sport-touring motorcycle style

[croston71]

New to the forum- but was wondering do most of you favor the sport or the touring. Looking at bikes it seems a bike with good position loses all sport styling. I ride a Honda Interceptor & considering a  Kawasaki Concours. What is your choice bike?  
I like what I read in another post Sport-Touring isn't what  you ride but how.
Southern -Ohio        Go-Bucks

[blackbeltrider]

I have a Concours, bought new in 01, that now has 90,000 km (54,000 mi.) on the clock. I have found it to be a good all-round bike - comfortable for me for a 16 hour day on the long freeway drone, and very entertaining to ride on curvy roads. Annually, I meet my brother (ST 1100 owner from DFW) half way between his place and mine (a 2 day approx. 1500 mile ride) and we go looking for all the curves we can find for a week and then return home. The Concours has the fuel tank capacity (nearly 6.5 Imp gal) that gives near 300 miles between fill ups - this aids making distance as fuel stops cut average speed down quite a bit. It also has the handling ability to be plenty of fun in the curves.

But it is top heavy when full of gas, and a fairly heavy bike overall - if your inseam is less than 34 inches, I would be cautious whether to choose it or not.

Mine has been as reliable as a stone - one headlight bulb, one tail light bulb, and one speedometer cable (my fault) are the only failures I have had in the miles noted above.

Weather protection is very good, there are a lot of aftermarket add-ons available, and the COG group have a great deal of knowledge regarding the bike and modifications that can be made to it to increase comfort.

Maintenance is relatively easy for normal stuff like valve adjustments, oil changes, plugs, etc.

Power is good - when you hit 7500 rpm it feels like a giant elastic band is launching you - just one long smooth rush up to 10,000.

While they were being sold, they were a bargain price unit as well. If you can find a leftover '06, you will likely get an even better buy.

Of course this represents only my experience. Until Kawasaki came out with the Concours 14, I was really struggling with what to replace mine with.  

[goldylocks303]

I think most of us are desperately trying to shoot the middle.  We want both, we want it all.  It's not that we don't want razor sharp sport handling, it's just we want to ride twisty roads in other states.  We're looking for some sort of perfect compromise.  Based on what I hear I think a lot of us are finding it with a variety of different bikes.  

eD

[andmoon]

I think most of us are desperately trying to shoot the middle.  We want both, we want it all.  It's not that we don't want razor sharp sport handling, it's just we want to ride twisty roads in other states.  We're looking for some sort of perfect compromise.  Based on what I hear I think a lot of us are finding it with a variety of different bikes.  

eD

+1

I used to select the 'faster' choice...now I find it more fun to try to ride the slow bike fast than to modulate the speed of a fast one.

[STI-51]

I think too many riders think that the more miles one travels, the more of a die-hard one is.  Sorry, straight-line highway travel for 1,000 miles per day is not sport-touring, it's penis size compensation so one can brag to his friends about how many miles he traveled on his bike today.  I'll take the sport and if it happens to consume 500 miles of backroads then so be it!

[GRN]

If I could only have one for everything, it would be my ST13... but lucky for me, I don't have to make that choice!

 

[croston71]

I am a tall rider and have struggled with that, I just saw anew Concours 14 ( Grrrreat) . The more I look at it the Concour sounds better  & better.  Anyone that can recommend an interesting  (curvy & scenic) route  in the Ohio, WV, Kentucky area please post.  Thanks for in put  about the Concours.     Riding back roads is what it is all about , I just would like to ride some back roads I haven't  seen before.   Thanks again!  

[DredheadV2.0]

I think too many riders think that the more miles one travels, the more of a die-hard one is.  Sorry, straight-line highway travel for 1,000 miles per day is not sport-touring,

Having done 1000 mile days on the highway, I agree wholeheartedly.  And I think anyone else who's done it would agree as well.  

But...

it's penis size compensation so one can brag to his friends about how many miles he traveled on his bike today.  I'll take the sport and if it happens to consume 500 miles of backroads then so be it!

Feel free to remove that chip from your shoulder any time.  It doesn't match your outfit.

