Best Long Distance Touring Motorcycle - Bagger vs Sport Tourer vs Adventure Bike 

I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstates, the FJR does it well. Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me.

I switched from sport tourer to ADV and don't regret it. The main benefits for me are: 1) riding position, especially knee angle. On long hauls, the more acute bend on sport tourers gets rly uncomfortable. For me at least. 2) ruggedness of the suspension. Goes in the versatility department that you mention, but you don't have to go off-road to notice it. In many regions, especially on the Balkans, many paved roads are in very questionable condition. An ADV with its longer travel can cushion many bumps and potholes that are a nightmare on a sport tourer.

I’m 75 years old man planning to ride my Honda Africa Tween DCT in Moroccan Sahara/Desert this coming spring.

I took my Africa Twin all around the east coast and Newfoundland last summer. It served well, and on those long trips you will always end up in long stretches of construction zone where having an offroad design really helps. Cruise control is a must on long trips to save your wrist.

I have been a Harley guy most of my life and this includes their big baggers. Traded it last years for the BMW 1250 GSA and was very surprised at how much more advanced it was with the electric adjustments to your riding conditions. Road setting is like riding on air and now I can go on gravel roads which are plentiful where I live. So I am now an adventure rider and can go on roads that I dared not go on my Hog.

FJR1300 for me! Looks, comfort, Power to spare!!!

Pragmatically speaking, isn’t “the best” touring motorcycle the one that works and is affordable?

I toured the Balkans last year on my 2002 Honda NX650 Dominator. It was great, carried all my gear, rode all day ( yes the seat isn't plush, but it managed okay). The big carburated single thumped away happy all day and climbed every hil and twisty with ease. Best part was it only cost me €2000. March that with any of the new bikes mentioned...

This video certainly shows why ADVs keep growing in popularity. The only issue I experienced is too much weight for technical off-roading. Hopefully my rally 300 will be here this month 🤞🏻

I had an ‘07 Honda ST1300 and it was fantastic…but heavy - so I finally bought my dream bike: a BMW R100RS. Mine is an ‘83 and while it doesn’t have ABS or EFI, it is smooth, quiet, handles well and is dead-nuts reliable AND it weighs about 230 lbs less than the ST1300. It also gets about 55 mpg and while not as fast as the ST, it is no dog and is plenty fast enough for me. I have a bar-mounted Garmin and a PackTalk Bold - and all of it - INCLUDING the bike (!!) cost less than the sales tax on a new Harley or Gold Wing.

Great comparison. I started from Royal Enfields in India to BMW K1300S , K1600GT till I laid my hands on R1250GS Adventure. Adventrue bikes are swiss army knives of all bikes.

Hi. I am now in my 10th year with my Kawasaki Concours 14. You mentioned the tire pressure monitor, but I think mine is the only bike that has one. The FJR fiit me better I am only 5'8 , but after 31 years riding a KZ 650 I bought the C14. All day comfy ( O have done 1200km in a day and 2 days of 950km in the same week, and still fun in twisty roads. The ADV bikes are too tall for me but I am thinking about adding a 300 cc dual purpose also. Thank you for your good Canadian bike videos.

Baggers are too heavy. End of story. Most ADV bikes are actually too narrowly focused; for well healed middle age riders of German heritage who want to ride the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Ocean in style (that actually describes me, except I’d rather ride the Dalton Highway, which is conveniently in my back yard, on my Bonneville 120 than on a tarted up GS). So here’s one middle aged biker who’s only interested in Sport -Turers. Even as a multiple bike owner, all three are variations of Sport-touring machines; all with weights between 425 and 485 pounds.😎

I rode across North America on my 2003 HD Night Train, 12,000km in just under 30 days. That was with my wife riding 2-up and all our camping gear, what an awesome trip. I ride a Pan America now.

Been riding for over 50 years. Owned a bike shop for years. Retired. Have ridden them all, love em all. But when it came time to choose my do it all retirement bike, I got a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It’s a goldilocks bike. Every imaginable creature comfort, 6 rider modes, light(ish) at 201kg dry, all day comfortable on or off road, carves, cruises, gets dirty. Has no lack of power. Moto camping is a breeze and limitless. I don’t “need” over 100hp (who really does, anyway). I have the body size that works on this tall bike, so shorter, or less sure riders should look elsewhere. IMHO the best do everything bike on the market today.

