Sport Touring Revival?

[Bulldog9]

Came across this article. Found it interesting. Would be great if the market swings away from the ADV back to traditional sport touring.

Why I traded in my adventure motorcycle - RevZilla https://share.google/cua5kQVe6S7AcqkVN

[ridingron]

A lot of the GS bikes were/are more sport capable than their rider.

[faffi]

Most current motorcycles, save cruisers, are likely more capable than at least 90% of all riders. The BMW GS, for instance, has been a great handler for road riding ever since the first 1100 circa 1995.

[Bulldog9]

A lot of the GS bikes were/are more sport capable than their rider.

Not the issue.............. A Honda Rebel 250 is more capable than most riders. This article is about preference and riding style/real world desires.

[Bulldog9]

Most current motorcycles, save cruisers, are likely more capable than at least 90% of all riders. The BMW GS, for instance, has been a great handler for road riding ever since the first 1100 circa 1995.

Again, the article is about preference not 'capability' as you say 90% of the motorcycles on the market exceed the ability of its rider including the above mentioned Rebel 250 or similar low performance cycles.

Sometimes I think you guys just react not read and discuss.

[JHBettsSr]

I also miss sport tourers. I had the BMW R1150RT, R1200RT and 2012 Norge 8V Guzzi. Really fun bikes all.

[DoubleGuzzi]

My 995i Sprint ST (Sports Tourer) was truly an excellent bike - that's why I kept it for 20years!
I used to name it my Triumph Convertible: from standard silencer, hard panniers & topbox, extended rear mudguard, Bagster Baglux tankbag/harness and Corbin seat, to baffled race spec CF silencer, no luggage, CF hugger & front mudguard and seat cowl. Along with a few other tweaks, great fuel range/economy, it was nigh on a perfect all-rounder. Super mid-range sound from the triple motor, strong brakes, decent handling and plenty fast enough to too easily lose one's driving licence.
Shame it became too bulky and weighty for me.
It wasn't without some issues/niggles egs. poor factory ignition wiring and swelly plastic tank but is it not the same for all/most bikes?

No regrets on now returning to shaft-drive bikes, along with MG character but I still miss my old Trumpet.

   
 

[SIR REAL ED]

Sometimes I think you guys just react not read and discuss.

Oh, Yeah! or Oh yeah!  Either one works.

[SIR REAL ED]

Excellent article.  Not about the differences in the bikes as much as the rider changing and what different bikes may "promise."

I recall the rationale years ago that the increase in ADV bikes was primarily driven (riden?) by older riders demanding more humane ergonomics.  Really?  Who knows?

IMO, motorcycles are like shoes.  What you decide to put on, depends primarily on what you plan to do!

I thought the following (from the article Bulldog9 posted) was very well stated:

"Somewhere along the way, the idea of what the GS could do started to outweigh what I was actually asking it to do. Dirt road adventures became less frequent. My trips became more defined. The wandering became a little less aimless. The reality is, my riding had settled into something far more intentional than the image I had in my head when I first swung a leg over that bike.

And yet, I held onto the GS because giving it up felt like closing the door on a version of riding I wasn't quite ready to admit I had already moved on from, even if only temporarily.

That's harder to reconcile than any spec sheet or riding position.

Choosing the RS wasn't just about choosing a different motorcycle. It was about being honest about the kind of riding I'm actually doing now. Less "what if," more "what is." Less about preparing for every possible scenario, and more about refining the ones I keep coming back to: the roads I know, the pace I enjoy, the feeling I chase when everything just clicks for a few miles at a time.

And, if I'm honest, that feeling has more in common with what the RS promises than anything I've been asking of the GS lately."

[faffi]

I have had several bikes over the decades that could be called sports tourer; Honda Hawk with trunk and Windjammer fairing, Honda CX500 with the same, Honda CB1100F with fairing off the CBX550F2, Triumph 900 Sprint, Suzuki GSX600F Katana, Honda 650 Deauville, Honda CBF1000 Touring and BMW F800ST Tourer. The Deauville was the best tourer, the Katana the sportiest, the BMW the best compromise. It also had great suspension for anything from sport to frost heave infested roads. Reason for selling was that I rode too fast too often because it was so good, it was difficult to restrain myself. 

[SIR REAL ED]

A lot of the comments are as good as the article:

"Over the years, my definition of the “ideal motorcycle” has evolved (some might say matured; others might say it simply follows my attention span). A mix of changing needs, curiosity, and the occasional bout of boredom has kept things interesting.

