Here’s why sport-tourers are better than sport bikes
Let's take a closer look at these sporty, versatile machines.
Riding a motorcycle on the racetrack is one of the most exhilarating and exciting things you can possibly do. However, most sportbikes feature very aggressive ergonomics which see the rider adopt a very hunched over position with aggressive rear set controls. This results in a very uncomfortable ride on the street, in particular, on your way to the race track for a casual track day.
In addition, sportbikes aren’t exactly the best machines when it comes to long-distance riding. This is why sport-tourers make a strong case for themselves in a sense that they hit two birds with one stone—sporty riding and long-distance capabilities. That said, it can be argued that, in certain cases, sport-tourers are indeed better than sportbikes. Let’s take a closer look as to why.
Sporty performance
While sport-tourers aren’t as oriented for outright performance as their sportbike cousins, this isn’t to say that they’re boring machines. Bike like the BMW S 1000 XR offer superbike levels of performance in a package that’s tractable for the street, highway, and track. On top of that, most sport-tourers of today come equipped with advanced electronics such as IMU-powered rider aids like cornering ABS, traction control, and even wheelie control. Needless to say, a good number of sport-tourers are biased towards the sportier side of things. As such, it isn’t an uncommon sight to see bikes like the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX on a casual day at the race track.
Long distance capabilities
At a glance, it can be easy to mistake a sport-tourer like the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT for a performance-oriented supersport. However, despite being equipped with a sportbike-esque fairing, windshield, and stance, sport-tourers offer a significantly more upright riding position. This neutral riding ergonomic enables riders to cover long distances in comfort. Meanwhile, supersport bikes oftentimes feature extremely aggressive ergonomics thanks to their low-slung clip-on bars, high seats, and aggressive rear-set controls. Granted, of course, sportbikes have their place on the track or twisty roads. However, for someone looking for one bike to do it all, sport-tourers are a better fit for this lifestyle.
At home on the street or the track
Given the versatile nature of a sport-tourer, you can enjoy a track day in relative ease and comfort. Diehard supersport riders have little choice other than to ride their sportbikes all the way from home to the track, or load them up on pickup trucks or flatbeds. This is either tiring, costly, or both. Meanwhile, sport-tourer riders can load their bikes up with luggage, hit the open road in comfort, and make it to the racetrack without even breaking a sweat. Granted, of course, they won’t be setting record lap times, but they’ll certainly be having a great time. Again, riding a sport-tourer on the track is more for the casual track day enthusiast. Don’t expect to win any races, or set super impressive lap times on your heavyweight long-distance machine.
Ride them everyday
Given just how technologically advanced and chock-full of creature comforts modern day sport-tourers are, some of the smaller ones can even make for decent daily commuters. Bikes like CFMOTO’s 650 GT are excellent, versatile machines that can be ridden on a daily basis for commuting duties, and just as easily for long distance trips out of town. Thanks to their fairings and windshields, sport-tourers make for excellent highway cruisers. This makes long rides, say, to Baguio or Ilocos, a walk in the park.
Related Articles
-
5 seemingly minor modifications that can change the way your bike rides / Featured Article
Here are 5 easy upgrades you can make to your motorcycle if you want to get the most performance out of it.
-
Yamaha Tenere 700 versus Honda Transalp XL750 - Head to head / Featured Article
The middleweight ADV segment has been disrupted by the 2023 Honda Transalp 750–but how does it fare against the Yamaha Tenere 700?
-
What are multi-compound tires? / Featured Article
Multi-compound tires are pretty much ubiquitous in the world of big bikes. What exactly is a multi-compound tire, and what are the benefits associated with them? Read on to find out
-
Tips and tricks for long-distance riders / Featured Article
Follow these tips and tricks when getting ready for a long-distance ride on your motorcycle.
-
5 things we love about the Triumph Speed Triple RR / Featured Article
Want a bike that’s super fast and looks really dapper doing so? Look no further than the Speed Triple RR from Triumph.
Latest Features
-
MotoCamp Riding School: MotoCircuit 101—Course Details and Information / Featured Article
MotoCamp offers a basic course in track riding and provides good insights for beginner riders looking to gain their legs at speed.
-
5 seemingly minor modifications that can change the way your bike rides / Featured Article
Here are 5 easy upgrades you can make to your motorcycle if you want to get the most performance out of it.
-
Here are some gift ideas for your motorcycle-riding friends and family / Featured Article
Struggling to think of gift ideas for your motorcyclist friends and family? Read on to get some inspiration this gift-giving season.