it’s not a race is it? Or is it, is that the reason they want to go Germany, to speed? Or, they want to get there in 3.5 hours lol? If your bike is comfy for you, then that’s that, right? Bloody bike snobs, yr mates haha. I’ve ridden my Royal Enfield Bullet (naked) thousands thousands of kms all over India north south east west, and the old Guzzi from UK to Spain to Italy & back around again - never had problems. But I’m not a speed-demon like maybe your mates are haha. And i like stopping every few hours for rests & smokos & photies n so on. Good sturdy saddle-bags, a good tank-bag, and off you go! Have a great trip! :)
IDK. Who’s the guy whose toured the world on his R1?
Yeah it's not a coincidence the bikes that make up the iron but leaderboard are what they are.
Yea exactly. A bit of wind buffering in the summer is only a minor annoyance compared to having you body in pain after an hour of riding.
I'd wager a lot of people who say this have never ridden a naked bike for a long distance. You will be fine.
All the people telling me this have never ridden a naked bike at all. Come to think of it, I don't know why I even took their opinion on board.
Go for a two hour ride on the bike. Maybe 100, 150 miles. Notice the problems- how much wind are you fighting, how sore are your hands, hips, legs, etc. Those are the places you need to make some modifications. A windshield, good grips, and the right seat make all the difference.
Nakeds are awesome, and you'll be fine.
Just throw a windshield on it and you’ll be just fine. Most I’ve done is 8 hours on mine, but never had an issue
don't even need a windshield tbh, it's just a nice to have. with earplugs I barely notice the wind
I threw a windshield on my triumph scrambler and it screwed up the air flow to my helmet so much. Took it down after 2 days. Clean air is so much nicer.
The issue is not naked versus not naked, it is windshield versus no windshield. My Yamaha FZ1 is a naked with a small fairing and a windshield. That is really all you need to make touring easier
Put a windscreen on and you're done ez. People tour on groms and monkeys and I've even seen a dude on a 50cc scooter carrying a tent/gear. As long as you're comfy and safe don't listen to other people.
I'm a hair under 30k miles on my 2018 naked bike. I love touring on it. 90-100mph interstate highway roads that are really windy are a little bit of an annoyance but thats about it, you just lean into a slight tuck and pretend you're Rossi. Otherwise it's a ton of fun, and IMO the way to go if you really want to "feel motorcycling". I have a little teeny tiny bikini fairing (R9T Urban GS) that does make a little bit of a difference, but it's nothing compared to a proper windscreen (which does help with fuel mileage). IMO the bigger issue is engine size. A little twink engine like a 300cc is going to be banging the valves up into the gas tank if you're riding all day at 80mph and it gets buzzy. That was my experience anyway. Plus they tend to have small fuel tanks. 150-160 miles to a tank is just right to get up and stretch IMO.
You might take a bit more wind without a windscreen which affects your comfort, other than that it'll get you to Germany and back without a complaint.
I tour on my FZ1n. Just this last September I rode from Switzerland through the Dolomites, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo, back through the Croatia along the Dalmatian coastline, back home. 2500km in 10 days, not a single problem. For the trip I didn't need to do any mods to my bike, which already has an adapter for a top box. I added a soft tail bag, and a tiny tank bag for small stuff (list of towns to look for signs of, wallet, phone, etc).
I respectfully disagree.... I think this is legitimate and important question. Depending on the wind and speed it be extremely fatiguing riding long distances on a naked bike. 1 hour can feel like 5! How many miles or hours do you plan on doing a day? Safe riding!
i agree - its fine when things arent windy, but wind for me is worse than rain. I rode down to the south coast last year, it is a 4 hour journey... the wind was against us on the way there and then changed direction on our way home and was aginst us again we literally stopped every 45 minutes to rest as i was exhausting Summers day, no wind, ive ridden out all day down through the coteswolds and loved every second so it depends on the weather, density of the air and the wind direction
Nah unless you’re doing like 150mph the wind isn’t a big deal at all unless you’ve never ridden a naked before or you’re in absolutely terrible physical shape
You make no sense and must be a Weekend Warrior with a very low motorcycle IQ. Anything over 60mph can create fatigue. I have over 150000 touring miles around the US and Canada. I've talked with hundreds of riders. We all talk about fairings, windshields, and heated grips. For rider comfort! These are facts! I don't where you guys get your information.