I love the Honda Goldwing tour but it is not as practical here in Australia because when I go touring I go along roads that I am not sure could actually be classified as roads but generally that where you find the most interesting places. For that reason I chose the Triumph Tiger 1200 rally explorer as my bike of choice. Being 6'4" it is really comfortable and I can stand flat footed.

#1 I've found that the beating you take from the wind is exhausting so wind protection for long distances is paramount. This means full fairing and a plus is an adjustable windshield to control buffeting. #2 is the seat - wider/softer is better period. #3 is multiple foot positions. Ability to stand up means pegs/boards beneath you and a secondary position in front of you will add to your longevity. Take any of those 3 off and you're just testing your limits of suffering. I've done 12 hour days on an R1200RT and they weren't picnics. The Goldwing and the BMW K1600s are the only bikes I envy for long distance rides.

A very competent and fair comparison of the different touring bikes. I prefer the all-round capabilities of the BMW GS. It is such a comfortable powerhouse of a bike and decievingly nimble in the twisties despite its’ weight. I have never ridden a bagger, but I am certain on the long and endless highway, it is probably the better choice,however; when roads get a bit more challenging, I have more confidence in an adventure bike. At the end of the day, it is a matter of taste and preference and perhaps riding skills. They are all great bikes and whatever suits your needs. Main thing, ride safe and enjoy the freedom! Thank you for the time and effort of producing this video.

My favorite bike for my long rides was a 1977 Yamaha XS750 2D. It had the best seat I've ever sat on and had no reason to go bigger.

ADV for me. Many waterfalls , lakes and vineyards are just 5kms - 10kms down a gravel/dirt road. Choose a bike that gets you there with confidence 🏍️✌🏼🏍️

ninja 1000 sx all day in the saddle and no fatigue, looks great, got torque and power on tap, it’s the best all around coast to coast bike hands down, I know it wasn’t included, but honorable mention👈 right here

I'm 37 and have owned a new bike at least every 2 years since I got my "M" endorsement 3 days after I turned 18. I have had and sampled a lot, if you buy them 1 year used you can constantly trade off without detriment. I finally had a 2021 Road Glide Ultra, it was great. Harley makes a unique product that has a great level of quality. I did love it. I traded it off for a 2021 FJR 1300. I fell in love. Tour when you want it, sport when you please it, comfort all the time. My only complaint is the lack of an OEM heated seat, and I had to put risers on because I'm 6'1.BTW.... Riders are not shifting. Manufacturers are shifting due to environmental regulations. Get your ECU flashed and ride safely.

G'day mate. I currently have a 2017 Yamaha fjr1300 and it's great for me. I have made some adjustments so that the ergonomics are now perfect for me. I'm 6'2, so I fitted a handlebar plate riser and had the comfort seat reupholstered with a gel insert. Perfectly comfortable for me. Love the channel mate, and the scenery is awsome. Will have to get over to your neck of the woods in the near future as I'm now officially retired. All the best from Oz, and stay safe.

I've ridden from the UK to Azerbaijan and back via Cyprus on a Vespa GTS 300. I even by mistake crossed a mountain range off road for 110 km in Georgia. The bike you already have is the best bike for touring and not what a manufacturers marketing department think you need. Saying all that I really do fancy a Goldwing.

I just went from a 2018 BMW K1600 GTL to a 2024 F900 GS Adventure. The only thing I did to the GSA was put aluminum hard cases on it, once I had those it's almost as good as the GTL on the highway, and definitely better on fire trails etc!

I bought a used goldwing 09 and a concors 07 about 10 years ago. For 18k, I have had the pleasure of checking the weather and 'dressing' accordingly. Went from Philly to Florida on the goldwing and change up interstate travel based on the weather. Insurance in cheap on the old ones.

Lucky for us riders they offer all these options! To each their own - ride safe y’all and have fun.

I am fortunate I have my Triumph Trophy SE for touring, A T120 Bonneville for coffee runs and short rides for the day, an Aprilia Mana 850 naked for round town for a little bit of shiftless fun. I had an ADV bike but man the wind would be hammering my head all day off the windshield. I also had a Kawasaki nomad 1600 with fairing and lowers installed but it was heavy and kind of boring and slow and not my cup of tea 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ for distance sport tourers are monsters, when it gets twisty you can still have fun.

