More sport touring choices....

[TAftonomos]

Looking at alternative choices to the multi, in efforts to save a few $$$. 

FZ1?  Looks like you can find late model 08-09 bikes with some farkles for 6-7k

1200S?  I had an older bandit that I thought was a great all-arounder, probably in the same price range as above

More suggestions?

[Buckethead]

Not sure what sort of balance you're looking at for sport vs touring, but the following bikes spring to mind.

Suzuki V Strom 1000



Triumph Tiger



Or for short money you could have an old BMW police bike with a fresh final drive.

[Raux]

why not stay with the family since you have all the right tools and get an ST2,3 or 4s

[fastwin]

I was introduced once to a fellow rider by a salesman friend at my fav Suzook/Kawi shop. The  guy was about my age and he and his adult daughter both had V Stroms with an incredible amount of miles on them. She wasn't there that day but he proceeded to tell me about all the multi week rides they have been on together. Texas to Alaska, Texas to Canada, Texas to the Grand Canyon-California-up Highway 1, etc... everywhere! They loved their V Stroms and had zero problems! I told him that Suzuki needed to make an ad campaign around them!

[TAftonomos]

I guess something like a st4s or compatible would be what I want. We made the decision to finish the basement and do some exterior improvements to the house, which has limited what I feel I can spend.

Forgot the weeestrom, I'll check that out as well!

If I can find another deal on a st4s I'd buy it...bought my last w/5000 miles on it for 4k (02')

[Raux]

Why not build the perfect ST4S

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCATI-02-ST4S-ST-4-S-ST4-MAIN-FRAME-STRAIGHT-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c4edcf534QQitemZ190301664564QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[seevtsaab]

My short list includes the Multi, ST2,3,4, Bandit. Not sure if the ST's suitable for two up, depends on the missus (in my case). One up only, I'd have no fears.

Bargin tourer would be the Bandit.

[corey]

always loved the Triumph Sprint ST. The exhaust looks and sounds sick.
http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/triumph/2010-triumph-sprint-st-ar71454.html

[orangelion03]

May add a vote for the Beastly 1200?  I may be a tad biased as I bought one yesterday.  
2001 with 8000 miles on it, $2300.

Still has the original 10 year old tires on it so when I got home I ordered a set of Pilot Road 2s.
On the shopping list:  Racetech springs and Gold Valves, Cogent shock, Yoshi muffler and mid pie, braided lines, saddlebags, and a cup holder.  And I can adjust the valves myself 

[Jarvicious]

I've heard of guys buying Busas and converting them into a sport touring platform.  Add riser bars/riser clip ons, rig some hard bags and a trunk and have it detuned for more torque and a little better fuel economy.  Haven't bothered looking up what used Busas are going for but it would be a pretty interesting project.

That is once you pained over all the goofy god damn Kanji characters

[RBX QB]

Decided I needed a better tourer recently, as well. Decided on the Concours. I wanted more wind protection and more upright... I guess that would be on the touring side of sport-touring. I have the Monster for those sport days. Even with the low seat and bar risers, the Monster wears on my old bones after a while.

And, the Concours not as tall as the V-Strom or Tiger. I've ridden a Tiger, and it's not so bad once you get going, but my inseam struggles at stops.

Of course, I freely admit it's not the most economical of bike choices.

[marty_il]

the 5th gen (98-02) VFR800 makes a great sport touring bike. Mine has 1" risers, a touring windscreen, and a corbin seat.

[orangelion03]

the 5th gen (98-02) VFR800 makes a great sport touring bike. Mine has 1" risers, a touring windscreen, and a corbin seat.

Amen to that!  My list of bikes of interest had only the Bandit and the VFR800.  5th gens were hard to find in my area...had two sold out from under me...but there were more 2002 6gen available (with the Vtec engine...I didnt want to deal with the eventual expense of having all those adjusted!)

[redxblack]

another great thread. I'm considering how I can make my monster work better for touring, but leaving it as-is and getting an inexpensive bulletproof touring bike might be a better setup.

[Timmy Tucker]

Not sure what sort of balance you're looking at for sport vs touring, but the following bikes spring to mind.

Suzuki V Strom 1000

I'll give a big +1 to the Wee. A couple dudes I know traded their cruisers in on them. Pretty awesome all around bike. You can even do some mild dual sporting with 'em. Plus, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Suzuki dealership. A nice thing if you run into trouble on a long trip. Triumph dealerships are almost as rare as Ducati dealerships. And used Wee's are pretty easy to come by at good prices. There's always a handful for sale in the flea market over at ADV.

Or for short money you could have an old BMW police bike with a fresh final drive.

What? BMW's have final drive issues?