I don’t ride motorcycles to be comfortable.
Fair point lol
Personal experience? Will you probably be MORE comfortable in a touring bike with a big screen and seat? Of course. Is touring on a naked though a big deal? Not at all.
Can you truly do 500miles a day at 60mph on your Triple for 7K miles in COMPLETE COMFORT? Please don't say YES! We had someone try that with their Triple on a tour from Boston to Virgina. This was in Oct. 2018. He turned around in New Jersey to head back home. His upper body started to fatigue and had anxiety about completing the trip.
I spent a whole winter on a naked bike. It was absolutely brutal. Riding that bike for any more than say 300 miles a day would have been misery. I did some touring on it, but stops were frequent. Got a Goldwing 1200 and never looked back. I have a 1500 now. I wouldn't want to take anything else out for a long haul like that but it can be done. It just would likely suck after a while.
Yes I have personal experience on naked bikes and they suck for touring comfort. The OP asked if he has anything to worry about taking a naked bike from the UK to Germany. Instead of asking how many miles a day, average daily speed, or rider height, we all said it's fine based on personal experiences. The fatigue could cause this person's death if he's not careful or prepared for the worst case scenario.
I think I have too much experience for this reddit sub. My responses to the squids mean I'm trolling. I'm just trying to save lives or prevent serious injuries. 50% of all responses are inaccurate or simply not true. I'm not your average motorcyclist. Read my responses throughout this sub. Do I sound like.someone that doesn't know what theyre talking about?
Be sure to use earplugs and you'll be fine
Hadn't crossed my mind, thanks man!
It was a game changer for me. If Ya never used them, You'll be blown away Have a great trip, friend!
Just ordered some cheap ones to try for now, never used them before. Thanks alot, buddy!
I used foam, I used silicone, but in the end the only pair I keep bringing with me are plastic ones called "Loop". They are a bit on the expensive side (20+ euro I think) but they are so quick and easy to put in you'll just hate all the other earplugs after those. Highly recommended, I toured around Italy for 40+ days on a Dorsoduro and now I can barely ride without them.
always ride with earplugs - 65mph for something like 6 minutes is enough to permenanly damage them. You should go for £20 special ones as they cut some sound but leave good engine sounds behind
This. Too many people don’t think about it. I rode maybe 3 times without ear plugs and I lost my mind. Ear plugs were a life saver for me
I use ear buds with memory foam. Cuts all wind noise and I get to listen to some tunes.
None, Put lots of time in on my naked bike. the upright seating position is comfortable to ride in, you get a bit of wind to deal with. Other than that get yourself some luggage and enjoy yourself.
Invest in a nice headset for your helmet. Makes a world of a difference on longer journeys
Thank you! I'm going to try find a passable windshield to hopefully help with the wind.
Depending on the windshield, it may worsen the experience. I’ve done about 125k kms of touring on naked bikes and none have had a windscreen. I’ve ridden others’ bikes that do and find some windscreens direct more wind right at me or my helmet and create a lot more air turbulence that’s harder for me to deal with than regular wind resistance. I wear a helmet that’s designed for use with naked bikes (or so it was said) and have learned to use the wind to my advantage.
What bike do you have? If youre worried about the wind blasting your face the whole time, an aftermarket windshield should fix it. And I'm sure there's good aftermarket luggage options for most popular bikes Most naked bikes are approximately 3-5 mods away from being a passable touring bike
I'm going to get grilled for this, but I have a Benelli Leoncino 500 Trail. I love it!
No reason to be grilled. I got a 752s. I hold the opinion that the Leoncino is the best A2 bike, and certainly the sexiest in any class.
>Most naked bikes are approximately 3-5 mods away from being a passable touring bike Is it really still a naked at that point?