The best bike for touring is the one you have now. Go and hit the road. There's this dude that rode across America on a Bonneville, and he seemed to enjoy it!

For a long trip shaft or belt drive would be nice. I wonder if any of BMW's competitors wonder if, just maybe, that's why the GS outsells their ADV by 4 to 1.

Good overview. I purchased an AT a few months ago and it is working well after I made the suspension more comfortable with a spring lowering kit. I have a Goldwing, and am seriously considering trading it for a Sport Toruing bike. I have enjoyed riding it, but for me I want to transition to something lighter in my mid 60’s.

We bought an Africa Twin last season for 2 up touring in Ontario. The challenge here is the great distances and often gravel. A handful in town 2up going slow but you can spend a day in the saddle and do it again the next

As a taller rider I choose ADV. Had an FJR for a few years. Shoulders start hurting on the third day. Now I'm on the Versys 1000 and it is way better.

My goal is to own a Goldwing for 2 up riding and a sport tourer for my single riding probably a FJR 1300. I like BMW but not worth the repair costs. Good comparison video.

The Concours 1400 worked for me for about 10 years. Would have liked cruise control but the think was super fast, comfortable and ran like a clock. A very fast clock. Connie was great in the rain also. My current bike 2020 H2 SX SE gives even more thrills with lots more goodies including cruise control. It is lighter and supper comfortable than Connie with more power. It is good in the wet and a pleasure on the highway.

I have an enduro bike that I do most of my riding on(off-road only). But I do like to road tour, especially because my wife also likes to cut out for a long weekend or week on the bike. We hate long highway riding and always route for the backroads and twisties. I have a big ol' bagger(Victory Cross Country) that does the job, its super comfy and has great storage. I have the engine hopped-up so it gets along pretty good and handles well enough for what it is. I've often thought about getting something like an FJR1300 but I know all that power in my hands would not be a good thing and I know my wife would be no where near a comfortable.

I had an early model FJR (back when they had the preorder lists) and loved every bit of it.

IMHO, baggers are the best, they are super comfy, offer great wind protection and you can ride them sort of sporty if you like, reaction time is some what lagging compared to a sport tourer, but you can still make em rip. Too many people buy them with a permanent fairing on them, when it is actually better to buy a naked one, and then get a detachable fairing.

Nicely done👍..easy passenger solution- have a “passenger” that rides their own bike….

Great comparison. LIke you said, any bike can become a "tourer". In 2015 I rode my Shadow Phantom coast to coast across Canada, PEI to Vancouver and then up to Yellowknife, where I was moving. Living on the prairies now and riding a year old NC750X, which I consider a bargain sport tourer. Took her down thru the American SW last year, Utah, AZ, NV, god I love that area. Safe riding in 2023.

One thing that wasn't discussed is final drive mode. For long distance touring I'll take a shaft or belt drive over a chain any day.

I'm interested in why you didn't mention the Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager. A great touring bagger and far less expensive than a Harley, Indian or Goldwing.

Another great video! I have been riding since 83 and took my first camping tour on a Yamaha FJ600. Not bad at all, but I was a lot younger then. I have done long trips on the supposed world touring KLR650, and it buzzed so hard at highway speeds that my hands and other bits went numb. I then got into Triumph Tigers: 955, 1050 and now 1200. All great long distance touring bikes. My 2019 Tiger 1200 is the perfect long trip bike. Great in every way, even 2Up, and importantly it is roomy. I stand 188cm tall and it is easy on my old hips! So what? None of them had good seats! Here is what I know for all of the bikes that I have ridden; stock seats are terrible! Especially on long days. I recommend that everyone invest in a Russel Day Long saddle, or something similar. I have been told that my seat is ugly and doesn't belong on an ADV bike. Wrong! I have 65,000km on my current saddle, and I have done both pavement and gravel roads. I have traversed Labrador and had to do an 800km day. I couldn't have done it on the stock seat. So, I think that your video is dead on, but special notice should be taken to your backside! Perhaps a video on the conspiracy of motorcycle manufacturers to create evil, uncomfortable seats. Thanks for always producing great content. Dave 🇨🇦

