best sport tour s.r.o

The Best Sports Tourers

For me, a Sports Tourer should be 70% sport and 30% touring. If it doesn’t come with factory-fit hard luggage then it’s, at best, just a soft sportsbike.

Our guide picks 5 of the best sports touring motorcycles, each one offering a different engine layout, different capacity and a different approach to clocking up big miles in comfort.

Table of Contents

Here’s a full run-down of each of these great bikes:

BMW F800GT Key Specs

• Engine: Liquid-cooled twin-cylinder
• Max power output: 90 bhp (66 kW)
• Displacement: 798cc
• Gearbox: 6-speed
• Seat height: 800mm
• Weight: 182kg

The BMW F800GT is actually a bit of a sleeper. Yes, that obedient 800cc engine isn’t going to leave anything for dead but on a twisty road, it’s capable of giving anything a good run for its money and yet it looks so sedate.

With its sportier yet comfortable stance, it can tackle everything, from busy city streets to quiet country roads, Alpine passes, or endless highways. Good wind protection, heated grips as standard and a twanging belt drive make it a great touring option. It’s also A2 licence friendly if you fit a restrictor kit.

Honda VFR800F

Honda VFR800F Key Specs

• Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC
• Max power output: 106 bhp (77.9 kW)
• Displacement: 782cc
• Seat height: 789/809mm
• Weight: 239kg

Life has gone full-circle for Honda’s VFR800. At launch, the 750 created its own niche in a Sportsbike-obsessed market.

Then as engine sizes have drifted ever larger, the VFR800 sits there almost identical to the original bike with a bit of an ‘I told you so’ feel about it.

Honda’s legendary sports tourer might have received its latest major upgrade in 2014, but it’s still a massively popular choice for those who want a properly capable mile-muncher.

Its unmistakable lines combine sharp angles with soft curves in a unique silhouette that pays homage to the classic VFR. Carefully designed ergonomics and upgraded suspension with radial brake calipers facilitate the ride on both city streets and winding roads. A perfect all-rounder with adjustable seat height and optional factory-hard luggage.

Kawasaki Z1000SX

Kawasaki Z1000SX Key Specs

• Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke inline DOHC
• Max power output: 142 bhp (104.5 kW)
• Displacement: 1043cc
• Seat height: 815mm
• Weight: 235kg

Kawasaki’s Z1000SX has been around for a few years now but it’s still a bit of a unique bike. More like the son of a Naked roadster and a Sports Tourer than a Spotsbike and a Tourer, it has an upright riding position but lots of wind protection.

A great mix between super-sport character and daily practicality. Seductive styling, improved IMU-controlled electronics make it a perfect all-rounder. Practical accessories, including factory hard luggage, add comfort to your journey. The cherry on top is the large, plush seat that offers excellent comfort.

KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

KTM 1290 Super Duke GT Key Specs

• Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke v-twin
• Max power output: 173 bhp (128.7 kW)
• Displacement: 1301cc
• Seat height: 835mm
• Weight: 209kg

If you want to get places very quickly indeed then the Super Duke GT is for you. More Sports Adventure Nutter than Sports Tourer but that doesn’t affect its long-range capability.

KTM has reworked its 1290 to offer an even more advanced interpretation of a touring-capable sportsbike. Highlights include revised resonance chambers and titanium inlet valves. An advanced electronic system delivers enhanced performance and riding assistance. To let you exploit the powerful engine to the fullest, the revised Quickshifter+ means superbike riders won’t be able to keep up.

Yamaha Tracer 900GT

Yamaha Tracer 900GT Key Specs

• Engine: Liquid-cooled 3-cylinder DOHC
• Max power output: 113 bhp (84.6 kW)
• Displacement: 847cc
• Seat height: 850mm
• Weight: 227kg

For me, Yamaha’s Tracer 900 GT is the new face of Sports Touring. No longer using the ‘diluted sportsbike’ recipe, it’s more like an Adventure bike that’s been given road-going focus and a decent engine. It has a great mix of a punchy motor, Adventure-bike riding positon and riding height, yet no silly wheel sizes, a good fairing and really good pillion comfort.

Good at bashing out distance and brilliant on twisty roads. It’s equipped with heated grips, fully adjustable suspension and Yamaha hard luggage, that’s ready to take you wherever you want to go. Easy riding is delivered by a quick shifter, while the incorporated cruise control can make your long-haul rides even more of a breeze.

The Best Sports Tourer Motorcycle for You

Whether you want a comfortable sportsbike or a nimble touring bike, the best sports tourers is the one that has the bias best suited to your riding needs.

Which is the best sports tourer though, is down to you. Check out your favourite models at your local dealer, hop on the saddle, and maybe even take it to a test ride before deciding which one to buy.

The 1-minute insurance estimate

Do you know roughly what you’ll need to budget to insure your Sports Tourer?

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Questions or Comments?

If you’ve got a question about this article and you need a bit more guidance, drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you.

Likewise, if you’ve got something to add to this article or an experience you’d like to share, let’s hear it!

We love reading your comments and helping our readers.

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The Best Sport Touring Motorcycles You Can Buy

[2024 edition].

Updated August 31, 2023 by Simon Bertram

For When The Road Calls Your Name

Article quick nav.

These are the best sport tourers you can buy in 2023:

BMW R 1250 RS

Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT

Kawasaki Ninja 650

KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Honda NC750X DCT

Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro

Ducati Multistrada V2

Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes, from sleek, aerodynamic supersports to laid back, wind-in-your-face cruisers. There are bikes made for short trips around town, little runabouts that don't need a lot of power. There are continent crushing bikes that you ride when you're planning on up a month on the road.

With so many types and classes of bikes out there, it's only natural that at some point, many started to cross over and meld into each other. This is precisely what happened when supersports met up with standard-style touring motorcycles, and from that marriage came sport tourers. These are bikes that have good power, agile and responsive handling, but are also immensely comfortable for longer rides with raised handlebars, plusher seats, and sometimes even come with mount points for soft or hard case luggage either side of the tail.

There is also another type of sport tourer that is mostly European based, known as a sport adventure tourer. These take their styling cues from ADV motorcycles, but makes them more comfortable for longer distance road use, tuning the engines for mid-range cruising power, and often come with built in amenities such as plug-ins for heated gear, GPS navigation mounting brackets, and the like.

With all that said, these are, in no particular order, the best sport tourers your can buy in 2023!

About Our Selections

These selections considered ease of use, rideability, price, and how effective each motorcycle was achieving the stated goal of its class. We are confident that any of these bikes will be superb options for most riders.

To qualify for this list, the motorcycle can be of any base type, but oriented towards touring, meaning a sport-standard or standard seating style, touring-style handlebars vs clip-ons, and in most cases a touring oriented windscreen or wind deflector.

2023 BMW R 1250 RS

The bike most people think of when hearing the words "sport tourer," with good reason

Why We Picked It:

To be honest, this was the first bike that popped into our heads the moment this list was proposed. BMW is famously known for their touring motorcycles such as their entire K 1600 lineup, but they also have a seriously sport oriented side, with the S1000 RR superbike being a perfect example.

