So what's the best sports tourer?

**Ulsterkiwi** · 18th July 2016, 16:08

this is where you will get a roasting about the BMW needing you to bring tools along all the time. I guess it depends on where you tour and how close you are to help and how keen you are to be self sufficient.

On anything more than a day trip I will pack my mini compressor, the puncture repair kit lives permanently under the seat. Anything more than that and I am calling the AA. I have a ziplock that lived in my tank bag which had spare fuses, PVC tape, cable ties and a couple of bulbs. I have only ever opened that bag to help other people fix their own bikes.

I dislike tied on tank bags, so I got a tanklock, the filler on my Aprilia is not compatible with the Givi system and the tank is plastic so I no longer use a tankbag, that was good, I had to rethink the shit I was carrying and never using, ever.

One of the things I like about touring on the bike is being minimal with my packing, but a minimal way of fulfilling what I perceive to be my needs. Banditbandit hasnt told us the size of his Ventura pack, maybe its 150 litres

**Gremlin** · 18th July 2016, 17:31

Originally Posted by Ulsterkiwi

this is where you will get a roasting about the BMW needing you to bring tools along all the time. I guess it depends on where you tour and how close you are to help and how keen you are to be self sufficient.

Haha, yeah, thought afterwards.

It stems out of adventure riding, so yes, reasonably self sufficient, but also carrying a good range of tools, not just my own bike specific ones. Puncture repair and air compressor stuff are always on the bike in a handy lock box. I'm still realistic however there is plenty to go wrong and the only answer is a tow to "my nearest authorised workshop"

I don't use a tank bag much as I don't like the glare from the top when the sun is at certain angles, it restricts my movement adv riding and mostly just gets in the way. I do however use it, as sometimes the media rack is on the bike for camera guys, and covering events like Ironman, we're out for 12 hrs, and the top box isn't enough for all the gear we carry.

**Ocean1** · 18th July 2016, 19:14

Originally Posted by Gremlin

No idea how you do that...

Left pannier is tools and associated items (tape, flash light etc), usually a change of shoes, spare gloves, balaclava, wet weather gear and so on. Right pannier is oil, cloths, clothes and electrical gear (got a packing cell for chargers, card readers, power cables etc).

Top is either backpack with stuff like laptop, water bottles, wallet, cases for GPS, if no top box, maybe a tail pack, laptop is relocated to right pannier, and still stuff like water, mobile, wallet etc goes into the tail pack.

Well, you can get almost as much in a Ventura bag as you can in two moderate panniers. More in some of the alternative rack mounted bags like R-Jays.

I'd still go with panniers, all things being equal, but they're not, it's a couple of hundred for a pack-rack and a couple of thousand for panniers.

And that's very close to my favourite rant about arsehole distributors flogging new toruiers minus the luggage, and selling it separately to all them poor destitute bikers. The cunts. So I'll say no more.

**nzspokes** · 18th July 2016, 19:51

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Well, you can get almost as much in a Ventura bag as you can in two moderate panniers. More in some of the alternative rack mounted bags like R-Jays.

I'd still go with panniers, all things being equal, but they're not, it's a couple of hundred for a pack-rack and a couple of thousand for panniers.

And that's very close to my favourite rant about arsehole distributors flogging new toruiers minus the luggage, and selling it separately to all them poor destitute bikers. The cunts. So I'll say no more.

The KTM 1290 GT, panniers are $1700. All the promo photos show the panniers fitted. The BMW S1000xr panniers are $1100 a side! For a bloody plastic box. Yes, cunts.

But I would have hard luggage over soft anyday.

**Duncan74** · 18th July 2016, 20:16

Originally Posted by nzspokes

The KTM 1290 GT, panniers are $1700. All the promo photos show the panniers fitted. The BMW S1000xr panniers are $1100 a side! For a bloody plastic box. Yes, cunts.

Ahh, but you could get Givi panniers for a mere $700 a pair. Admittedly you can get them in a lovely hi-vis yellow that fades so quickly you can actually see it changing colour if you do something stupid. Like take the panniers outside of a lightproof garage.

Unfortunately you then need another $400 for the mounting bracket.... Actually cost me $599 for the top box, and $430 for the mounting plate for the scooter.

