For me the ultimate touring bike has got to be the Honda Pan European. I have had both the 1100 and the ST1300. A little heavy at walking speed but open them up and the performance and handling is stunning.
@@Glyder1959 How easy are they to maintain? I'm looking for a budget touring bike, I hear the maintenance on these can get expensive. Especially tires.
@@cesartapia610 These are fantastic sport touring bikes. If you can find a low miler(these are 200k mile machines) even 80k mile bike I wouldn’t be afraid to buy it. I find maintenance, oil changes, coolant change intervals, brake fluid flushes, tire changes, brake pads all to be easy to do by myself. Very reliable bike.
I LOVE THE SUPERTANKER ... I have had the ST1100, ST1100A, St1100P, and ST1300A. All GREAT bikes. 50MPG at highway (+) speeds, and a 7.5 US-Gallon tank! An easy 300miles / 3 hours between gas stops if you are eating slab, yet it will chase sports bikes in twisty canyons all day, and be a fluffy bunny below 5mph. I used to carry a fuel hose to refill cruisers with sub 150 mile ranges. The ST had gas to spare after they burned 2 tanks.
I owned a 2004 Honda Blackbird for 2 years - an absolute rocketship, but even with bar risers installed, the riding position is very heavy on the wrists anywhere under 150kmh. You find yourself relieved to stop at the traffic lights and give your wrist joints a rest. Also, on anything less than broad sweeping curves, handling is hard work. It's such a heavy bike and it feels like it too. I was happy to sell it and get myself another Gen.5 VFR800 - now that's a great sports tourer.
The Blackbird is an awesome bike, comfortable, reliable, durable, and is a Honda what more do you need? I got both X11 and XX on my garage, not even one failure what so ever on both machines, although I must say that the new VFR1200 overtakes the sport-touring crown, but either Honda will make a great tourer. Cheers mates.
I am on my second Bandit 1200 (2006 model currently), ergos are the most comfortable for touring for starters, excellent engine, very good handling etc etc, hard to fault the bike really. HUGE seller worldwide! How it didn't make the top 10 of your list is quite unbelievable. I have owned a number of bikes over the past 37 years including vfr750, hornet 919, z1000. If you want a powerful comfortable do it all bike then test ride a Bandit 1200 or the newer 1250 cc.
+TheSteps62 Hi, I had an 1200S bandit and now i have the VFR800. I really loved the bandit, but the sound of the V4 engine and its characteristic makes it the best for me. It is a fact, that the big bandit is better if you're looking for an all-rounder.
Being very biased about the gsxf750, they are a cracking bike as long as you don't treat it like a super bike. They are heavy and you have to work abit through the twisties but that what riding is about. I love mine and do alot of miles on it, no disrespect to people who don't like them but for what I need it definitely delivers
The GSXF750 is a rock solid all arounder for riders using their brains rather than their emotions. More than enough power to get you in trouble, nice top end rush and likes to rev like the GSXR engine it's based on. Many have well over 100k and still going strong, and dead nuts reliable. Brakes are mushy, but a set of upgraded pads fixes this. For the power hungry a set of GSXR cams (direct replacement) gives you well over 110HP at the loss of some low end torque. The motor is the key here, buy a 98+ model and you have a bullet proof bike that will take a ton of miles and smiles while asking for more.
Don't let this put you off the gsx750 (katana), go give one a test ride because they do everything you could want from a sports/tourer are very comfortable for its class and are super reliable , yes they are a bit heavy but if you're doing more touring type riding that isn't a big negative and the positives make up for it
Yea the weight helps in the rain on the highway just to feel more planted love my sprint st but that’s why there are so many bikes we all like different things so rock on
Yes, old video. I just bought an '03 Sprint ST, lowly 10th place finisher. However it was compared favorably to the VFR in another review. As said by others, not all 10 are sport tourers, and others that are, were omitted like the Caponard and the Norge. And the difference between the ones that are, are more styling exercises. Take that out of the equation and there was little substance to the criteria. BTW, I love my Sprint. 118 hp in a sub 500 lb. bike: what's not to like! Any of these bikes maintained per the manufacturer are a tremendous value in 2017 if you look around. You can have all the modern computer controlled riding aids the new bikes are equipped with. They don't enhance the riding experience: only the cost of ownership.
I guess our definition of "tourer" is different. I do recognize that Europe and USA have different roads as a rule of thumb. More twisty turny roads in Europe, more long open stretches in the US. But, sport touring to me suggests a fast good handling bike with the added capability of bringing luggage. Most of those bikes dont have saddlebags. I realize a Harley Electra Glide doesnt fit the definition, but what about the Concours and bikes like that?
Don't let any of these downers give any motivational speeches. The audience might be slitting their wrists before it's over. The bald dude is especially depressing.
Brett Vogel I know right? I've ridden a sprint 955 before and it was awesome! These guys are bike snobs and can't appreciate a good motorcycle. I ride an old shit bike that won't pass inspection but I love it and probably have more fun on it than the dudes in this video.
Bike snobs? If that means they're typical uneducated Sport Touring aficionado's who haven't got a clue about the Sport Touring class of motorcycles, then I would wholeheartedly agree!
@@stephenjohnson2345 I've ridden Yams for most my adult life, having 5 of them since 1987, as well as Honda 500/750 fours, and never once did I feel empty. The Yamaha's have a soul. If you work on your machine, you know what heart and mind went into building such beauties. I ride by feel, and I can feel my FJR1300 ES. I rode one bike that gave so lil feedback that I felt uncomfortable, that was a BMW RT. No to the Tele-lever for me
Fjr is the only one that really stood the test of time and evolved to be a true sports tourer. The Kawasaki is a bit long in the tooth not keeping up with modern technology and the rest are more sport bikes. Can’t believe they put the Hayabusa in the mix
Did they say that an Italian bike is just as reliable as Japanese bikes? Correct me if I'm wrong but I barely see any of the European bikes mentioned in this vid in the street or for sale but the Japanese bikes are still selling and running strong after all those years.
The silver VFR800FI shown at start of the film, is pre VTEC 97-99 models. Many would argue this version is better that the '01 onwards VTEC models. ..I've had a '98 VFR800Fi for around 5yrs now and am about to get a '07 Blackbird!
