| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
I want a Sport Tourer. I’ve been saying this for years, and it’s still true. I loved my S3-T. I managed to put 60,000 miles on it in two years. But it was flawed. Things broke and leaked constantly. It was in the shop once a month. It was one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made, and it was pure joy to ride it, but I needed more reliability. I’m not complaining; it was a step along the way to building better bikes. After the XBs arrived, I got a chance to talk to Erik and asked him when he was going to build another Sport Tourer. He told me that Sport Tourers don’t sell. The magazines love them, and the owners tend to be knowledgeable, but the bikes tend to collect dust in the showrooms. I devised a crude but affordable way to put S3-T bags on my M2 and rode that for a few years. I had gotten married again, and having a family cut my annual mileage by a large percentage. Then the Ulysses hit the market. I’m not a big fan of two wheeled SUVs, but here was an XB that you could get with Factory bags. I demo rode one at a dealership event in New Jersey and I really liked it. I bought one. I didn’t care for the height of the bike, but it handled beautifully and the suspension was very plush at the same time. It was also about as reliable as an anvil. When the XT variant of the Uly was introduced in2008, I was one of the first kids on the block to get one. I felt I had to after all the whining I’d done asking for a Sport Touring bike. I liked it a lot, but it felt like a step down from the Uly X. Even after I made some improvements to personalize to fit me better. However, I still wanted a real Sport Tourer. I was seduced by a very sexy Italian beauty. I took a Moto Guzzi Norge out on a Demo ride, and was stricken. It had a functional fairing and lowers and it came with bags, and it was beautiful. It looked and felt like a bike I would enjoy riding from Massachusetts to Oregon and back. I bought it. A while later, my life got complicated as life sometimes does, and I had to sell one of my bikes. The XT went to a good home, and I was Buell-less for the first time since 1998. I like my Norge a lot, but it isn’t quite up to Buell standards. I got better gas mileage on my Buells, It doesn’t handle as well as any of my Buells did. And it just doesn’t feel as good as my Buells did. It’s a very good motorcycle, and it definitely has panache, but it still isn’t THE motorcycle for me. I can accept that Sport Tourers don’t sell. Erik wouldn’t just blow smoke at me for kicks. However, what I’d really love to see is what CYCLE magazine called a “Gentleman’s Express”; a comfortable, sporting motorcycle that I can put decent hard bags on. A bike that would be a joy to ride on Vermont Route 100 or US Route 12 over Lolo Pass in Montana, and wouldn’t torture me as I rode hundreds of miles on Interstate highways to get to those places. I want a bike that I can commute to work on all week, then leave for Illinois on Friday to see the Springfield Mile on Sunday. I want easy and infrequent maintenance. I see a bit of potential in the EBR 1190 RX, but the ergonomics don’t look conducive to 600 mile days. The SX looks a bit more comfortable, but there’s no fairing and the RX is much prettier (especially in red). While a lot of folks here are eagerly awaiting the AX, I’m afraid that it’ll be another two wheeled SUV. Probably a really good handling motorcycle, but too tall for me to feel really comfortable on at a stop. I want to buy an EBR; I hope they build the bike I want. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I have recently bought an Aprilia Caponord ETV1000. Its a 60° vtwin. Very nice bike. It turns in and corners like a Buell. The power isnt quite the same but its still a fun bike. The front suspension needs upgrading to prevent dive. It is very heavy but doesnt seem heavy at all when moving. I once had a Kawasaki Concours and I prefer the Capo to the Connie. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
I want a light sport tourer as well, that's why I've been interested in the BMW F800GT. I would love to see the 1190SX with some wind protection and bags..heated grips..abs..belt drive.. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Your not alone in your thoughts John. Even though I don't do any long distance riding, I still would love to have a sport touring motorcycle. I've become a fan of the Honda ST1300. Looks like a motorcycle you could jump on and ride coast to coast tomorrow with comfort and reliable confidence! I'm too old to crouch down and lean forward to ride a motorcycle these days. Maybe that's the reason the older motorcycle riders red cruisers and sport touring motorcycles! | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I too would love to see a revival of the S3T with the EBR motor hanging in it, with one more minor issue fixed. I would like a fairing that puts the wind up and over my head rather than into my chest. Even with the fairing raised two inches and a +3 ZG screen, it still only gets as high as my forehead. Above 70 I can hardly hear the motor at all. As smooth, and easy revving as the 1190 is reported to be, it's likely music to be heard, not drowned out by wind drums. | ||
| Classax |
I see a bit of potential in the EBR 1190 RX, but the ergonomics don’t look conducive to 600 mile days. Done a couple 400 plus mile days on one and it was actually quite comfy. No wrist or back pain. Knees welcomed the chance to stretch but there was no pain in the end. | ||
| 46champ |
Tim how old are you? I have found that now that I am pushing 60 it is not that a bike is uncomfortable it is the fact that I can not move around. I am working on putting highway pegs on the M2 because the knees get so sore (sore enough that walking is difficult) from being in 1 position for an extended period of time. What we need is a kit to turn a SX into a TX. Half fairing and mounts for hard bags. Real 2 up seat would be nice. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
46champ - Yes, yes, yes!! I was thinking the same thing. If EBR doesn't want to gamble on an all out sport touring bike, offer us a do-it-yourself kit. | ||
| Classax |
Dana - I'm just a few years north of two score. The 1190rx is comfy but I don't know if i'd want to do 500 miles of super slab on it. It really is a riders bike, easy to move around on/ hang off of. I don't know if the frame geometry is really sport touring friendly. To me its a little more aggressive. But then again I'm 6'3" and manage to make most liter bikes look small. | ||
| Steveford |
We need a good two-up sport touring bike, please, with a flat seat that doesn't shove you forward all of the time and color matched hard bags. You figure that two people plus their gear will probably weigh in at around 375 pounds so that needs to be factored into the equation when designing this new model for us. | ||
| Ducbsa |
375#? Condemning us "large-boned" folks to HDs? | ||
| Steveford |
Two adults, riding gear, tools, luggage for a week - I figure 375 pounds all told. | ||
| M2typhoon |
I beginning to wonder what the load capability of those hubless wheels are. Particularly the front. |
