[Administrator]

You say tom-a-to, someone says tom-o-to.

Your riding buddies say they can tour on any bike. You say most touring-oriented bikes have a sporty side and therefore make the best sport-tourer.

Oops! Did we just allude to one of the more controversial, even incendiary, topics in modern motorcycling?

Today, when someone utters the word sportbike, the likely response is a GSX-R, an R6, a Honda CBR, or some such thing. But ask a rider to describe his or her ideal of a sport-touring machine, and the answers are wide ranging.

Sure, lots of folks would naturally point to the likes of Honda's venerable ST1300, Yamaha's FJR1300 or BMW's K1200GT or R1200RT, as prime examples of sport-tourers. Each bike offers good to great wind protection, hard saddlebags as standard, robust engines and some darn good handling qualities.

Yet for every rider that sees those sleds as icons of S-T, many other enthusiasts would scoff at the idea of most of them handily slicing up canyon roads.

To these folks, practically all that's required is a tank bag, a set of soft saddlebags lashed to the tail section of their R1, and maybe a GPS or other accessories as-needed. Voila! Instant sport-touring motorbike! "After all," they say, "Sport touring is about sport capability while traveling, and my bike equipped the way I want it is lighter, handles better, and costs less than a turnkey ST."

More: 2010 Oddball Sport-Touring Shootout: Ducati Multistrada vs Honda VFR1200F vs Kawasaki Z1000 on Motorcycle.com

 

[BeastIncarnate]

I really enjoyed this article. Too few reviews of bikes allow price to play as significant a role in decision-making as it honestly does for the vast majority of consumers. The Z1000 at it's retail price is a great deal. That it's selling for upwards of $2k off MSRP right now is criminal.

 

[AirWolf]

No criminal here

I really enjoyed this article. Too few reviews of bikes allow price to play as significant a role in decision-making as it honestly does for the vast majority of consumers. The Z1000 at it's retail price is a great deal. That it's selling for upwards of $2k off MSRP right now is criminal.

Yeah, and I bought one for MSRP just cuz I could.... NO...Just cuz I WANTED ONE!!!!! Now I could fit a MultiStrada in the office hmmmmm?? Maybe next time?

 

[jrick56]

mine is my main transportation all year. need to find a way to carry my BIBLE. rick

 

[BeastIncarnate]

mine is my main transportation all year. need to find a way to carry my BIBLE. rick

Bungee cables rock.

 

[AirWolf]

mine is my main transportation all year. need to find a way to carry my BIBLE. rick

Me too, my main tranportation as well. Rain or shine. Gotta love it!!

 

[Sentinel]

First off I would never purchase any bike that weighed 600 lbs.! (Honda VFR 1200)

Second, I would never purchase a bike that has a big birdbeak on it and a gas tank that is doomed to fail sooner or later with no real fix from the manufacture in sight! (Ducati)

Third, I'd happily purchase a new Z1000 if only I had the money!

 

[So-Crates]

I hear you, Sentinel! I wouldnt pay that much for a "touring" bike that doesnt actually come stock with touring accessories!! I cant BELIEVE they want to charge you for the hard bags that match the bike....

I wasnt aware of issues with the Duck's gas tank though...

 

[jrick56]

if i wa 6' tall i would have kept the rex, but at 5'6" it wasn't easy to manuever. the z feels so much smaller, like it was made for me. still have to tip toe, but is way easier for me to handle. the more i ride it the more i like it. rick

 

[notabiker]

if i wa 6' tall i would have kept the rex, but at 5'6" it wasn't easy to manuever. the z feels so much smaller, like it was made for me. still have to tip toe, but is way easier for me to handle. the more i ride it the more i like it. rick

as much as i loved my rex, i never thought it handled well. it did not like to flick over in the canyon. i have very poor canyon carving skills to be sure. BUT my 04 ZED makes me think i am pretty good.

 

[Barbosa]

Its nice when it can do some of the controling and thinking for you.

 

[jrick56]

i need all the help i can get.

 

[rkrayton2000]

My Z is definetly my "sport-tourer" already made a trip Dallas (from Atlanta) except for more frequent gas stops it did great! I'm aiming for the new ninja1000 for the bigger gas tank

 

[mamandoli]

No one has mentioned the Kaw Concours 1400. I have an '08. Love it.
Wife won't ride on my Z1000.

 

[sam s]

as much as i loved my rex, i never thought it handled well. it did not like to flick over in the canyon. i have very poor canyon carving skills to be sure. BUT my 04 ZED makes me think i am pretty good.

good article, I have been looking for a nice saddle bag for my bike well before buying it, I'm below 5"6 but I just removed the 4 rubber pads attached to the seat albeit I'm still tip toeing wearing the boots is the way.

 

[Arc]

The new Multistrada is an absolutely amazing bike and I'd love to have one. For us taller guys it's great too, so many bikes are so short.

But all those dollars... My Z1000 was $3500, I can't justify dropping $15k on a used Multi.