So having just completed my first ( with the good lady) Euro trip, what do I think of the CT as a long distance hack???Well …. as a newby I went prepared :-
Breakdown insurance ----Not needed

( No surprise there)
Top up oil ………………………Not needed-- ditto-----
Puncture repair kit…………Not needed .. was a little worried as the Bridgestones only had a few mm left -- but still have a few mm left .. tyre pressures checked --- no change from a week ago !!!
waterproofs …………………..Not needed ( i know nothing to do with the bike - but hey )
Only thing I did to the bike was - to lower the Vario screen 25mm or so and fit it up with fuel - every 150 miles
OK really minor niggles-- The standard seat -- ok for 2 hours-then well, you want a break
The side stand - I really get worried about it - you have to park it on a firm- flat surface, loose stone- soil --No way
The fairing -- why no cubby hole/locker???
really ( really ) minor niggle ( well -- It is a tourer !!) It has no power band ?/ It has no happy cruising speed ??? 80/90/100
I settled at 130/140 kph , but I would look down at the speedo and sometimes it was going faster -you could not tell from the feel of the bike ( only the wind of course).
So to sum up -- Great bike , will tour with no effort - even fully loaded- but would not recommend NOT going off the hard stuff 2 up