I have #9 and it's a great bike. Aside of maintenence since it's a 98. It's been lowered, wider rear tire, and better jet kit. Made this handle a lot better. It's pretty fast mid range in my opinion. Vibration starting at 80mph and not many performance upgrades. One thing mine has factory luggage rails, but I can not find factory hard luggage (panniers ) . Any idea where I can find them.
Who are the dotes who put this list together? What qualifies them as sport tourers? Hyabusa a sport tourer? No bags? Vfr is a great bike (had two) but that’s the number one? Come in man.
One of the things I would say is that way back then the perception of bikes was very different (I am 65), and there was a lot of snobbery if you owned the latest and greatest hyperbike/Moto GP replica/Super Bike, with matching leathers with said "Bird" on the back also wearing said matching leathers, and a credit account with your local chiropractor! Anyone who was not in the "club" would be looked down upon, but having said that there are so many bikes from that era that should have been included since now we have the benefit of hindsight after all these years! My pick for the contest would be.. Suzuki Bandit 1200/600, Yamaha Fazer 1000 and 600, Honda VFR800Fi/and VTEC, Kawasaki ZZR600, Kawasaki GPZ1100, Suzuki GSXF750/600, Honda CBF1000, Honda 600 Hornet, Aprilia Futura RST1000 (as featured in this film), Triumph Sprint 1050 (as featured), Yamaha FJR1300 (as featured), Ducati ST3/4 (as featured), Yamaha TDM900, BMW 1150RT/850RT, BMW1200ST?. Loads of people around the time toured on Ducati M800s/M900, Suzuki SV1000(2003) , Honda VTR1000, Yamaha TRX850's none of which would really qualify for this category so its very subjective and not definitive. Bikes such as the Hyabusa, Blackbird, and the ZZR1200 and VMax should not really be included as they are big super powerful hyperbikes for the time, because if you do then all the 1300/1400/1500/1600cc muscle bikes would then have to be included! Just to also put prices in perspective 10000GBP for a bike around 2000-2003 was a lot of money in those days, in comparison to now, you can buy a new bike that outperforms most of the above mentioned, today for around 9000GBP (and certainly nearly new/low miler examples) with the exception of the current Hyabusa and other current hyperbikes. Tastes and aspirations have changed over time. Just My "Two Penneth's worth".
To me a Sport Tourer has to have hard bags standard on the bike. What happened to the Concours 10? St1100/1300? Triumph Trophy? Half of the bikes presented were flat out sport bikes. Hayabusa as a sport tourer? Might as well add the ZX12r as a sport tourer. The BMW K1200RS has a midrange that stomps! That is what sport tourers need is midrange punch!
Try the k1200s sometime.. the horsepower and torque is insane. And yes the concours should be included! Unfortunately (and i considered one) theyre not popular. Theyre... simplistic... i dont know how to say it but put a k1200s or a triumph st1050 next to one youd never pick a concours (though theyd be better long range bikes i bet)
charles reid I always wanted to try a K1200S with the "Japanese" styled four cylinder..... I did not know the ST1050 triple was that good. I will have to find one and try it out. Thanks brother.
I agree... I know this video is old, but man it's pretty bad. And the FJ1300 as number 7? It's almost always regarded as in the top 3 Sport Touring bikes, many rating it #1.
You can get factory fitted hard panniers on the Triumph Sprint ST. I won’t fit soft bags to any bike I ride, always looks like someone has strapped shopping bags to an otherwise gorgeous bike, to me.
FJR1300 is the one i'd pick. A sports tourer is basically a comfortable sports bike... Anything more is a tourer, anything less is a sports bike. This is a strange mixture of bikes - probably all they could hold of on the day of filming. The VFR has that crouched over riding position, so i wouldn't want to tour on that. If the Hayabusa and Blackbird were releaed today, with performances relative to our time, they'd be classed as hyperbikes. The rest, nah, for me FJR, works, truely comfortabe, truely fast, not as heavy as the Concours (GTR1400), ST1300 that it's usually grouped with.
I rode from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to the Tail of the Dragon in Smokey Mountains, USA (9hrs) on my Hayabusa with soft panniers and a big tank bag. Made a weeks vacation out of it.
Everytime I watch reviews from these guys, and then the "experts" show up to tell you how horrible everything is and how the styling is a disaster, phewf, misery!
I don't understand why you didn't mention the Honda St1300 European Pan. In my opinion, this is the right thing. I have an ST1300, 2002, and I wouldn't change it for I don't know what. Very Reliable, I would go to the end of the world with it if necessary.❤🎉
Great Bikes are brilliant at specific things. My BMWR1200R classic is for me the best bike on the planet. With the Telelever front end nothing comes close when a pillion and heavy luggage for touring is added. It is also very fast well made and safe. But its no Blackbird but that edge is beyond both my skill and ride style but that's okay.
Mate, does it EVER stop raining in England? Also I rode a Blackbird 400kms on a cold wet day. Most painful instrument of torture I have ever had the displeasure to use. Cramps and lousy wet grip with the Dunlops made the whole trip a misery.
I've just replaced my old, red, battered vfr800fi (pre vtech) with.......another (nearly mint) vfr800fi in red. I did masses of research l, really fancying a change but just kept coming back to the same bike. For what they cost now you really cannot do better. There are loads out there that have been maintained meticulously and the bike ticks every single box. The only thing I found odd is that the Triumph Sprint wallowed in 10th position. If I would have gone for something different, the Sprint would probably have been the one.
Love the Triumph Sprint. It looks like a track bike. It’s fun to thrash a smaller displacement bike than rolling down the road on a recliner. I’ve had a BMW K75RT that was a great sports tourer. After that I had a couple of st1300s and loved the way it could cover ground. They were awfully too heavy though and at 74 I was having trouble reaching the ground and holding it upright.
Is there a reason we have to be informed that all these bikes have a 4 stroke engine? You'd have to go back 30 years to find a new bike with a 2 stroke engine, and that wouldn't have been a "sport tourer". These guys just love to hear themselves talk, and think their personal opinions should determine our decisions. "The Honda Blackbird is feeling a bit slow now" LOL!