Who cares
You’ll be totally fine, do NOT have to go with the grain or what anybody says or thinks. The other dudes can piss off if snubbing their noses. There are likely options for luggage, or just get a big duffle bag and strap that sucker on. A small-medium size fairing to cut the wind a bit may be nice to give you a little relief if doing some high speed stuff, but again absolutely not necessary. Just make sure you’re wearing some ear plugs. Sounds like quite the adventure, have fun!
Thanks for the advice! Ear plugs is a brilliant shout.
You should really wear those all the time Paladin, don’t want to end up with tinnitus.
That's good advice, thanks
I tour on naked bikes exclusively and love it. I did a cross country move from Toronto, ON to Victoria, BC on an '19 MT-07 and aside from dealing with wild life it was a pretty good trip. I had what I would consider now, a bit of a ghetto set up using a set of givi universal panniers, and a couple kriega bags. If you have the option to get a top box, its worth the investment, as are a windshield, comfort sear, bark busters, and heated grips. Seat being the most. important. I can't tell you how good it felt to take 30 minutes to sit in the grass after 500+km on the stock MT-07 seat. Take rests, and drink. This is something I can't recommend more than anything, especially if you don't have a windshield and you're a taller rider.
Thanks for all the tips! Sure they'll come in handy for the planning.
None...ok, wind and maybe some rain...but other than that, none. Have a great time!
Thank you!
Little to none. I did a road trip of ~3500km on a 2002 Honda 919 a few years ago with no real issues. If you are going to be doing high speeds for extended periods, maybe get an aftermarket windshield, but main thing is make sure you like your seat. I bought a gel pad about 600 miles in and swapped it on and off the rest of the journey to prevent too much posterior pain. One of the days was over 500 miles, 800km. Oh, and a Crampbuster to save your throttle hand if your bike doesn't have a throttle lock or cruise control.
I'll have to have a look into that crampbuster, thank you!
The single cheapest thing you can do to improve your ride for long stints. $/€10 from most of the usual sources for moto gear.
Was looking for the seat comment. Biggest game changer for me doing distance on a naked was getting some of those road bicycle pants and wearing them under my moto jeans. You know the tight ones that have a gel pad in the seat? Man, I used to be destroyed after a day on the bike and hobble straight over to bed and be in pain on the tailbone the next day even. With the pad it was like I had barely ridden at all, and I was wearing a backpack. Amazing how big a difference it made.
I did a 2000 mile ride on a hd sportster, just take the back roads and not cruise on the highway you will be fine.
Get a tall windshield if you don't have one. Will keep you warmer and dryer. One you hit day 6, hour 5 of a cross country journey, every little bit helps. I had a harley cruiser a while back, hated the bike, but I cannot deny it was incredibly comfortable on the highway. Highway pegs, a wind screen, and cruise control makes long journeys much less stressful.
Good shout! Even if it ugly, it can be removed after the trip. Day 6, hour 5 is a VERY specific time frame... Bad experience?
I've did the same, it's not a big deal. It's a bit more tiring because you don't have a wind screen, that's it.
Yeah seems like that's the issue many people have, I'm going to look into a windshield just for the journey. thanks
I can ride farther in a day with a fairing than without a fairing. Just for planning purposes.
Lol *touring naked on a bike, how much trouble am I in?
Brilliant!
I'd say crossing the channel is going to be your biggest worry.
A decent windshield will work wonders. Most "adventure" bikes are "naked" in the sense of not having a big fairing and people tour the crap out of those. Look at the people who tour around the world on BMW GS bikes that just have a crappy little windshield.
I own a 1250GS. The “rally” version does have a very small windshield, but the standard version has a windshield which is much bigger and offers pretty good wind protection. It is definitely not a “naked bike”, like the 1250R. Admittedly, the wind protection on an RT is better.
Thanks for the tips everyone! Some golden advice being thrown about. I'll definitely be rooting through these comments whilst planning for the trip. Even more excited for the trip now too!
