2014 Sport Touring Final SmackDown

This mini guy is knocking it down because he's short! Unbelievable. Hey, no cares what would be good for you.

Thank you for your reviews. It is really refreshing to see guys older and not in there 20's reviewing these bikes. Keep up the good work

Negotiate chef replace gbuqd insist including impression actual testimony.

guy in the white shirt is doing a Dana Carvey impression.

just for men is not a good look mate

I disagree. The K1600 GT is DEFINITELY a SPORTS touring machine to anyone who's ridden it.

"Norge" is Norwegian for "Norway" it's pronounced "Nor-geh" just FYI.

I would be interested in seeing a review of the 2016 ST1300. Apparently these are not coming to New Zealand :-(

You know what I would like to see from you guys? There is no way right now that I can afford to buy a new motorcycle, so having a used bike is probably where I'm going to be looking. I commute 35 miles each way, each day, and that is on top of a ten mile ferry trip. I want a sport touring motorcycle, something I can commute to work on, and something I can ride somewhere on the weekend.
So, what I'd like to see from you would be the best USED Sport touring bike from the last ten years for under $10K. I think this would be an awesome shootout, and for those of us who can't afford to drop $20,000+ on a new BMW, maybe you could advise on a used K1200GT, or a used FJR1300AE, or a Concours, or an ST1300. Something in that price range that would take into account reliability, maintenance costs, mileage, (and how many miles you can expect to get out of a well taken care of bike), and all those factors.
If you do this, it would be great.

I definitely agree with the BMW being the best cause I owe a K1200LT, but I love the Moto Guzzi as well. However, disappointed that they did not have the Honda ST1300 in this shootout.

In Sept 2014 I traded in my 2005 FJR1300 for an R1200RT. In summer 2015 I set out from Utah to ride in the last three of the lower 48 states that I had not yet ridden (South Carolina, Delaware, and Maine, stopping in Indianapolis for the MotoGP race). I put in four 650+ mile days. My comments:
*Initially the BMW felt slower than the Yamaha, then I discovered DYNA throttle mode. After that they felt comparable.
*The only thing cheap on a BMW is the rider.
*The weather protection on the BMW is really excellent; as long as you don't slow down it takes a pretty good rainstorm to get you wet.
*Damn do I need a new seat for the BMW.
*The BMW (surprisingly) has a lighter feeling shifter; much more snick-snick.
*Though the BMW is lighter (and almost always feels that way) paddling backwards uphill in a gravelly parking lot is harder because the footpegs get in the way of your feet.
*The BMW saddlebags just work better (nothing wrong with the Yamaha saddlebags).
*Stereo speakers on a touring bike are senseless.
*It takes a while to get comfortable cornering aggressively with the BMW suspension. I did get comfortable and I really appreciate the way that throttle and braking do not upset the chassis as much as the Yamaha.
*Now I have to ride in Alaska and the Canadian provinces.

I wonder why these guys don't mention several of the finest sport touring bikes on the road today. I also wonder why they don't discuss bike depreciation and maintenance. It can be a bit frustrating when you learn that your new toy has dropped 30% in value when you drive it off the floor and that maintenance/recalls can be very expensive and time consuming.

The RT is definately my favourite!! Why?? I ride this one for just over a year, so I know this is a fun and comfortable bike to ride :-)

The FJR is a great all around bike and it is super easy to maintain. Every maintenance job on it can be done in minutes. Oil and filter change, minutes. Rear drive oil change, minutes. Spark plug change, minutes. Air filter, minutes. You can even get to the valves quick and the intervals are long and most of the time no adjustments are required.

FJR: I don't care. Having owned a Yamaha, they can piss up a rope. Someone can let me know when they stop selling bikes that are 90% finished and have moronic wiring harnesses, or unrideable throttles, or pogo suspension.

I really only want to know how the RT would compare to a Multistrada.

The whole casual, let's shoot the shit until we feel like getting around to our already preformed answers is annoying. Just an honest review of bikes is all we need.

What no Connie? I've had a Connie for 1 1/2 years. Very impressed with this machine fast, fun and agile. Have not ridden the BMW but at $20k vs $13k not to mention the maintanence cost is equivilant to a Harley I can do without. I don't honestly think this is the best tour bike review.

I prefer the Yamaha. Yes it may be a tad bit wider, but a hell of a lot more comfortable.The one I truly prefer you didn't have in this segment is the Kawasaki Concurs..

i've just signed in at motorcycle.com but found nowhere to leave a post following this article.so i came here.
i went over the comments below and found nothing about John's gear.i mean i reallllly like John's gear and the way he rode those bikes.

Here is the KEY thing:
anyone konws about John's helmet and the outfit he was wearing?? plz see this and reply.

last but not the least:i think taller riders DO NOT match the bikes very well.i prefer it when a 5'7 guy ride a sport touring bike.they just fit so well like John Burns did with the  R1200rt .