Many a moon ago, BMW decided to marry the two styles of bikes into two amazing bikes, the R 1250 RS and the R 1250 RT . For this list, we've picked the RS, as its name literally means "Road Sport." It is am immensely capable sport tourer, as it takes all of the lessons learned from the K series of bikes, and brings over the capable 1,254cc boxer twin from the ADV side of things, which brings 136 HP and 105 lbs-ft of torque to the table.

What you get is a BMW that is comfortable but sporty, with a low center of gravity, some of the best riding dynamics this side of a track bike, and even a shaft drive so there's no chance of a chain snapping when you're at the top of the Swiss Alps. It also comes as standard with BMW's excellent in-house ABS and traction control, three riding modes for all weather conditions, and one of the clearest, most easy to read TFT dashes on the market.

This is a bike that was made from the very start to be the ultimate riding machine for long distance touring, and to be honest, from how many are sold and ridden across Europe yearly, we think they've nailed it.

Specifications:

Price: $15,695

Engine: 1,254cc boxer twin

Power: 136 HP

Torque: 105 lbs-ft

Transmission: 6 Speed Manual

Curb Weight: 536 lbs

Has everything a sport tourer needs: comfort, accessories, luggage mount points, and a low center of gravity to keep the bike planted and agile for when you want to get some fun going

BMW's excellent rider aids on full display, with dual zone and cornering ABS, traction control, variable riding modes, throttle by wire, and easy access to settings on the fly with the left hand toggle wheel.

Learn More:

2023 BMW R 1250 RS specs, features, & pics

2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT

Suzuki's new sport tourer is an amazingly competent piece of kit

With only a couple of seasons under its belt, we can honestly say that the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT is one of the more well-rounded sport tourers we've come across. It is the quintessential definition of a sport tourer, taking the long-serving engine from the GSX-S1000 , fiddling with its timings and settings a bit, and then planting it a modified frame of said bike.

The result is an immensely powerful motorcycle that has extremely linear power delivery, is hugely comfortable, has mounting points all over for tank bags, side luggage, a top case, can carry a passenger without any issue, and just does it all in that efficiently Japanese way. It is also amazingly agile for its size, as it's almost twice as wide as the superbike it got its engine from, gracefully carving corners with confidence so you can appreciate the view as you round the next corner on the mountain road.

It is also one of the bikes using Suzuki's new SIRS system (Suzuki Intelligent Ride System), which has low-RPM assist, intelligent traction control, selectable ride modes, and throttle by wire that is constantly adjusted so you get the most performance per millimeter of throttle twist, without spinning up the rear or having it slide out on a sudden patch of gravel or water.

The standard GT does not come with hard-case luggage, but does include the mount points. If you want it to come with fully installed lockers, it's just $600 more with the GT+, which also includes a few minor things like different paint options and such.

Price: $13,349

Engine: 999cc inline four

Power: 150 HP

Torque: 79.6 lbs-ft

Curb Weight: 498 lbs

Takes bulletproof performance engine from the superbike side and makes it into a sport-touring friendly, happy-to-cruise-for-ages touring engine that can still wake up the sporty side if you crank on some throttle.

The SIRS system keeps the bike always in the optimum riding setup depending on the selected ride mode. Intelligent traction control is also top notch, preventing rear wheel spin ups and skids on slippery stuff faster than you could close the throttle.

2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT specs, features, & pics

2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650

A supremely comfortable and capable sport tourer for the newer or even beginner rider

This pick started a bit of a debate among the editors and writers here at webBikeWorld. There were discussions about which Kawasaki deserved the place... the ultra-powerful touring cruise missile, the H2 SX SE ? The long-serving Ninja 1000 SX ? After all the facts were laid down, we picked the Ninja 650 .

The primary reason we picked it came down to just how approachable it is. While many of us are intermediate to veteran skill riders, we all need to remember that there are new riders out there, almost every day, that are looking at a first or second bike. The Ninja 650 has the power, agility, and responsiveness to plant a huge grin on your face, but it is also extremely capable of just cruising along a coastal highway or up a mountain road, letting the new rider experience what sport touring is all about.

Being a Kawasaki, the other half of the decision was that absolutely everything including the faucet attached to the kitchen sink is jammed into the Ninja 650, and then the bike is put on sale at a ludicrously affordable price. Dual zone ABS, cornering ABS, traction control, stability control, bluetooth connectivity, riding modes, a saddke with an amazingly comfortable amount of plushiness, and mid-rear pegs for if you want to get your lean on, but don't cramp your legs up like a supersport would.

It's all there, for the beginner and the veteran, to just go out and ride . And that's the point of it all, isn't it?

Price: $7,999

Engine: 649cc parallel twin

Power: 68 HP

Torque: 47.2 lbs-ft

Curb Weight: 419 lbs

For beginner and veteran alike, one of the best sport tourers available. Comfortable, agile, competent, planted, and just a joy to ride, it's guaranteed to have you smiling every time you go touring on it

Jam packed of all the rider aids a beginner might want, and an experienced rider appreciates.

2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650 specs, features, & pics

2023 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

All the power and fun KTM provides, with some hard luggage and a touring windscreen. Sounds good to us!

KTM's own marketing takes care of the byline for us: "The 1290 Super Duke GT is a comfortable ballistic missile," which is understandable as the 1290 Super Duke S and R are both very rapid when the right wrist is opened up. But, what would happen if it was tuned slightly more towards mid-throttle cruising, had a touring windshield installed, and given a set of hard luggage?

The answer is the 1290 Super Duke GT , KTM's only sport tourer, and it comes packed with all the goodies you'd expect from the Austrians. Electronic cruise control, heated grips, semi-active and electronically adjustable WP suspension, dual-zone and cornering ABS, 6-axis stability and traction control... it's all standard on the GT.

While the hard luggage is an additional cost, the mounting points are part of the frame and thus are standard as well, so pretty much any luggage will fit. It also, for a KTM at least, has a seat that can actually be called plush. Not soft, mind you, but thicker than the average plank of wood that KTM seats are known to feel like.

Of course, with the Duke as part of its name, it also comes with switchable rear ABS and traction control, should you wish to wag the tail a bit around a few corners.

Price: $19,799

Engine: 1,301cc V-twin

Power: 171 HP

Torque: 104 lbs-ft

Curb Weight: 496 lbs

A hooligan in a hiking jacket, it's pure KTM underneath the touring additions, so you know it's going to be fun as hell to ride

KTM is known for making superbly practical dirt and ADV bikes, and they've applied that same mindset of practicality to the GT, making it a very capable sport tourer

2023 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT specs, features, & pics

2023 Zero DSR/X

The first proper attempt at an electric sport tourer that can be ridden all day long from Zero, and it's pretty damned good

Put down the torches and pitchforks, dear readers, and let us explain this choice.

For years now, Zero has been putting out road and dual-sport bikes, and despite some controversies here and there, they have been successful enough to put the time and research into making an adventure tourer. The DSR/X is brand new for 2023, boasting the newest long distance battery pack and the newest DC motor, and is also the most powerful bike Zero has made in terms of sheer grunt at 166 lbs-ft of torque.

While other bikes in Zero's lineup will get 70, 80, sometimes 100 or 110 miles per charge, the DSR/X is rated for up to 180 miles per charge. It is marketed towards the ADV side of things, and it honestly can get off road and dirty, but if you really peer at it without any cynicism, it is set up for sport touring, with a little adventure sprinkled in.