I made the choice to go sport tourer (specifically the Honda ST1300) because I wanted range and something that didn't require no more then 63mph to get that good range. My first owned bike was a 09' Burgman 650 which in my opinion has to be one of the most underrated touring bikes. It has tons and tons of storage capacity if you exercise it, comfy rear seat for a passenger, very great fuel mileage (if you target 63mph "GPS speed"), runs on regular with a 4gal tank which I often saw between 185-245miles to a tank depending on type of ride. The only reason I got rid of it is because I live in the middle of the U.S. and I needed more of a highway bike. Burgman had plenty of power, it just didn't have the gearing. If I targeted 70mph "GPS", I would only GET 200-210miles per 3.5gallons of the 4 gallon capacity. At 63mph, I would almost always get over 240miles per 3.4-3.5gallons of the 4gallom capacity. I took a 3504mile road trip with my burgman 650 loaded out and only spent $133.32 in fuel with the prices over $4 a gallon for regular. Now I have an 07' St1300 and with this bike so far I am seeing 340-350miles per 6.4-6.5gallons of the 7.7gallon fuel capacity. I haven't really taken it on a road trip to see what my long distance trip numbers would be but especially over 5000ft elevation I expect close to 400miles per 6.5-6.6gals if I target 68mph (GPS). This works for me because it is a super reliable bike, and I don't have to worry about range anxiety. I like to get missing and eat up boring miles without sacrificing a huge amount of range. This bike allows me to ride and truly enjoy it, especially out west where everything fuel related can be far few inbetween.

no bike can beat the big ADV or sport touring bikes...I`ve had different cruisers like, Indians, Yamahas and even upgrading the rear shocks still hurts in long trips...big ADV or sport touring like Tracer 9 or FJR are unbeatable.

Another great video and I appreciate that you always qualify your statements, making clear when it's your opinion. Because there's always a lot of margin for opinion when it comes to motorcycles. I cannot comment on the baggers, never ridden one, nor on the big sport touring bikes (RTs, FJRs, Hayabusas...) but I've owned a big ADV bike (R1250GS) and a "lighter" sport tourer, the Ninja 1000sx you comment on briefly in your video, in exactly the same colour-scheme, and I remember you were full of praise for it in the video in which it featured. I'm aware that my comment is slightly off-topic as I cannot comment on two of the three categories you mention. I can see the trend towards big ADVs, they're ubicuos, I ride out with 6 other mates and I'm the only one not riding one. I can see their advantages... to a certain point and mind you I'm obviously very conditioned by my background, that is, I ride in western mainland Europe where off-roading, even taking gravel roads is nearly impossible. Yes ADV bikes have longer suspension travel and therefore are more comfortable on roads with poor surface, they're capable of providing decent weather protection and acceptable comfort for the pillion (I don't travel with a pillion, so that is not a criterium for me) but when it comes to travelling, I still find them too bulky and although the average age of us motorcycle riders keeps growing (I'm 61) which partly explains the trend towards bikes which offer upright ergonomics (big ADV bikes, "crossover" bikes like the Tracer 9GT or the BMW S1000XR), there's still a case to be made for lighter sport touring bikes like the Ninja 1000sx or the new Moto Guzzi Mandello, the Suzuki 1000gt or the KTM SD GT. They can cover distances in acceptable comfort but make the ride so much more engaging. Of course they wont excel on the motorway in terms of comfort but, at least in Europe, you can avoid motorways and take more secondary routes that offer you better views and much more interesting riding experiences. Regards

We rode our 2007 GL1800 Goldwing 2up to the arctic circle including the Top of the World Highway. It was not a problem.

I agree. Adventure touring motorcycles are the way to go. Long traveling suspensions meant they're comfortable on almost any road.

For me around the world without problems - my pick is the V Strom 1050DE thanx :)

Been across the US on a borrowed Harley bagger once and then bought a BMW R1200GS. The BMW is smoother, more comfortable, bigger bags (jesse). The only thing I missed was the stereo. Been across the country 7 times on the GS. Anything from multi week to just a few days. Aerostich & GS, plus a little really hot weather gear for above 120 degree days.