Time has told which bike the paying public really rated. FJR and Busa are still on the books...others are dustbin of history. Still want a blackbird though.
The k1200s is still sought after and popular...check their book value.. i own one. And the k1300s is incredibly popular.. not exactly in the dustbin. Of course it's expensive but youre buying Quality.. ride one. The busa is a joke and laughed at in the biking world.. ride one and watch the eyerolls.
charles reid quote, the busa is a joke? What planet are you on, it's a fantastic all rounder if you ask me, comfortable & very fast too. I Fitted a luggage rack to strap the tent etc on the back of mine & a big tank bag with the misses on the back we toured France.
I've owned 5 of the bikes mentioned & done over 100,000 klms on 3 of them. Bike choice is a personal thing so what one person says is a great bike someone else will not like them at all. Another reason why these so called "experts" have no idea what is good for everyone. Just because a bike can do 40-60 k's faster than the other one does not mean you will get there faster,you would still sit on your preferred cruising speed & be comfortable & get there in the same time.Saying the ZZR1100 ruled the roost in the 80's is a bit strange seeing as they didn't even come out till 1990,I should know as I had 7 of them in the 90's & preferred them to the ugly 1200 as well only just than the 'Bird but once I rode a Hayabusa all the others were as they say "just like prey" I've covered a quarter of a million klms on a Gen 1 & a Gen 2 Busa & I ride my '09 model almost every day & it still excited me every time I get on it,that feeling stopped after a couple of years on the others. The only bike that comes close "for me & the way I ride & the riding I do" is my ZX14R Kawasaki which is what Kwaka should have brought in the early 2000's to have some sort of competition against the 'Bird & the 'Busa instead of the dingo ugly ZZR1200 & the fast but not that comfortable ZX12,yep I had one of those as well.Nowdays I only ride my 'Busa as my Mrs has taken over the Big K as her preferred ride over her last bike which by the way was.....a Gen 2 Hayabusa. To each his/her own people & most of what these Poms say is rubbish especially the Hayabusa being ugly,wtf??? most pommy mags say this yet they like things like the RS Sprint or the ZZR1200 both goggle eyed monstrousity's to me personally. Ride a bike,if you feel comfortable & completely at home on it then buy & enjoy,if not pick another,after all in this day & age you have the biggest choice of motorcycles ever. Keep ya knees in the breeze!
I ride a 750 Katana and I love it despite many people criticyse its looks. Just bought a 07 busa and it is even better. Thing I disagree is about the ZZR1200. You really find it that ugly? First time I saw it I loved its looks. It is also fast, comfy and has awesome tank mileage.
@@cesartapia610 Yeah ma dude, it is cheap, low maintenance, easy to ride, very comfortable, has enough power and is light on fuel. Besides, it leans and attacks the twisties much better than you expect. Eres hispanohablante?
They show the VFR 800 Fi Then rattle on about the Vtec..Having owned the 750 the 800Fi and a Vtec the best of the 3 is the Fi.. The Vtec felt flimsy in comparison and didnt like the Vtec engine so much.. So went back to the Fi and after it sat in the garage for 2 years untouched and ignored it started on the button.!. chuck a nice Hi level can on it and they sound Great too.. Pick up a clean loved low miler for under £2k now and you can ride round the planet on it, and still feel your Ass when you get off.
So the winner was the smallest capacity, lightest and physically small motorcycle. Not very imaginative conclusion from so called expert reviewers to me. I thought this was meant to be about sports-touring bikes which by definition means there has to be a compromise between handling and comfort. Cleary the VFR800 would struggle to carry a decent amount of luggage and a pillion with the same comfort as the larger bikes?
I know this is a old video and all the bikes on it are great motorcycles only three of them would be true Sports Tourers the FJR BMW & Honda VFR. All the rest are more sport then tour no bags and very little wind protection.
You forgot one. The Aprilia Futura has, unlike the others, factory integrated saddlebags. It has a superior fairing, and the best pillion and seat of them all.
Yep. It is an old video. I wouldn't consider the VFR a sport-tourer although there is an old guy named "VFR Larry" who you see at Honda ST rallys. He has over 100,000 miles on his red VFR with a yellow front fender. Something the U.S. riders need to consider once you see the "City Limits" sign in your rear view mirror: "I'm in the middle of Montana. Where is my nearest dealer?" If you are not an an H-D, or one of the Japanese Big Four, you will be SOL. And Ducati? They tend to be gorgeous bikes, capable of awesome performance - when they work. Otherwise, Ducati is Italy's revenge for loosing WW II. Disclaimer: I have a 2013 FJR. It's a little porky, but with a few mods, it is fast and comfortable. It will happily run all day on the 85 octane gas you frequently find Out West. And it will cruise faster than most Harleys can run on a daytime, desert crossing.
The FJR1300 came available in US markets in 2005. i bought one brand NEW IN 2005. i was very dissatisfied with it and traded it for a Kawasaki concours 14 in 2008. This video is old!
The vibration was terrible. i bought handle bar risers which helped with my neck pain when traveling long distance. The key lock cylinder came out of one of the side bags hard luggage and i had to duck tape it closed. This bike was very disappointing, i will not buy another Yamaha!
Strikehold PIR , you are judging the most reliable bike ever made, because you had to install risers and the luggage lock. It shows that you don't know much about bikes...
How old are you and how many bikes have you ridden? I have ridden many bikes and and many miles and when i find a bike that works and is comfortable i am honest with my evaluations. opinions are like assholes and everyone has one..I bought a brand new yamaha FJR1300 and it was a piece of shit!!!!! You are an asshole.. keep your FJr and stick it up your ass!!
Some rather odd arguments made for if a bike is good or not. "Its british", "Im not keen on this engine (gives no further explanation)", "I dont like shaft-drive (uhhhm. Ok? Why you care that much about the power transmission?). At this point, the review stopped being interesting for me at least
i was looking at these bikes and i started asking myself "why are they so ugly? are they retro styling them already?" I looked down at the published date and its pretty recent (march 2015) so in my head i was like "holy shit! they're serious.. whyyy? . they were doing so good with the styling now-a-days" then i scrolled down more and saw that i was originally aired in 03... fweee
also V strom 650, Dominator 650, Africa Twin, triumph tiger explorer, bmw gs....i mean they have considered as touring bikes three of the most powerful and fastest bikes at the time...But i don't think they are comfortable for long trips...i didn't mentioned the gold wing because i don't like it but it is definitely a better touring bike than the hayabusa or the honda XX...by the way transalp is TOP bike, i like it too...
nice reviews but really not in line with Sport Tourers if you ask me. A Hyabusa is a racing bike, you do not go touring on it. I wonder why one journalist is against a drive shaft?