[bem136]

Also new - Sold a v65 Sabre bought a new 06' FJRA.  Only a few miles but it leans toward the SPORT side of Sport Touring.  I thought about the Kaw but didn't want to wait (I also thought the sand casting marks on the show bike was kinda rough and would want to see if a production unit was a little more finished).  Considered BMW's R & K, but just couldn't justify the initial purchase price, high service price and what appears to be below average quality as far as problems are concerned.  The Beemer's do look VERY finished however, really nice mill work on all the aluminum.  ST was the only other real option, was a close call, but I thought the FJR was TOURING enough for how I'm now riding.

Best of luck with your decision.

Regards,

B

[STI-51]

Feel free to remove that chip from your shoulder any time.  It doesn't match your outfit.

Ha ha, come on, it was a little funny!  What other purpose does an IronButt serve than bragging rights?  Anyway, granted there are times when you just want to get from A to B and the highway becomes necessary.  But traveling distance just for the sake of traveling distance (especially on the highway) is somewhat meaningless… mind-numbing,  curveless miles and no time to enjoy the surroundings and novelties along the way.

[cbsnbiker]

I am a tall rider and have struggled with that, I just saw anew Concours 14 ( Grrrreat) . The more I look at it the Concour sounds better  & better.  Anyone that can recommend an interesting  (curvy & scenic) route  in the Ohio, WV, Kentucky area please post.  Thanks for in put  about the Concours.     Riding back roads is what it is all about , I just would like to ride some back roads I haven't  seen before.   Thanks again!  

Actually, we'd love it if you recommended such roads to us.  

I could have used them last summer, when I rode to Kentucky.

P.S. Welcome to STN.

[Nny]

I am a tall rider and have struggled with that, I just saw anew Concours 14 ( Grrrreat) . The more I look at it the Concour sounds better  & better.  Anyone that can recommend an interesting  (curvy & scenic) route  in the Ohio, WV, Kentucky area please post.  Thanks for in put  about the Concours.     Riding back roads is what it is all about , I just would like to ride some back roads I haven't  seen before.   Thanks again!  

Being a new rider myself I don't know all the good roads out here in Nor Cal, but what I've done to find them is looking on Google Maps.  If you punch in your address and then just drag the screen around you can find lots of curvy stuff...  Well I can anyway, don't know about Ohio...  And then just hop on your bike and go check it out.  You won't really know if it's good or not if you don't ride it yourself.

[andmoon]

Being a new rider myself I don't know all the good roads out here in Nor Cal, but what I've done to find them is looking on Google Maps.  If you punch in your address and then just drag the screen around you can find lots of curvy stuff...  Well I can anyway, don't know about Ohio...  And then just hop on your bike and go check it out.  You won't really know if it's good or not if you don't ride it yourself.

just head west and you have curvies everywhere.
or head east and ride the curvies up to Berkeley starting~milpitas

[STI-51]

I am a tall rider and have struggled with that, I just saw anew Concours 14 ( Grrrreat) . The more I look at it the Concour sounds better  & better.  Anyone that can recommend an interesting  (curvy & scenic) route  in the Ohio, WV, Kentucky area please post.  Thanks for in put  about the Concours.     Riding back roads is what it is all about , I just would like to ride some back roads I haven't  seen before.   Thanks again!  

There was a poll in the old ST forums that ranked WV as having the best roads for motorcycling in the east.  So it looks like you are in the right area.

[Nny]

just head west and you have curvies everywhere.
or head east and ride the curvies up to Berkeley starting~milpitas

Yeah, I know.. I was just extolling the virtues of Google Maps for finding new places to ride.  

[forester]

A couple of responses:

1. In my opinion, North Carolina has better roads for sport-touring than WV, but WV has a LOT of twisty roads, as does KY and S. Ohio.

2.  As for looking for one bike that offers as much as possible for our riding pleasure: +1!

[STI-51]

A couple of responses:

1. In my opinion, North Carolina has better roads for sport-touring than WV, but WV has a LOT of twisty roads, as does KY and S. Ohio.