I own a 2010 BMW R1200GS, 2014 Harley Street Glide Ultra and a 2016 Road Glide Ultra. My very first bike was a 2002 BMW R1150GS. I would certainly take the Road Glide if I was traveling coast to coast. If I was trailering to a destination to ride some great roads and maybe some dirt trails I would absolutely take the 1200 GS. Hands down. The GS, at least for me is not a very long distance bike compared to the Road Glide.

Well done. A true comparison. Having a shaft is a big plus if you plan to munch miles. Got my like bro. It was no. 600. :)

My first bike was a 125cc Cruiser (Gilera Cougar) max speed of 65mph. I used it to tour most of the South UK. It was slow but comfortable, carried a fair amount of touring equipment and was easy to fix on the road. I had the best time. It probably had 12bhp which is ridiculous to think about. I carried tent, camping equipment, cooking equipment etc. This was before the days of satnav, a good old trusty map was used and stuck to smaller coastal roads. The mpg was amazing. Now I'd probably pick the Indian Scout to tour on, I'm used to not taking alot of stuff with me. Or I do really like the BMW Bagger and Honda Bagger but they are just so expensive

I own a Yamaha Super Tenere 1200. Previously a R1200 GS and KLR. Recently hired a HD Road Glide for 5 days of miles in the US. Loovveedd it! Great LD machine.

Sport touring is the only way to go ! I LOVE my(old ?) Triumph Sprint 1050ST, fantastic all rounder !!

I think it depends on the terrain but if you like riding in the mountains and on anything but really smooth tarmac, then it's ADV all the way. I'd go for the big BMW GS. You can get hard luggage and a topbox. Just don't try any serious offroading on it!

No doubt at all My favorite Motorcycle it's The Amazing Honda Gold Wing ❤!!!, Thanks for sharing 👍👊✌️!!!

The Kawasaki Concours for me more powerful then the Yamha fjr i owned one for 4 years its a great sport touring motorcycle.

Sport Tourer here, FJR1300, with Givi V46, and a bag for a backrest.

I tour on a BMW K1600B. It is fast, comfortable, relatively nimble for its size and does very well in bad weather including high winds.

Brilliant video!! Exactly the one I was looking for!! Cheers

I ride a Kawasaki Concours 14. I've had 2 ZG1000's as well. I've had 8 different motorcycles over the last 46 years. For on pavement only I won't ride anything other than my Connie14. I'm looking for a midsized Advtouring bike as a 2nd bike to take in a toy hauling travel trailer and be able to at least go on dirt/gravel roads 2 up.

Honda Crosstourer DCT The Power Of Dreams ❤

Great video, beautiful bikes, breathtaking scenery, full package 👍

Another great Different Spokes video! Although the bikes currently don't pertain to me still enjoy the content and information.

The video did not even mentioned the legendary Kawasaki Concours 14. And yes, someone below commented the ST1300. I have 2x concours 14 - a 2022 and a 2008. I purchased the 2008 4 years ago and fell in love. Had to purchase one of the last year of production. It is an amazing bike, without making holes in my pockets. - in price and maintenance.

I would opt for a Harley-Davidson Bagger for a cross country trip. Been riding a Harley-Davidson Softail for a while now so I am ready to upgrade and see the country from the seat of a motorcycle.

You should have included the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX and the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT. Both are a good value (under $14K US), under 550 lb (good for returning and older riders), are great solo Sport Tourers, and ok for two-up weekend touring. You did test the Kawasaki, and liked it. The downside is that the saddlebags are on the small side, especially the Kaw, and also have relatively low weight capacities. The Kawasaki is on my wishlist.

Answer: Superduke GT LOL You Need to stop every 300 though. :) Cruise control and Heated grips are a must, this leaves out some of the older sport tourers. I prefer to get somewhere and rent mountain bikes for my off-road fun. Also, prefer backpacking to fire-road traveling. Not ideal, but the GT handles gravel roads just well enough to get there. :) Cross continent traveling? I'd take a goldwing every time. I'm 5'8" and the adventure bikes are just too tall. If they all lowered on stopping....that would be great.