Since 2006 BMW have been ultra unreliable, service it, component failure, service it component failure, service it component failure...All high end and super high price. ABS modules, ESA Shocks, Fuel Strips, Switch Gear ,Final Drives are all very common failures. Any post 2006 BMW is not for the feint hearted and certainly not for anyone wanting to run a bike on a tight budget.
10:36 ''like the Aprilia'' Does that mean that he likes the bike or her compares it to Ducati ? Because that bike was Ducati, not Aprilia, i'm confused a little bit.
While everyone is entitled to their opinions about reliability, control, structure - all things that can be traced to mechanical design and engineering, all the other words about looks, comfort, "soul", are just subjective thoughts that only go as far as that person's bias.
Shaft drive makes the trip so much better, more fun when riding more and maintaining it less. You wouldn’t want chain drive on your car, so why have it on your bike?
Sport touring review? Hayabusa? Most of these bikes are sport bikes - not sport tourers. Only the FJR and the K1200 are really sport tourers. If you tour you will need some bags.
@@MintChoggy as i said sportier side but it is considered a sport touring bike And i believe mostly because of its very large size being very heavy It really is a relaxed riding postion on and can have bags very easily As i said Sportier side of sport touring Like the katana or honda vrf Etc 🤷🏼♂️
Dated video sort of irrelevant. No legitimate top 10 list could possibly omit Kawasaki's Concour or Honda's ST1300. They were both around back then and should have been on the list. Easily as good as the FJR.
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
For me the ultimate touring bike has got to be the Honda Pan European. I have had both the 1100 and the ST1300. A little heavy at walking speed but open them up and the performance and handling is stunning.
Quite rite. Ive owned 4 pan euros and they are unbeatable. All round class machine.
Highest mileage, most reliable motorcycle probably of All time. Crying shame it’s not available any longer.
@@Glyder1959 How easy are they to maintain? I'm looking for a budget touring bike, I hear the maintenance on these can get expensive. Especially tires.
@@cesartapia610 These are fantastic sport touring bikes. If you can find a low miler(these are 200k mile machines) even 80k mile bike I wouldn’t be afraid to buy it. I find maintenance, oil changes, coolant change intervals, brake fluid flushes, tire changes, brake pads all to be easy to do by myself. Very reliable bike.
I LOVE THE SUPERTANKER ... I have had the ST1100, ST1100A, St1100P, and ST1300A. All GREAT bikes. 50MPG at highway (+) speeds, and a 7.5 US-Gallon tank! An easy 300miles / 3 hours between gas stops if you are eating slab, yet it will chase sports bikes in twisty canyons all day, and be a fluffy bunny below 5mph.
I used to carry a fuel hose to refill cruisers with sub 150 mile ranges. The ST had gas to spare after they burned 2 tanks.
“Panel of experts" Made me chuckle. They're anything but. Loved the nostalgia, how bikes have moved on now. thanks.
I owned a 2004 Honda Blackbird for 2 years - an absolute rocketship, but even with bar risers installed, the riding position is very heavy on the wrists anywhere under 150kmh. You find yourself relieved to stop at the traffic lights and give your wrist joints a rest. Also, on anything less than broad sweeping curves, handling is hard work. It's such a heavy bike and it feels like it too. I was happy to sell it and get myself another Gen.5 VFR800 - now that's a great sports tourer.
Do these guys actually ride motorcycles or do they just hate them?
Perhaps they are merely a bunch of car enthusiasts.
I own a gsxf750 best bike i had love it and looks still modern with bulletproof engine
The FJR 1300 should be in the top 3! If not the Best bike from this list. ✌🏻😃
The Blackbird is an awesome bike, comfortable, reliable, durable, and is a Honda what more do you need? I got both X11 and XX on my garage, not even one failure what so ever on both machines, although I must say that the new VFR1200 overtakes the sport-touring crown, but either Honda will make a great tourer. Cheers mates.
the answer is in your question, its a Honda what else do you need, a bike!
I had an FJR 1300 & did 785 miles in one day driving through Europe most comfortable bike i ever had
I am on my second Bandit 1200 (2006 model currently), ergos are the most comfortable for touring for starters, excellent engine, very good handling etc etc, hard to fault the bike really. HUGE seller worldwide! How it didn't make the top 10 of your list is quite unbelievable. I have owned a number of bikes over the past 37 years including vfr750, hornet 919, z1000. If you want a powerful comfortable do it all bike then test ride a Bandit 1200 or the newer 1250 cc.
+TheSteps62
Hi, I had an 1200S bandit and now i have the VFR800. I really loved the bandit, but the sound of the V4 engine and its characteristic makes it the best for me. It is a fact, that the big bandit is better if you're looking for an all-rounder.
The bandit fuel economy is my biggest issue for me. Just sold mine for a sprint st
@@jamesharris3731 How's the Sprint ST been treating you? Are the maintenance costs more expensive? Cheers.
Being very biased about the gsxf750, they are a cracking bike as long as you don't treat it like a super bike. They are heavy and you have to work abit through the twisties but that what riding is about. I love mine and do alot of miles on it, no disrespect to people who don't like them but for what I need it definitely delivers
The GSXF750 is a rock solid all arounder for riders using their brains rather than their emotions. More than enough power to get you in trouble, nice top end rush and likes to rev like the GSXR engine it's based on. Many have well over 100k and still going strong, and dead nuts reliable. Brakes are mushy, but a set of upgraded pads fixes this. For the power hungry a set of GSXR cams (direct replacement) gives you well over 110HP at the loss of some low end torque. The motor is the key here, buy a 98+ model and you have a bullet proof bike that will take a ton of miles and smiles while asking for more.
Totaly the same opinion mine gsxf still doing great it has a bulletproof engine
I bought a 2012 FJR1300 new that year & am still loving it 4 years later. There's nothing on the market that would match my expectations better.