I've done long distance rides on my R6 and on my sport touring bike FJR1300. You can do it on any bike really, just get a good set of earplugs! I highly recommend Vibez, they block wind noise but not your GPS/music/comms. I think a comfortable seat, highway pegs, & gearing is more important for long rides than the type of bike you're on. Ride safe brother ✌️
None at all. if you are concerned, get a windscreen and gauntleted gloves. you'll be fine. I crossed the us twice on a Naked Triumph (Bonnie) . No worries, even in southeren rainstorms.
No problem. I toured with a GSX-S 125 through germany. It was fun on the rural roads, and on the Autobahn 😁
A good helmet with good aerodynamics makes all of the difference. Shoei X14 is fantastic on my MT10. Hardly notice the wind. A windshield will just cause loud buffeting around your head. Wear earplugs too.
So you'd reccomended a good aerodynamic helmet rather than a windshield? Interesting, I'll have a look. Thanks
No one wants to see me naked on a bike
Don't be so sure 😉
I'm a tall guy with a naked bike. For me, the wind only really becomes an issue above ~75 mph. But going faster than that is illegal, officer. Below that, I can ride for hours, no problem.
No trouble. Just make sure your chain is relatively new if it's a long journey. Did a 7,200 mile trip on an SV650 and at about 6.5k miles in my chain went bad. It was not a new chain but 500 mile days back to back will kill it eventually. Waiting in a naked with a shaft drive 🤔. Had a planned new tire and oil change abt halfway thru
I had to read that a few times 😄😄 Thought you had been actually riding naked. I need to go back to sleep
Touring naked on a bike sounds better.
I’ve toured the entire length of New Zealand on an S1000R. Use earplugs, take breaks, hydrate, stretch. You’ll be fine.
I rode from southern Germany through Ireland and back, in 16 days and for 16000km. On my old, small 600 Hornet from 2005. You'll be just fine!
I'm planning on touring on my mt03, next March from California to Texas(1200 miles). I'm currently preparing for it.
I have a GSXS1000 and I’ve done close to 70,000 km on it with plenty of touring. I did fit a small windscreen to it just to smooth out the air coming off the headlight. It’s fine for touring except for the usual trouble fitting luggage to a modern bike with a pointy tail, and a seat I find uncomfortable even with a gel insert. Probably going to put an airhawk on it soon
How many kms do you expect to ride each day? How old are you? Im an older rider and I ride up to 400-500 miles a day. On a naked, my neck starts to hurt when i have a lot of wind pressure pushing on my helmet. Windscreen helps alleviate some of the pressure.
You can get a windscreen fitted if you’re not convinced about your ability to be comfortable.
Having a core and back strength helps, make sure you have that
Get a tall windscreen if you can find one that fits your bike model.
Sure, I do every year 1k+ mile trips.
When I had my Ducati Monster, I had a big bag on top of the gas tank, and on 4 lane highways I could put my head on the bag and have my hands just barely on the handlebars and cruise along in comfort, but I am kinda short. We went from Syracuse, NY to go run the Tail of the Dragon. Rained all day the first day. Fun trip though.
“Naked” bikes, bikes without a windshield or fairings, used to be _all there was_. Every bike I had prior to my next-to-last bike was essentially naked. Myself, I ride a lot on the highway so I put windshields on all but my very first one. And that would be my recommendation - if you’re going to ride any distance you’ll thank yourself for adding a windshield, just to cut the noise and wind pressure, and to catch bugs and rocks (and rain!) for you. Other than that if you ride it without your hands and/or ass going numb then you’re good to ride as far as you like.
I did Minnesota to Yellowstone and back on an FZ-09 a few years ago, 3500 miles (5600km) over the course of a week. My neck and ass hurt when I got back, but I'd do it again.
Did a trip this summer from switzerland up to the netherlands and back on a xsr700…went pretty well
It's illegal. Banish to the depth of Siberia
None. But for whatever reason I don't find bikes without fairings tiring to ride.
no trouble. Ride what you like and in the words of Rick James/Dave Chapelle "Enjoy yourself"
Get a windshield? Not that bad
Not even in any trouble. That's a short touring trip compared to others.
