What are the options?

[LeatherneckPA]

OK, I've only made two posts prior, and one was to brag about my LSW buying me a new bike as a retirement gift in September. :yahoo: Seems I can have anything I want. So I am curious what else is out there in the sport-touring configuration. It absolutely MUST have luggage and a nice full fairing with a good windshield. 5 gallons or more on the tank would be nice.

And since I've already done the Harley scene three times I'm looking elsewhere. I mean, sure they look nice (except for mine of course, which does NOT get polished). But after two seasons on my V-Strom I have come to realize that an HD just doesn't have the "play" factor.

One of my students at the last ERC I taught let me try his Goldwing. I had always fantasized about owning one. No, thank you. You ride IN a Goldwing, not on one. It's now wonder they put airbags on them now. And they really aren't that comfortable.

A good friend of mine just acquired an ST1300 and "insisted" that I take it for a ride. It was "alright", but what's with those weird looking fins on the sides? And at 6'2" I had to max out the windshield and still wasn't in any quieter air than I get on my VEE. Now, the power and the play factor were definitely there. He claims that the ST1300 is insurable for about half what the FJR is, because supposedly insurers consider the FJR to be a sportbike, not a touring bike.

One of our local dealers had both a Concours 14 and an FJR on the floor, side by side. Not often you see someone do that, encourage direct comparison. DW was really impressed with the FJR's looks. She wouldn't sit on it though, because we don't own it.

Having been slightly out of touch with the non-cruiser bike world for many years my knowledge is pretty limited. I knew about the Connie (last bike I owned before I switched to HD). And most of the motor refs that I ride with use BMW's so I know about the F800ST and the K1200GT. Are there others I should consider?

 

[Randy]

Just about every brand out there has something that could be used as a sport tourer - just depends on what you're looking for and what sacrifices you want to make. For example, a Hyabusa, or any other sportbike for that matter, could be made into a sport tourer, but, luggage isn't standard and might be tough to rig up.

Here are some possible options for sport tourers other than the BMWs, FJR, ST, and Concours...

Buell Ulysses XB12XT

Ducati Multistrada using Ducati (or other aftermarket brands) luggage

Moto Guzzi Norge 1200

Triumph Sprint ST

 

[LeatherneckPA]

Buell Ulysses XB12XT ..... Ducati Multistrada using Ducati (or other aftermarket brands) luggage

Already own a V-Strom. Since they are always in the same comparos, seems to me a Ulysses or Multi-Strada would be redundant. And I don't think 'Busas or FZR's are touring bikes. I'm talking all-day comfort here, not an h our before lunch and another one after. (Besides, sooner or later, I'd have to see if a 'Busa really can do 200mph off the floor!)

 

[Randy]

sounds like you'd be bored with anything other than an FJR, Concours, BMW GT, or Sprint (questionable)

 

[ShawnKing]

It was "alright", but what's with those weird looking fins on the sides?

Tip over bars. And they would come in handy on a low speed drop.

He claims that the ST1300 is insurable for about half what the FJR is, because supposedly insurers consider the FJR to be a sportbike, not a touring bike.

Unlikely but the solution is simple - ask your insurance agent. Your friend has an awfully stupid insurance agent as, for insurance purposes, they are the same bike.

 

[JRO]

Insurance on my FJR was the same as an ST1300 would have been.

Except for Suzuki, most of the major multi-cylinder brands have some sort of factory Sport Tourer.

Honda's ST gets a lot of complaints about sluggish weight and heat management.

The new Concours requires fairly frequent, costly maintanence.

Triumph Sprint ST's have wonderful engines and power/weight ratio, but the ergos are less comfortable.

BMW's are... Made by the BrokenMotorWorks. I tried one, and value my life too much to ever own another.

Some people really like their Ducati... And some people hate them; or just hate having them worked on.

Moto Guzi's Norge is really comfortable. It's also slightly underpowered.

The Buell is a joke, for sport touring. Unless you like lots and lots of good vibrations.

FJR 1300's are the top of the heap, in sport touring. That's why it's won most magazine comparisons, since it's release. It's more bang for the buck than any other ST out there, and you can't beat it's performance, dependability, and comfort. However, it's rare to find anyone that hasn't had to make some modifications to an ST, for a variety of reasons (comfort, mostly).