The high-way police (France, Belgium, UK) uses them, so they should not be that bad or uncomfortable at all
Either a typo or you have a time machine :P Best sports tourer 2002.
@@ilaser4064 2012 is correct buddy, :p
Don't let this put you off the gsx750 (katana), go give one a test ride because they do everything you could want from a sports/tourer are very comfortable for its class and are super reliable , yes they are a bit heavy but if you're doing more touring type riding that isn't a big negative and the positives make up for it
Mine is perfect
Yea the weight helps in the rain on the highway just to feel more planted love my sprint st but that’s why there are so many bikes we all like different things so rock on
Yes, old video. I just bought an '03 Sprint ST, lowly 10th place finisher. However it was compared favorably to the VFR in another review. As said by others, not all 10 are sport tourers, and others that are, were omitted like the Caponard and the Norge. And the difference between the ones that are, are more styling exercises. Take that out of the equation and there was little substance to the criteria.
BTW, I love my Sprint. 118 hp in a sub 500 lb. bike: what's not to like! Any of these bikes maintained per the manufacturer are a tremendous value in 2017 if you look around. You can have all the modern computer controlled riding aids the new bikes are equipped with. They don't enhance the riding experience: only the cost of ownership.
Love my 04 ZZR 1200, Incredible power and comfort
I guess our definition of "tourer" is different. I do recognize that Europe and USA have different roads as a rule of thumb. More twisty turny roads in Europe, more long open stretches in the US. But, sport touring to me suggests a fast good handling bike with the added capability of bringing luggage. Most of those bikes dont have saddlebags. I realize a Harley Electra Glide doesnt fit the definition, but what about the Concours and bikes like that?
No mention of the cbr 1000 f which sold hundreds of thousands and is still by today's standard a very quick and super reliable bike
Don't let any of these downers give any motivational speeches. The audience might be slitting their wrists before it's over. The bald dude is especially depressing.
Brett Vogel he's trying way to hard. Painful.
Brett Vogel I know right? I've ridden a sprint 955 before and it was awesome! These guys are bike snobs and can't appreciate a good motorcycle. I ride an old shit bike that won't pass inspection but I love it and probably have more fun on it than the dudes in this video.
Bike snobs? If that means they're typical uneducated Sport Touring aficionado's who haven't got a clue about the Sport Touring class of motorcycles, then I would wholeheartedly agree!
I wonder what bikes he likes
@@NYCZ31 NONE!
Dave Miller looks like he's talking from a Young Offenders Institute.
After 57 yeas of riding I have never owned or ridden a "souless" machine. Either you are sensitive to what's going on under you or you aren't.
@@MrJoeblofromidaho I want to bike for black bikers!
@@MrJoeblofromidaho they're not soulless; they're dancing with the souls....not sure what you mean by trashing the Japanese bikes
@@stephenjohnson2345 I've ridden Yams for most my adult life, having 5 of them since 1987, as well as Honda 500/750 fours, and never once did I feel empty. The Yamaha's have a soul. If you work on your machine, you know what heart and mind went into building such beauties. I ride by feel, and I can feel my FJR1300 ES. I rode one bike that gave so lil feedback that I felt uncomfortable, that was a BMW RT. No to the Tele-lever for me
Try riding the CBR1000R, that I would consider pretty soulless ;)
@@ilaser4064 I get the same vibe from the VFR
Fjr is the only one that really stood the test of time and evolved to be a true sports tourer. The Kawasaki is a bit long in the tooth not keeping up with modern technology and the rest are more sport bikes. Can’t believe they put the Hayabusa in the mix
I have a 2005 FJR with 68,000 miles and I love the bike. It's fast , handles very well and is practical
Did they say that an Italian bike is just as reliable as Japanese bikes?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I barely see any of the European bikes mentioned in this vid in the street or for sale but the Japanese bikes are still selling and running strong after all those years.
The silver VFR800FI shown at start of the film, is pre VTEC 97-99 models. Many would argue this version is better that the '01 onwards VTEC models.
..I've had a '98 VFR800Fi for around 5yrs now and am about to get a '07 Blackbird!
The VFR800Fi is still the best, even today. No other bike is as good. Mine has 100000km's on the clock, rides like new!
I have #9 and it's a great bike. Aside of maintenence since it's a 98. It's been lowered, wider rear tire, and better jet kit. Made this handle a lot better. It's pretty fast mid range in my opinion. Vibration starting at 80mph and not many performance upgrades. One thing mine has factory luggage rails, but I can not find factory hard luggage (panniers ) . Any idea where I can find them.
+1975acidburn
Maybe eBay.
Hey Honda, bring back the ST1300 with a little sportier tuned exhaust, cruise control and self cancelling turn signals.
Amen
Who are the dotes who put this list together? What qualifies them as sport tourers? Hyabusa a sport tourer? No bags? Vfr is a great bike (had two) but that’s the number one? Come in man.
One of the things I would say is that way back then the perception of bikes was very different (I am 65), and there was a lot of snobbery if you owned the latest and greatest hyperbike/Moto GP replica/Super Bike, with matching leathers with said "Bird" on the back also wearing said matching leathers, and a credit account with your local chiropractor! Anyone who was not in the "club" would be looked down upon, but having said that there are so many bikes from that era that should have been included since now we have the benefit of hindsight after all these years! My pick for the contest would be.. Suzuki Bandit 1200/600, Yamaha Fazer 1000 and 600, Honda VFR800Fi/and VTEC, Kawasaki ZZR600, Kawasaki GPZ1100, Suzuki GSXF750/600, Honda CBF1000, Honda 600 Hornet, Aprilia Futura RST1000 (as featured in this film), Triumph Sprint 1050 (as featured), Yamaha FJR1300 (as featured), Ducati ST3/4 (as featured), Yamaha TDM900, BMW 1150RT/850RT, BMW1200ST?. Loads of people around the time toured on Ducati M800s/M900, Suzuki SV1000(2003) , Honda VTR1000, Yamaha TRX850's none of which would really qualify for this category so its very subjective and not definitive.
