[Rick Sperko]

Br. Sparko, while not a sport-tourer, have you looked at the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic or V7 Cafe options?

Thanks Cabo, I have looked at those. Very cool, but the Bullet scratches that itch for me. Boy that R1150R looks good. I am a little concerned about riding it with a 32" inseam. I am sure some other bright shiny object will cross my path soon and I will focus my OCD there.

-Rick

[jdrouin]

The BMW F800 ST seems like a real nice sport-tourer. Great on gas and low on maintenance with that belt drive, too.

Jeff

[PhilJ]

Thanks Cabo, I have looked at those. Very cool, but the Bullet scratches that itch for me. Boy that R1150R looks good. I am a little concerned about riding it with a 32" inseam. I am sure some other bright shiny object will cross my path soon and I will focus my OCD there.

-Rick

Rick, IIRC, the R1150R and the others in it's genre have/had an adjustable height seat. I had an R850 with 29" inseam and with the seat adjusted down could flat foot a stop. It was a '99 but the 1150 came just a year or so later and very will might have the same feature.

[ace.cafe]

Here's a short article with a test-comparison riding review of 5 Sport/Touring bikes in the top of the class. Written in 2005.

Aprilia Futura
Ducati ST4
BMW R1150RS
Triumph Sprint ST
Honda VFR800

As expected, the Aprilia Futura comes out the winner as best overall, against all the big-name competition. The Aprilia name might not be as famous as the others, but it beats them. I think it's the best looking of the bunch too.
The engine is a very powerful and reliable 1000cc Rotax V-Twin.

Here's the link
http://www.sportrider.com/sportbike_product_reviews/146_0502_sport_touring_motorcycles/handling.html

Here's some comments on Sport-Touring.net from Futura owners. They love it. Super comfortable and reliable.
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php?topic=28504.0

I really think that this is a bike that's worthy of consideration, since it really is better than those other bikes, and the reliability is superb.
The main down-side is that the dealer network is small,  and you might have to wait to get certain unusual parts shipped from Italy.

[Rick Sperko]

Here's a short article with a test-comparison riding review of 5 Sport/Touring bikes in the top of the class. Written in 2005.

Aprilia Futura
Ducati ST4
BMW R1150RS
Triumph Sprint ST
Honda VFR800

As expected, the Aprilia Futura comes out the winner as best overall, against all the big-name competition. The Aprilia name might not be as famous as the others, but it beats them. I think it's the best looking of the bunch too.
The engine is a very powerful and reliable 1000cc Rotax V-Twin.

Here's the link
http://www.sportrider.com/sportbike_product_reviews/146_0502_sport_touring_motorcycles/handling.html

Here's some comments on Sport-Touring.net from Futura owners. They love it. Super comfortable and reliable.
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php?topic=28504.0

I really think that this is a bike that's worthy of consideration, since it really is better than those other bikes, and the reliability is superb.
The main down-side is that the dealer network is small,  and you might have to wait to get certain unusual parts shipped from Italy.

I cannot find any Futura's available around here. I will keep my eyes open. It sounds interesting. I am actually in far less of a rush than my brain/wants tell me I am.

Thanks,
-Rick

[ace.cafe]

I cannot find any Futura's available around here. I will keep my eyes open. It sounds interesting. I am actually in far less of a rush than my brain/wants tell me I am.

Thanks,
-Rick

I've always liked them.
Aprilia is always going neck-in-neck with Ducati for the top of the V-Twin sportbike category, and that is a good sign that they have their act together for performance.
The Aprilia company is owned by the Piaggio Group, who also owns Moto Guzzi, Vespa, Gilera, Laverda, and Derbi.

I love the look, and the bags are integrated into the styling very well. A well-executed design overall. It's not easy to split the differences between sport and touring, and the Futura probably does it the best of any of them.

If I was going to get a Sport Touring bike, that would be very high on the list, probably my #1 choice.
It was discontinued, but there's talk about bringing it back next year.

[PhilJ]

For me, it's not about fast but comfort and not oiling chains on my touring bike. I just went too many years touring on Beemers to even consider anything else. But, alas, I don't tour any more and have finally slowed down ala Bullet style.

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

How about a modern airhead. Air cooled flat twin with electronic ignition, shaft drive, disc front and back, with a 2 yr unlimited mileage warranty for $6995?

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

Oh, and make it hand made, 5 gallon tank, dependable Keihin carbs for simplicity

[r80rt]

How about a modern airhead. Air cooled flat twin with electronic ignition, shaft drive, disc front and back, with a 2 yr unlimited mileage warranty for $6995?

I'll take one too please

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

I'll take one too please

Well, lets add
# A 745cc, horizontally-opposed, air-cooled carbureted engine
# Both electric and kickstart
# A four-speed transmission and shaft final drive
# A dry weight of 441 pounds
# 40mm Marzocchi forks, and twin Sachs rear coilovers
# 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo brakes
# A two-year parts & labor warranty with unlimited mileage

[Rick Sperko]

Well, lets add
# A 745cc, horizontally-opposed, air-cooled carbureted engine
# Both electric and kickstart
# A four-speed transmission and shaft final drive
# A dry weight of 441 pounds
# 40mm Marzocchi forks, and twin Sachs rear coilovers
# 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo brakes
# A two-year parts & labor warranty with unlimited mileage

I cannot find the solo on their site.

Given the choice of a 2004 R1150R with 6k miles or a new Ural for a little more, I really don't think I would choose the Ural. Perhaps out of my ignorance. What would make the Ural preferable?

Thanks,
-Rick

[Rick Sperko]

Let me add, the Urals and their brethren do look very, very cool.

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

Like a Royal Enfield, it's charm is in its' simplicity. And like a 70's airhead BMW, they last forever. Upgrades are retrofittable. Warranty is strong. Dealers (most) are dedicated.

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

Firefox won't let me post urls, but if you go to motorcycles.about.com and search Ural, the pictures are there. I've been considering the Guzzi V7, but this unit has me thinking. The dealers are great (many of them are Enfield dealers too) and stand behind the warranty.