For me, yeah. That's the main reason I'm not interested in having a full sized adventure bike AND a sport tourer, and I think that's the direction a lot of others are headed, hence the low number of "sightings" of these bikes.
My first sport tourer was a 2009 Triumph Sprint ST... I bought it specifically for my very first long-distance road trip from Denver to the Grand Canyon in July of 2010. While a bit on the light side (got blown around a lot on I-40 in heavy semi traffic), it was a great bike and the triple engine had plenty of power and the riding ergos comfortable enough for long, multi-day rides. I'm no expert, but my overall opinion is that the Sprint's wheelbase is a bit short to use as a long-distance tourer. And my current is a 2012 BMW K1300S... I'm re-entering the sport touring world with this bike... just got it a few weeks ago, so haven't had the chance to do any over-nights on it, but am coming off of a KTM 990 Adventure which I did quite a few multi-day, long-distance rides on last season. I LOVE my KTM, but am selling it as my knee is going to prevent me from learning to ride it like it should be off-road, so am selling it so someone else with the skills to handle her off-road can have some fun... what a great bike! I've ridden a couple true "Sport Tourers"... the Kawasaki Concours 14 and the Yamaha FJR1300. While both are great bikes, they just weren't for me: a bit too big. I wanted something with a more stripped down look and feel and the K13S just kept coming to the top as I researched. So far, I really love this bike... the mix of technology and performance is amazing and the bike is super-comfortable (the PO added Helibars and Verholen rearsets which modify the ergos just enough that make it feel great for multiple hours in the saddle). I'm adding a small top box (probably reusing my Pelican) but am avoiding hard side cases... gonna travel with either my Giant Loop Great Basin and/or smaller dry bags... trying to travel more and more light each season.
So it appears you'd fall into the "don't want" category I referred to. Just sharing my thoughts, not trying to step on any toes. I'd love one of every bike.
I've had 'em all: Gold Wing and BMW K1200LT Big Tourers and ADV bikes, an R1150GS and V-Strom 1000, as well as an ST1300 and FJR1300 in the sport touring class. I have no interest in the mega tourers anymore and like the ADV bikes but don't love them. I have no interest in dumping an expensive adventure bike in the dirt since my off-road skills are pretty damn limited and I ride exclusively on pavement. And I want enough power with full luggage and my lovely wife on the back to make quick work of whoever is in front of me 'cuz I like to move at a fairly brisk pace. Sport tourers fill my needs for power, weather protection (without being stifling), handling, luggage, looks and comfort better than anything else on the road. I just really, really like 'em. Having said that, I'm one of those, "Hey, whatever floats your boat" guys. From Wee-Strom to Big Harley, hell, I don't care as long as you like it.
After having read through this thread, it occured to me that the definition of sport touring seems to have changed or been blurred. A Sport/Touring bike was ment to be a sporty bike that could be ridden at a brisk pace while comfortable enough to do some light touring. It is a bike that goes from point A to point B 250 miles away quickly and comfortably. If you have to stop for gas or to stretch before you get there, you are not on a S/T bike. BMW created the market with the R100RS and continued the tradition with the R1100RT line of bikes. By definition the Kaw 14 Concourse and Yamaha FJR1300 and BMW K1600GT are, but not to me because the engines are too busy. To me, the Honda ST1100 and ST1300 capture the spirit perfectly. Sorry boys, just because you call it a S/T bike does make it one. Forget the race replicas, the ADV bikes, cruisers, ect.... they are not nor ever will be a S/T bike! I think the reason you don't see them on the road much any more is because now owning a motorcycle is fashionable and they don't have the flash. Now the bikes to own are cruisers and ADV bikes to a lesser extent and neither usually accumulates many miles per number of bikes on the road. Sport Touring bikes are geared towards the people that want to get out and hit the road and put some serious miles on a bike and that is not the majority on people that ride anymore.
Qaz, I've had both an ST1100 and now an FJR1300. Outside of the FJR fitting me much better I don't see the difference that you do in definition.
This is what I use my C14 for. It has seen TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, and KY so far in the year I've owned it. My Z1K is fine for a few hours, but at my age, it won't be ridden out of the local area. Back in '79, I rode my Honda 400F from New Brunswick, NJ to Phoenix, AZ in about five days. This picture was taken by a couple, and then handed to me while moving along the Interstate! Water-proof wrap on the seat is made up of two or three pieces of Holiday Inn shower curtains taped together! So, spending a day putting the miles behind me are still something I want to do, I just need a comfortable bike that has good spirited characteristics about it. My Connie 14 fills the need.
You have no idea how some of us ride our bikes. . I could do what you describe on a Wing, my old BMW GS or my sportbike with luggage.
I still like the look of the 80's BMWs and Moto Guzzis but, owning one now isn't really appealing. The technological progression to where were are now is awesome - 6-speed transmissions, huge front discs for braking, non-jacking shaft drives, switchable eco mode fueling, etc.
Hear, hear The amount of fundamentalist dogma being tossed around in this thread is a bit disappointing considering the forum we're in. My riding buddy and I were crossing I-80 from Salt Lake City to Truckee a couple of years ago and, on that long, hot day in August, a young lady on a Bergman scooter pretty much kept pace with us till she exited at Reno. If you've got the itch to ride long miles, you can pretty much do it on anything.