The market-place is very rich with sports-tourers, and there are many to choose from. You could look at everything from BMW to Yamaha and pick bikes that should be included on any short-list of sports-tourers. No doubt you'll be thinking of certain makes and models and wondering why I didn't test them. Well, the short answer is, I couldn't ride them all! And we all have our favourites; despite there being other bikes that are equally worthy of consideration. The ones I did the comparison on just happen to be ones I like and ones that I managed to get a test-ride on. Some I didn't consider though. The more exotic machinery I didn't bother with because they are just too expensive. And, as I mentioned, I think $20,000 is a pretty reasonable limit for what most people want to pay for a bike. So I've generally left out the ones above that. And speaking of the "exotic" in particular, the more exclusive things are, of course, sold in small numbers, and probably not as practical a choice for an everyday bike either. Others, like the big tourers, are just that - "tourers", not "sports-tourers"; even though their levels of handling and rideability are often very high. Nakeds I left out because to me a true sports-tourer has to be faired - at least to some degree. (I'm sure many will disagree, but that's my opinion!). The "adventure-tourers" I left out because they aren't really sports-tourers as such; even though they are probably sporty enough for many of us, and do the touring thing pretty well. Yet others were left out because .... well, I can't really cover them all! Here are a few that I reckon are worthy of mention.BMW R1200ST BMW are all about sports-touring - well, touring anyway. So you could pretty well pick any of them! (At the time of writing, the K1200GT is getting rave reviews!). Only thing is most are well above the $20,000 I mentioned. Still, I think I should mention a couple. And the R1200ST is perhaps my pick of them - it's also about the cheapest of the serious bigger BMs. (If you go naked, you can buy one - the R1200R - for under $20,000). Anyway, even if they are above the $20,000 mark, they are such superlative machines that they deserve a mention.
BMW R1200RT I remember sitting on a friend's R1150RT and thinking it had the most comfortable seat of any bike I've ever sat on! It was great! And the R1200RT is an up-grade on that. It's a superlative tourer with a host of great features, but also capable of a decent turn of speed and handling too. It might look big, but at 229kg it's not as heavy as it looks. Down-side is the expense - it'll set you back close to $30,000.
BMW 800S. This is probably one I should have tried to get a ride on. I have to admit though, that there's something about the look of the fairing that doesn't quite appeal to me. But from all reports a very good bike; and one I'd probably like if I did get a ride on it!
Ducati Multistrada. There are both 1100 and 620 versions for those who want a mid-size or a big-bore. They're supposed to be good things, although they're certainly not a pretty bike. And when I sat on the first model (the 1000), I found it quite uncomfortable. Apparently they do what they do pretty well though. But the ST3 is just so much better as a sports-tourer; and about the same price as the 1100.
Honda CBR 1100 Blacbird. Haven't had much to do with these, but supposed to be very good.
Honda Firestorm. I was put off these by my test-ride on one a while ago. Supposed to be a good bike though. (Maybe the one I rode actually did have something wrong with it?).
Honda Deauville. Probably more a middle-weight "tourer" rather than a "sports-tourer". Although as that, it is probably very good; especially now it has a bit more power (now 48kw from it's 700cc engine).
Hyosung GT650S. Reports all say it's a good middle-weight sports-tourer, but I'm still a bit suspect on Korean quality. And it doesn't have the brand-name acceptance of the Japanese or Eurpopeans.
Kawasaki ZX-14. The mags reckon it's great. With a whopping 128kw it would definitely be more on the "big-bore-sports" side of the sports-tourer equation though, which may or may not be what you're after in a sports-tourer. Two Wheels summarised it as "the king of sports-tourers", so it has to be good! The ZX-12R is just a little smaller but still a good bike - in the same sort of "power-bike" vein as the ZX14. The ER6F is worth consideration in the mid-weight category too. I don't know what it is, just personal preference really, but Kawasaki just isn't a favourite brand for me; although not for any good or tangible reason. So definitely check them out!
Suzuki SV1000S. Both the SV models (this and the 600 version) I find a bit uncomfortable. They're a bit too much on the "sports" side of things for me; a rather sports riding position and a seat that's a bit too hard. But they're a favourite of many of the mags as well as riders, so are worthy of consideration. Not for me though.
Suzuki V-Strom 1000. Another one that is available in both 1000 and 600 versions. I haven't ridden either, but have heard good reports from those who have. The mags like them too. To me though, they're a bit more "all-roads tourer" than "sports-tourer". Now, you could probably argue that if I've included the TDM then I should have looked at this too; although I reckon the TDM really is a bit more of a bitumen-road bike than the V-Strom. Still, if you've got long legs (they're pretty tall) you might want to consider the V-Strom.
Triumph Tiger. This is certainly one I'm interested in! When I embarked on this "mission" to find my choice of sports-tourer, the 2007 model hadn't been released. But I'll be very interested to get a ride on this when it does come out! (It's due around the middle of the year). I liked the 2005 model (which wasn't exactly a sports-tourer, of course), and now this latest model is definitely a "road-bike" rather than an "all-road bike". I'm expecting it to be a good thing! And I like Triumphs!
Yamaha FJR1300. Yamaha still class this as a sports-tourer, but really it's now getting to be a bit big and heavy. A great tourer though.
Yamaha FZ1S. The previous (2005) model was quite a good thing as a sporty-type sports-tourer, and looked great too. But for the 2006 model they definitely went more "sports" than "tourer". I found it strangely cramped and uncomfortable to sit on. Two Wheels describe the FZ1 as a "road-burner"; and this is a "road-burner with a fairing"! The FZ6S might be it's mid-weight brother, but I found it quite different; more comfortable and not as sports-bike orientated.
There are more, of course, but these are just some of the others that I thought worthy of mention. The choice is very wide and varied!
2nd-Hand? Just a point here. I've been talking about new bikes, but if you go 2nd-hand then of course you can save a lot of money! For example, the bikes I ruled out because they were over $20,000 become a lot more affordable if you buy them 2nd-hand. I know a few people who have bought 2nd-hand bikes that were well over $20,000 new but paid the same sort of money that we've been looking at for these new ones. And a well-maintained bike in good condition can be a very viable alternative to buying new. At the time of writing this, the last new bike I bought was in 1979!
