Most Overlooked and Underrated Touring Motorcycles (PICK 3)

[Papa Lazarou]

Honda CG125. This bike can do anything and do it for a pittance. Easy to work on, yet pretty much bullet proof-which is why there are a trillion Chinese copies out there.
Honda C90. This machine got the World onto 2 wheels. It has also outsold everything else. For a very good reason.
Triumph Daytona 600. Not as fast as its rivals but a much better made machine that will outlast them.


Old bikes:
Honda C90
Honda CG125
BSA M21.  

[R Doug]

The Versys takes the lead.  That does not surprise me.  

[Hotbrakes]

The list above represents older and late model sport(y) touring models which don't seem to be discussed a whole heck of a lot on STN or I see very few owners of these bikes.  I believe we overlook some great machines and the more popular ones dominate most of the discussion.  

I believe these owners are too busy mile munching to waste time chatting about how good their bikes are.

KTM Superduke.  Add some hard luggage space and you can knee drag across the country with ease.  The mechanical quirks just require a little extra maintenance but the Big 4 have yet to produce a bike anywhere close to the quality of KTM.

VFR.  It was also overlooked by its creator and sold as an overpriced budget bike.  

[HipGnosis]

Ducati ST3/4 - quintessential sport-touring bike.  Nobody has done it better.  It's a shame Ducati doesn't make another one today.

KTM SM-T   -   Seems to be a lot of discussion and focus over the past few years about the Tiger and the new Multi.  I believe the SM-T is the perfect compromise between the two.

Triumph Sprint RS - partially naked triple with good ergos which can be had at a very reasonable price today.  I'm surprised more people aren't buying used RS's.  But then again, maybe the owners aren't selling.  

Honorable Mentions:  Versys and Uly

I don't think the ST3/4 is underrated...  I think it's lack of popularity is due to maintenance history of pervious Ducatis and Ducatis dealer sparsity.
Ditto (with minor adjustments) for KTM and ULY.
Dealer support is a very valid consideration on a sport-touring purchase.
I had a Sprint RS.  I have (err had, one recently dropped Triumph) 2 dealers w/in an hour.  Got it used at a very good price and got a good trade-in; the BMW dealer also owned the other place that (then) carried Triumph.  If I could only have one bike, this is my first thought.  In Lucifer orange.

I'd give honorable mention to Wee-Strom.

[bassjones]

I would personally love a Norge, but there just aren't any dealers close enough if I needed any warranty work done, and I'd be worried about the limited dealer network on a trip as well.  Otherwise, that is by far my favorite of the big ST bikes.

[drew95gt]

I think my bike (2005 Kawasaki Z750S) should be on that list, it is a very capable ST bike that is very underrated and overlooked.

[jsanford]

I voted Aprilia and Norge, but my write-in would be my Monster 695. On a six-day trip last summer it was nothing short of a hoot, even with a decent sidewind.  It got great mileage, adapted well to elevation changes and didn't overheat.  The motor ran really well for long stretches and the torque was very useable in undulating road conditons.  

[MIDSKIER]

ZZR1200, of course.  It was never the fastest.  Nor the best handling.  Nor the prettiest.  But it does everything pretty well.  I keep looking for something sporty, reasonably quick, and well suited for 2-up.  Everything else comes up short in some category.  Usually 2-up capability.  Smaller & smaller is the trend these days.  At 4 or 5 times the cost, a C14 would probably be better, but not 4 or 5 times better.  Big ZZR's are so cheap now that if I trash mine, I can replace it for the cost of a couple of insurance payments on something new.

I should have voted for something else and just left this as our secret

the more I ride it the more I like it and harder it becomes to find something newer to replace it

[Chuck 500]

Is it possible to "un-vote".  I meant to vote for Honda NT700V but hit ST1300?

I just got an NT700V.  More I ride the better I like it.  It may be underrated because it has only been here a year.  The "press" seems mixed wit comments like under powered, dull etc.  That said, I have already seen more than one reference to riders doing SS1000s, some more than one.  The bike seems more than able to run down the road all day at normal highway speeds without strain.

My former bike was a Suzuki GS500F which I rode 15,000 miles in about two years.  I rode mine all over east Texas.  It is capable and reliable but seems to be pushing on longer (450+) rides.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[jay547]

I think my bike (2005 Kawasaki Z750S) should be on that list, it is a very capable ST bike that is very underrated and overlooked.

that's what i have now.

[Fourstring]

Almost as comfortable as my old VFR (95) with just slightly lower clip ons, seat to pegs and reach to the bars is almost the same. Loads more power and a lot less weight. SPORT-tourer is the game.

Honorable mention: Daytona 955

Man's talking.  If this was an option, woulda been my vote.

Viffer with ballz:




Honorable mention- Ninja 650.  But I voted for the Versys because they're kissing cousins.  (But I still want a Dullsville in the garage.  Like when they don't cost ten grand.)

 

[CaptWSims]

Not surprisingly, I consider my bike to be one of the most underrated sport touring bikes.  The Triumph Tiger 955 is reliable, comfortable, and has plenty of performance.

I just rode 200 miles yesterday and could have easily done another 200.  The upright sitting posture helps on long days in the saddle.

The "adventure bike" label hurts its identification as a sport-touring bike, but on the Triumph forum it is very obvious that many Europeans tour the Continent on their Tigers.  

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Okay, since you all want BIG bikes:

Triumph Trophy 1200
BMW K100 series
Any large engined Guzzi. The older the better-like the Spada series.

[the drummer]

BMW K1200RS  98'  Sport-touring...... able to haul what you need, at a HIGH rate of speed!!

[bluepoof]

I was tempted to write in my bike, which is the perfect touring bike for me, but I fully realize that I'm broken in that way.  

[R Doug]

I love the new Avatar!  

[Shell4747]

Day before yesterday I was idly reading this thread, taking a couple of notes, first time on the forum...

Today I own a Sprint 955 ST.

 

For sale: 1994 BMW R1100RS

[Royal Tiger]

aprilia Futura.  I was looking for one to keep the RSV-R company, but found a super clean ST3 and wanted something different from the bike I had.

I also liked the Norge and Sprint that I rode.

How about the Motus?  I saw it at Ferracci's when they were doing their cross country promo tour.  Looked very interesting.

[98superhawk]

my write in would have to be the Honda superhawk 996. Currently have a 98 with  46000 miles and never had one issue.  still looks new

[bluepoof]

my write in would have to be the Honda superhawk 996. Currently have a 98 with  46000 miles and never had one issue.  still looks new

As long as you don't mind touring the gas stations!