sport-touring motorcycle style

[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!