2.  As for looking for one bike that offers as much as possible for our riding pleasure: +1!

That's b/c NC has the Dragon!  I think one of the reasons why WV was rated so highly was I guess their roads are pretty well maintained (although I cannot confirm personally whether this is true since I hace never ridden there).  In NC, that's not as much of an issue.  I see you're from Michican, the roads must get pretty blasted up there after harsh winters!  

[forester]

That's b/c NC has the Dragon!  I think one of the reasons why WV was rated so highly was I guess their roads are pretty well maintained (although I cannot confirm personally whether this is true since I hace never ridden there).  In NC, that's not as much of an issue.  I see you're from Michican, the roads must get pretty blasted up there after harsh winters!  

See my pothole thread on here.  I used to live in Western NC (Clyde, NC).  The dragon is only one of MANY of the thousands of miles of twisty roads in that region.  There is one road between Franklin and Culowee area that just seems like a big long twisted up spring that goes on for miles.  I remember taking the road wondering when it was ever going to end.  I think the answer was over an hour's drive time one-way not a straightaway longer than a 1/4 mile the entire length IIRC.  The views off the Cherohala skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway are breathtaking, too.  With the exception to occasional falling rock patches, I don't remember NC having poorly maintained roads like we have here in MI.

Right now we're back to winter.  If anyone rides anything around here now, it will be a snowmobile.  Supposedly 12" of fresh snow is coming tomorrow.  I'll believe that when I see ski it.  

[johnnyb]

snip.....Sorry, straight-line highway travel for 1,000 miles per day is not sport-touring, it's penis size compensation so one can brag to his friends about how many miles he traveled on his bike today.  .....snip

Naww...It's how some of us get to other places we want to do 500 mile days in the twisties.  No compensation required  

[STI-51]

Naww...It's how some of us get to other places we want to do 500 mile days in the twisties.  No compensation required  

Apparantly you didn't read the entire post or fully understand it as 500 miles in the twisties is not the highway.  
Then, I wrote furthermore almost the exact thing you just wrote.

Besides, it was written all in good humor.

[johnnyb]

Apparantly you didn't read the entire post or fully understand it as 500 miles in the twisties is not the highway.  
Then, I wrote furthermore almost the exact thing you just wrote.

Besides, it was written all in good humor.

Hey, that's why the little guy with the fingers is smilin'.

But yeah, I read the whole thing.  I understand that 500 miles of twisties is not the highway.  I'm saying some of us take a 1000 mile jaunt to get to those 500 miles of twisties.  It's all good.  I manage to enjoy my time on the slab.  I probably spend more time sightseeing there than in the twisties (too busy concentrating on riding).
Cheers

[tedrbr]

To the original poster,
Guess I lean toward the touring with an emphasis on having a sporty ride along the way, and at my "destination".  Sometimes I want to get some miles under my tires getting to where I want to do my touring..... hence a bike comfortable enough to put in a 500 to 800 mile "travel" day to get where I want to go. Vacation time can be a precious commodity, and once you've run everything within 1 or 2 or three days distance of your home, you look further and further out.  When I lived back in the northeast, and started touring out west, getting from Pennsylvania to the foothills of the Rockies was done as fast as possible.

But just as important to me to have a fun ride when I get where I'm going.  Canyon carving and nimble riding along back country roads.
There's a square area about 40 mile per side in around Asheville, NC that can keep me entertained for several days at a time.

Is the ride position of an ST13 with bar risers less "sporty".... probably, but I won't need a chiropractor at the end of the day, and it's a cross country trip, not track day.

Are hard bags and top trunk on an ST13 less "sporty" than the clean lines of many other bikes..... yep, but I can unlock and be in the motel room in a minute.  I worry less about how secure my gear in hard luggage are as compared to when I ran with soft luggage on other bikes in the past.  The hard bags also allow me to use the bike around town for errands and grocery shopping as well easily enough.

Is a bike with a large fairing and adjustable windscreen less sporty than a more sport-oriented ST ride?  Guess so.... but I plan to get caught in varying temperatures, rain, high winds, and putting lots of miles along the hiway at times.  That fairing, windscreen, plus wrist rest and heated handgrips have seen me through many miles in bad weather.

