Sport-Touring.Net - Can I consider this a "Sport Touring" motorcycle?

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Sport touring refers to either a style of motorcycle design, or a philosophy of riding. It is an attempt to blend performance with long-distance capabilities while providing comfort and relative safety to the rider. Sport touring has evolved over decades from simply strapping a bag to the back of any sporty motorcycle to a very specified genre of motorcycle riding for which specific models of motorcycles, luggage, riding apparel and other accessories have been designed.

Can that bike be used for sport-touring? Absolutely. How will depend on how much touring you plan to do, whether 1-up or 2-up,
how comfortable you want to be on the trip, and how much you want to spend, and what weather conditions you are willing to ride in.

My first "sport-tourer" was in 1986... I learned to ride on a KZ 750 LTD....had a padded sissy bar, which was a great place to bungee down a small cooler, a tent, a sleeping bag, and an surplus Army large Alice ruck sack with gear. A few tools (and extra spark plugs and fuzes) went under the seat. I rode hard and fast and saw a lot of the Northeastern United States on that bike when I was 18 to 24 years old. Nights spent sleeping on rest stop benches, tents at campsites, and the occasional motel to get a hot shower and sleep off of the ground. Every couple days would find me eating a bag lunch from some deli at a laudr-o-mat, looking over maps, washing my (few) travel clothes, and talking to the locals (actually, long trips still see me doing that).

These days, for that style bike, I'd be thinking about a full flip-face helmet, textile jacket (w vents and liner) and pants (so no rain gear needed to be carried along --- and not black, so hot summer sun doesn't roast me on ride..... I will never..never own a black helmet again.....), good gloves and boots (read: comfortable and waterproof), a wrist-rest for the throttle, a tank bag with clear map packet on top, a combination of hard or soft luggage to carry riding gear/clothes/tools/camping gear, and an accessory outlet for charging cell phone, iPod, GPS, or heated vest.

If two-up riding looks to be a possibility, think very carefully when picking that luggage..... some soft-bags are designed with passenger in mind, but usually require a luggage rack. Then, if you don't ride two up, you've got room for yet another bag. River-duffel (kayak-bags) also work well for some people.

Heated grips are a must for me these days..... but I've been spoiled by using them in the past in very miserable weather rides. Too easy to add them to about any bike too. Depending on how much output the alternator gives that bike, I might consider additional lights.

I prefer lockable hard bags over soft-sided.... they are just useful for even day trips and commuting by bike on day-to-day basis, although I know some hate how their sport bikes look with luggage, but I like the convenience and flexibility they provide.

Figure out what you want to try to do with your bike, and spend the winter working toward that goal for summer riding.

Don't have to try everything at once either..... one thing at a time.

Have fun.

Topic: Can I consider this a "Sport Touring" motorcycle? (Read 5410 times)