09-19-2017, 03:47 PM
(09-19-2017, 01:46 PM)Stichill_imp Wrote:(09-19-2017, 12:18 PM)Hondahawkrider_imp Wrote:(09-18-2017, 01:11 PM)Stichill_imp Wrote: Oh, I see. Missed your point. You're asking why HD doesn't make a sport touring bike with their V-twin? I guess because sport tourers have been kicked to the curb in favor of ADVs. I think the ADV craze is driven by old guys who want to sit upright, but still want to be seen as cool. Kind of like when they were younger and didn't want to buy a station wagon, later a minivan, and instead bought an SUV so they could retain a shred of "cool" and thus a modicum of self-respect.
Ahem...
My Ktm 990 Adventure was the best sports tourer I ever had.. I wanted something to tour on but still fun.. I bought it after seeing the 950 adv chase down a gsxr1000 at leguna seca with Avon roadmasters and it came with hard luggage. It could hold its own with any sportsbike. It's was incredibly well balanced and handled like a dream.
If I put dual sport scorpions on it, I could do fire roads and trails.. Yes, I actually took it off road.. It was literally the do anything bike.. It was awesome. The only reason I didn't keep it was that with two small kids I wasn't riding that much, and I could get a fair chunk of $ for it... The only drawback other than being tall, which was awesome while riding was literally climbing on and off it, was the maintenance. Synthetic oil, 2 oil filters. I kid you not an oil change was 2-3 hours with the crash bars. Basically, it was like dating a super model, got give em more attention
With kids and time constraints, I wanted an easy on and off bike, that was easy to maintain and had low maintence cost..Something basic I could throw a leg over at a moments notice, but was still cool, hence the cb1100. The Ktm had more of a pre flight checklist. Fine for long trip or ride, but a pita for the shorter rides.
I won't argue there are poseurs in the adv crowd. However, they are superior bikes for sport touring in a lot of ways, if you're not height challenged. When I used to be a hsta member (now msta), at rallies I saw one two many sport touring bikes, specifically the st1100 in a ditch.. While a fantastic bike for gobbling up miles, when the road gets twisty, its a handful. The Adv bikes don't have that problem. The only thing you sacrifice really is not getting a full fairing. When touring I wear an aerostich, so weather isn't an issue..
Ahem...
My Ktm 990 Adventure was the best sports tourer I ever had...
I won't argue there are poseurs in the adv crowd. However, they are superior bikes for sport touring in a lot of ways, if you're not height challenged. The only thing you sacrifice really is not getting a full fairing.
Point taken. I'm not saying you can't sports tour on an ADV...but that's not how they are marketed. They are marketed as "the placid stream's worst nightmare" when in fact they are 1200cc road bikes that require real skill and athleticism to pilot in rough offroad terrain. Can the bikes do it? Yes. Can most of their buyers do it? No. Do most of the buyers even try to do it? No. Do most people want to crash offroad on a bike that expensive? Absolutely not.
I think the Ducati Multistrada 1200 is a more honest interpretation of the genre. Looks offroad capable but...meant for the street.
Ahem...
My Ktm 990 Adventure was the best sports tourer I ever had...
I won't argue there are poseurs in the adv crowd. However, they are superior bikes for sport touring in a lot of ways, if you're not height challenged. The only thing you sacrifice really is not getting a full fairing.
Point taken. I'm not saying you can't sports tour on an ADV...but that's not how they are marketed. They are marketed as "the placid stream's worst nightmare" when in fact they are 1200cc road bikes that require real skill and athleticism to pilot in rough offroad terrain. Can the bikes do it? Yes. Can most of their buyers do it? No. Do most of the buyers even try to do it? No. Do most people want to crash offroad on a bike that expensive? Absolutely not.
I think the Ducati Multistrada 1200 is a more honest interpretation of the genre. Looks offroad capable but...meant for the street.
Lol.. I'll buy that for a dollar... It was a handful off road, but I could do it (thx to american supercamp). I had a xr650 for more dedicated off road stuff. That said, it was nice t know if a road went to dirt/gravel, I didn't have to turn around...
Based upon friends who have BMW GS1200's (for sports touring), I doubt most see dirt at all.