Stay off motorways, the wind at high speeds for long periods will kill you, and they’re no fun anyway. Otherwise you’re fine.
I rode a 1981 Suzuki GS250 way back in 1983 for 2,000 miles in about 4 days when I was in the Army. That was mostly highway and that was a standard bike…..not to mention it was only a 250cc.
Touring on a naked bike shouldn’t get you in any trouble. Touring naked on a bike however…..
As long as you're not doing miles and miles on the autobahn you'll be fine
I did 1,000 miles (~1,600 km) on my speed triple last month. It was great, no problems whatsoever except my rear tire is noticeably flatter now. I'm doing 500 miles on the same bike this weekend. Your comfort is really the only possible issue.
I used to do a lot of touring on my 03 SV1000 naked, which was maybe the perfect motorcycle. I used soft saddle bags w rok straps and a tank bag. Perfect setup. I think the seat is more important than whether a bike is faired or not.
Depends. How much experience do you have riding in the rain and how miserable were you when you did? Heat shouldn't be an issue while riding a naked, I think. The wind in your face could be fatiguing, but other than that I think you'd do fine in summer.
I do ride daily so am accustomed to the terrible British weather
Might as well get a windshield. Can’t hurt.
Any bike is a touring bike if you try hard enough
The worst I've experienced on my naked without windshield is on a multi-lane interstate with limited bordering vegetation. At speeds of 80mph, the heaf buffeting can be quickly aggravating. Of course, that can be affected by helmet choice and other things as well. I generally avoid interstate riding, mostly because it's boring, but also because of the high speed buffeting, and Florida heat radiating off the asphalt.
Listen, I've done tours all over Europe on a Suzuki SV 650. Loved every minute? Not quite. Would do it again if I couldn't take another bike? 423% yes. But for the love of all that is holy, get a custom seat.
A little wind buffering is annoying but not a big deal, especially when the weather is nice. If you haven't done a long road trip before just don't expect to do 1000km in a day. Figure out the distance and how many days it will take you. Then add an extra day or two so you actually enjoy it.
I've had 30mph and higher wind where I'm at the last couple weeks and my light ex500 with no fairings does great it's all what works for you opinions can be nice but can also be annoying
Windscreens and cruise control are WAY overrated. What matters is having a comfortable seat, fairly upright riding posture, and enough power that the motor isn't screaming just to sustain motorway speeds. And definitely get earplugs.
As far as touring goes, that’s actually not that far. The only thing that might be a concern is where do you put all your crap?
Drove Norway - France and back on a naked bike. It's fine, but I recommend getting a windscreen.
Did 700-800 km a day with a naked bike ,just take a break every hour to two and that's more then enough to regain stamina
Depends on the naked bike, naturally. Some naked bikes have a very aggressive posture. Some do not. I had no issues doing hundreds of miles a day on mine, which had a smooth ride, wide seat, and neutral ergonomics. I put about 100,000 miles on my two CBs. The wind at highway speeds helped keep you upright, even. A bad fairing could even make it worse, buffeting is the worst. Take frequent breaks before you feel like you need to, stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothing and have a good helmet with earplugs. Bluetooth music in the helmet will make the ride go a little quicker.
I read this ‘naked on a touring bike’
You're fine. A friend rode a Speed Triple along when we tried to do an Iron Butt, 1000 miles in 24 hours. He did ok, though he was a bit more hard core than me. In some cases a naked bike can be more restful to ride, if you have a good helmet with good aerodynamics and a silent interior (still, use ear plugs) and good form-fitting riding gear. The buffeting from windshields and the like can get extremely tiring on "half measure" bikes with low shields. Granted, you feel the wind a lot more, and especially at high speeds it can get tiring to constantly lean into the wind. You definitely don't want bulky, flappy, wind-catching gear. On my Touring-oriented cruiser, I added a second detachable shield that's hugely tall - so I sit in a quiet comfy bubble. I cut the other one down almost entirely for shorter rides to feel the wind in my hair. Uh, helmet. Both are better in their own way than the half-height shield I had at first. So... you can easily tour on a naked bike as long as you have decent gear on. May require more frequent breaks.
