What happened to all of the smaller sport-tourers?

[Tupperwolf]

I'm still shopping for my next bike purchase, and I'm trying to look at anything that has a comfortable riding position for the street (no supersports). This could include streetbikes (FZ-09, Monster), bigger displacement supermotos, etc. It seems like all of the sports-touring bikes that used to exist have disappeared from manufacturer lineups. I'm talking Triumph Sprint (seems to have been replaced by the Tiger), Ducati ST (replaced by Multistrada?), Aprilia Futura (replaced by Caponord?), etc. Honda still makes the Interceptor, but if you're in the market for a sports touring bike all that's left are the FJR and Concours sized bikes, which are just too big for me - I prefer something relatively nimble that isn't stressful to split lanes on. Have adventure bikes taken over this segment?

 

[Corb]

Sounds like you need an F800ST/GT or if you can the Motus MTS

 

[antwon412]

Isn't the Motus ~$35k?

I doubt many people will be seriously considering those.

 

[mototireguy]

Maybe there's been a drop in the 900-1100cc sport touring bike choices but there's also good number of choices in the 650-800cc range, just add bags, maybe a bigger windscreen and zoom.

Bmw F800
Hon Nc700 (new)
Kaw Versys
Ktm 690's
Suz Bandit 600 or 1200
Suz Vstrom
Yam Fz8 or Fz1

 

[SyndicatedDeath]

Maybe there's been a drop in the 900-1100cc sport touring bike choices but there's also good number of choices in the 650-800cc range, just add bags, maybe a bigger windscreen and zoom.

Bmw F800
Hon Nc700 (new)
Kaw Versys
Ktm 690's
Suz Bandit 600 or 1200
Suz Vstrom
Yam Fz8 or Fz1

can the nc700 really be considered a sport touring bike? I only ask because the rev range on that is rather low.

 

[Johndicezx9]

:dunno

Hard bags 'n' everything....

 

[Tupperwolf]

Maybe there's been a drop in the 900-1100cc sport touring bike choices but there's also good number of choices in the 650-800cc range, just add bags, maybe a bigger windscreen and zoom.

Bmw F800
Hon Nc700 (new)
Kaw Versys
Ktm 690's
Suz Bandit 600 or 1200
Suz Vstrom
Yam Fz8 or Fz1

Good suggestions BUT many of them reinforce what I've noticed - all the manufacturers are making adventure style bikes as sport tourers now!

The F800, NC700, Versys, and Vstrom are all adventure bikes (to my eyes). They fit the Multistrada pattern of a taller bike, partially faired, with more suspension travel, that has been designed with occasional dirt road use in mind. Some have put more emphasis on the many-roads idea than others, with the 21" front wheels.

The Bandits (are they still making them? I don't see new Bandits on the Suzuki site) and FZ1 are great naked bikes and I'm sure are more than capable sport tourers, but they don't have full fairings like the bikes I mentioned in my original post (Sprint, Futura, ST - I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting).

As a matter of fact I probably will be looking hard at the adventure category (Multistradas are high on my list right now) but it seems to me that there was a market segment that isn't being filled my many manufacturers.

Thanks for pointing out the Ninja 1000 with hard bags - I didn't know that existed.

 

[Corb]

The F800GS is indeed and ADV bike but the F800S/ST/GT models are as street biased as a VFR800. Theres nothing more ofroadish about the BMW's than the Honda. In fact from my experience the BMW is a lighter, lower, narrower bike than the VFR.
The Kawasaki is indeed a great option.
But if you can afford the Multistrada in my mind nothing else comes close as a SPORT-tourer!

 

[Crjunkee]

Here is a good one from what I have seen so far 2014 ninja 1000 abs with bags

 

[Beauregard]

.... or GTFO.

 

[FreeRyde]

The Versys is not an Adventure bike. It is a damn comfy, thing bike.
Having owned one for awhile now, I'm still not sure what to call it.
It'll hustle in the twisties, in all day comfort. Ask Flyinghunn.

With hard bags I was able to comfortably tour for 2 weeks easily.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Get a used FZ6 put on full Givi luggage and a touring windscreen and you're done. Mine was a perfect all arounder. Lots of power, high revvs, luggage etc.