My touring bike since 4 years is a HD VROD Muscle and my girlfriend is on her Z400 since this year but never complained about the Harley pillion Next season I'm getting the 2023 Hayabusa as my daily driver and touring bike I used to tour on Ninja 6R and 9R so I'm getting more and more comfortable 😂

I’ve been hearing more and more that the ADV bikes perform better on road than the sport tourers. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing that’s because the ADV market is getting more demanding while there’s nothing really pushing the sport touring segment.

When it comes to Asia, the only answer is Adventure bike. We're too complacent with fuckton of potholes and underdeveloped mountain road. Sometimes even major highway aren't safe.

Nice video, but my favourite long distance bikes are simply high displacement naked bikes :)

If I was 20 years younger it would be the adventure bike all the way. Now it's a Goldwing which suits me all the way. I can ride spirited and fast when I want to but still be comfortable.

I'm 67 years of age too bad but there are too many bikes than we all can enjoy but remember there is nothing more enjoyable than two wheels enjoy and respect

I will most likely be taking my 2009 Honda Shadow Aero to go visit my dad this summer which is 1,300 miles, or about2,000 kilometers. It is going to be a nice trip, no matter the weather.

Assuming you are staying on tarmac, the best "do everything" bike is the Kawasaki H2 SX SE. Luggage and comfort but also real performance that can match sports bikes.

You forgot one major Pro of Adventure bikes. You don't have to wash and polish them. They look better dirty.

Once there was the middle tourer (Fazer, CBF, and so on) with 600 to 1000cc: those was the best touring bikes ever.

That's why I like my Super Tener. When going across the state, some take the south route which is all interstate highway. A lot of people take the north route, which is 2 lane highway, which is scenic, with some curves, but not really exciting. On an ADV you can go due west, which is a mix of some 2 lane highway, gravel road, and miles of super twisty road and my ST does it all with confidence.

The Versys 1K should NOT be in the adventure category because it is a sports tourer. It sits tall like an adventure bike, but that's where the comparison ends.

Just my opinion . For touring shaft drive, large fuel tank ,a fairing of some sort and at least a top box are a must . From there suit yourself what you buy. Also with speed limits the way they are these days , In Australia in most states the most you can do is 110 kph ( about 68 mph ) you don't need a big bike. I have a 1982 Honda VF 750 Magna and that does fine.

Great video. Love my sport/tourer (Triumph Trophy) for the Interstate, and my cruiser for highway and in-town travel. Why not have best of all the worlds?! 😮😂 Gypsy Rider out!

My 650 vstrom has been from va to ak....all over lower 48...butttt...Do have a GSA to ride also...lovem both

I had a 2019 Honda Goldwing DCT but the weight started to get to me so I traded for the lighter r1200gs never go off road and no it’s not a goldwing but rides awsome and I still enjoy it… love the seat height on the r1200gs… don’t think I’ll be trading back to the bigger touring bikes been there done that…lol

Sport touring bikes are REALLY cheap in the used market. Plenty of people giving up these bikes to stop riding or switch to a trike, and they're too heavy to really be desirable to younger riders.

Unless you need to go off-road, just pick up a decent second hand Pan European. Not expensive. Bomb proof. Super comfortable. Job done.

Good, informative video, however you should have included other baggers like Kawasaki vaquero/voyager, for comparison.

Great video; thanks for the efforts. There are other factors, such as weight, height, age of the rider, etc. A bagger will be the best option if you have stiff legs. If you don't like sticking to the roads and discovering underdeveloped lands all the time, adventure is all you need. I am a touring bike rider; I do own a BMW R1200RT. We do long-distance tours within Europe with friends who ride mostly adventure bikes. From time to time, we change bikes to expand our experiences. The higher sitting position and better lean angle clearance of adventure bikes give more extraordinary abilities than the others. However, I don't like the feeling. The stability of a touring bike in curves gives a better sense, at least to me. As covered in the video, wind protection is a major component during long rides. As my fellow riders suffer from fatigue after a few days of riding, I still keep most of my energy. As I said, it is mainly about the routes and countries you take. ADV bikes would be the best if you planned a route in underdeveloped countries. I once sat on a Goldwing (never ridden); it felt like a car on two wheels, giant body and dead heavy. They will definitely be comfortable in the long haul. But in cities, I am skeptical about the ease of handling. Please do not be offended; there is no right or wrong. This solely depends on expectations and destinations. Wishing everyone safe rides.