We think that while it may not be perfect, and it already has competition in the form of the Energica Experia from Europe, it is definitely a step in the right direction towards convincing the world that electric sport tourers might just be a viable option in the near future.

Price: $19,995

Engine: Z-Force 75-10X brushless DC motor

Power: 100 HP equivalent

Torque: 166 lbs-ft

Transmission: Clutchless Direct Drive

Curb Weight: 544 lbs

Both a sport tourer and an ADV, it can do both with the flick of a setting button on the left button box

The longest range Zero motorcycle yet, and is also capable of supercharging at a Level 3 charge station to fill up in about an hour

2023 Zero DSR/X specs, features, & pics

2023 Honda NC750X DCT

An adventure tourer with the spirit of a sportbike inside, with the added bonus of an automatic transmission

The NC750X DCT is one of those sport adventure tourers that rides the razor's edge between a full ADV and a sport tourer. What tips it towards the touring side for us is simply the practicality that Honda have designed into the machine.

Firstly, there's the DCT, and it's the only option for this bike. Now, we know, not shifting your own gears can be considered heresy, but when you've been riding for 6 or 7 hours (and taking appropriate rest breaks!), would you really curse a transmission that handles all the gear changes for you, so you can focus on the road and riding? If you really want to shift your own, there are two toggle buttons on the handlebars as well.

The other aspect that makes it great for sport adventure touring is that the "tank" up top isn't really a tank... it's a storage cubby, which is large enough that it can just about fit a helmet in. The actual tank, a 3.8 gallon unit, is under the seat, behind the 745cc parallel twin with 58 HP and 51 lbs ft of torque. It also has built in mount points for side luggage that double as grab handles for the pillion.

As we said, Honda really thought through this bike to make it a great tourer.

Price: $9,399

Engine: 745cc parallel twin

Power: 58 HP

Torque: 51 lbs-ft

Transmission: 6 Speed Dual-Clutch Semi-Automatic

Curb Weight: 493 lbs

A practical, capable motorcycle that has all the amenities you need at a superb price point

Not really set up to be an ADV, as there is no bash plate, no hand guards or extra grippy pegs on the accessories list... it's meant for road going adventures, not dirt ones

2023 Honda NC750X specs, features, & pics

2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro

What happens when you take a good ADV and make it into a great sport adventure tourer

Triumph's Tiger lineup can be a bit packed, as there are so many variants and submodels that it can be hard to pick out your choice. For us, if we wanted a sport tourer, we'd choose the Tiger 900 GT Pro .

Firstly, it's the most feature packed of the bunch. It has Triumph's full suite of rider aids, including cornering ABS, traction control, shift assist, and a fully integrated TPMS. It also comes as standard with heated rider and pillion seats, so if you're touring up in the mountains, you can keep your legs and butt toasty warm.

It also comes with what Triumph have called the RSU, or Rear Suspension Unit, exclusive to the GT Pro. This is an electronically controlled, on-the-fly adjustable rear suspension that has four preload settings and nine damping settings, all done from the TFT and handlebars. So, if you need to pick up a passenger halfway through your ride, with just a few taps on the screen and a button press on the handlebar, it's set up to handle the added weight.

Yes, it might seem a bit pedantic, but after you've wrenched your rear preload a few times manually, it's the little things like that that make it worth the extra $2,000 over the regular Tiger 900 GT!

Price: $16,895

Engine: 888cc inline three

Power: 94 HP

Torque: 64 lbs-ft

Curb Weight: 427 lbs

Comes as standard with all the tech and amenities that are options on the Tiger 900 GT, including all the rider aids

Same capabilities as the Tiger 900 Rally, but designed with long-distance pavement tours in mind with a bit firmer suspension and bit softer of a saddel

2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT / GT Pro secs, features, & pics

2023 Ducati Multistrada V2

Almost literally a Swiss Army Knife of a motorcycle, it just does everything

Ducati's flagship sport adventure tourer, the Multistrada V4 , could have taken this spot, but we chose its little brother, the Multistrada V2 , instead.

For the simple reason that while the smaller brother has all the same tech, gadgets, capabilities, and comfort of the big brother, it comes in for just under $10,000 less.

If you look at it from the angle of an adventure bike, you might miss the fact that while it does have that capability, the Multistrada's strength lies in its name. Multi = many, Strada = street. It is designed for, made for, and oriented towards grand touring, on "multiple streets" such as city roads, highways, motorways, interstate... you get the point.

And don't worry about being down on power, as the 937cc V-twin at the heart of the Multistrada thumps out 113 HP and 71 lbs-ft of torque, with the bike weighing in at a reasonable 445 lbs. It has optional hard luggage, but even if you don't buy them, the mount points are still part of the base bike, so if you ever want to take a longer road trip on the Ducati, you'll always have the option to add some panniers on.

Price: $18,895

Engine: 937cc V-twin

Power: 113 HP

Torque: 71 lbs-ft

Curb Weight: 445 lbs

Ducati's Swiss Army Knife bike. It goes everywhere, does everything, and does it all competently and confidently.

Its very name means "multiple streets," so if ever there was a bike designed to be a sport adventure tourer, this is it.

2023 Ducati Multistrada V2 specs, features, & pics

Other Best Motorcycle Lists

See all our motorcycle lists .

The Best Adventure Motorcycles [2024 Edition]

The Best Cruisers Under $15,000 [2024 Edition]

The Best Scrambler Motorcycles [2024 Edition]

The Best Touring Motorcycles [2024 Edition]

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Best Sport Touring Motorcycles (2024) + five used picks

PhilWestNew

Former Editor of Bike, ex-Road Test Editor of MCN, ridden more bikes than he can remember. Likes: GTS, Paso, Mantra. Dislikes: own rust bucket LC and 900 T-Bird daily driver.

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You’d be forgiven for thinking that conventional sports-tourers, bikes that blend sporting excitement with a degree of long-distance comfort and versatility, were no more – but you’d be wrong. While it’s true that mature, sophisticated all-rounders such as Honda’s lamented VFR1200F and Yamaha’s FJR1300 have fallen by the wayside, while, to a large degree, the surging popularity of adventure bikes such as BMW’s new R1300GS, which mix distance ability with decent equipment and day-to-day ability have filled the void, in truth, the traditional sports-tourer has been making something of a comeback. BMW still has its classic R1250RS boxer, Kawasaki’s best-selling Ninja 1000SX continues to go from strength to strength, Suzuki has recently introduced its GSX-S1000GT and there are many more, too. 

What we haven’t included here, though, are bargain all-rounders such as Honda’s CBR650F or Kawasaki’s Ninja 650 which are more ‘first big bikes’ than genuine sports-tourers, nor hyperbikes such as Suzuki’s Hayabusa which emphasise speed over true versatility. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of choice – so much in fact that we decided to help by picking – in ascending price order – our 10 of the best. 

