Sport Touring?

[Baron Von Crowder]

Anyone ride or have ridden these?

General thoughts or impressions?

[ram57ta]

Can you narrow down the bikes your looking at? Pretty vague start.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I guess more specifically the BMW, FJR's, Honda ST's. Ive got my eye on a BMW r1100s, it looks like a very nice bike.

going from a cruiser, I would expect better handling, how is comfort, and really weired quirks, etc.

[ram57ta]

FJR hands down (out of the ones you mentioned). BMW's are nice, smooth, and well made...but you will pay a premium for the name and for service. The FJR is fast, comfortable, handles well, and there are TONS of accessories available for them now. I would stay away from the ST1300 after numerous reports of rear wheel high speed wobble (starts at about 100mph) that has caused multiple fatality crashes. Dont forget about the Kawasaki ZZR1200 and now the new ZZR14 (Concourse 14)...they are both very fast and comfortable bikes for long hauls...but the 14 is fuel injected now. If you can afford the price....BMW's new K1600 pretty much blows them all away...literally. If you are more interested in SPORT riding but want comfort...for Honda there is the good old CBR1100xx or the VFR800, the Kawi ZX14 is a beast, Suzuki has the Busa and the Katana 1100. Best advice I could give you is to test ride a LOT of bikes if you can.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Good info, thanks.

I love the look of the FJR, and really want more of a touring bike. Im going to check out that BMW I think, its more in my price range than the FJR's Ive seen.

[Downs]

That BMW will be a good bike. I used to have an 1150R and liked it a lot, that engine is great not a screamer but good power for it's purpose and I could knock out valve adjustment in about 15 minutes.

I wound up trading it in on a FJR though lol. The FJR was a hot bike especially during the summer. If the fuel tank got below 1/4 it would heat up pretty quick. On long hot days I'd have two red marks on the inside of my thighs from the heat even with proper riding pants.

Other than that heat issue I didn't have a single other complaint with the bike. It was probably the best bike I've owned to date. The FZ6 is approaching it for my uses.

On the dragon during a long trip


What I ride now setup for sport touring. There's very few times I miss the bigger bike even on longer trips.

[O.C.]

FJR hands down (out of the ones you mentioned). BMW's are nice, smooth, and well made...but you will pay a premium for the name and for service. The FJR is fast, comfortable, handles well, and there are TONS of accessories available for them now. I would stay away from the ST1300 after numerous reports of rear wheel high speed wobble (starts at about 100mph) that has caused multiple fatality crashes. Dont forget about the Kawasaki ZZR1200 and now the new ZZR14 (Concourse 14)...they are both very fast and comfortable bikes for long hauls...but the 14 is fuel injected now. If you can afford the price....BMW's new K1600 pretty much blows them all away...literally. If you are more interested in SPORT riding but want comfort...for Honda there is the good old CBR1100xx or the VFR800, the Kawi ZX14 is a beast, Suzuki has the Busa and the Katana 1100. Best advice I could give you is to test ride a LOT of bikes if you can.

If you are on a budget I would look at these:
ZZR1200
VFR800
CBR1100XX - I owned one of these and wish I had sold the Busa and kept it, it was a way more comfortable bike, and was fast enough for how I ride now days.

If you look you can find some good deals on the Concours but probably not this time of year.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Thanks for the ideas. Ive decided to put the Star up for sale, take that cash and buy something a bit more sporty. It helps that my buddy that I normally ride with happens to have a buyer for his Ultra Classic, so he and I are both looking at options.

Any thoughts on the Triumph Sprint?

[Snatch Napkin]

If you look into the Concours, make sure you get 2008 or higher. The Tetra lever system is a major improvement to their shaft drive.

[ram57ta]

Thanks for the ideas. Ive decided to put the Star up for sale, take that cash and buy something a bit more sporty. It helps that my buddy that I normally ride with happens to have a buyer for his Ultra Classic, so he and I are both looking at options.

Any thoughts on the Triumph Sprint?

They aren't bad bikes....but they lack the power and torque of the other bikes mentioned. They have a distinct sound (inline triples all do). They are pretty heavy for their size. I would expect any repairs or parts for them to be more expensive than a Japanese bike...and service will probably cost more as well. They are cool conversation bikes...but I wouldn't want one personally. I'm biased but I love my old 99' Blackbird...which now has about 78k miles on it.

[Baron Von Crowder]

They aren't bad bikes....but they lack the power and torque of the other bikes mentioned. They have a distinct sound (inline triples all do). I would expect any repairs or parts for them to be more expensive than a Japanese bike...and service will probably cost more as well. They are cool conversation bikes...but I wouldn't want one personally. I'm biased but I love my old 99' Blackbird...which now has about 78k miles on it.

i was wondering why they were cheaper. Good to know.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Update: Still looking. I didnt like the BMW. Dont really have the cash to do a FJR.

My buddy is picking up a Multistrada as we speak, and he has found several that would be around the price id be willing to spend. I'll burn that bridge after taking his out and putting it through the motions.

He's suggested the V-Strom. I dont know that I dont want one, but it doesnt top my list. Im tall, so they might be a good fit. I've also got my eye on an 07 1250 Bandit, and without sitting on it or riding, it looks like what I want.

Any thoughts?

[Tannerm]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the bandit carbed? Or at least pre '10. The vstrom has a very strong following. I would try for a fjr or concours. Had a st and it was fun. But wilt was underpowered compared to the other two I mentioned. Rode em all. Love the fjr.

[Snatch Napkin]

2008 or later Kawasaki Concours still gets my vote.

[Downs]

The carbed Bandits are very strong runners. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Except for the first few years they went to the "bug eyed" models they had piston issues when they enlarged the piston ring oil holes. They had some oil burning issues in those first few years.

I had a 2000 model which was the year before the bug eyes models and it was probably the best bike I've ever owned. Don't let the fact that a bike has carbs steer ya away they run just fine.

Just don't let them sit for months on end with fuel in the float bowls.


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