Same could be said if you never rode a sport tourer or Adventure bike - I feel my DCT Honda Goldwing performs like high end sports car - not knowing the difference means a lot.

You have to review the mighty DR650! Is still the King of dual sports.

Jack of all trades master of none. I've owned Road king, Kawasaki Concourse, Tracer 900. For long distance touring with passenger. Bagger rules. Also it will surprise you in the twisties. Tracer was the worst all arounder. Get a Bagger and a sport bike when you want to go fast.

I watched those adventure bikes go by me at The Dragon Tail, and those guys lay down further then the sport bike riders, meaning they go by them too. There's always a pull-over in the hairpin curve, and that's where I watch from. Don't be rude, and make those faster riding bikes sniff your exhaust. ;) I ride a cruiser with bags. And I don't think my 1500cc cruiser fits the bagger category. That trunk and queen seat keeps down on the twisty's. Not me.

I'm 69 now and I traded in my 2017 Street Glide for a lighter 2022 Heritage 114 which is also a great touring cruiser. It has also replaced my 2018 Iron 1200. Maybe even my 2021 MT07. Maybe.

This video should be financed by BMW. It shows all models if this brand ingnoring other fantastic touring bikes from other makers like Honda, KTM, Suzuki...

Waiting for the KTM SMT to be out- April. Maybe you should do a review!

When I'm rich and famous I will possibly get a bagger to go with my adventure bike. Meanwhile much of the best fun is on the quiet twisties and dirt roads, far away from the radar guns!

Too much worry about speeding. Too little worry about maintenance costs. That 6 cylinder BMW is easily $30k these days. And those ST tires will be eaten in under 5k miles on a heavy touring bike before you even add in going fast. And don't even get me started on the service frequency and costs. The problem with inlines is they buzz. It's irritating on long rides. I also discovered on my Versys 1000 that HDs with a few hop ups aren't so slow. Chased one guy riding his HD at 100 mph thru Tenn & Ky. My bike was very buzzy. My FJR was buzzy as hell too. My current Road King will do 100mph and it doesn't feel any different than riding 60 mph except the lines go by faster. I've passed a lot of BMWs in the mountains while riding touring twins. Though generally, I agree that lighter bikes with more ground clearance tend to be able to go around curvy roads quicker. Why bother if you're not going to use it? I used to love STs, but I've always ridden a lot and always end up with Golfer's elbows. Tendonitis of the inner elbows. Fortunately, it goes away over the winter. I'm certain my Road King would do 100k miles with nothing but oil changes, tires every 10-12k miles, and a few brake pads. Might need a new belt after that. If you want a bike to accelerate fast in a straight line, buy a Hyabusa. It will beat everything here. If your tall, I think ADV bikes make a lot of sense, but I'm not. Even had to lower the Versys. Personally, I don't get that giddy accelerating in a straight line, so I'll take a comfortable, low maintenance bagger that my wife will be comfy on and we can take plenty of stuff for her. If I was traveling solo, I might get one of those BMW 1200 RS and some Copperfit elbow support socks.

I dunno, I've done over a MILLION AMA touring miles on pure SPORT bikes from Yellowstone to some tiny place in Mexico, from West Virginney to the Western Edge of Utah and back again. I've put 38,000-odd miles on my 1964 Honda 305 SuperHawk, 79,000 miles in less than 24 months on a Suzuki GS650G shafty with a Vetter fairing and bags and tailtrunk put a ton on my '83 GS1100ED Suzuki with a Pichler fairing on it, and now I have another Honda, an 1984 VF-1000F Interceptor and a 1994 Suzuki home-market GVSR-500ST Vee-four two stroke (street legal) that will just crack 200 MPH and is smaller than the 305 SuperHawk and hurts to ride more than 1000 Km a day unless I'm on twisty back-roads!!! I've never owned a tour bike or even sport touring bike, unless you count the SuperHawk. BTW, I'm almost 70. I went and looked HARD at a nice used 1500 GoldWing-less than 30K-it's been sitting 20+ years. Needs a grand worth of tires, a battery, tune-up (carbs need cleaning and adjusting) but riding solo, do I want/need the toys??? Widder-woman wants to sell the Wing CHEAP! Needs a wash and wax and detail.

Bagger for me... It's just so comfortable