Sport touring motorcycles combine the performance of sport bikes with the long-distance capabilities and comfort of touring motorcycles. These bikes typically feature more wind protection, larger fairings, adjustable windscreens, shaft drive, pannier storage systems, heated grips, and a more upright seating position compared to sport bikes. They offer a balance between sporting performance and touring comfort, making them versatile for various riding styles.
Some key features of sport touring motorcycles include:
- More wind protection with larger fairings and adjustable windscreen.
- Transmission with lower gearing and shaft drive.
- Side and/or rear pannier storage systems for luggage.
- Larger alternator for powering accessories.
- Heated handlebar grips for comfort.
- Remotely adjustable headlights for convenience.
- Larger fuel tank for extended range.
- Upright seating position for comfort on long rides.
Manufacturers often use existing engine technology from their sport bikes when designing sport tourers, focusing on mid-range torque rather than peak horsepower. This approach allows for a blend of performance and comfort suitable for long-distance riding. Sport tourers are lighter than full touring models, offering better cornering ability but with less storage space and passenger room.
Notable examples of sport touring motorcycles include the BMW R100RS, Triumph Sprint, Kawasaki Concours 14, and Ducati ST4. These bikes cater to riders looking for a versatile motorcycle that can handle both spirited riding and extended tours comfortably. The evolution of sport-touring motorcycles has seen manufacturers refining the balance between sporty performance and touring amenities to meet the demands of riders seeking a versatile riding experience.
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_touring_motorcycle
A sport touring motorcycle (sometimes a "sports tourer") is a type of motorcycle that combines the performance of a sport bike with the long-distance capabilities and comfort of a touring motorcycle.
The first sport tourer is said to be the fully faired 1977 BMW R100RS. Journalist Peter Egan defines the sport tourer as a "café racer that doesn't hurt your wrists and a touring bike that doesn't feel like a tank," and identified the R100RS as the first example he owned.
Unlike a sport model, a sport touring model will typically have more wind protection with larger fairings and an adjustable windscreen, a transmission with lower gearing, a shaft drive instead of chain drive, side and/or rear pannier storage systems, a larger alternator for more accessories, heated handlebar grips, remotely adjustable headlights, a larger fuel tank for increased range, and a more upright seating position. Unlike a full touring model, a sport tourer will typically have more ride height ground clearance for better cornering, less stowage, lower weight, a less relaxed seating position, less room for the rear passenger, and higher overall performance.
When designing a sport tourer, some manufacturers make economies by using an existing engine, technology and tooling from their recent sport bikes, rather than creating a dedicated engine design from scratch. Sport tourer engines could be differently-tuned versions of their sport bike siblings, the emphasis becoming mid-range torque rather than peak horsepower. This often includes a different cylinder head and exhaust system. For example, the Triumph Sprint motorcycle shared its engine with the Daytona, Speed Triple, and Tiger models; the Kawasaki 1400GTR/Concours 14 shares the basic engine with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14; and Ducati's ST4 sport tourer used the 916's engine; the Aprilia RST1000 Futura used a differently-tuned engine from the Aprilia RSV Mille sport bike. As consumer expectations changed, some sport bikes were redefined (for marketing purposes) as sport touring bikes, for example, the 2000 Kawasaki ZX-6R sportbike became the 2004 ZZR600 with just a change to a fairing bracket.
Rider magazine noted in 2013 that the line between sportbikes and touring motorcycles was becoming blurred "with [touring] horsepower rising higher and higher and lists of standard [sportbike] features growing longer and longer".
