Sport Touring Motorcycle - Differences To Sport Bikes

Differences To Sport Bikes

Engine designs are usually modified from their sport bike origins, the aim being improved mid-range torque rather than peak horsepower. Other differences from the sportbike class may include:

• A larger fairing than is implemented on sport-bikes, and an adjustable windscreen for better weather protection.
• A frame that is usually designed from scratch to provide a more upright, less aggressive riding position ("all day comfort").
• A longer wheelbase and more relaxed steering angle are usually also incorporated. These provide more straight-line stability than most sport bikes, but not to the degree that most pure tourers do. The addition of these heavier parts (full fairings, longer frames, heavier engine components) also serve to increase the ratio of sprung to unsprung weight, giving the bikes a smoother ride over poor surfaces.
• ABS is common on sports tourers, and some manufacturers offer linked brakes
• A larger fuel tank to extend the range between fueling stops.
• Ground clearance is usually left fairly high, permitting more sport-like riding on twisting roads than on a pure touring bike.

The sport-tourer class has become important and competitive enough that many manufacturers now offer purpose-built engines for their sport touring models. The Honda ST series engines, for example, have never been used in any other models. The Yamaha FJR1300's engine, though closely related to the 1,000 cc R1 sport bike engines in design, is only available in the sport touring FJR models.