Bikes such as the Hyabusa, Blackbird, and the ZZR1200 and VMax should not really be included as they are big super powerful hyperbikes for the time, because if you do then all the 1300/1400/1500/1600cc muscle bikes would then have to be included! Just to also put prices in perspective 10000GBP for a bike around 2000-2003 was a lot of money in those days, in comparison to now, you can buy a new bike that outperforms most of the above mentioned, today for around 9000GBP (and certainly nearly new/low miler examples) with the exception of the current Hyabusa and other current hyperbikes. Tastes and aspirations have changed over time. Just My "Two Penneth's worth".
To me a Sport Tourer has to have hard bags standard on the bike. What happened to the Concours 10? St1100/1300? Triumph Trophy? Half of the bikes presented were flat out sport bikes. Hayabusa as a sport tourer? Might as well add the ZX12r as a sport tourer. The BMW K1200RS has a midrange that stomps! That is what sport tourers need is midrange punch!
Try the k1200s sometime.. the horsepower and torque is insane. And yes the concours should be included! Unfortunately (and i considered one) theyre not popular. Theyre... simplistic... i dont know how to say it but put a k1200s or a triumph st1050 next to one youd never pick a concours (though theyd be better long range bikes i bet)
charles reid
I always wanted to try a K1200S with the "Japanese" styled four cylinder..... I did not know the ST1050 triple was that good. I will have to find one and try it out. Thanks brother.
I agree... I know this video is old, but man it's pretty bad. And the FJ1300 as number 7? It's almost always regarded as in the top 3 Sport Touring bikes, many rating it #1.
You can get factory fitted hard panniers on the Triumph Sprint ST. I won’t fit soft bags to any bike I ride, always looks like someone has strapped shopping bags to an otherwise gorgeous bike, to me.
@@charlesreid9337 I had a 2006 K1200R Sport. Equal to the ZX12R up to about 155 mph, then the ZX rules. But, I like the Beemer better.
The members of the panel don’t sound very excited about motorcycles.
I agree they sure do love there Honds and Ducatis and that's about it the one youg cat in particular seems to just hate life all together.
British 🤷♂️
FJR1300 is the one i'd pick. A sports tourer is basically a comfortable sports bike... Anything more is a tourer, anything less is a sports bike. This is a strange mixture of bikes - probably all they could hold of on the day of filming. The VFR has that crouched over riding position, so i wouldn't want to tour on that. If the Hayabusa and Blackbird were releaed today, with performances relative to our time, they'd be classed as hyperbikes. The rest, nah, for me FJR, works, truely comfortabe, truely fast, not as heavy as the Concours (GTR1400), ST1300 that it's usually grouped with.
+Tris Desnos I agree. I think the FJR weighs around 575 wet. More than that I just don't want to think about. I just wish I had the money for one.
I rode from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to the Tail of the Dragon in Smokey Mountains, USA (9hrs) on my Hayabusa with soft panniers and a big tank bag. Made a weeks vacation out of it.
These socalled "experts" should be working for a funeral service company instead.
The bald guy needs to be hugged. lol
I would be the same if I were born British.
Everytime I watch reviews from these guys, and then the "experts" show up to tell you how horrible everything is and how the styling is a disaster, phewf, misery!
16 kawasaki concours Z1400, best road tour bike ever made. 120,000 miles. Time for a new one....
I don't understand why you didn't mention the Honda St1300 European Pan. In my opinion, this is the right thing. I have an ST1300, 2002, and I wouldn't change it for I don't know what.
Very Reliable, I would go to the end of the world with it if necessary.❤🎉
I think bandit 1200 shouldve made the list, love my bandit
How cheap is it to maintain? Would you recommend it to someone on a tight budget?
Great Bikes are brilliant at specific things. My BMWR1200R classic is for me the best bike on the planet. With the Telelever front end nothing comes close when a pillion and heavy luggage for touring is added. It is also very fast well made and safe. But its no Blackbird but that edge is beyond both my skill and ride style but that's okay.
be nice to see more of this sort of review used bikes are more afordable and more attainable
Mate, does it EVER stop raining in England?
Also I rode a Blackbird 400kms on a cold wet day. Most painful instrument of torture I have ever had the displeasure to use. Cramps and lousy wet grip with the Dunlops made the whole trip a misery.
RT1100 like driving a Bus, SBB still buzzing. BMW more painful to me.
God these shows look really low budget but I loved them. Wish Men and Motors was on TV again.
Holy cow! A blast from the past...all antiques now.
great series of vids , i know there old , but there good reviews , when im searching for stuff they are always worth a look
I've just replaced my old, red, battered vfr800fi (pre vtech) with.......another (nearly mint) vfr800fi in red. I did masses of research l, really fancying a change but just kept coming back to the same bike. For what they cost now you really cannot do better. There are loads out there that have been maintained meticulously and the bike ticks every single box. The only thing I found odd is that the Triumph Sprint wallowed in 10th position. If I would have gone for something different, the Sprint would probably have been the one.
I am very glad my bike is the NUMBER ONE ♥️
96 zzr1100....250 miles for a (brisk) dash to wales from lincs no problem.
Ian Woodbridge still have my '93 165 hp to rear wheel. After a lil tweekin! Lol
The blackbird is a best !!!!
Very helpful video
Love the Triumph Sprint. It looks like a track bike. It’s fun to thrash a smaller displacement bike than rolling down the road on a recliner.
I’ve had a BMW K75RT that was a great sports tourer. After that I had a couple of st1300s and loved the way it could cover ground. They were awfully too heavy though and at 74 I was having trouble reaching the ground and holding it upright.
Is there a reason we have to be informed that all these bikes have a 4 stroke engine? You'd have to go back 30 years to find a new bike with a 2 stroke engine, and that wouldn't have been a "sport tourer". These guys just love to hear themselves talk, and think their personal opinions should determine our decisions. "The Honda Blackbird is feeling a bit slow now" LOL!
Would you be interested in applying to be my groom of the stool?
gsx 1100 f, on his days, but also today are enjoyable...
I've gone back in time!
Time has told which bike the paying public really rated. FJR and Busa are still on the books...others are dustbin of history. Still want a blackbird though.
VFR800's are still around and popular.
The new VFR is a class act, pity about the pillion seat though, bit small.