**nzspokes** · 18th July 2016, 21:03

Originally Posted by Duncan74

Ahh, but you could get Givi panniers for a mere $700 a pair. Admittedly you can get them in a lovely hi-vis yellow that fades so quickly you can actually see it changing colour if you do something stupid. Like take the panniers outside of a lightproof garage.

Unfortunately you then need another $400 for the mounting bracket.... Actually cost me $599 for the top box, and $430 for the mounting plate for the scooter.

Which is why you try to buy a bike with them already fitted.

**buggerit** · 18th July 2016, 21:31

Couple of shots from our last trip south, great bike , does all I want well, still gives me the grin.

**nzspokes** · 18th July 2016, 21:49

Originally Posted by buggerit

Couple of shots from our last trip south, great bike , does all I want well, still gives me the grin.

Nice.

**Maha** · 19th July 2016, 07:06

Originally Posted by buggerit

Couple of shots from our last trip south, great bike , does all I want well, still gives me the grin.

There are a number of bikes Steve that will do that whole 'two up packed to the hilt do all you want and in reasonable comfort'. The CB was exceptional at this.

I got rid of the FA because of work restraints and the CB because of a brain fart moment.

Sold that 2013 FA for $10K. it had 4800 ks on clock.

**Banditbandit** · 19th July 2016, 10:02

Originally Posted by nzspokes

The KTM 1290 GT, panniers are $1700. All the promo photos show the panniers fitted. The BMW S1000xr panniers are $1100 a side! For a bloody plastic box. Yes, cunts.

But I would have hard luggage over soft anyday.

I had Krauser panniers on my BMW GS ... sides and top box

I hardly ever rode with the top box on (upset the handling) and I don't ever remember filling the panniers - even on a very long trip ..

**oldiebutagoody** · 23rd July 2016, 14:21

Damn you all to purgatory!

All of you are just a bunch of "enablers" feigning helpfulness.

Just shook hands on a Bandit 1200 with full hard luggage for a February SI trip.

What to do with the 600 now? Huh, HUH?

Helpful suggestions welcomed. lol.

**GrayWolf** · 24th July 2016, 13:31

Originally Posted by AllanB

Sport Touring is a bollocks label IMO.

The medias obsession to label a bike is becoming increasingly irrelevant with the pile of new 'do-it-all' on the road bikes.

Back in the 80's what we now call 'sport touring' was taking your GSX, Z, etc and bolting on a bikini fairing and pack rack - add some soft throw-over bags and instant sport touring. If you wanted it sportier a set of rear Street Stroker or Koni shocks, heavier weight fork oil and preload the front a bit with a stack of coins .......

The essence of what people refer to as Sport-touring now is not really different - a bloody good motorcycle that will do you and your partner fine for a full days travel. It's just that we have a bike from every brand to reference now. My idea of the best one will be different from yours and other posters - test ride and buy.

Yes I agree about what we did in the 1980's to go touring. Problem is, back then the UJM was still plentiful, but the Gpz900a was really the 'herald' of the 'sprotbike' of today.. Bikes {sprotties}have become more and more 'sport focussed' than an everyday ride. My current bike {CB1300s} is as close as you can get to a 1970/80's UJM {along with the GS1400 etc}.
I would hazard that the European riders are where 'sport touring' originally hailed from. With a group of friends, I used to do regular 1000 miles 'blasts' from the UK to Spain for a 'long weekend'. We needed speed, 'enough' luggage capacity, decent fuel range and comfortable riding position/cockpit.
BMW tourers were comfortable, but, not 'fast enough' , the UJM needed luggage, and a fairing for serious European motorway riding.
I'd place the FJ1200 as the first 'Eurotourer'. Yamaha modified the fairing slightly and I believe tweaked the torque/cams from the 1100's settings. That bike is still regarded as a 'bloody good touring mount'.

'sport tourers' can be IMO categorised by a less sporting riding position, decent seat, good fuel economy when ridden smoothly, softer suspension to cope with 'average' road surfaces, large fuel tanks usually a fair bit heftier than a 'sprotty' but often a lot bloody faster ...
The forerunner of the modern 'uber tourer' was the ZZR1100... fits all the above criteria, fast, comfortable, good range. Euro-touring needs a mix of motorway speeds and 'carving' ability. That bike and it's followers ZZR1200, ZXR1400, busa etc are all intercontinental 'missiles' that can consume big distances, FAST!
By definition a 'sport tourer'.