Does wearing armored textiles make me look less "sexy" and "sporty" than full leathers   ..... certainly.... but I don't carry separate rain gear.  Face shield down, close a few zippered vents, adjust the windscreen... and continue to roll on unless it looks to be a *very* serious downpour.  Again.... this ain't track day.

[STI-51]

Hey, that's why the little guy with the fingers is smilin'.

But yeah, I read the whole thing.  I understand that 500 miles of twisties is not the highway.  I'm saying some of us take a 1000 mile jaunt to get to those 500 miles of twisties.  It's all good.  I manage to enjoy my time on the slab.  I probably spend more time sightseeing there than in the twisties (too busy concentrating on riding).
Cheers

Got it... I was also referring to my post after that b/c I do realize there are times when highway travel becomes a necessary evil.  I think it depends on the bike too.  Some bikes, including my own are just dreadful on long highway stints.

[ZR7Srider]

I agree tht most sport bikes with the styling I like have a tortuous riding position, particulary those of us at age 50 and up. I found that my used Kaw ZR7S gives me some sport styling with a comfortable riding position. Before I purchased I really liked the Suzuki SV650 S, but once I investigated what it would cost to adapt the bike with handlebars with a little rise to them (as opposed to the clip ons) it seemed like a costly venture.

I think the new Concourse 14 is an awesome looking tourer with the monster powerplant of the Z14. But truth be know the Ninja's and Gixxers are still at the top of my list when it comes purely to looks. Toobad I'm too old to handle the ergo's

[county]

I think too many riders think that the more miles one travels, the more of a die-hard one is.  Sorry, straight-line highway travel for 1,000 miles per day is not sport-touring, it's penis size compensation so one can brag to his friends about how many miles he traveled on his bike today.  I'll take the sport and if it happens to consume 500 miles of backroads then so be it!

Well, that sounds like the post of someone who doesn't ride many miles.

(And likes to talk about penises)

[STI-51]

Well, that sounds like the post of someone who doesn't ride many miles.

(And likes to talk about penises)

I typically do 8-12 hour days when I ride.  Since they are generally back roads, it may only consume 500-600 miles.  I know, pretty weak.  The equivalent amount of time strictly on the highway would equate to many more miles.

[Snowbird]

I ride a Honda Interceptor & considering a  Kawasaki Concours.

If it's style you're after, keep looking.

[RickC1957]

  I ride in mismatched leathers and a ST3 with side and top case, topped off with a tank bag, then put red/white reflective tape on the hard cases so I look like a 18 wheeler from the rear. I couldn't careless about the "styling", the ST3 is quite nimble in the twisties and super comfortable for the average 8 to 10 hours a day I'm riding.  

[Windblown]

If I had to settle for one bike......  


Who am I kidding! That's not likely!    

I like a sporty pace. I like a bike that compromises by having better ergos than a full out sport bike because it let's me ride at that pace longer!

My Sprint ST (somewhat VFR like in ergos) is a lot of fun but not that great of a multi day machine IMHO and doesn't offer much for the pillion.

My Connie is more fun than it looks, and can carry a bunch of stuff along for the ride. (and the wife likes it)

My R6 is a lot of fun, and stays on the track where it was designed to run and I can have that fun without going to jail.

I've been eyeing FJR's as a possible replacement for both the Connie & Sprint.  

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

High miles or low miles it doesnt bother me cause I am not working and I am on the bike  

[totenkinder]

Looking at bikes it seems a bike with good position loses all sport styling.

Au Contraire.

[hunter3705]

Look at and sit on as many different bikes as you can, and read up on them on forums like this.  Every make/model of bike has their own forum, and they are a wealth of information.  If you're considering a Concours, check out the COG (Concours Owners Group) website.  The new "connie" is based on the ZX-14 and is going to be an awesome bike.  Everyone I've ever talked to who owns a Honda ST 1300 loves them, so you probably couldn't go wrong with one of those.  Guys who ride BMW's swear by them, and admittedly, they're nice looking bikes.  Whatever bike you pick is going to be some form of compromise.  It's got to be a balance of what you want/need vs what you can comfortably afford.  Ride safe!