1. CFMoto 650 GT | £4999

CFMoto’s family of smartly styled 650, 400 and 250 twins and singles are proof that Chinese-built bikes are finally coming of age. The  CFMoto 650 GT  its range-topper and, although still built down to a price and undeniably a budget offering, it’s also a reasonable performer and a great, entry-level sports-tourer. With 60bhp from its ER-6-alike parallel twin, performance is adequate rather than inspiring but there are two power modes, it handles reasonably enough, has a plush ride, adjustable screen, LED lights, two power points and more. The panniers, however, are extra. But it’s also now cheaper than before and for just under £5000 it is a genuine sports-tourer and a decent introduction to the breed.

• Engine: 650cc, l/c, parallel twin
• Power: 60bhp
• Kerb weight: 212kg
• Fuel capacity: 19 litres
• Adjustable seat/screen: N/Y
• Luggage options: Y

2. Triumph Tiger Sport 660 | £8945

‘Adventure sport’ all-rounder was launched in 2022 based on the Hinckley firm’s entry-level 660 Trident and has proved a brilliant best seller. Although adventure-styled, the Tiger Sport 660 has 17-inch road wheels and tyres and its upright posture, roomy comfort, faired comfort makes it more a sports-tourer in the Yamaha Tracer/BMW F900XR mould than any sort of true adventure offering. The 80bhp three-cylinder engine is perky, meaty and characterful, handling is typically Triumph excellent and its versatility, broad appeal and sub-£9K value make it a sure-fire winner. As an entry-level, affordable, British all-rounder you won’t go wrong.

• Engine: 660cc, l/c, transverse triple
• Power: 80bhp
• Kerb weight: 206kg
• Fuel capacity: 17.2 litres

3. Yamaha Tracer 7 GT | £9716

Yamaha’s Tracer duo, in 689cc twin cylinder form and bigger brother, 889cc three-cylinder trim, have been Europe-wide best-sellers for their combination of value, versatility and fun ever since the first MT-09 Tracer was introduced as a spin-off of the MT-09 roadster in 2015. The  Tracer 700  followed in 2016 with 74bhp, easy versatility and a punchy and fun power delivery, was face-lifted and improved for 2020, renamed as simply the Tracer 7 and made Euro5 compliant and has since been updated again with refreshed styling, new 5-inch TFT dash and more. The base version costs a still temptingly affordable £8816. Better still, however, for serious sport-touring types is the up-specced GT version which comes with 20-litre panniers, a high version of the adjustable screen and comfort seat. Larger riders or those riding two-up over long distances may prefer something more substantial, but the Tracer 7 GT is affordable, unintimidating, versatile, great fun and well-equipped, too.

• Engine: 689cc, l/c, parallel twin
• Power: 74bhp
• Kerb weight: 196kg
• Fuel capacity: 17 litres
• Adjustable seat/screen: N/Y

4. BMW F900XR | from £10,350

Introduced in 2020, BMW’s ‘adventure sports’ version of its middleweight F-series, parallel twin platform has proved a surprise star as a Yamaha Tracer-style sport-tourer/all-rounder. Inspired by BMW’s larger, four-cylinder S1000XR, the  F900XR  has a similar, upright, adventure sports posture but with a revised and enlarged F series parallel twin producing a respectable 104bhp. Its upright gait is comfortable, its handling engaging and versatile. There’s a brilliantly adjustable screen, enough comfort and quality to make distances easy and also enough equipment, such as riding modes, to cosset – yet all for a temptingly low (for a BMW) price. And if all that isn’t enough, being a BMW also means it’s easy to load it up with extras, luggage and gizmos to make it as much of a sports tourer as you want.

• Engine: 895cc, l/c, parallel twin
• Power: 104bhp
• Kerb weight: 219kg
• Fuel capacity: 15.5 litres
• Adjustable seat/screen: Y/Y

5. Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX | from £12,149

A UK best-seller due to its combination of versatility, fun and impressive value ever since its original introduction into the UK in 2010, the  Ninja 1000 SX , on face value, is ‘only’ a Z1000 super naked with the addition of a fairing. In reality though, and partly due to a series of significant updates since, it’s so much more than that. The base, four-cylinder, 140bhp rolling chassis is lively and fun; comfort and practicality due to the adjustable screen and slightly more upright riding position is good, and, although no longer quite the bargain it once was, it remains brilliant value. Most recently updated for Euro5 and now called the Ninja 1000 SX (the ‘Z’ prefix is now reserved for Kawasaki’s roadsters) means it’s just as good as ever – although Suzuki’s new GSX-S1000GT runs it close. It also now comes in Ninja 40 th Anniversary colours, as shown here.

• Engine: 1043cc, l/c, transverse four
• Power: 140bhp
• Kerb weight: 235kg

6. Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello  | £12,500

It’s been a long time since Italian legends Moto Guzzi produced a bike that was truly modern and competitive with the best from Europe and Japan but the new V100 Mandello launched in 2022 is exactly that, retains Guzzi ‘signatures’ of a transverse V-twin motor and shaft drive and also happens to be a brilliant sports-tourer. Launched to coincide with the marque’s 100’s anniversary in 2021 (although delayed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic), the V100 boasts not only an all-new, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin with a competitive 113bhp and the latest electronic riding aids (including adaptive winglets!) but delivers a comfortable, upright, sports-tourer riding position, engaging, sure-footed handling and lots of premium touches. Two versions are available: the standard V100 Mandello starting at £12,500 and the upspecced V100 Mandello S from £14,750 with Öhlins semi-active suspension and more premium finishes and components. Both are the most capable, modern, versatile Guzzis in decades, and also great sports-tourers.

• Engine: 1042cc, l/c, transverse V- twin
• Power: 113bhp
• Kerb weight: 233kg
• Fuel capacity: 17.5 litres

7. Suzuki GSX-S1000GT  | £12,799

When Suzuki launched its fully updated and facelifted GSX-S1000 affordable super-naked a few years ago, which wowed with its all-round ability and c.£11K price, it was suggested then that, as with the preceding model, a faired, sport-tourer version would soon follow. Sure enough, the GSX-S1000GT, based on the same sure-footed, well-suspended and Brembo-braked chassis plus old but effective long-stroke, 150bhp 2005 GSX-R1000K5 engine, arrived in 2022 and quickly proved to be not just a striking looking and effective sports-tourer but also one of the UK’s most popular bikes, largely due to its affordable price. All of that remains true today, although it price has climbed slightly meaning it no longer undercuts its closest rival: Kawasaki’s similar and well-proven and effective Ninja 1000 SX. Although the Suzuki can’t quite match the Kawasaki’s refinement and spec levels (its screen is non-adjustable, for example) it beats it on power and sporting attitude, a ‘+’ version, comes with panniers and more as standard for £1100 more, while the new-for-2024 GX version adds a more upright stance, semi-active suspension and more for £14,799.

• Engine: 999cc, l/c, transverse four
• Power: 150bhp
• Kerb weight: 226kg
• Adjustable seat/screen: N/N

8. BMW R1250RS | from £13,140

Legions of BMW boxer fans had been yearning for a capable, new RS (BM’s sports-tourer designation, highlighted by the original R100RS of 1976-1989) for years, especially since the preceding R1100/1150RS (1993), R1200ST (2005) and R1200S (2006) all failed to quite hit the mark. Finally, in 2015, and based around the German firm’s latest, liquid-cooled, 125bhp twin, it delivered. That first R1200RS was basically a R1200R roadster with a half-fairing and tweaked ergonomics yet succeeded by being much more than just the sum of its parts with real-world ‘go’ fine handling, lashings of comfort and plenty of touring practicality and accessories. In 2019 it was made even better still with the significantly uprated  R1250RS  which got the new ‘ShiftCam’ 1250 engine with a sportier 134bhp, slick new TFT dash and uprated styling including an adjustable screen. The base bike is now a brilliant all-round road machine. Load it up with BMW accessories such as panniers, heated grips and electronically adjustable (ESA) suspension and it’s arguably the perfect road bike.

