adv vs traditional sport tourer?

[bigpoppa]

Forum Sponsor

As someone who's owned neither, in the comfort department for long range rides/touring...which category of bikes has the edge?
(for arguments sake, we're assuming 0 offroad interest)

is the ergonomic/comfort gap significant or minor between the 2?

As they're both build with comfort and long distance touring in mind

something like an FJR vs a multistrada or a GS for example

 

[Evoex]

Buy Evos XR

 

[jc100]

As someone who's owned neither, in the comfort department for long range rides/touring...which category of bikes has the edge?
(for arguments sake, we're assuming 0 offroad interest)

is the ergonomic/comfort gap significant or minor between the 2?

As they're both build with comfort and long distance touring in mind

something like an FJR vs a multistrada or a GS for example

0 offroad means that you really just pick based on your preferred seating arrangement. A sport tourer would mean a little more leaned forward (more sporty) than an upright posture ADV bike to me. That’s my interpretation of the difference though. I like the seating position on my ADV bike and I like the versatility of the suspension settings too. I suspect my bike has considerably more travel and adjustability than a sport tourer. The big engines on some Adv bikes mean you’re not missing out too much on the sporty side either.

 

[mimico_polak]

Buy Evos XR

Lawd if I had the money that bike would be mine.

 

[Evoex]

Lawd if I had the money that bike would be mine.

How much do kids sell for on the black market these days

 

[Katatonic]

I’ve had both sport touring and ADV bikes that were set up and used for on-road only. As far as comfort goes, the ADV style bikes were by far more comfortable than sport touring.
Come out for another Tuesday ride and we can swap rides for a few minutes so you can get a feel for the Super Adventure S.

 

[Priller]

I suspect if you compare the seating triangle (seat/pegs/bars) between traditional touring bikes like an FJR and street biased ADV bikes, it's probably pretty similar, just maybe rotated back a bit for the ADVs. I'm old-school for calling something a sport-tourer (if it's approaching or past 600 lbs wet, it may handle well for its weight, but it ain't 'sport' to me), with the VFR800 being the quintessential example, so I'd say they typically have slightly higher pegs and a longer reach to the bars.

Comfort is down to personal preference, as are the looks. Some prefer a little more weight on the wrists and feet for long-distance riding, so like the lower bars and higher pegs (I'm in this group). Others are happy to have more weight on the butt and like sitting upright, even if it means needing something like an Airhawk to do serious miles. I would say ADV bikes have almost entirely killed off touring and sport-touring bikes because lots more folks prefer the higher bars and more 'rugged' looks of ADV bikes. Not dissimilar to how SUV's have almost entirely dominated the car market, I think.

 

[mimico_polak]

How much do kids sell for on the black market these days

Good idea! I’m not too attached to the youngest one.

White, healthy, baby girl could fetch a decent price.

 

[GreyGhost]

I'll add that if pavement sucks, adv bikes have an advantage as most have more suspension travel than a sport tourer. Flipside is they're tall buggers.

 

[mimico_polak]

Next time you’re in the Erin Mills area let me know and if you’d like you can try the X.

I don’t know where it falls in the spectrum but it’s comfortable and fairly upright.

 

[Sochi]

I'll add that if pavement sucks, adv bikes have an advantage as most have more suspension travel than a sport tourer. Flipside is they're tall buggers.

+1 on this. I remember in the past my GPS led me to some sh*ty beat up roads and I had to turn back, I wouldn’t ride ST1300 through those roads either, so ADV with at least 19 front wheel and more suspension - to go and not to worry if run out of payment once in a while…

 

[Ash]

I like the more relaxed knee angle of ADV-style bikes. I've even raised the seat on the VStrom to get more knee room, although you could also lower the pegs if you're short. Knee angle depends on the bike though. I test rode the CB500X and the knee angle was pretty tight on that for me. I'd definitely want a much higher seat for that bike: Motorcycle Ergonomics

On the VStrom if I want a change of seating position for a long highway stretch, I can emulate the leaned forward stance of a more sporty bike by putting my feet on the passenger pegs for a while.

A common complaint with many ADV-style bikes is buffeting from the windscreen. Because you aren't leaned forward and low on the bike, there's usually a lot of room between the screen and your body that allows turbulent air to rattle your head around. On the VStrom I either use a ridiculously tall adjustable bracket (+8" or more) to bring the screen closer to my face, or I take the windscreen off entirely and just ride with my helmet in clean air.

 

[Scuba Steve]

Get the 1290s you know what the engine feels like now make it comfortable and smooth.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[bigpoppa]

Get the 1290s you know what the engine feels like now make it comfortable and smooth.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

its fairly comfortable, but like money, more is always good

 

[Mad Mike]

As someone who's owned neither, in the comfort department for long range rides/touring...which category of bikes has the edge?
(for arguments sake, we're assuming 0 offroad interest)

is the ergonomic/comfort gap significant or minor between the 2?