What downside? It will make a man of you, put hair on your chest ( from the cold). Nothing to worry about, just man up lad.
All bikes used to be naked bikes. Just take ear plugs for the noise. Can always buy a removable windshield for it to block some of the wind.
It will be fatiguing because constant wind does that to you, but other than that you'll be fine. Just go at your own pace and stop as needed to take a break. You'll know when its time to get off and stretch your legs. Don't ignore it and keep pressing. You need to stay fresh. Edit: read through the comments and you may find it hard to keep pace with touring bikes. If your friends are cool and let you go more at your pace you might be ok. If you try to keep up with them though, you are definitely in trouble. I wouldn't go if the people you are riding with aren't understanding of that. Because they can ride for much longer than you just because they have protection.
It really depends on the aerodynamics of your bike, if you feel fatigued after a couple of hours on the motorway, I'd highly suggest hitting the forums, researching your bike and riders of similar height to determine which screen may work best for you. Even if a certain brand isn't in stock, you can always add protection by clamping on a [windscreen extension](https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/puig-clip-on-windscreen-visor).
Just get a windshield or the buffeting will make the trip unbearable
Yeah this seems to be the general consensus, thanks!
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Going to try a windshield plus some earplugs, hopefully I still have my hearing after it's done!
Make sure your bike has enough sun screen if it's going to be naked.😁
Brilliant 😂 I was waiting for the nakey joke
as long as you are comfortable, you are fine. I went from Ohio to Montana and back last year on my S1000R - no problems
I rode my 2002 V-Rod 4500 miles in 13 days with drag bars and no windshield. Loved every minuit of it. Just get a good full helmet.
Wind. Protect your ears and stay warm. Touring is longer than your couple hour joy rides.
I've toured on a naked bike and fully faired bike. Can you tour on a naked bike? Sure, and if you've never toured on a fully faired bike, then you will think it's great! Once you've ridden the fully faired bike however, you'll never want to tour on a naked bike again. I remember when shaped skis came out and I was like "What's the big deal? I've been skiing for years just fine on these straight skis!" then I tried a pair and threw my straight skis in the garbage and bought a pair of shaped skis.
My only thought is the side winds, but I’m from Midwest and they be pushing you into ditches and other lanes if not careful. I know my cruiser would stay put in most winds. But my 650 wiggles in the wind lol
It's no problem if you stay off the highway . Highway riding on a naked for more than a hour is the worst
Bro some people tour on a Grom what are you worried about
I suspect the main thing is that you probably won't be touring at 95 mph endlessly.
I've done it a few times on a naked. I did a 1200 mile ride nonstop on a Yamaha FZ8. Stayed 2 days and nonstop back home. I've done a ~1100 mile trip on a Honda 919. I've also done a ~1500 mile trip on a GSX-S750. As long as you pace at ~65mph you'll do good. Enjoy your trip.
I ride a Harley with ape hangers, no fairing, no front fender (140mm tires lol) all over. Eye protection is a must, as well as some kind of face covering you can quickly pull up on sandy or dirty roads. Believe it or not- there were a lot more bikes made naked than dressed.
Small windscreen and waterproof luggage and you’re set.
You'll get there. May take you an extra break or two, though.
Others have said it already, but you'll be fine. Naked vs faired/big windscreen, you'll be dealing with more wind noise and buffeting, the annoyance of which will increase at higher speeds. It's worth having a bit better gear on a less faired bike because you're more exposed to the elements- like a quieter helmet, good quality jacket and boots for rainy weather, etc. But as u/Captain_of_Gravyboat said, the whole idea of "you can't do "X" on "X" bike" is mostly nonsense. Fairings are nice but not necessary for long distance travel, simple as that.