• Engine: 1254cc, l/c, boxer twin
• Power: 134bhp
• Kerb weight: 236kg
• Fuel capacity: 18 litres

9. Yamaha Tracer 9 GT  | from £13,216

As with its little brother, the Tracer 7/700, the Tracer 9, which was originally called the Tracer 900, is one of the most popular sports-tourers around. It dates back to Yamaha’s MT-09 three-cylinder roadster of 2013, which was such a success for its purity, fun and value it spawned the more roomy, half-faired MT-09 Tracer sports-tourer in 2015. That bike immediately became a Europe-wide best seller for the comfort and versatility it added to the base package. It was joined by the first GT version in 2018 which gained fully adjustable suspension, TFT screen, heated grips, quick-shifter, cruise control and panniers along with improved bodywork to go with the same sweet handling, lively yet unintimidating 115bhp triple and decent value. For 2021 it was significantly updated again with new styling, reworked, slightly larger, Euro5-compliant engine and semi-active suspension and for 2023 it was improved further with the addition of the GT+ version with a big 7in TFT dash, adaptive cruise control and more, although that costs over £15K.

• Engine: 890cc, l/c, transverse triple
• Power: 119bhp
• Kerb weight: 223kg
• Fuel capacity: 18.7 litres

10. KTM 1290 Super Duke GT  | £18,999

Like the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX (and even Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT), the Super Duke GT is really a sports-tourer created out of bolting a fairing onto a super naked – in this case KTM’s completely nutty 1290 Super Duke. Being a KTM, however, things aren’t so simple, with the hooligan Austrian firm effectively throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at it in terms of spec, boosting the power to 173bhp and producing, as a result, the lariest, most high tech, hooliganistic sports-tourer around. Yet it’s also one of the best – especially since its 2019 update. Handling, performance and sophistication is second to none and glistens with WP semi-active suspension, class-leading rider aids, rider modes, cornering ABS and more. Yet although there’s only a small fairing/screen and room for small-ish panniers, it’s also surprisingly comfortable, practical, and versatile. It might lack the quieter class and sumptuous luxury of some sports-tourers, but if you want to travel in the most dynamic, thrill-laden way possible, this is the one.

• Engine: 1301cc, l/c, V-twin
• Power: 172bhp
• Kerb weight: 205kg
• Fuel capacity: 23 litres

Best used sports tourers

Fancy a used option? Here’s our five of the best:

2010-2015 Honda VFR1200F , £4000-£8000

Slick V4 shaftie lacks tech but is effective, value and has DCT option.

2011-2016 Triumph Sprint GT 1050 , £3000-£6500

Updated/facelifted ST triple is underrated, effective and a bargain.

2015-current MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 , £6000-£16,000

Luxury, exotic, expensive Tracer-style triple makes more sense used.

2016-2021 Yamaha FJR1300 AE , £6000-£10,000

Last generation heavyweight four-cylinder is solid and does it all.

2018-current Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX , £11,000-£20,000

197bhp supercharged wonder is the best of Kawa’s blower bikes.

• CFMoto 650GT 2019 Review Price Spec
• Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022) - Review
• Updates for 2023 Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT
• BMW F900XR (2020) review

Latest News from Bike Social

Speedy and supple: It's MCN's best sports tourer motorcycles of 2023

Kawasaki have been left to fly the sports tourer flag alone in recent times, as adventure-style bikes have become the new allrounders and the £12,349 Ninja 1000SX has been the only choice for those who want a low, long, road bike-shaped way to enjoy big, sporty miles.

Best sports tourers of 2023: 

• Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
• Suzuki GSX-S1000GT
• BMW R1250RS
• Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello

BMW have the R1250RS, of course, and we pitched it against the Kawasaki around our old MCN250 in 2019. The German was the more characterful of the two, but it doesn’t have the same kind of mass appeal as the SX. It’s more expensive, too, especially when you start ticking options boxes.

Kawasaki’s SX has been around since 2011 and is quite rightly their biggest UK seller. Then called the Z1000SX, it was basically a Z1000 super-naked with added wind protection and comfort, but it also ticked the ‘sports’ box with a strong 138bhp, 1043cc inline four, radial brakes, quad exhaust cans and adjustable suspension.

In 2014 it got beefier Tokico calipers and uprated suspension and in 2017 was facelifted with added lean-sensitive rider aids, chassis tweaks and minor engine mods (check out MCN’s online reviews for the full lowdown).

Fast-forward and we have the Ninja 1000SX you see here with sharper steering geometry, superb Bridgestone S22 sports-touring tyres , an up/down quickshifter, colour TFT, cruise control, modes, a plusher seat, new exhaust and mapping to deliver a claimed 140bhp.

What are these sports tourers like on the road?

Our MCN250 B-road and motorway loops let the Kawasaki shine, even in the gloom of a frosty January day. It’s a genuinely exciting sportsbike when you want it to be, thanks to the easy grunt and turbine-smooth urgency of its bigcube engine and it flows through corners beautifully.

Its S22 tyres are grippy, even on cold tarmac, steering is direct, high-speed stability is excellent and the brakes are powerful.

Who needs a ZX-10R when the 1000SX is this good?

Spending all day on the Kawasaki isn’t a chore, either. Despite looking like a sportsbike and having relatively high pegs, it’s genuinely comfortable, even for a six-footer like me with battle-scarred joints.

With its sleek aerodynamics, wind noise is significantly lower than a ‘tall-rounder’, too, which is quite literally music to my ears. I spent time on a Yamaha Tracer 9 GT before this test and the racket it makes from its upright screen at motorway speeds borders on the offensive.

The Ninja’s screen is two-way adjustable and a remote rear preload adjuster knob makes carrying pillions easy. Our bike is the Ninja 1000SX Performance Tourer edition, costing an extra £2300 with niceties like a carbon Akrapovic can, crash protection, pillion seat cover, tank pad and touring items such as heated grips, panniers and a taller screen.

But for 2023, the Kawasaki gets its first proper competition and it’s clear Suzuki are after a slice of the action with the new £12,499 GSX-S1000GT (in February 2023).

The two are remarkably similar, even down to the price, give or take, and it’s also powered by a gutsy inline four pictured below, this time derived from the GSX-R1000K5. It makes slightly more power than the Kawasaki (150bhp v 140bhp), but being fractionally smaller (999cc) it has slightly less torque: 78lb.ft v 82lb.ft. It’s also lighter, to the tune of 9kg.

Given the engine’s history, you won’t be surprised to learn the GT is the racier of the two. It has a raspier exhaust note and despite having a beautifully wide spread of power and perfect fuelling when you pick up the throttle, the motor has a rawness which will appeal to those who like a bit of zing from their sports tourer.