The k1200s is still sought after and popular...check their book value.. i own one. And the k1300s is incredibly popular.. not exactly in the dustbin. Of course it's expensive but youre buying Quality.. ride one. The busa is a joke and laughed at in the biking world.. ride one and watch the eyerolls.
Pity about the much vaunted BMW build quality. I have owned four BMW's and all have suffered from poor finish, unlike the honda's I've owned.
charles reid quote, the busa is a joke? What planet are you on, it's a fantastic all rounder if you ask me, comfortable & very fast too. I Fitted a luggage rack to strap the tent etc on the back of mine & a big tank bag with the misses on the back we toured France.
I've owned 5 of the bikes mentioned & done over 100,000 klms on 3 of them. Bike choice is a personal thing so what one person says is a great bike someone else will not like them at all. Another reason why these so called "experts" have no idea what is good for everyone. Just because a bike can do 40-60 k's faster than the other one does not mean you will get there faster,you would still sit on your preferred cruising speed & be comfortable & get there in the same time.Saying the ZZR1100 ruled the roost in the 80's is a bit strange seeing as they didn't even come out till 1990,I should know as I had 7 of them in the 90's & preferred them to the ugly 1200 as well only just than the 'Bird but once I rode a Hayabusa all the others were as they say "just like prey" I've covered a quarter of a million klms on a Gen 1 & a Gen 2 Busa & I ride my '09 model almost every day & it still excited me every time I get on it,that feeling stopped after a couple of years on the others. The only bike that comes close "for me & the way I ride & the riding I do" is my ZX14R Kawasaki which is what Kwaka should have brought in the early 2000's to have some sort of competition against the 'Bird & the 'Busa instead of the dingo ugly ZZR1200 & the fast but not that comfortable ZX12,yep I had one of those as well.Nowdays I only ride my 'Busa as my Mrs has taken over the Big K as her preferred ride over her last bike which by the way was.....a Gen 2 Hayabusa. To each his/her own people & most of what these Poms say is rubbish especially the Hayabusa being ugly,wtf??? most pommy mags say this yet they like things like the RS Sprint or the ZZR1200 both goggle eyed monstrousity's to me personally. Ride a bike,if you feel comfortable & completely at home on it then buy & enjoy,if not pick another,after all in this day & age you have the biggest choice of motorcycles ever. Keep ya knees in the breeze!
I ride a 750 Katana and I love it despite many people criticyse its looks.
Just bought a 07 busa and it is even better.
Thing I disagree is about the ZZR1200. You really find it that ugly? First time I saw it I loved its looks. It is also fast, comfy and has awesome tank mileage.
@@LINKchris87 Would you recommend the Katana to someone on a tight budget?
@@cesartapia610 Yeah ma dude, it is cheap, low maintenance, easy to ride, very comfortable, has enough power and is light on fuel.
Besides, it leans and attacks the twisties much better than you expect.
Eres hispanohablante?
if the busa is geared for 196 mph how comes mine does 206 on the gps?
They show the VFR 800 Fi Then rattle on about the Vtec..Having owned the 750 the 800Fi and a Vtec the best of the 3 is the Fi.. The Vtec felt flimsy in comparison and didnt like the Vtec engine so much.. So went back to the Fi and after it sat in the garage for 2 years untouched and ignored it started on the button.!. chuck a nice Hi level can on it and they sound Great too.. Pick up a clean loved low miler for under £2k now and you can ride round the planet on it, and still feel your Ass when you get off.
best comment but the Vtec has fuel injection.
As the VFR 800 FI 98-01
So the winner was the smallest capacity, lightest and physically small motorcycle. Not very imaginative conclusion from so called expert reviewers to me. I thought this was meant to be about sports-touring bikes which by definition means there has to be a compromise between handling and comfort. Cleary the VFR800 would struggle to carry a decent amount of luggage and a pillion with the same comfort as the larger bikes?
VFR souless? I'm assuming you didn't mean the VFR 750. I had to sell two bikes last year, selling the 94' VFR750 wasn't even a consideration.
My 97 vfr is coming to De grave with me. 😅😅😅
Ho has a Problem with d cups comming your way???
Probably likes lil' Brit Twits with bitsy Bees...
If the Busa is on the list, the Kawasaki 12R damn well should be too...
Watched this years ago and the bikes seemed so cool, watching it now over ten years later they look prehistoric lol.
How is their style holding up?
I dunno, I’d still buy a Triumph Sprint ST today in 2020. To my eye they look elegant in a way that todays hard edged bikes just can’t.
Damn! Does the sun ever come out over there???
I've owned a vfr 750 and a vfr1200f. The 1200f is SOOOOOO much better to ride and it flat out accelerates faster than most 2021 bikes.
Im still amazed that people think "Its British" is an actual argument... (－‸ლ)
maybe you haven't lived on an Island for long enough, or your parents arent cousins...
well it is in britain
I know this is a old video and all the bikes on it are great motorcycles only three of them would be true Sports Tourers the FJR BMW & Honda VFR. All the rest are more sport then tour no bags and very little wind protection.
+Prerunner Ranger Totally agree with you!
You forgot one. The Aprilia Futura has, unlike the others, factory integrated saddlebags. It has a superior fairing, and the best pillion and seat of them all.
Yep. It is an old video. I wouldn't consider the VFR a sport-tourer although there is an old guy named "VFR Larry" who you see at Honda ST rallys. He has over 100,000 miles on his red VFR with a yellow front fender.
Something the U.S. riders need to consider once you see the "City Limits" sign in your rear view mirror: "I'm in the middle of Montana. Where is my nearest dealer?" If you are not an an H-D, or one of the Japanese Big Four, you will be SOL.
And Ducati? They tend to be gorgeous bikes, capable of awesome performance - when they work. Otherwise, Ducati is Italy's revenge for loosing WW II.
Disclaimer: I have a 2013 FJR. It's a little porky, but with a few mods, it is fast and comfortable. It will happily run all day on the 85 octane gas you frequently find Out West. And it will cruise faster than most Harleys can run on a daytime, desert crossing.
"revenge for losing WW II."
+John Casteel You have a VFR and don't consider it a sport-tourer. What do you consider it?
VFR?!! Come on!