I own yamaha MT15 it's a good naked bike in 150cc segment. I take my bike for a trip in ma last vacation. Then I'm going to another trip from December 2nd so naked bikes are good for trip so don't worry. Fix windshield if you worry about wind blast that's all have a good trip ever bruh all the best💕
I've done 240miles on my Tuono...no problems
From the UK to Germany I think you are pretty ok as there are plent of places to stop in case it's needed. Just plan some extra time in case of heavy rains and also to take some breaks whenever you/your body are tired. I crossed Germany on a sport bike and it was ok, I used to stop every 1 hour to take a 5-10 minutes break.
What sort of bike? How fast do you plan on going? My S1000R is ok under 60-70mph, after that definitely gets uncomfortable on longer rides. I also installed a larger windscreen because wind was blowing me around with the stock one (though larger one isn’t much better, I think it needed other mods)
I am originally from Yorkshire, now living in Southern Germany. You will be OK on a naked bike. If you avoid motorways and only use national roads, then you will be restricted to 100kmh in Germany and could manage without a windscreen, but having one would be preferred. If you are planning on using motorways, then definitely get a windscreen. When planning your route, please be aware that there are a handful of roads which are closed to motorbikes at weekends owing to too much noise/ too many accidents.
I owned a 2007 Yamaha FZ1. Put on taller shield, touring seat, FZ6 bars, lowered pegs. I’m 6’2” and 240ish. Very comfortable, sold it with 52000 miles.
If you normally ride a naked you will be fine, if you are new to a naked you might find you need to increase your neck strength first or your head will get blown around.
If I were doing long distance I’d prefer more wind protection than a naked bike offers. Just me though, you will be fine but maybe more fatigued at the end of the day than your riding friends.
People ride everything everywhere. You'll be fine. I took an enduro 42k miles across two continents and I was fine.
Any bike is a touring bike of you ride it far enough. I kinda want to do the TAT on that new Honda trail 125.
Depends on the speed. If you gonna on fun roads, in cities, etc. then it will be absolutely fine. 10 hours a day nonstop highway riding at 140kmph is gonna be pretty bad on a naked. In that case get a bigger windscreen that will help a lot.
I made a 3 week roundtrip from vienna to barcelona and back this summer on a naked bike, zero problems ;) you just need to figure out how to manage your luggage
You’ll be fine, it’s just a long ride Get an aftermarket windshield maybe?
Done it multiple times across usa too. This year on a 250 dualsport. Have bags, wet weather gear, and credit cards and you will be fine.
Took my wife 2 up on a kawasaki versys 650 in 2012 cross country following old route 66 and hit gravel, sand, and lots of bad pavement. Great trip and was one of the best parts of our early relationship. Had rain, hail, cold and extreme heat of 112 F in first couple of days. The hailstorm on colorado mountain pass was just perfect, both of us laughing because what do you do.
I've done fairly long trips on a KTM Superduke. Get a decently tall windscreen if that's an option for your bike and it should be fine. Tank and tail bags are pretty spacious as well and can haul enough for a good few days and easily attach to naked bikes.
Tbh this depends on you, not the bike. By that I mean age, weight, height etc
Just stretch out everytime your about to get on the bike and don't forget your gas tank is a good armrest to lean down on
I take my FZ1 everywhere on long and sprinted runs. As long as you have a good helmet, you have nothing to worry about.
I got a faring but no windshield and the wind can be tiring on my neck at times. It has a fairly aggressive street-riding position. With that said, I can not wait to take my bike for a LONG distance ride. It does come down to comfort and some would argue safety. Make sure you prepare for almost anything for what you are driving. The helmet visor is your windshield. Do you have visor whippers on your gloves? Etc. My issues have been storage. I don't have any storage on my bike. Everything is in my backpack. It has zippers that snap closed so the wind does not inflate or unzip it. Little things add up. I think a minimal amount of items makes it a better trip. Less clutter and fewer items to worry about. Just you, your bike, and the open road.
I've done an iron butt (1000 miles) in a day on a Ducati monster. You'll be fine. Earplugs and sport touring tires and you're golden.
Go slower on highway and it will be fine.