Being lighter and more powerful than the SX, the GT will be the more sprightly of the pair on hot tarmac, but for normal riding the Kawasaki’s engine is calmer and more refined.

You’re often reaching for an elusive seventh cog on the Suzuki, where the Kawasaki’s gearing is perfectly judged for more relaxed riding, revving at 4400rpm @70mph in top, 500rpm lower than the GT.

The GT’s slightly more frantic nature is something you notice after jumping off the Kawasaki with its extra cubes and peak torque, made 1250rpm further down the revs. But in isolation the Suzuki’s engine perfectly suits life in its sports touring clothes and as we discovered at its launch last year, the good stuff keeps on coming.

Its gearbox and up/down shifter are slick, it has a handy cruise control, a bright and bold dash that links to your phone for satnav (absent on the Kawasaki) and it’s just as comfortable as the Kawasaki over distance.

Where the SX’s bars and tank are slim the GT is wider with higher, straighter bars, which will suit larger riders. It also has power modes, traction control and ABS, but they aren’t lean-sensitive.

Handling is as crisp as you’d expect but the suspension isn’t as plush as the Kawasaki’s and it runs on budget Dunlop Roadsport 2 rubber. Fitting latest-generation sports or sports touring rubber would make an immediate improvement.

The Suzuki stops as well as the Kawasaki, but there’s little feel through the lever, which takes away some of the enjoyment. It’s also lacking a couple of touring fundamentals. Like the SX there’s no centrestand and the low screen isn’t adjustable (a taller accessory version is available).

You’ll have to skin your knuckles with a C-spanner to adjust the rear preload for a pillion, too. Talking of pillions, we took our 22-year-old, 13.5 stone videographer on the back of the GT.

He was happy with its legroom, but he’d want a bigger seat for long distance. He didn’t try the SX as it was fitted with a single seat shroud.

Overall Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT has all the makings of a go-to sports tourer to rival the SX, but the longestablished Kawasaki is just that bit more refined in every area. 

Best sports tourer verdict: Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX vs Suzuki GSX-S1000GT

Both the Kawasaki and new Suzuki do what traditional sports-tourers do best: neatly mix all-day comfort with headbanging performance. They’re affordable, well equipped, very fast and slip through the air almost silently compared to adventure-style all-rounders.

We saluted the GSX-S1000GT was when we rode it at its launch last year and here on the MCN250 it’s every bit as impressive. It’s easy to ride, roomy and – of the two – has the most raucous and powerful engine, so it’s every inch the GSX-R1000 you can go touring on. Of all the GSX-S1000 models produced since 2015, the new GT is easily the best.

But it doesn’t take many miles on the Kawasaki to realise what a class act it is. It’s more refined in every area: the engine is smoother, gearing more relaxed on the motorway, suspension plusher, tyres grippier, brakes more powerful and paint finishes deeper.

The adjustable screen and remote rear preload adjuster put the GT in the shade, too. Most of all, Kawasaki have had a decade to polish the SX to perfection – and it really shows.

Other sports tourers to consider

The Kawasaki and Suzuki along with the BMW R1250RS are the mainstream offerings in this market, with the Italian high-tech hero, the Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello pictured below the only other bike worthy of consideration from a sports-touring perspective. We’re putting that to the test on the MCN250 very soon…

There are also softer, less sporty rivals like the Yamaha Tracer 9 and the Honda NT1100 .

As a used buy, the obvious choice is Honda’s VFR800 – a much-loved model we were sad to see go off sale in 2021.

By Michael Neeves

MCN Chief Road Tester - Neevesy’s been an MCN Road Tester since 2002. He’s reviewed everything from mopeds to Rossi’s Yamaha M1, and plenty in between He covers tens of thousands of miles a year on the world’s roads and racetracks in his role with MCN, and when he’s not working he’s still on two wheels, racing both modern and classic superbikes for a variety of teams. To cement his position as one of the most influential motorcycling journalists on the planet, Neevesy spent many years as an Elite Instructor at the Ron Haslam Race School, based at the famous Donington Park race circuit. He regularly presents videos on riding tips and road safety, working alongside the likes of Highways England to deliver a strong and consistent message.

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• Best Sport-Touring Motorcycle of 2022

Best Sport-Touring Motorcycle of 2022: Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+

From a pure performance standpoint, the Ducati in the runner-up position would wipe the floor with the Suzuki here. But every year it’s worth reminding readers that these awards are about more than just outright performance. We also factor in the intangible factors, like what a certain model means for the brand or for the category, and the GT+ is a sign that the traditional, non-adventure-based, sport-tourers are still alive and kicking. There’s also just the shock and awe factor. As in, we expected Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT+ to be a nice motorcycle – but we didn’t expect it to be this nice.

The first new platform for Suzuki in some time (which it shares with the GSX-S1000 naked bike), on paper you wouldn’t think there’s much to write home about. Once again, Suzuki has repurposed its K5 GSX-R1000 engine, wrapped some funky bodywork around it and put on saddlebags. But once again, Suzuki has been the model example for the saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In its new role as a sport-touring engine, Suzuki has thoroughly massaged the K5 engine to give a broad spread of usable power right from the bottom – and yet, somehow, it still gives a massive rush up top, too. The engine truly is a sweetheart, but it’s paired with a bi-directional quickshifter/autoblipper that is simply sublime. I said it in my First Ride review of the bike, and we said it again when we tested the GT+ against the Ninja 1000 SX , but it’s remarkable how much a little device like an autoblipper, when done right, can transform the riding experience. It’s done that here.

2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ Review – First Ride

Showdown: Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX Vs Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+

It truly is surprising because the handling and braking characteristics of the GT+ are on par with the rest of the class, and of course, having saddlebags and cruise control are must-haves in this category. They’re all great, easy to use, and make sport-touring a breeze.

But we just love that engine and autoblipper combination. So much so we’re naming the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ Motorcycle.com’s Sport-Touring bike of 2022.

Best Sport-Touring Motorcycle of 2022 Runner-Up: Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak

Whoa. That’s usually the first thing people say after riding the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak . At least it’s what I said. Basically a Panigale V4 for people who recognize that even though age ain’t nothing but a number, the human body disagrees. If the mind is still young enough for a Panigale, but the body is not, the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak is the golden ticket.

2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Review – First Ride

By virtue of its very name you know what kind of engine is lurking beneath you – and it’s a ferocious one when you want it to be. The V4 is the star of the show, but throw in the dry clutch, its distinctive sound, and the heavy clutch lever pull, and if it weren’t for the upright seating position, the senses would easily mistake the ride for a Panigale.

And it goes like one, too. It’s fast, it loves attacking corners thanks to its 17-inch wheels, and the stellar brakes (with red calipers!) will bring the action to a halt even faster than it gets there. Making sure you don’t kill yourself is a host of electronic rider aides that have made Ducati stand out in the industry as some of the best in the business.

But there’s another side to this equation: the touring aspect. We know the engine goes like stink, but for those times when you’re slabbing away en route to the fun roads, the new adaptive cruise control is there to take care of more of the boring stuff so you don’t have to. There are also provisions for saddlebags (unfortunately sold separately) and comfortable seating positions for both you *and* passenger. In this regard the Pikes Peak is not at all like the Panigale. Which is also what makes it worthy of a Sport-Touring award.

