Design the ST.N sport tourer!

[UFO]

The poll to end all polls.

Everyone likes to talk about what they think makes the perfect sport-touring bike.  Here's your chance.

Make your votes, but please only vote once in each category.  Please vote the combinations you ACTUALLY like to see on a bike, regardless of what you currently own.  If it happens to match what you own, great.  But try not to let what you currently own bias your choices.  There are 43 categories.  The poll will not let you vote more than that.  So only pick one from each category.

I tried to think of as many relevent options as possible.  If something isn't covered in the poll choices, post it below.  I can added choices to the poll if some good ones come up.

Keep in mind that you can't have your cake and eat it too when it comes to design.  Options cost money.  Options cost weight.  Try to make logical choices.  You can't have a 1400cc bike with a huge tank and tons of options weigh 500lbs wet.

A horsepower/torque option isn't given.  It's assumed that's baked into the displacement choice, and that the bikes are tuned for performance and not greatly neutered.

Have fun!  Maybe some lurkers will find this information useful.

[Sport-Touring]

[bubba zanetti]

The poll to start all trolls??  

That was fun ...  

[desert_rider]

I skipped engine config. - I don't care as long as the engine is solid and has an appropriate amount of power.  Also - I love old school analog guages, but wouldn't mind a digital trip computer.

[Stray Cat]

Hey Skip, are you going to send the results off to Honda?  

[UFO]

I added an option at the end about Load Capacity.  The reason ST bikes are on the porky side is because one of the main design requirements is that they handle 2 up touring.  Personally the only stuff I ever haul around is myself and what's in the bags.  Removing a 2 up type requirement (if it isn't agains some DOT rule   ) would lighten these bikes up considerably.

[jude]

 You can't have a 1400cc bike with a huge tank and tons of options weigh 500lbs wet.

Yes, yes you can.  

"I want to say one word to you. Just one word."
"Yes, sir."
"Are you listening?"
"Yes, I am."
"Plastics."

The power to weight ratio of an F1 car is about 1.784 lbs/HP (current stats, full FIA spec and weight [wet with driver]).  750 HP, 1338 lbs.  The car is mostly 'plastic'.

My FJR has a PWR of 5.55, fully fueled with rider.  145HP, 805 lbs.  The bike is mostly 'metal'.

I you take the same 145 HP and use the PWR of the F1 car, the finished weight would be just 258.68 lbs!  That leaves another 240 lbs. for 'options'!

I'm just sayin'...


 

[UFO]

Fair point.  But we have to live in a world of every day and all day reliability, inexpensive high volume manufacturing...and lawyers.

But you make a good point.  Some of these bikes are so over designed it's kind of comical.  All for the sake of uber reliability and law suits.  The FJR frame for example.  It ludicrous how big it is.

I see some people are being optimistic with their weight requirments vs. options.

[jude]

Fair point.  But we have to live in a world of every day and all day reliability, inexpensive high volume manufacturing...and lawyers.

But you make a good point.  Some of these bikes are so over designed it's kind of comical.  All for the sake of uber reliability and law suits.  The FJR frame for example.  It ludicrous how big it is.

I see some people are being optimistic with their weight requirments vs. options.

Mass production would handle the costs, but certainly not the lawyers.  And yes, the FJR's frame is massively overdone.  The plus side is that it is very hard to hurt the damn thing.  I know of several, documented multi-crashed FJR's that are still straight and on the road.

As for the optimism...  A guy can dream, can't he?

[cultureslayer]

This poll is flawed!  Nothing below 750ccs exists?  I think a FI V2 or V4 500cc would be perfect.  I'd gladly take a VFR400.  Then again, I think most of you must pack luggage that weighs more than I do.  

[desert_rider]

  Then again, I think most of you must pack luggage that weighs more than I do.  

With me it's not luggage that weighs a lot - it's me!  

[Yankee Dog]

..................The reason ST bikes are on the porky side is because one of the main design requirements is that they handle 2 up touring.  ..............

I disagree.  My beemer is lighter than  both the ST and FJR1300 and the load capacity is way more.  

I do agree that the manuafactures are building way more farkles into a bike than I would prefer.  Look that the new Connie.  It got a tire pressure monitor for cryin out loud.  

My only real priorites are decent light weight, decent HP, ABS, and removeable luggage.  However since all of my touring is two up the missus will insist on comfortable ergos as well.  

Yankee Dog

[vitaminC]

This poll is flawed!  Nothing below 750ccs exists?  I think a FI V2 or V4 500cc would be perfect.  I'd gladly take a VFR400.  Then again, I think most of you must pack luggage that weighs more than I do.  

+1 But then look what we're currently riding!  

[UFO]

I disagree.  My beemer is lighter than  both the ST and FJR1300 and the load capacity is way more.  

In general my statement is correct.  Design a specific bike for solo riding vs. the same bike for 2 up riding and the solo version will be lighter due to less structure being required for the extra load capacity.  I wasn't saying a lighter bike Y can't carry more than a heavier bike X that were designed by different teams and companies using different requirements.

[highside]

So I wound up with a sub500lb 1000cc V-twin with belt drive, a smallish windscreen, USD fully adjustable forks, and removable hardbags, set up for one-up touring.

Basically, this with a curvey cafe type fairing (with a relatively tall windscreen) and a set of hard bags with very subtle racks that arent too hideous whithout the bags mounted, and a belt drive.



I'd honestly pay 12K or so for that, which is pretty reasonable, I think. That would accomplish everything that I have ever asked from a motorcycle. EDIT: I'd really like a 20K+ mile valve interval too.

Yeah, I know a Vstrom is actually closer to what I asked for and is readily available for a song, but your silly list didn't present a box for "not horribly ugly" or I woulda checked it, twice.

[UFO]

Yeah, I know a Vstrom is actually closer to what I asked for and is readily available for a song, but your silly list didn't present a box for "not horribly ugly" or I woulda checked it, twice.

It's a given that it shouldn't be fugly.  But we know that's not always the case.

BTW, some interesting information gathered already.

[Mookie]

NO BLINKERZZ!

[highside]

It's a given that it shouldn't be fugly.  But we know that's not always the case.

It seems that when a bike is clinically designed soley for its versatility or ability, that you often end up with something really ugly. I think a bike should be purchased with a little emotion involved, and that the best results are achieved when they are designed with a little as well. I think the genesis of a really great motorcycle starts off with people drawing pictures of it on bar napkins, not with a spreadsheet and a list of features.

[Barabus]

The good news is that Sport Touring is the second fastest growing segment, next to dual sport.  So we will be seeing a lot more innovation is the ST market.  Perhaps someone that has influence will see the Skipper's poll?

[cultureslayer]

+1 But then look what we're currently riding!  

Yes, I have a terminal case of small bike disease.  Sad that most of the smaller bikes are 80s leftovers, but at least they're dependable, more so than some of the current stuff.

[Chick]

You left one out for linked brakes:  The BMW has semi linked; pull the front and the rear reacts too.  Stomp on the rear, and only the rear works.  This is great for slow parking lot speeds, or going down my 20% slope 150 foot long gravel driveway.

Great poll!  fun to see what everybody else thinks is important.