Where has the SPORT/touring class gone??

Good thread. :thumbsup:

I think the short answer is that US buyers have too narrowly focused riding styles for SPORT-touring bikes like the VFR to be very popular here. Most people want a supersport, cruiser, Goldwing or scooter, b/c the riding they plan to do is served by the kind of narrowly focused bike they buy.

Some generalizations/stereotypes:
Supersport - rocket around town w/ or w/o buddies, buy what their buddies have, maybe track days, look cool.
Cruiser - ride around the countryside w/ or w/o buddies at a relaxed pace, maybe do trips, customize/bling out the bike, look cool.
Goldwing - trips and long commutes, solo or 2-up, be comfy at all times.
Scooter - short commutes and errand running.

ST folks OTOH, look for bikes whose qualities fit all of the above nicely. But how many people want to be able to rocket around town AND do a thousand mile weekend trip?

Also, most Americans - including Americans - see m/c's as toys, not serious transportation, which further reduces the desire for practical and versatile ST rigs like the FJR, ST and VFR.

As for current/new bikes like the VFR, yep they are few and far between. You could add bags to an FZ1 and I think it would be close to a VFR in terms of comfort and versatility. If you've got $15k to spend, Duc's new Multistrada looks like a viable ST. Otherwise there are few options out there like the VFR. And that's OK with me. I like the non-conformity factor. :wink:

 

This is a great question! If Kawi ever produced something like this I would be interested. Most other brands too for that matter.

 

Aint that a beauty? Not as comfy as the VFR, IMO, but a very sporty bike that can be used for longer rides. With a Sargent seat, this thing would be perfect, other than the v-twin, of course.

 

I am not sure if somebody already mentione dit in the thread, but I think it is intersting that Honda does not evne classify the VFR asd a Sport Tour anymore. On thier website the VFR is found under sport bikes. The NT700 ( a baby ST) is now being offered to take the place of the VFR. It is a nice bike for sure, but why Honda had to take the "tour" out of the the 7th gen - I will never understand

Just my .02

Thanks

 

I think Honda should reorganize their motorcycle classifications (and other manufactureres too). I think the CBRs should be considered supersports; the VFR in the sport category; and the ST1300, Goldwing, and NT700 in the sport touring category. Oh yeah, the fury, shadow, etc., in the cruiser category. If you install saddlebags on a fury, is it a sport-tourer? If a CBR had a rack and hard bag mounts, would it be a sport-tourer? What about a Hyabusa? Not that the VFR can't tour (any bike can tour if you really want it to and don't mind some discomfort), but is it not a sport bike?

In the end, all this categorization is a lot of semantics, but there is some utility in lumping together motorcycles with similar aptitudes and design intents. To address RVFRs post where he states that sport-touring is a mindset: I agree with this, but there are bikes that are better suited for this, like the VFR. On the other hand, we are all unique and have different desires and uses for the same bikes, so who gives a flying shite!!

 

Great question, but I think ‘husband’ already answered it.

There is a very small market to the ST category. And those who to like sport-touring or do it all the time have BMW’s.

Americans as a whole are not practical, especially when it comes to our ‘toys’ so to speak.

Most motorcyclists today are either buying into the dealerships “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” attitude with interest in the current race bikes for sale with street lights on them, or the middle age “I need to look cool” on a chromed out no suspension cruiser.

It has always bummed me out that there are very few smaller cc bikes for sale. Like the FZR400 or Vf500’s. But I think we can all agree if it doesn’t say 600cc on the side most riders say to their friends “That’s too small”.

We are in a weird time in motorcycling my VFRW brethren. Many manufacturers went from producing ‘usable’ ‘practical’ street bikes to all out fire breathing race bikes with lights on them. Not that that is a bad thing, but we have ask “Were can I flog this thing and still have fun”? People say track days and yes you do ride a bit harder at the track, but many of my fellow track riders aren’t good enough to exploit the new technology they ride, but they love having a bike that has the stats it has. I haven’t found the edge of the 97’s limits, so the practical side of me does not see a need for a ‘new’ 600.

It goes back to what I said above, Americans are not practical, and it shows in their purchases of goods and services.

BZ

 

+1, except put the Goldwing in a "touring" category by itself.

:thumbsup:

 

Right before I got Kristin the VFR750, we were seriously looking at a 07 FZ6. At the same dealership while we were dong the paperwork I found the viffer in a corner with a bunch of used cruisers. Other than HATING the black paint job on it that was not well done & the tail, She loved it. She loved the FZ6 as well but decided that for what we were able to get the viffer for was less than the down payment on the FZ6 she was all for the Honda. She had a VLX 600 before this bike and had a bit hardheadded view of MORE DISPLACEMENT, patially my fault for getting the FZ 1 liter. She had rode my old 82 Magna when she had the VLX and was verry happpy with how it had power accross it's rpm's and said "the Honda is a V4 right?" She ended up on the Honda. But I still would have no problem with the FZ6 for her, It was light, strong, great up-right ero's and not a bad looker. For what it is, it might fit the bill for alot of riders.

 

I test rode one of those for my dad a while back and I was very unimpressed with the engine. I had an sv650 at the time and was used to the torquiness of the v-twin, so that may have contributed to this feeling. It's also possible that I didn't have the revs up high enough to squeeze the power out of the I-4, so I'd like to ride one again to give it a fair review. It looks great, though. The other thing I didn't like about it is that the front suspension doesn't even have preload adjustability.

 

Revel in your weirdness. Thank goodness there is something out there for us weirdos.

Toys by definition are not practical.

There was snow on the ground this morning, and I am not happy about that.

Im practically at a point of getting weird over it.

 

I looked at and really liked the FZ6 when I bought my first bike in 3/06. When I was shopping for an upgrade that summer I test rode one. Nice enough bike, but it was too much like what I already had and I wanted something a little sportier - and fell in love with the VFR.

I agree tho that it would make a great bike for many people for all around use, if they weren't so shortsighted in thinking that m/c's are toys only and not fun, cheap and reliable transportation.