Sport touring motorcycle

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BMW K1200GT sport touring motorcycle

A sport touring motorcycle (sometime 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.[1] [2] 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.[3]

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 sports-tourer will typically have more ride height ground clearance for better cornering, less storage, lower weight, a less relaxed seating position, less room for the rear passenger, and higher overall performance. [4]

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 its sport bike sibling, 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 sport-tourer Aprilia RST1000 Futura used a differently-tuned version from the Aprilia RSV Mille sport bike. As consumer expectations changed, some sportbikes were redefined (for marketing purposes) as sport touring bikes: 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".[5]

Kawasaki Concours 14/1400GTR
Yamaha FJR1300A
Honda ST1300

See also

References

  1. ^ Gantriis, Peter (2013), The Art of BMW: 90 Years of Motorcycle Excellence, Motorbooks, p. 121, ISBN 0760344124
  2. ^ "First Ride: 1999 BMW R1100S". www.motorcycle.com.
  3. ^ Egan, Peter (January 23, 2014), "Built for comfort. Built for speed. A concise history of rambling around on sport-touring bikes.", Cycle World
  4. ^ says, Eric (2 January 2015). "Sport Touring Motorcycle History". www.theridingobsession.com.
  5. ^ Greg Drevenstedt (May 6, 2013), "2013 Sport-Touring Comparison Test: BMW K1600GT, BMW R1200RT, Kawasaki Concours 14, Triumph Trophy, Yamaha FJR1300", Rider
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