When I first started riding, I was firmly in the dirt bike camp. My thinking was simple: why would anyone choose something heavier, less maneuverable, more expensive, and harder to maintain? Other motorcycles don’t make sense!

Then came my cruiser phase, largely because one was given to me. At the time, it perfectly suited my riding style, and I recall thinking, “This is peak motorcycle relaxation, surely it doesn’t get better than this.”

Naturally, that certainty didn’t last. I soon moved on to dual-sport bikes, convinced I had discovered the ultimate solution: one machine to do everything. Why limit oneself to either dirt or street when you could have both? Other motorcycles don’t make sense!

That was followed by a sportbike phase, fueled by the quiet (over)confidence that I possessed exceptional riding skills and that nothing could surpass the thrill of speed and precision handling.

Next came large adventure bikes, because, of course, they also seemed to do everything: impressive power, respectable handling, long-distance comfort, and enough off-road capability to feel adventurous. This is truly the jack-of-all-trades that I will stick with forever, right? RIGHT?

These days, I find myself gravitating back toward smaller adventure bikes. It turns out that threading a large, heavy machine through Malaysian traffic, or picking it up on a muddy jungle trail, is less romantic than it sounds. Not to mention the financial commitment.

And yet, despite all of this, I also keep a humble Modenas Kriss scooter on hand, because, realistically, not every grocery run requires a 450cc adventure bike and a sense of occasion.

Judging by my friends and peers, I am not alone in this.

All I have learned is that there is no "ideal" motorcycle, no "unicorn." If I were "Powerball rich", the number and variety of bikes I would own and ride would be nothing short of obscene."


We (motorcyclists) certainly are spoiled brats these days.  Remember when a 50 horsepower motorcycle was considered an "ungodly fast beast suited only for the most manly of men?" Now 80 horsepower bikes are considered "beginner bikes."

Remember carrying a spark plug wrench and two spark plugs for every cylinder on your bike?  Or packing your stuff in garbage bags?

"It was the best of times.... it was the worst of times...."

[TN Mark]

Meh. Cruiser, sport, sport tourer: tomayto, tomato.
It’s all rider preference and personal opinion.
I’d say Nick does more ‘adventure’ riding on his old Eldorado than 90% of the (GS) ‘Adventure’ bike owners do.

Just about any bike can do just about anything with enough rider preference and persistence.

[PeteS]

Horses for courses. Many of us here have more than one bike. Sport tourers work for shorter rides when moteling it. Adventure, go anywhere bikes if you plan to camp. Much easier to pile on the gear.

Pete

[faffi]

Sport tourers covers a huge range of motorcycles, some that can offer great day long comfort, others that are closer to sport bikes. But adventure bikes are arguably the most versatile genre, the closest you get to a do-it-all motorcycle. It is what I should have, but do not. Well, I have the old 600 Tenere waiting to get back on the road.

[TN Mark]

The most versatile motorcycle, IMHO, is a bagger with a windshield. Something like a H-D Road King or my Victory Hard-Ball. A rear passenger backrest/luggage rack increases the versatility even more. All day comfortable with plenty of additional luggage options with a few Roc Straps. Watertight saddlebags, an Ortleib waterproof duffle bag and you’re set. Go anywhere, do anything in comfort and style.

[SIR REAL ED]

I suspect that more than lack of capability, potential cosmetic damage limits an huge amount of riders when it comes to where they choose to ride.

Virtually any bike can navigate a forestry service road or gravel back road, but if a flying stone might ding the paint or damage the chrome, a lot of riders will steer clear of those roads.

Motorcycles used to be motorcycles that most riders accessorized to fit their intended riding.  When the rider wants/needs their bikes to be a "shrine of perfection" that boost their egos, the potential usage is filtered.

Moral of the story:  Never wash your bike! 

[PeteS]

Sport touring circa 1972.





Pete

[Gliderjohn]

My Norge was a wonderful touring bike. Much faster than needed, smooth, great handling for it's size, excellent weather protection and great looks. A few years back I rode it from SE KS to just east of ABQ, NM in a 700 mile day. I stopped twice for gas and a short lunch and gas top off and according to the display i still averaged 77mph.





GliderJohn

[Bulldog9]

Sport Touring has always been the center of my riding experience and identity.

