The two and three cylinder scream machines called "sport tourers"

[Papa54]

Since I retired in 2020 I spend some time looking at the YouTube motorcycle videos. One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be an undercurrent of these "near naked bikes" being suggested, if not pushed, for sport touring. I guess it sort of chaps my backside, for one because they've raising the prices pretty significantly, and they're suggesting that they're the latest greatest thing for sport touring....
I live in the Atlanta area, about 32 miles southeast of the city. There's a Yamaha dealer on the North east side that I've done some business with, and last summer I stopped in and they had a new Tracer 9 GT on the floor. One of the young sales guys I was talking to about the bike conveyed to me that there'd been a three day promotional ride that he participated in, on which he was provided with a new Tracer 9 GT. As he and I talked, he didn't have to say what he thought of the bike for said, "travel", but he did say there's not enough wind protection, particularly sitting up in the wind, and he was less than thrilled with the vibration of the engine......

Next this is for you young folks who are questioning what may be the best "bang-for-your-buck" sport tourer.....

First, before you buy one of these tall skinny converted naked bikes, take one for a four day trip and ride 500 miles a day. I guarantee you, that between the vibration and the lack of wind protection, when you get back the last thing you'll want to do is buy it....... I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstate or Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to a stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me. The same goes for those two or three cylinder one day wonders. They're fine for a two day two hundred miler to the state park for an overnight, but for criss crossing America, forget it. Riding a vibrating screaming noise machine is the best way to cure yourself of ever wanting more motorcycle travel.

 

[northsouth]

Since I retired in 2020 I spend some time looking at the YouTube motorcycle videos. One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be an undercurrent of these "near naked bikes" being suggested, if not pushed, for sport touring. I guess it sort of chaps my backside, for one because they've raising the prices pretty significantly, and they're suggesting that they're the latest greatest thing for sport touring....
I live in the Atlanta area, about 32 miles southeast of the city. There's a Yamaha dealer on the North east side that I've done some business with, and last summer I stopped in and they had a new Tracer 9 GT on the floor. One of the young sales guys I was talking to about the bike conveyed to me that there'd been a three day promotional ride that he participated in, on which he was provided with a new Tracer 9 GT. As he and I talked, he didn't have to say what he thought of the bike for said, "travel", but he did say there's not enough wind protection, particularly sitting up in the wind, and he was less than thrilled with the vibration of the engine......

Next this is for you young folks who are questioning what may be the best "bang-for-your-buck" sport tourer.....

First, before you buy one of these tall skinny converted naked bikes, take one for a four day trip and ride 500 miles a day. I guarantee you, that between the vibration and the lack of wind protection, when you get back the last thing you'll want to do is buy it....... I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstate or Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to a stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me. The same goes for those two or three cylinder one day wonders. They're fine for a two day two hundred miler to the state park for an overnight, but for criss crossing America, forget it. Riding a vibrating screaming noise machine is the best way to cure yourself of ever wanting more motorcycle travel.

Well put.

 

[Oldjeep]

Sport touring means whatever the rider thinks it means. My Ducati Supersport is all day comfortable and has luggage, same as my former fz1. Both every bit a sport touring bike as my FJR.

 

[Unobtainium]

So I guess the Triumph 1050 ST I spent a week with to Texas and back, that a friend and I swapped rides each fuel stop, that impressed me as much as my FJR mile after mile, is actually poo because it's a triple ?

 

[Pete-o]

Tough to beat the FJR for long distance. BUT it does have some quirks. (Hostage Keys, Spiders, Iron man clutch pull) Love the gas milage, plus the "Excelleration is Addicting"! That said; we're all addicts, IMHO looking for the next long-distance fix! I'm going to rehab; anyone want to join me? Maybe it's in Alaska, I'll look there first, or maybe it's along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I'll look there next. I'll let you all know where it is, when I find it... I plan on searching until I do! Anyone who wants to join in the search is welcome.

Pete-o

 

[FJReady]

Well said, and fun to read it!

 

[Pete-o]

Newburyport isn't that far from Western Mass. Surely you remember; we helped pay for the "Big Dig"! Bostonians only remember Western Mass at tax time, we're like another country the rest of the year. We should go for a scoot together sometime. I frequent Plymouth from time to time. Love my FJR, I never speed, and I obey all traffic laws. But sometimes I fib... just a little. I'm only human...

Pete-o

 

[Warchild]

Huh... my naked Yamaha seems to make an outstanding sports-tourer machine for me.... over 15,000 miles just last summer alone:








I also have one of 'dem 'dare 3-cylinder machines you mentioned... this is my primary 2-up interstate touring with the spousal unit:








Throughout my many decades of modifying bikes to turn them into machines that work the way you want them to, the biggest single item I have found one needs is simply willpower. You can make a bike of your dreams with enough willpower. That's what I did with my MT-10... this is just a Magic Carpet Ride, right here.... but it's not for everyone:

 

[saread]

I have to point out that even 2 cylinders can make a decent sport touring motorcycle:

 

[Oldjeep]

I have to point out that even 2 cylinders can make a decent sport touring motorcycle:

View attachment 6274

Yup

 

[Pete-o]

HEY that's not an FJR?