 

[Tupperwolf]

Love the looks of the Hyperstrada, but I've been reading reports that the fuel light comes on at 100 miles. Not exactly touring range.

 

[rangelol]

Get a used FZ6 put on full Givi luggage and a touring windscreen and you're done. Mine was a perfect all arounder. Lots of power, high revvs, luggage etc.

Seems like a pretty solid recommendation. I definitely wouldn't get a Monster for any sort of distance - I could do about 200mi on mine per day before collapsing.

 

[louemc]

I'm still shopping for my next bike purchase, and I'm trying to look at anything that has a comfortable riding position for the street (no supersports). This could include streetbikes (FZ-09, Monster), bigger displacement supermotos, etc. It seems like all of the sports-touring bikes that used to exist have disappeared from manufacturer lineups. I'm talking Triumph Sprint (seems to have been replaced by the Tiger), Ducati ST (replaced by Multistrada?), Aprilia Futura (replaced by Caponord?), etc. Honda still makes the Interceptor, but if you're in the market for a sports touring bike all that's left are the FJR and Concours sized bikes, which are just too big for me - I prefer something relatively nimble that isn't stressful to split lanes on. Have adventure bikes taken over this segment?

Actually, there is a butt load of light for liter bikes, that were made light, to be raced....Just toss the clip-on handle bars, and convert with the kit made for this, by Spiegler. The kit is called LSL.

And nimble..they can be made even more nimble by dropping the triple clamps a half inch down the fork tubes... This is a huge movement in Europe.

But in Costa Rica, you might want a Japanese brand...And this route, is perfect for that.

Maybe Suzuki 750 Gixxr would even be prime, as that starting point.

Just sayin. You don't have to pay Ducati prices. Or anything else difficult.

 

[FreeRyde]

Lou... Did you just tell him to get a GSXR for touring purposes?

I had an LSL kit on my CBR1000RR, and it would NEVER make a good sport touring bike... ever. The motors just take way too much concentration at all times. My Versys and SV, I can just hop and on cruise.

 

[Tupperwolf]

I'm in Puerto Rico at the moment, but I'm moving to SF this summer. I don't know exactly where I'll be moving, so I don't know how much of my commute will be city vs. highway, but I do know that I'd like to take some nice weekend trips up and down the coast. It may be that a naked bike is ideal and I just deal with it on longer trips, or it may be that a touring bike suits me better - I just don't know yet.

I no longer want to ride anything on the street that has high pegs, so converted sportbikes are out, and I prefer torquier V-twins or triples to screaming fours. Just more day to day usable.

 

[RightCoastBias]

Get a used FZ6 put on full Givi luggage and a touring windscreen and you're done. Mine was a perfect all arounder. Lots of power, high revvs, luggage etc.

I'd second that. I've not done anything more than a 300mile day on my FZ6, but I never found myself uncomfortable. I put SW Motech bar risers on for a more upright riding position and it's great.

By mid march I'll have switched to a penske shock and will likely buy some R6 forks, new springs and have them revalved by superplush. I'm looking forward to the upgrades!

 

[louemc]

Lou... Did you just tell him to get a GSXR for touring purposes?

I had an LSL kit on my CBR1000RR, and it would NEVER make a good sport touring bike... ever. The motors just take way too much concentration at all times. My Versys and SV, I can just hop and on cruise.

You might have a difficulty, concentrating.

I find RR bikes to be fantastic touring bikes, when you sit up on them.

I mentioned the 750 Gixxr, because for all I know, it would be prime, in Costa Rica.

The longest touring ride 4 1/2 months long, before returning home, was on a Gixxer 1100, I converted, for touring.

And when in the area of the continental divide in the Colorado rockies, tour bus sized motorhome RV's are crawling...Screw wuss bikes. Ya come up behind a string of vehicles that can't pass a road slug...Ya better have serious power...then you can pass them like a fuel dragster, put that obstruction behind you.

It was so stable and secure, I felt sorry for the BMW riders.

 

[Archimedes]

Not stressful at all splitting on my RT, as long as I don't have the side bags on. Dead smooth, tractor like torque, nimble.