I think the Fj1300 should've been in the top 5
Only one sprt/tour in this list, the Yamaha FJR1300. These are sport bikes. How about BMW R1200RT and K1600GT, Kawasaki Concours14, Honda ST1100?
The FJR1300 came available in US markets in 2005. i bought one brand NEW IN 2005. i was very dissatisfied with it and traded it for a Kawasaki concours 14 in 2008. This video is old!
The vibration was terrible. i bought handle bar risers which helped with my neck pain when traveling long distance. The key lock cylinder came out of one of the side bags hard luggage and i had to duck tape it closed. This bike was very disappointing, i will not buy another Yamaha!
Strikehold PIR , you are judging the most reliable bike ever made, because you had to install risers and the luggage lock. It shows that you don't know much about bikes...
How old are you and how many bikes have you ridden? I have ridden many bikes and and many miles and when i find a bike that works and is comfortable i am honest with my evaluations. opinions are like assholes and everyone has one..I bought a brand new yamaha FJR1300 and it was a piece of shit!!!!! You are an asshole.. keep your FJr and stick it up your ass!!
Shouldn't we have seen the bikes tested with panniers?
Some rather odd arguments made for if a bike is good or not. "Its british", "Im not keen on this engine (gives no further explanation)", "I dont like shaft-drive (uhhhm. Ok? Why you care that much about the power transmission?). At this point, the review stopped being interesting for me at least
NrNi9e Totally agree. They are all miserable pricks too.
The Aprilia is comfy as to ride
Interesting history lesson.
i was looking at these bikes and i started asking myself "why are they so ugly? are they retro styling them already?" I looked down at the published date and its pretty recent (march 2015) so in my head i was like "holy shit! they're serious.. whyyy? . they were doing so good with the styling now-a-days" then i scrolled down more and saw that i was originally aired in 03... fweee
honda transalp XLV 600 forever!!!!!!!!!!!
also V strom 650, Dominator 650, Africa Twin, triumph tiger explorer, bmw gs....i mean they have considered as touring bikes three of the most powerful and fastest bikes at the time...But i don't think they are comfortable for long trips...i didn't mentioned the gold wing because i don't like it but it is definitely a better touring bike than the hayabusa or the honda XX...by the way transalp is TOP bike, i like it too...
why is the Triumph one that was discontinued in 2005 , if this was posted in 2015?
Next Week:: "Top Ten Best Horseless Carriages Of 1904 -- 3-Seaters."
Lol.
i have a honda 125 cc.2010 model
what # would you give it
This was published in 2015? The Triumph Sprint model shown hasn't been made in more than a dozen years!
My vote went to the Blackbird for top slot, fast, little wind blast, comfy ,takes luggage and comfy on the pillion for she-who-must-be-obeyed.
Beta male comment
Just call it a sports tourer if it's too heavy to call sports bike.
nice reviews but really not in line with Sport Tourers if you ask me. A Hyabusa is a racing bike, you do not go touring on it. I wonder why one journalist is against a drive shaft?
I am so gobsmacked the Blackbird wasnt no1..
+Snakeman Me too, I think the Bird is one of the best all-around bikes ever made !!
+Wayne Baldwin It is and well said.
Hopping next bike will be CBR XX :)
Since 2006 BMW have been ultra unreliable, service it, component failure, service it component failure, service it component failure...All high end and super high price. ABS modules, ESA Shocks, Fuel Strips, Switch Gear ,Final Drives are all very common failures.
Any post 2006 BMW is not for the feint hearted and certainly not for anyone wanting to run a bike on a tight budget.
+BIGMC1300
2006? You are being charitable. Any BMW past the /7 days is umm, less than reliable.
Is the ZZR really a bus, or is it a bullet train?
10:36 ''like the Aprilia'' Does that mean that he likes the bike or her compares it to Ducati ? Because that bike was Ducati, not Aprilia, i'm confused a little bit.
While everyone is entitled to their opinions about reliability, control, structure - all things that can be traced to mechanical design and engineering, all the other words about looks, comfort, "soul", are just subjective thoughts that only go as far as that person's bias.
Shaft drive makes the trip so much better, more fun when riding more and maintaining it less. You wouldn’t want chain drive on your car, so why have it on your bike?
No 1 - VFR 800 Fi
The VFR 800 is one ace bike but it does not do 160mph, if your gonna review and rate a bike then at least do it honestly.
+*★*✬* Mark 019208237 *✬*☆*
Not even if you push it off a cliff. Terminal velocity is 122 mph.
well have beat terminal velocity on mine and still had gears to go...just saying
I have seen 150 on the clock of mine!
I'd like to see you redo this again
ST 1300 top bike
sold my ST1300 and bought a 8v Norge.
70 lbs. lighter, brembos, and character.
ST1300 unstable 180km/hr and over. As long as you don't speed ok.
Sport touring review? Hayabusa? Most of these bikes are sport bikes - not sport tourers. Only the FJR and the K1200 are really sport tourers. If you tour you will need some bags.
Hyabusa is more comfortable than expected for a lean forward performance bike.
Joseph Howard - I totally agree, by today's standards most wouldn't even be considered in this class.
VFR is a sport tourer :)
Dude this is so old... how did it get uploaded this year? lol
A Hyabusa isn't a "sport touring" bike
Yes it is. Lol its on the sportier side but definitely a touring bike and marketed as such by suzuki
Supernova is correct. Its a hyper sport. Not a sport tourer. The ergonomics is a no go as a sport tourer
@@MintChoggy as i said sportier side but it is considered a sport touring bike
And i believe mostly because of its very large size being very heavy
It really is a relaxed riding postion on and can have bags very easily
As i said Sportier side of sport touring
Like the katana or honda vrf
Etc 🤷🏼♂️
Even the h2 is a sport touring bike
@@freedom24v86 If Kawasaki H2 is under sport touring , then my 125cc scooter is a Superbike
I wonder what we will think when we look back 15 yrs from now.
Dated video sort of irrelevant. No legitimate top 10 list could possibly omit Kawasaki's Concour or Honda's ST1300. They were both around back then and should have been on the list. Easily as good as the FJR.
the Suzuki gsx750f is also known as Suzuki katana gsx600f
fjr- zzr competitors? ?