For me, my definition of a Sport Touring Motorcycle is a middleweight (5-600lbs) motorcycle with near sport bike power/handling/braking, with near Touring bike comfort with full fairing and windscreen, comfortable seating, larger fuel tank, and detachable side and topcases.

Though not a ST specifically, I had modified and been riding my XS1100 as a ST long distance sportish UJM with touring accessories. In 1996 I entered the ST world with a Kawasaki Concours, then a brief stint on an FZ1 with FJR bags (2004) and tall screen, then an FJR (2007) and Norge since 2015. I had and have other bikes, but for long distance high speed canyon/corner carving ride, Sport Touring is my go to.

The MC industry has been shifting away from the ST platform to cruisers and ADV for years just as auto manufacturers pivoted from sedans and coupes to tall station wagons (SUV) I'm hoping that this article is an indicator of a pivot back to ST.

[blu guzz]

If it hasn't been said yet, ADV took over because of comfort at a moderate amount of weight (500-650)compared to luxo-cruisers such as baggers and wings(750 and up)
Sit up straight, good distance between pegs and seat bottom, long suspension travel. The answer is simple, we got old.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Couldn't imagine some of those mentioned buses being able to commute through Edinburgh traffic (more than just "lane splitting", think dodging/weaving) or remotely keeping up with the lads on a blast through the Highlands. Too much emphasis on touring, methinks. There are exceptions, of course, as seen on some yootoob clips, for example. On rougher surfaces, the trailies do come into their own: I remember trying to keep up with a Tiger 900 when I was on my Trident 900, on twisty, bumpy Scottish Borders A and B class roads. I was getting knackered whilst the big trailie seemed to swallow up everything. 

[SIR REAL ED]

If it hasn't been said yet, ADV took over because of comfort at a moderate amount of weight (500-650)compared to luxo-cruisers such as baggers and wings(750 and up)
Sit up straight, good distance between pegs and seat bottom, long suspension travel. The answer is simple, we got old.

I wish I had wrote that...   

[SIR REAL ED]

Sport Touring has always been the center of my riding experience and identity.

For me, my definition of a Sport Touring Motorcycle is a middleweight (5-600lbs) motorcycle with near sport bike power/handling/braking, with near Touring bike comfort with full fairing and windscreen, comfortable seating, larger fuel tank, and detachable side and topcases.

Though not a ST specifically, I had modified and been riding my XS1100 as a ST long distance sportish UJM with touring accessories. In 1996 I entered the ST world with a Kawasaki Concours, then a brief stint on an FZ1 with FJR bags (2004) and tall screen, then an FJR (2007) and Norge since 2015. I had and have other bikes, but for long distance high speed canyon/corner carving ride, Sport Touring is my go to.

The MC industry has been shifting away from the ST platform to cruisers and ADV for years just as auto manufacturers pivoted from sedans and coupes to tall station wagons (SUV) I'm hoping that this article is an indicator of a pivot back to ST.

Ah, yes!!!  The good ole days of buying a Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) or European "standard," and then "making it yours" to suit your specific riding demands.  If an OEM does not sell the bike you want, build it yourself!

In the comments to the article you posted, one writer said he went to a BMW demo and tried out 5 different versions of their GS1300!!!

The aftermarket is more varied than ever before.  I suspect the OEM's see less profit in competing with the after market by making accessories than they did previously.  Except for Harley.

Depending on rider wants of course, it is tough to beat a standard style motorcycle and then getting the satisfaction of making it "better!" 

"Better" of course defined as one desires for any particular season or location or destination.

I have always enjoyed the tinkering as much as the riding.

[Clifton]

Came across this article. Found it interesting. Would be great if the market swings away from the ADV back to traditional sport touring.

 Why do you feel it would be great? Just tired of the adventure bike category of just don't like them? IMO adventure bikes are essentially ugly sport touring bikes with more suspension and ground clearance enabling them to do everything a sport tourer can..... plus more.

But I can see why he's hot on a pretty RS now after having a big GSA for a while, we like change. I myself have gone back and forth between RSs and GSs over the years starting with an 81 R100RS, 1991 R100GS, on and on until my more recent 2014 R1200GSA to 2016 R1200RS to a V85TT and V100 Stelvio, finally to my current 2025 R1300GS. My guess is he'll be back on a GS or other adventure bike in a few years after tiring of the R1300RS riding position.

