Thinking about getting back into the sport touring realm

Multistrada 1200? Just throwing it into the mix. Small dealer network like BMW but OTOH valve checks are at 15,000 miles (take longer than an hour tho).

The Ducati may seem an unlikely suggestion esp as you have a GS already but it would offer more sport than your listed options without the 'sporty' riding position of something like the VFR.

Imagine it would easily handle the short and long trips you describe, even the moto camping with children (one child at a time, I'm assuming) provided you're a pack-light type.

I have two Harley touring bikes, and I am not giving up my comfy road sofas. But I have thought about sport touring. Even though the RT is considered touring, coming from a big bike, to me it would be sport touring.

I like to carry to much stuff, and use the bikes for work and errands, to ever go with a bike without storage.

I've wanted to try a RT just to see if BMWs are as good as they say. The older kawaski concourses seem cool too, very functional. I've never rode either.

I sat on LT, RT and GS at the dealer. Damn that LT was comfy.

You can't have to many bikes.

I would love to have a Duc one day but dealers are a problem because the one closest to me is 250 miles away. If I were to purchase a Duc it would probably have to be a st4.

I had a ST4. I now have a Futura. ST4 a little more sporty. Futura a little more tourer and a superior motorcycle.

Must admit I would not purchase an ST4 with the dealer 250 miles away unless I knew the dealer was really, really good. (And maybe not even then.)

I was taking it that with two harleys and a GS budget wasn't so much of an issue for you. But if it is, there's no doubt Ducs are costly not only to purchase but also to run.

Nothing like 'em tho ... If you're attracted, hope you get one, one day.

same problem. I'm not aware of any Futura dealers anywhere at all.

Check out Motorcycle Consumer News from a few months back. They did a test on the C14, FJR1300 & the VFR1200. After the test, they revieled that they also had a BMWR1200GS along on the test as an extra parts carrying bike and not in the test. All of the riders/testers voted the GS as the best sport tourer (if it had been included). I thought that was very interesting.

I have ridden the ST1300, FJR1300, C14, K1200GT & the K1300GT. Its all personal taste, but here is my 2 cents: C14-very fast, but a bit tall; FJR-not as fast, but great for a short/small rider; K1200GT-lots of quirks; K1300GT-amazing bike to ride; ST1300-boring.

You really can't go wrong with any of them.

I think there's an Aprilia dealer in Jonesboro. AF1 racing has had anythign I've needed in stock and ships same day. If you call them on the phone, they'll put you on hold, walk back and pick the parts and tell you if they have everything you need and can ship that day.

If you can turn your own wrenches, don't let the lack of an Aprilia dealer dissuade you.

Bmw k1200rs!

Thanks for bringing this back up guys. I purchased an '02 RT and have been riding it through the winter. I am really enjoying riding it. The bike had 20k miles on it and since Thanksgiving I've only had a chance to put around 4k miles on it. So far I am very pleased with it.

I can recommend the new Kawasaki Concours without reservation...love mine and everything about it.

Also a fan of the FJ and ST's, but they are both overdue for remodeling, which I expect sooner than later.
With that in mind, it was an easy choice for me last year.
The Kawi is simply a generation ahead of the FJ and ST, and will be until the expected updating of those two.

If looks are of any consideration, the Kawi is also the winner for me.
It really is the sexiest bike I've ever owned.

Cheers, and good luck with whatever you decide on!