I'm 6'1", and I have back problems. Except for the Honda ST and the Norge, I've never sat on a sport tourer that seemed 'ready' for me to run across the country. You may find different, but at 6'2", you're probably going to need an aftermarket windscreen on any of these bikes, FJR included. Sport tourers don't have the wind protection of a Goldwing. Ear plugs are common riding gear, even with a good screen. On an FJR, I'd bet you'd want some handlebar risers. Custom saddles are often found in use.

For the price of an FJR vs most ST's, you'll be getting a better bike, and still have money left over for anything else you might need.

Look around and find yourself some test rides.

 

[daviddowns2000]

He claims that the ST1300 is insurable for about half what the FJR is, because supposedly insurers consider the FJR to be a sportbike, not a touring bike.

Some companies apparently DO (or at least, did) consider the FJR a "sportbike." When I bought mine in '05, the company I was using wanted to charge an outrageous premium to add the FJR. I shopped around and found others that considered it a touring bike and eventually got a much better rate (Allstate).

 

[El Toro]

The insurance stuff is tied to the claims history of the model. Having had V-Strom, Norge, ST, FJR, BMW, etc., it is my impression that the FJR appeals to more risk takers, and if the insurance were higher in some zip codes, it wouldn't surprise me. In my case, for my zip code, with my insurance company, there was little difference for any of these bikes, with the exception that the Norge was significantly cheaper than the others. The Norge is the lowest power level of these choices, with about 75 hp at the rear wheel on a very good day.

The V-Strom (DL-1000) was the most comfortable all day bike I've ever owned once I got a Corbin Dual Canyon seat and broke it in. I rode it over 1000 miles in 18 hours once, and when I got off, the only body parts hurting were my hands. But the V-Strom doesn't have good factory storage options. I bought the factory hard bags, and in addition to making the bike about 5' wide, the bag's supporting subframe introduced a chassis vibration that would transmit through either the stock or the Corbin seat and make life miserable.

The STs are like driving freight trains. The FJR is no light bike, but its lighter than an ST. The ST did have a very high level of reliability. I had it for several years and never had to do anything but routine maintenance. It was also very gentle on gas. I rented an ST1300 for a few days in 2006 to see if I wanted to buy one, and I decided that I did not. There were some refinements over the ST1100, but none to make me get excited.

The Norge was a POS, and their dealer network lives in infamy. I've never had such lousy support on a new motorcycle. A few good dealers around the country, like SeaCoast SportCycle in Derry, NH, or MPH in Houston, are what keeps this marque afloat. Many of the dealers are phoning it in.

I love my BMW K1200Rsport, and the only time the FJR disappoints is when I ride it immediately after riding the K bike. Without the direct comparison, the FJR seems incredibly powerful, smooth, ergonomically excellent, and very sporty. If I ride it after the K bike, it still seems ergonomically excellent, but its awsome power, smoothness, and sportiness are less apparant.

I had been thinking of getting a K1200GT, but my left foot started giving me trouble episodically. The FJR AE with its paddle shifter seemed like a good thing to try, and I got hooked pretty quickly. My foot's better now, but my lust for a K1200GT is gone. I really like the FJR very well, and I am sold on the YCC-S feature. I will probably own one for the rest of my riding days.

We have a dealer with the Kawasaki and the FJR side by side too. I like the lines and the fit and finish of the FJR better than the Kawasaki's. I have not ridden the Kawasaki, but in general Kawasaki resale values tend not to be as strong as Yamaha's or Honda's, and I've never felt good about them, dating back to the early 70's when I worked in a dealership with Honda, Kawasaki, and Triumph franchises. They're probably OK.

You'll have fun picking out a bike. I would be looking hardest at the FJR and the K1200GT if it were me.

The other bit here is that you don't want to get into a situation where your significant other thinks you are buying your last dream motorcycle. In my view, the Best bike is the Next bike.

 

[JRO]

Ooopps. Forgot to mention the Hyosung GV650. You should definately check one out.

Comparable to the BMW's.