[faffi]

We all, to a greater or lesser degree, find it difficult to understand that some have other ideas or preferences than ourselves. Especially when it comes to emotional topics, like religion, politics, oils and motorcycles

[YellowDuck]

I honestly don't understand how anyone can find that R1300 RS "pretty".  So much Tupperware!  BMW has really lost the plot on styling IMO, almost everything they make is hideous to look at, even the newest GS bikes.  The R12 9T-based bikes are still pretty, as is the R12 G/S. 

[SIR REAL ED]

We all, to a greater or lesser degree, find it difficult to understand that some have other ideas or preferences than ourselves. Especially when it comes to emotional topics, like religion, politics, oils and motorcycles

Exactly.  Applies to almost anything one can imagine: hobbies, mates, houses, philosophies, possessions, etc.

"If it ain't subjective, it's probably relative!"

[LowRyter]

Came across this article. Found it interesting. Would be great if the market swings away from the ADV back to traditional sport touring.

Why I traded in my adventure motorcycle - RevZilla https://share.google/cua5kQVe6S7AcqkVN

  I saw a nice 1250 RS, set for touring.  Low miles.  But still $$$$  <Guzzi content>>>

My Ducati 939 Supersport is more Touring Sport bike so far as long distance touring.

[tommy2cyl]

I have owned 15 motorcycles over my life.  Two that were sport tourers:  Bought first yea  1991 ST 1100 and 1998 I think) Triumph Sprint Executive.  The ST was the right bike at the right time.  I was in my mid 30's and doing long distance solo and two up.  Supreme mile muncher with a 7.4 gallon gas tank located under
the seat, great wind protection and that V 4 was smooth as glass.  The Triumph in the champaign color with matching bags was one of my favorite bikes
to own visually and loved the motor, but I always felt it was top heavy and slow steering.    I purchased a first year 2002 VStrom and it changed my riding
perception of what I wanted out of a bike.  First experience with a 19" front wheel and a more upright riding position.  I think I recall a Peter Egan article
about the advantage of having the footpads inline with your body and how that allowed you to easily stand up for off road riding.  Since then that is the only style
motorcycle I have been interested in.  Beauty of course in in the eye of the beholder but I have always believed in form follows function and with the type of
riding I do, the Adventure - Scrambler category is what works for me.  Regarding the original poster, it just seems he is ready for a change.  "Where the G always
told me I could go anywhere, the RS tell me I can get there faster, cleaner, and better.  My trips became more defined, the wandering became less aimless."
As I have gotten older, I am exactly on the opposite side of that line.  My trips and riding are more aimless and less defined.  I have strafed many apexes in
my life and loved every minute of it.  Now, I prefer a slower pace and enjoy my surrounding more.  I also have migrated to lighter bikes and love the ability to
explore the road less traveled,   do a 180 on any road on my CF Moto 450 and move it around while sitting on it.  A major factor in all these discussions is
always your age, and for me traveling longer than an hour on an interstate 'to make time' is beyond painful dealing with todays traffic.  The Adventure category
serves me well.

[Bulldog9]

Why do you feel it would be great? Just tired of the adventure bike category of just don't like them? IMO adventure bikes are essentially ugly sport touring bikes with more suspension and ground clearance enabling them to do everything a sport tourer can..... plus more.

But I can see why he's hot on a pretty RS now after having a big GSA for a while, we like change. I myself have gone back and forth between RSs and GSs over the years starting with an 81 R100RS, 1991 R100GS, on and on until my more recent 2014 R1200GSA to 2016 R1200RS to a V85TT and V100 Stelvio, finally to my current 2025 R1300GS. My guess is he'll be back on a GS or other adventure bike in a few years after tiring of the R1300RS riding position.

Re-Read post #18.

I've also said that my V85tt is so good it is making it hard to justify keeping the Norge. I enjoy an all road bike, and plan a cross Canada to Arctic Circle and down to the Lost Coast of California next year on the V85. I've done similar on the Norge including looping VanCouver Island and much of Novi Scotia on dirt and gravel but it was less than ideal. But back to my original point, for crushing the miles on secondary and state highways (I only do superslab if necessary) The Sport Touring Formula is my preferred format and I'll be happy to see the segment revived.

I've avoided the whole 'why the %&$% anyone would buy the visual atrocity of a modern BMW (with few exceptions)' is beyond me. Most are hideous to my eye. I guess some people like to pretend they are riding Maximus Prime.