Motorcycle.com Best of 2022 Categories

2022 motorcycle of the year.

• Best Adventure Motorcycle of 2022
• Best Sportbike of 2022
• Best Naked Motorcycle of 2022
• Best Value Motorcycle of 2022
• Best Standard Motorcycle of 2022
• Best Cruiser / Bagger of 2022
• Best Lightweight / Entry-Level Motorcycle of 2022
• Best Electric Motorcycle of 2022

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Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

More by Troy Siahaan

Join the conversation

Suzuki sport touring? My opinion is no motorcycle should be labeled touring with a chain driver. The Suzuki my be a great motorcycle but I wouldn't want to put 500 miles a day on it. The Ducati Multistrada last I knew was an adventure motorcycle.

How are these bikes on the backside after 500+ miles in a day?

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Touring de Force | Top 10 BEST Mid-size Sports Tourers of 2023 [500-800cc]

You don't need to buy big to go big when it comes to Sports Tourers... as our Top 10 Best Mid-Size Sports Tourers of 2023 show

Summer is just around the corner and if you're a biker with an intrepid streak, the time has come for you to begin planning those picturesque sun-baked tours on your mile-munching, no-nonsense Sports Tourer motorcycle.

A category defined by its size - let's call them XL, L and M - it matters not whether you prefer a beefy, high-performance machine like the ' XL ' KTM 1290 Super GT, a well-kitted out all-rounder like the ' L ' Yamaha Tracer 9 or prefer something more compact - such as the segment we're focusing on here - like the ' M ' sized Kawasaki Versys 650, the same key values apply throughout; practicality, durability and comfort.

That said, if anything, models in the Mid-Size Sports Tourer class have to work even harder, multi-tasking between urban commuting and longer distance journeys. It is a high bar our Top 10 here must strive for, but only one can be #1. Read on to find out which comes with Visordown's seal of approval...

10 - Benelli TRK 502

If there has been an influx of new models entering the mid-range Sports Tourer segment  from the likes of Moto Morini and Voge then one of the reasons - you might be surprised to learn - is because of this, the Benelli TRK 502.

It doesn’t hurt that it is built in China, keeping costs down further to just under £6,000, making it a particularly popular model in Asia and parts of Europe right now. 

In the context of its very obvious brief - cheap, easy to ride, economical and practical enough for longer journeys - the Benelli TRK 502 is a worthy consideration, but it also looks dated, is ponderous on the road and feels more budget than rivals.

9 - Voge 500 DS

It’s also a distant cousin of Lexmoto, with whom Voge shares its distribution network, which should help the brand get off the ground in the UK too, though we’ll use the word ‘premium’ with a pinch of salt.

Indeed, in this company, the firm’s entry-level sports tourer, the Voge 500 DS, is definitely the budget consideration of the mid-capacity sector.

This is no bad thing though and at just £5,399 the 500 DS is excellent value, undercutting its most like-for-like rival - the Honda CB500X - by more than £1k. You won’t get the same feel of quality as its Japanese counterpart, but there is no denying the CB500X has definitely lended some inspiration to the handsome, albeit bland, design.

Conveniently available on an A2 licence, the 500 DS offers decent performance and versatility. If you can’t stretch your budget, then the Voge 500 DS is a lot of motorcycle for the money, but if it can the Honda is a substantially superior choice.

8 - CFMoto 650GT

Something of an anomaly in the mid-capacity segment, the CFMoto 650 GT presents shades of the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX in that it blends a bit of sportsbike into its Sports Tourer silhouette.

Essentially a faired version of the 650 NK, the 650 GT - available alongside the sister soft-roading 650MT - has still undergone a fairly significant transformation and though it is now looking its age, it still has a more dynamic look than some of its dowdier rivals.

Alas, its dated underpinnings betray it on the road with the 649cc 62bhp engine feeling a touch breathless when lugging the hefty kerb weight around. 

7 - Suzuki V-Strom 650

The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE may be arriving in dealerships about now, but its 650cc V-Twin predecessor remains on sale for now as a more affordable option.

Though partly pitched to the mid-capacity adventure segment, the standard Suzuki V-Strom 650 arguably does a better impression of a sports tourer, even if that extra go-anywhere ability does show in its £7,999 price tag, which is high for a model that can trace its roots back to 2004.

The rugged styling, though dated, is synonymously V-Strom and it comes with a host of luggage options to enhance what is already a fairly practical machine, while that off-roading ability does come in handy once in a while too.

6 - Honda NC750X

An oft-forgotten model in Honda’s expansive range, the Honda NC750X has long been difficult to pigeon-hole, sitting a little awkwardly between a Sports Tourer and being a more versatile naked motorcycle.

Upgraded from 700cc to 750cc in 2021, another round of updates for 2023 added new colour options - which do their bit popping what is a handsome, if unassuming looking machine - while standard kit includes Honda Selectable Torque Control, throttle-by-wire, LED lighting and the option of a Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).

On the downside, at £7,849, it represents a £1,200 premium over the sister CB500X which - if you don’t need the extra power - is the more logical choice.

5 - Moto Morini X-Cape 650

Under the skin, the X-Cape 650 impresses with the inclusion Marzocchi front forks, Brembo brakes, Bosch ABS and Pirelli tyres, while a 7” TFT dashboard, LED headlights, adjustable windscreen and USB chargers belie that competitive price further.

While Moto Morini might consider the X-Cape 650 to have the Yamaha Tenere 700 in its sights, in reality it is better suited to asphalt, being comfortable and composed for long distance riding, even if the 649cc engine needs to be worked hard to get the most from its 59bhp.

Throw in decent fit and finish and the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 is worth the consideration.

4 - Kawasaki Versys 650

The swiss-army knife of motorcycles, the Kawasaki Versys 650 is quite possibly the most Kawasaki motorcycle Kawasaki has ever produced. Let me explain…

Updated in 2022 to bring its design into sharper line with the rest of the range, there Versys 650 is unmistakable in its handsome appearance - even without that pearly green paint job - while it feels well put together, is comfortable and compliant to ride, should prove reliable, is versatile (it is named Versys, after all…) and offers the largest fuel tank in its class at 21-litres.

Indeed, while it’s not cheap at £8,349, equipment includes a TFT dashboard, Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), LED lighting and smartphone connectivity. Basically, the Versys 650 will tick most boxes on the proverbial wish list.

It sounds like the perfect motorcycle and in many ways the Kawasaki Versys 650, it just lacks a certain joie de vivre that makes our top three just a touch more appealing.

Visordown Preview | Kawasaki Versys 650 [2022]

3 - Honda CB500X

We’re big fans of Honda’s rather anomalous ‘500’ range of models, of which there are now five following the recent addition of the CL500 scrambler, but for us the best of the quintet is the Honda CB500X soft-roading compact tourer.

Kudos to whoever’s shrewd decision it was to pitch a range of mid-capacity models at the 500 (or rather, the 471cc) end of the scale, which slashes costs and adds a quality option to a subsection of the class somewhat lacking in them.

Priced at £6,699, the Honda CB500X was last updated in 2022 and features Showa forks, full LED lighting, a 19-inch front wheel for light ventures off road and LCD dashboard.