As they're both build with comfort and long distance touring in mind

something like an FJR vs a multistrada or a GS for example

I have both and there is no definitive answer. Here are my views based on experience.

Around town &short commutes. ADV wins, easier in tight spaces, lighter, cooler.

Day trips. TIE. Both are day ride comfortable. I decide based on what others are riding, few ADVs will hang with sport bikes or real STs (ST1300, FJR, Connie) on a spirited ride so if Marikina buddies are on fast bikes, I go ST.

Long tours. ST wins. Element protection, quieter, better day long ergos.

If you can only gave one, I'd keep the ADV. If you can have both, a 600-800cc ADV and a 1300cc ST.

 

[Mad Mike]

Get the 1290s you know what the engine feels like now make it comfortable and smooth.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I would not get a KTM for long distance touring for one simple reason - dealer network. You can ride a Yammie, Honda, Kawi anywhere. Unlikely you'll need a dealer, but if you do you will find one.

Once you pass Barrie, the next Canadian dealer is about 4000km down the road.

 

[MacDoc]

I've had both up to a liter ( CBF1000 ) which would fall into the sport tourer category - I've not had the bigger versions.

Luggage capacity sometimes is a issue with the sport touring category as well as two up comfort.
My iconic sport tourer was the VFR800

Which you can outfit nicely with Shad

Certainly enjoyed the Vstroms and the CB500x in the ADV category. Seating position in particular and indeed the suspension very useful for a comfortable ride on marginal pavement plus can be loaded with gear.
Designed to be - my overloaded ADV 650 vstrom beside kids FZ8 which was marginal for an xcountry run.
The Vstrom got to carry for two as kids top case was mostly diabetes suppliers.
Had not a few strings of sparks off the Wee hitting steel bridge expansion joints at speed.

I don't consider them off road or dual sport bikes at all tho the can be tweaked in that direction.

The 40 year run of the KLR650 which is the grand daddy of the ADV category ...mine served me well and certainly was the popular RTW bike tho likely supplanted now.
The ADV bikes most often have larger front wheels and longer suspension. The KLR even got to a 21" which was excellent for log clearing. Honda finally moved the CB500x to a 19" some 6 years after release.

Yamaha Tenere ventures into the true dual sport which can also double as ADV and Yamaha is moving that way with a bigger tank and weather protection.

 

[Merkid]

A common complaint with many ADV-style bikes is buffeting from the windscreen. Because you aren't leaned forward and low on the bike, there's usually a lot of room between the screen and your body that allows turbulent air to rattle your head around. On the VStrom I either use a ridiculously tall adjustable bracket (+8" or more) to bring the screen closer to my face, or I take the windscreen off entirely and just ride with my helmet in clean air.

Yes, I am in midst of trying to find a decent shield to reduce the buffeting on my NC750X with a recent aftermarket and taller windshield addition. I did a 300+km road trip last week with a range of speeds but included some considerable 125 kmh runs. Even with ear plugs, it literally wore me out so will need to avoid such.

 

[ReSTored]

I really think you need to determine actual type of riding you plan to do in terms of frequency, distance and duration in order to sort out what bike might best meet your needs.

Are you doing multi day or week long trips where you're going to be on the road 8 - 10 hours a day? Or just doing day trips out of the GTA?

What's a long day in the saddle for you? 300 km and 4 hours spread over a day or 600 - 700 km and more spread over 8 - 10 hours. Are you planning to do this once every 2 weeks, or on back to back days on multi-day trips?

You've said 0 zero interest in off road, but any adv. or ST can do the occasional dirt road. Most adv. bikes will never see a dirt road and virtually 100% are never flying through the air like you might see them portrayed in some ads.

The FJR would be an example of a HD ST that could take you cross country in comfort. Powerful, fast, shaft drive, adjustable windshield, good ergos, great fairing protection for rain, lots of accessories available, good dealer network. Effortless, long distance sport touring. The RT is a similar example, but lighter, probably better handling, but more limited dealer network. Probably complete overkill if your idea of a long run is going up to 507 / Bancroft area and back a couple of times a year.

 

[Ash]

Yes, I am in midst of trying to find a decent shield to reduce the buffeting on my NC750X with a recent aftermarket and taller windshield addition. I did a 300+km road trip last week with a range of speeds but included some considerable 125 kmh runs. Even with ear plugs, it literally wore me out so will need to avoid such.

The NC750X looks like it has similar mirrors to the VStrom. Try removing them and go for a quick test ride. I was shocked at how much noise they contribute. They are located in just the right place to produce a huge stream of turbulent air right alongside each ear.

Removing them didn't help much with the buffeting (that's the windshield's fault), but the whole bike was so much more pleasant to ride without the extra noise. I have bar-end mirrors now.

Forum Sponsor