 

[Fred W]

Technically, a transverse 3 cylinder engine has better primary balance than a transverse 4 due to the crank journal spacing being 120 degrees rather than 180. In the 4 you have two pistons at TDC and the other two at BDC. That’s a lot of mass simultaneously moving in opposite directions.

An L twin or L four cylinder (think Honda VFR) configuration can be very smooth too because the primary imbalance is in 90 degree perpendicular directions.

The traditional parallel twin has the two crank journals right next to each other, which creates an even firing order, alternating power strokes every 360 degrees of rotation, but has bad vibration due to the two pistons being in sync.

The new rage of parallel twins with 270 degree spaced crankshafts are much smoother, though the firing order is not even. I currently have two of these in my garage: A 2017 Africa Twin and a 2017 Bonneville T100. Both of those engines are uncanny in how little vibration there is for a twin.

Edit- one last comment: There aren’t too many “young folks” on this here forum. Many of us are older than the OP.

 

[Crazywheels]

Since I retired in 2020 I spend some time looking at the YouTube motorcycle videos. One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be an undercurrent of these "near naked bikes" being suggested, if not pushed, for sport touring. I guess it sort of chaps my backside, for one because they've raising the prices pretty significantly, and they're suggesting that they're the latest greatest thing for sport touring....
I live in the Atlanta area, about 32 miles southeast of the city. There's a Yamaha dealer on the North east side that I've done some business with, and last summer I stopped in and they had a new Tracer 9 GT on the floor. One of the young sales guys I was talking to about the bike conveyed to me that there'd been a three day promotional ride that he participated in, on which he was provided with a new Tracer 9 GT. As he and I talked, he didn't have to say what he thought of the bike for said, "travel", but he did say there's not enough wind protection, particularly sitting up in the wind, and he was less than thrilled with the vibration of the engine......

Next this is for you young folks who are questioning what may be the best "bang-for-your-buck" sport tourer.....

First, before you buy one of these tall skinny converted naked bikes, take one for a four day trip and ride 500 miles a day. I guarantee you, that between the vibration and the lack of wind protection, when you get back the last thing you'll want to do is buy it....... I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstate or Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to a stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me. The same goes for those two or three cylinder one day wonders. They're fine for a two day two hundred miler to the state park for an overnight, but for criss crossing America, forget it. Riding a vibrating screaming noise machine is the best way to cure yourself of ever wanting more motorcycle travel.

Fun post. As I read it with George Carlin's voice in my head, I appreciated where the OP was coming from. He wasn't saying other bikes can't be modified to perform in a Sport-Touring arena. He's perhaps saying it chaps his hide a little that naked-sports, adventurers, thumpers, two-bangers, flickers, and v-poppers are being pushed off as sport-tourers with a subsequent price elevation, when the beloved FJR is already built for such a riding class, with fewer modifications needed to increase the balance of comfort and performance. I suppose it's just as insulting as telling the track guys that the FJR is a formidable race bike; it's not. And it'll never be an R1 no matter how much we modify it. So in the end, he's right. Still though, ride our bikes anywhere we want, for as many miles as we want. You can ride a 50cc from coast to coast, but not because a salesman pushed it off as a "Sport-Touring" motorcycle to the unsuspecting youngster, but simply because you wanted to ride it that way. When comparing it to a true Sport-Tourer though, it's a little tougher to meet the standards.
I ride an FJR1300ES, and a Ducati Monster 1200S. One leans toward sport, the other leans toward touring.

 

[Papa54]

Huh... my naked Yamaha seems to make an outstanding sports-tourer machine for me.... over 15,000 miles just last summer alone:


View attachment 6266


View attachment 6265


I also have one of 'dem 'dare 3-cylinder machines you mentioned... this is my primary 2-up interstate touring with the spousal unit:


View attachment 6267


View attachment 6269


Throughout my many decades of modifying bikes to turn them into machines that work the way you want them to, the biggest single item I have found one needs is simply willpower. You can make a bike of your dreams with enough willpower. That's what I did with my MT-10... this is just a Magic Carpet Ride, right here.... but it's not for everyone:


View attachment 6270

I stand corrected and am in awe of the ""spackle paint job"" on the front end picture. Flies just love that stuff when you're stopped for a break.

 

[Warchild]

I stand corrected and am in awe of the ""spackle paint job"" on the front end picture.

This is a 3000-mile mixture of Flying Yellow Grasshoppers from Oregon, and nasty-ass Mormon Crickets from Utah and Nevada....

 

[RedRiderMN]

I'd say it's time to BUGGER OFF!

 

[John_Atkinson]

This is a 3000-mile mixture of Flying Yellow Grasshoppers from Oregon, and nasty-ass Mormon Crickets from Utah and Nevada....


View attachment 6325

Dale, I cringe to think of what your helmet and jacket looked like after that run….