What's Really New in Touring?

What's the latest in touring bikes?  Seems like HD is selling the same bike year over year while the Goldwing keeps getting better?  Never ridden a beemer, but I hear it rides like a dream.  The Victory Vision and their new cross country look awesome but how's the ride? I prefer American, but I want the best bike not the biggest brand. If HD has the best bike I'd buy- but I don't need all the HD gear to be a rider - I just need some miles.

Looking for some dialog around this. I am assume the end of the year will be a great time to buy - so a little research never hurts.  

Just found this article on Victory vs. HD..... I heard HD quality was not great - but didn't know about Victor?

http://tempered-motorcycles.com/652/victory-tops-motorcycle-brands-in-overall-quality/  

Well, every individual has different experiences. The only new bike I ever owned that never once went back to the dealer for warranty work, was a Harley. The new bike that needed the most warranty repairs, was a GoldWing. If you want reliability, sticking with a brand that does incremental changes instead of coming out with a completely redesigned model every 5 or 6 years, can be a real eye opener.

regards,
Joe
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Hurry up?!? Why? I have all the rest of my life to do everything I'm going to do.  

My take is,
depends on what you want to do with your touring bike (no, I AM serious).

The Vision has a unique look, some say futuristic, some say a 1950's person's design of futuristic, that's a matter of taste. Wife and I both love the big V taillight. It gets noticed for safety, and identifies the brand.

On the other hand, those side bags on it are far smaller than they look. There are baffles on the inside to keep luggage in one spot.
I think Harley (ultra classic), Honda(wing), Yamaha(Venture), and even Kawi (old and new Voyager) have the luggage carrying part sorted out a little better, but, if you're only doing weekend trips, it won't matter.
Someone I ride with goes thru a Wing every 3 years, trades them in at 100k. If they weren't generally reliable, she wouldn't be riding it solo all over the US.

Yes, no matter who makes it, there are lemons, and there are problems.  

thanks....  

Thanks, good tip on the Vision luggage. I also like the Big V for safety and it reminds me of an old coupe deville. I have heard Honda is the best bike for the miles. You think it's better than BMW for reliability? I had a R1100 and loved it, but want something for longer rides, not across the country but not across the street.

Hopefully the dealers let me take a few out for a ride....  

Nope, not going to try to guess on BMW vs Wing.
I've got a Wing, and it's reliable, maneuverable, and quick. The BMW does all of that too. Slightly different ergonomics.
The one absolute concession I'll give to the BMW K bike is, it has an electric center stand.

I'm sorry, that's just so damned civilized.  

Just finished a 3100+ mile trip on a Victory Vision....with 2 other Visions on the trip. The motor is bulletproof and the wind/rain protection was amazing. We rode in everything from 37 and raining, to downpours, to 91 plus 90% humidity. The weakness of the Vision is the heat in stop and go traffic in 90+ temps as it is only oil cooled. I have the lower wind deflectors on my bike and it help s immensely with dissipating heat when you turn them in to blow the heat away from the engine.

The positives of the Vision FAR outway the heat. The seat is amazingly comfortable and I installed the Utopia backrest and it allows for so many different comfortable riding positions. You will not find a stock seat better than the Vision's. Handling on this bike at slow speeds is outstanding and it just gets even better taking curves at higher speeds. The bags are small but they can carry a lot more stuff than you think. We were on a 7 day trip and I went without the tour pack (my buddies used theirs). I had enough room for all my leathers, 2 coats, extra gloves, 1/2 helmet, a small tool kit, and a bike cover in the side bags. I put my clothes in a travel bag on the back seat....if my wife had come with me I would have easily had enough room in the tour pack.

IMHO, There are 3 bikes that stand out in this class: the BMW, the Goldwing, and the Vision. I chose the Vision for the ability to have multiple riding positions, but that's just me. Other may disagree and have their reasons why the BMW or Wing are better bikes.