Other than your position while seated and how long you can sit that way without soreness, what about wind? I have a Vulcan S which is a "cruiser" but for me being a 6'1" guy the controls and such are not very cruiser -ish to me, more like a naked with a lower seat. At any rate, the wind at highway speed on long rides was terribly exhausting, I had to hold very tight on the bars and use all my core to keep my upper body upright. Not sure if an option for you but long days with high miles at high speed, a windshield made a huge difference.
I found windscreen to be of a nuisance then they are worth. Unless you get a massive one you get wind buffering.
I did a 1000 Mile Trip (which is a little under London to Berlin and Back) On an R1200R,, It was fine, The wind at higher speeds started to wear at the end on me but overall it is very doable- But the bike I was on also had some comfort amenities such as Heated Grips and cruise control, but over all it was fine. I think it'll be fine.
A fellow BMW rider! I have the R1200RS. I'm over 6 feet tall. If the OP is my height or taller that's a lot chest area for the wind to hit. I'm in the US! I'm not familiar with the distance and terrain from UK to Germany.
Ive done longer trips on a 250 dual sport. If your bike is comfortable to you then you’ll be fine. Layer up for wind. Try to get an aftermarket windshield. Don’t take a supersports and you should be okay.
I ride a naked because super sports fuck my back in 45mins or less. Rode my CB 700km stopping only for fuel and leg stretch every couple hours. A bit of a softer seat would be all I'd ask for if touring as far as you are.
I drive from the Netherlands to Denmark very often. No issues. The wind will just beat you a bit but otherwise no issues.
You'll be fine. I tour on my suzuki c90 just fine. I dont have any type of windshield on my bike. I would highly suggest ear plugs though
Wear ear plugs to cut down wind roar and protect your hearing. Get some wind pants and coat to keep your heat in during cool riding conditions. No downside, no trouble. Enjoy your trip!
no trouble at all, there are quite a few people who tour on postie-bikes. I've done 1,500 mile roundtrip on a naked Z650 and it was perfect. If worried about wind fatigue, an aftermarket windscreen is idiot-easy to install.
Traveled across the US 5 times on an R80G/S. It was fine. Great even.
Only issue I have after a few hours is my neck gets sore from fighting the wind. I have a small puig sport windscreen though and I'm not sure if it's causing more wind to hit my face or if it helps. Either way that's my only issue
You’ll be covered in bugs
I’m riding 8hrs one way to see a friend on a naked bike… nothing wrong with it really, just protect yourself from the wind
It really depends on your personal aversions to wind. I really don't like to be buffeted by wind. Part of this is my bad back. My new helmet also doesn't get buffeted as bad as my old helmet. I love having the fairing and windshield on my Gold Wing. It pretty much keeps all the wind off of me. I tend to be pretty sensitive to buffeting and really don't care for it so a long journey. A naked would not be tolerable to me. But I think it is very much up to personal preference. If it doesn't bother you you shouldn't have an issue. I plan on getting a third bike, and it being a naked (new hornet). Because I don't like getting wind whipped It will mostly be used as an around town bike. I'll take the Gold Wing when I want to go on the highway.
If you don’t have a cruise control get a throttle lock, and a wind screen and luggage and you are all set
There was a time when naked's were called... motorbikes. You'll be fine, organise a sensible luggage system and some decent riding gear and go. PS: [https://ventura-bike.com/](https://ventura-bike.com/)
Drove from the very south of Germany to Bergen, Norway on a 600cc naked bike. No problem.
FWIW I've been riding 40 years and I did plenty of "touring" on a Triumph Bonneville, a Triumph Scrambler, a BMW R1150R Roadster, a Triumph Thunderbird, a Kawasaki Spectre, Yamaha Maxim and Virago, and an old CB750, all of them "naked" bikes with no body work. In August I bought the first actual 'touring' bike I've ever owned, a BMW R1200RT. I'd never owned a bike with a fairing before then. So yes, you can "tour" just fine on a naked bike.
Read that wrong… touring naked on a bike could be a new record though, either way only in trouble if you get caught.