Best sports tourier

[Mamba]

You might want to narrow it down to what kind of bike You like.

Single,Twin,Multi cylinder...... Naked,small fairing,full fairing.

That would be full fairing mate. I am mostly interested in the reliability of the bike, and the comfort when riding longer distances. As well as the ocasional performance fast ride

[Mamba]

This is the Thundercat i owned, if you can get one, you will be doing ok...

hats a mighty looking bike mate. if its as comfortable as it looks, I wouldn't mind gettin one

[Biff]

Half a Blackbird?

[Hillbilly]

Nobody's mentioned the *cough* Hyosung GT650S. There's always the Suzuki GS500F. Nowhere near as good a CBR, but a good all rounder and very affordable.

[Pwalo]

Nobody's mentioned the *cough* Hyosung GT650S. There's always the Suzuki GS500F. Nowhere near as good a CBR, but a good all rounder and very affordable.

Yep if depends what you're looking for cost wise as well. Most of the bikes suggested would be fine for touring, but I can get 70mpg (sorry what's this metric stuff) from the GS on the open road, and it's surprisingly comfortable with just a Givi screen. Servicing and tyre costs are a lot less that a 600 four as well.

Mind you you can tour on a 50cc Vespa, or a Gixxer 1000 if you want, so just pick what you like and ride it anyway - it's all about the image.

[Squeak the Rat]

The same guy at work who told me that a CBR was too boring for him also mentioned that when they go touring at racing speeds, the two guys in his group with CBR600's leave him and the rest of the group in a shower of dust and small stones ... making him and his Yamaha 1100 look a bit silly.

This guy at your work sounds like he knows what he's talking about.....

[Bend-it]

Why limit yourself to 650? The VFR750, VFR800 and RF900, IMO, are the best all round sport-tourers around. I picked the RF 'coz it's the cheaper than the VFR800 and newer than most VFR750s around. Also, I actually like the styling!

Jump on one and try it out. It's NOT scary to ride at all, even with all the power available, it's all under the control of your right wrist.

[vifferman]

How about one of them Kwakasaki 500 thingos? ER or summat?

[vifferman]

Why limit yourself to 650? The VFR750, VFR800 and RF900, IMO, are the best all round sport-tourers around.

While it's true that the VFR800 does have some round bits, it also has quite a few angular bits to it. Especially the VTEC model.

But it's a Honda, and everyone knows Honda's are boring. Best to stick to something with worse ergonomics and the excitement of less reliability.

[Hillbilly]

Here are my picks in order for a mid-size "Sports Tourer", with pics, and of course all Japanese.

1: Honda CBR600F

2: Kawasaki ER6F

3: Yamaha FZ6S (Fazer)

4: Suzuki Bandit GSF600S/650S

5: Kawasaki ZZ-R 600

6: Suzuki GS500F

[Hitcher]

What would u rate a best sports tourier between 400 to 650cc?

"Sports tourier" between 400 and 650cc? I thought 900cc would be a minimum for anything to qualify for such a "category". The only thing that would even come close would be a Honda Deauville.

And I am liking "tourier". It has potential. One could name one's tourier "Tariana"...

[MD]

And I am liking "tourier". ...

That's because your tourier is coolier than the rest.

[Edbear]

hats a mighty looking bike mate. if its as comfortable as it looks, I wouldn't mind gettin one

And you wouldn't regret it either, they're a good bike. I find my bike very comfortable and certainly quick enough. The CBR600F4 is one of the best you can get, too, probably got the edge over the YZF, but not much in it.

Just have to try riding a few to see which one fits you best, I guess.

[scracha]

And you wouldn't regret it either, they're a good bike. I find my bike very comfortable and certainly quick enough. The CBR600F4 is one of the best you can get, too, probably got the edge over the YZF, but not much in it.

Just have to try riding a few to see which one fits you best, I guess.

I forgot the suzuki teapot GSX750. A hell of a lot of bike for the money and one that seems to meet all your requirements. Much torquier than the 600's too so better for the 2's up touring. Shame it's a Suzuki though as bits are bound to fall off it :-)

GS500's aren't that well built or reliable (we used them in a training school many moons ago), the Kwak ER5, Honda CB500 (nice handling) or Diversion 600 (did they import them here?) are a better bet. Also the Fazer 600 (never seen one here) and CB600S Hornet (thirsty tho') but again I found them physically too small.

Regards to servicing costs etc, the later VFR's are supposedly a nightmare. Multi valve 4 potters aren't much harder to service than 2 potters. Extra carbs (unless injected) to balance and valves to check but to be honest, getting past fairings, radiators & rocker covers takes longer. The more of this you can do yourself the easier your life will be. You're best speaking to a mechanic about servicing times and reliability as they're the ones who get their hands dirty dealing with them.

I'll probably get a bollocking for this but if you warm the bike up nicely before riding, keep changing the oil and don't screw the arse off it (you know...tour instead of scratch) you can get away with adding a few thousand k's between servicing.

[Lord Derosso]

The GSX750F is a great alrounder per many reports. I have the older 600F Katana(meaning 86HP as opposed to 79HP) and love it because of the following reasons:

Shes great around town and extremely light to steer meaning you can dodge potholes and change lanes very quickly and smoothly. Great brakes. Took me a while to learn to stop nearly coming off because of them.

Great on petrol. Beleive its around the 45 mpg or 70 Km p gallon?

Small CC yet reasonable HP and insurance rates a lot cheaper, especially if you are an old fart like me, sole rider, off road parking etc etc. $18 fortnight

Cruises perfectly fine at 120 kmh with heaps of gas to go. Sure shes not a super sports but makes up for this with the handling through winding roads.

Engine is oil cooled and solid as. Check out Trade me and you will see them with huge mileages and only two or three owners because they have kept them for years they are so reliable. A number of riders have commented to me on the engine. I believe its basically the same as the Bandit.

One thing though. I have owned numerous bikes and one of my fravourite was the Honda 750 VF as they are wonderful touring bikes with the V four engines. No changing down to pass at any time. I would also recommend nothing less than a 600cc and more like a 750cc. Mine pillions fine but the extra 150cc does make for a more comfortable long distance ride for both pillion and rider. Do go for a 600cc if you will be sole riding as they are fun to ride and good on insurance and gas etc.