Darn you Honda

[the Ferret]

I would never buy a chain drive sport tourer.

From 1969 to 2006 when I got my ST 1300 almost every bike I toured on was chain driven (CB 350, RD 350, TX 650 x 3, GT 750 x 2, CB 750 x 2, GS 1100, FZ-1 x 2). I did have a shaft driven 81 GS 850 and an 85 VF 1100 shaft driven bikes.

I've had really good luck with my CB 1100 chains, and have never had to adjust one of my chains on a trip. Not on 1 of the CB 1100 rallies or the Men's Fall Trips I have taken on it, and I have gotten over 36,000 miles out of each of 2 chains. It's rare to have to adjust them between tire changes. Likewise, I have never had to adjust the chain on my NC 750 while on a trip. Modern O ring and X ring chains are pretty darn good. I have to admit.

However, I would PREFER a shaft on my sport tourers, but that narrows it down to Yamaha FJR (this is their last year..I've had one), Kawasaki Concours, BMW, Triumph or Moto Guzzi...or a Gold Wing I suppose is you want to call that a sport tourer.

Honda (who doesn't really have a sport tourer in the US), Suzuki, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia, all of their sport tourer's are chain driven now.

I wish Honda would bring back something along the lines of the 84-86 CB 700SC Nighthawk S with mini fairing, hydraulic valves and shaft drive, only with FI and cruise control.