Sport touring bikes

I am considering getting a newer motorcycle in the spring. I am thinking about a ZX11, FZR1000, or the like. I want to go fast and be comfortable for longer trips under $3000, any bikes I am overlooking?

Triumph 955 ST...might be a little more money depending on how far back you look, but early 2000's are at your pricepoint. More exclusive/unique than the asian bikes--the 3cyl is a very cool motor too.

zx11 will fit your budget, but I think it's successor, the zzr1200 is a better bike for sport touring, but they're usually closer to $4500-5500. I had one with some helibars on it for more comfort and it was great for sport touring. You might find the FZR1000 too uncomfortable.

BMW Kseries, Bandit 1200s, hell people tour on Busa's with bags

x2 on the triumph. Better sound than the Japanese bikes. Nice torque too. Also look at an RT 955 or Daytona 955 (it doesn't take all that much to get the daytona it bit more comfy)

Don't overlook a 500cc scooter as an alternative to a sport touring machine because....LOL! Sorry, I couldn't get it out without laughing.

Don't forget VFR750s, either. I'm not too keen on the Sprint STs, but as long as you know about their faults (sprag clutch depending on age, quick disconnect fuel lines can leak with interesting results and so on) they might be a decent buy. Useful if you have a Triumph dealer near though, the one I had basically got a new tune uploaded to the ECU every service.

Ah yes, the VFR. I had an 87 VFR700 that was great. I want a newer one just for the single-sided swingarm.

You can find 5th gen VFR800 for about 3-3.5K with some looking and haggling . . . Mine was cheap because of some fairing damage.

I had a BMW K-100. 1000cc horizontal 4 cylinders. Mine had heated grips, progressive suspension, K&N and Kerker header/pipes.

I could keep up with the squids and put a 12 pack in each bag.

This one pictures is for sale at a local stealership for $3995, private owner sale expect to pay $1200 - $2200.

EvanB wrote: I am thinking about a ZX11,

I had a GPz-1100. My insurance company played 20 questions insisting it was a ZX-11. No ma'am, ZX-11s are two years newer, this the earlier GPz.

Well, OK.

I asked what's the big deal about ZX-11s.

Premiums automatically double until we figure out what it is and your record, and work from there. I was 45 at the time so age wasn't a factor.

YMMV.

Oh yeah, when I got the Title in the mail 90 days later, it said ZX-11.

Dan

BumbleBee's cousin!!

Concours? They seem like the cheapo sport tourer most fitting to the cheapo GRM crowd.

I had a 92 ZX-11. Great bike, cheap insurance (cheaper than my 01 GSX-R1000, so I guess its relative) Fast, fun, comfortable.

It was a real pain to do maintenance on. In order to get to the bolts that held the tank on, you had to take the whole friggin aerodynamic package apart. Parts were readily available. Not much available in the way of aftermarket parts for the earlier 90-92.5 "C" models. The "D" models have much more in the way of aftermarket and support. The "C" models are faster, the "D" models are more comfortable. Either one can run triple digit speeds all day long.

There are a few issues regarding the #3 bearings on the ZX-11s and an oil hole that wasnt drilled right. Keep them FULL of oil, keep them on 2 wheels, and you should be good. If you get one that the guy claims "does block-long wheelies all day long", there is a good chance it is a candidate for oil starvation. But yes, they do block-long wheelies all day long.

The Kawasaki Concours and Suzuki Bandit 1200 come to mind. I've got one of each and have enjoyed them both over the years. Cheap, quick, reliable, and plenty of fun.

Second the Concours. ZX-11 engine in a well sorted design.

Dan

ZRX1100. The guys who own them love them.

Not to say all the bikes on this thread aren't awesome. VFR's, BMW anything (RS1200's come to mind)

Another option is taking a sport bike and putting HELI bars on it. I had a TL1000S that was pretty comfortable after that mod. Get a corbin seat and most any sportbike will sport tour with that setup.

The Bimmer 'flying brick' K bikes aren't my style, but after working on them for a few years, they've earned my respect. Incredibly solid machines.

And the new generation inline-four K bikes (especially the K1200S) are freight train fast and glass smooth. The first time I rode one, I decided that if I absolutely HAD to be in Chicago in 2.75 hours (from St. Louis), that would be the only way to go.

Maybe im blind but i cannot find any BMW sport touring bikes for sale.

The VFRs have caught my eye too and they look tempting

The VFR's are interesting, but then I realized how much they weigh... 540 pounds wet, about 100 pounds more than the SV650. That's a bit of meat.

MitchellC wrote: The VFR's are interesting, but then I realized how much they weigh... 540 pounds wet, about 100 pounds more than the SV650. That's a bit of meat.

Also more power though. Maybe the weight aids it in the "touring" part of its sport touring roots. Helps with stablitily and solid feel on longer trips?

Any other sport tourers that are recomended?

I have heard good things about the Ducati ST bikes but you probably aren't going to find them for less then $3000.

93EXCivic wrote: I have heard good things about the Ducati ST bikes but you probably aren't going to find them for less then $3000.

The ST2 is far more bulletproof than the ST4. ST4's had an oh so wonderful rocker arm "delamination" problem. Plus the the extra valves just make your mechanic that much richer when you go to get them adjusted. I had an ST4 bike, great fun; except for the valve adjustments, melted headlight socket (stock bulbs no less), delaminated rockers, and removing the most of the damn fairing to change the oil. Mine was the old 916 motor, so its highly possible the newer ones are better; but the 916 generation is probably right in your price range...before you pay a mechanic. But the sound they make is awesome, and the rev limiter is so, so smooth. The have a reasonable top end but got sort of floaty around 145-150 indicated. They did make me remove the bags before putting it on the track.

Some things to look for: The stock seat is usually replaced, the good aftermarket ones are a BIG improvement. There was a ducati tall windshield it was crafted from the skins of albino unobtainium squirrels. Some of them were actually shipped into the US, not lost and delivered to the same customer that ordered them. They are a very nice upgrade. I have never actually seen one with a stock exhaust. So don't worry if yours was replaced with a decent aftermarket piece. Maintenance is the key, these are desmodromic (sp?) motors and have NO VALVE SPRINGS. So that valve adjustment is basically two solid lifters per valve, times 8 valves. The adjustment part is finding the correct size shim to place in the head. The brakes were reasonable, check them for pulsing as the stock rotors seemed to enjoy lots of heat to stay smooth. The mirrors are a weak point as they are VERY easy to damage and I think ducati made 4 or possible 5 spares. When you change the coolant, you are going to wonder how ducati managed to turn a standard water pump, into a compressed air pump. In the end, you will need to raise the front of the bike to purge the air from the system. We used standard car ramps. The cooling system on the bike looks incredible, the radiator is curved, contoured and an italian work of art. It is also an excellent heater for your legs, feet and crotchital region. It does not however cool the bike in South Florida traffic, at night. Just watch your temp gauge and attempt to hit 60 mph to cool the motor. FYI the ft lauderdale PD does not accept that as a rational for your speed. The bike will perfectly cruise at 90 mph and the stock windscreen will drive just enough air in your chest to achieve homeostatis between the riders wrists and butt. So its best to use the bike on highways with that as a speed limit. Oddly enough I miss the bike, and so does my old mechanic.

I read the Suzuki Katana is a sport-touring bikes. Seems like it could do ok. A little weightier and rock solid reliable