As such, the question here is whether you need the extra 200cc offered by its distant-ish Yamaha, Triumph and Kawasaki rivals. If you do, then pick one of the aforementioned three, if not, the CB500X is a fine choice.

Visordown Review | Honda CB500X [2022]

2 - Triumph Tiger Sport 660

Triumph brings a little bit of prestige to what is a fairly humdrum class with the launch of the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 , its more practical spin-off from the brilliant Trident 660 naked.

An intriguing proposition in a category largely dominated by its Japanese rivals, the Tiger Sport 660 - as with most Triumphs - swerves the norm with its offering of a triple-cylinder engine, in this case the frisky and audibly-satisfying 660cc, which at 80bhp, helps put the Sport in Sports Tourer more convincingly than any other rival.

It’s similarly impressive in the twisty stuff without feeling too cumbersome in the urban environments, while fit and finish is a cut above most too.

The downsides? Well, while the Trident 660 is understatedly attractive, the Tiger Sport 660 is just understated (trans: dull) to look at and while it feels like a quality product, it is reflected in its aspirational £8,945 price tag.

Visordown Review | Triumph Tiger Sport 660 [2022]

1 - Yamaha Tracer 7

They came for its Mid-Size Sports Tourer throne, but the Yamaha Tracer 7 is still sitting pretty at the head of our ranking.

A model that really is hard to fault, the well thought-out Tracer 7 sees off stiff opposition largely thanks to the added attention to detail Yamaha has clearly paid to ensure it is as practical, comfortable and versatile as it can be.

With prices starting at £8,810, recent updates have freshened things up with revised brakes, tweaked suspension, a new 5” TFT display and Bluetooth connectivity the highlights. Meanwhile, the flagship Tracer 7 GT - a £900 premium - adds larger cases, a more durable windscreen and a more rigid rear-end to handle added ballast.

Weighing less than 200kg, the Tracer 7 is sprightly through bends, but displays the maturity of the larger Tracer 9 on the straight and narrow, while the 689cc CP2 engine offers a fizzy 72bhp on tap to make it feel like a true all-rounder.

Put simply, Yamaha has distilled its experience in this sector into the 2023 Yamaha Tracer 7… and it shows.

Visordown Preview | 2023 Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT

* Prices correct at time of writing [April 2023]

 Top 10 Mid-size Sports Tourers 2023 | Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison

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Top 5 Best Sport Touring Tires (And How to Change Them)

By Michael Parrotte

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The sport-touring tire category is currently one of the most fiercely contested segments, prompting major tire manufacturers to strive for rubber that not only offers durability and wet-weather grip but also complements the sporty characteristics of various road bikes. From small nakeds to tall-roaders, adventure bikes, big tourers, to sports bikes, and everything in between, these tires aim to strike a balance between supersport corner-carving performance and cruiser-like wear and longevity.

But as motorcycle tire technology constantly evolves to meet customer needs, sport-touring rubber is now expertly engineered, making it challenging to distinguish significant differences among them. While all modern tires excel, each may have specific strengths in different aspects. As riders, we appreciate the allure of new rubber, but we are equally curious about their performance halfway through their life, typically around 3,000 miles, especially considering how handling changes as tires wear.

And drawing on nearly 50 years of motorcycling experience, I've had firsthand encounters with today's best sport-touring tires, and here are my top recommendations:

On the road, these tires each whisper their unique stories. Pirellis might ask, “ Must we turn? ” Michelins declare, “ I’m ready ,” Dunlops confidently lead , Bridgestones inquire, “ How far? ” and Continentals boldly proclaim, “ Come rain or shine .” Blindfold me (not recommended), and I'll discern the tire beneath. How did I choose? Read on!

Key Factors When Buying The Best Sport Touring Tires

Choosing the best sport-touring tires involves evaluating the durability, performance, all-weather capabilities, the nature of the roads you frequent, your luggage requirements, pillion passengers, and even the climate in which you'll be riding. I've extensively covered these aspects in my comprehensive motorcycle tire guid e ; I recommend taking a moment to peruse it for an in-depth understanding. For today's discussion, I'll further elaborate to assist you in making a well-informed decision.

Demystifying Tire Construction Terminology

Here a quick run-down of the basic terms:

• Tread: The visible part of the tire that makes contact with the road. Smoother treads excel on dry roads, while chunkier designs suit off-road terrains. Street patterns may focus on wet traction, and off-road variants cater to diverse surfaces, from packed dirt to sand.
• Bead: The tire section connecting to the wheel, often steel wire coated in rubber. Ensures a secure fit to the wheel, preventing rotational slippage.
• Carcass: The tire's "body" beneath the tread, categorized as bias-ply or radial. Radial tires feature steel belts running across the tread from bead to bead while bias-ply tires utilize cords (e.g., polyester, aramid, fiberglass) at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees from bead to bead.
• Sidewall: The tire section bridging tread and bead, influencing handling and load transfer. Shorter sidewalls often mean increased stiffness, enhancing handling but impacting bump absorption. Contributes significantly to the tire's role in the motorcycle's suspension system.

Deciphering Motorcycle Tire Codes

Understanding vital details about a tire, such as its composition and size, is crucial. Luckily, this information is legally inscribed on the tire sidewall. There are three primary formats for motorcycle tire sizes:

• Metric Tire Sizes (Most Common): Example: 180/70R-16. The number 180 represents the tire width in millimeters. The aspect ratio, denoted by 70, represents the sidewall's height (70% of the width). The number 16 indicates the rim size in inches. The letter (R or B) specifies Bias Ply or Radial construction.
• Alpha Numeric Motorcycle Tire Sizes (Mostly Cruiser): Example: MU85B16. 'MU' is the width designation (refer to a Street Tire Size Conversion Chart for specific values). 85 represents the aspect ratio. 'B' or 'R' indicates Bias Ply or Radial construction. The number 16 signifies the rim size or diameter.
• Numeric (Mostly Dirt Bike, Vintage, or Sidecar): Example: 5.00-16. The 5.00 denotes the tire width in inches (or 127 millimeters). The number 16 is the rim size or diameter. Numeric tire sizes can vary, ranging from 2.75 or 80mm to 6.0 or 150mm.

Understanding Tire Production Date

This tire indicates it was manufactured in the 9th week of 2017, placing its production in early March.

To determine the production date of a tire manufactured since 2000, inspect the sidewall for the 'DOT' (Department of Transportation) code. The last four digits of this code reveal the production date, with the initial two denoting the week and the subsequent two representing the year. It's crucial to note that a tire with a three-digit code is deemed too old.

Top 5 Best Sport Touring Tires

While there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, recent advancements in tire technology promise impressive wet and dry performance along with extended longevity. Behind the seemingly simple facade of these black, circular assemblies lie intricate designs honed by tire manufacturers through countless hours of development.

And in my reviews, I’ll exclusively recommend the top 5 sport touring tires that I've personally encountered and rigorously tested, drawing comparisons from my experiences spanning over five decades . I prioritize firsthand knowledge over hearsay to offer you valuable insights.

1. Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmart IV: Best Overall

Having been a devoted rider of the RoadSmart III since its launch in 2016, the transition to the RoadSmart IV was nothing short of a revelation. Although an evolution from its predecessor, the RS IV, introduced in 2020, stands as an entirely new tire, promising an exhilarating and highly responsive ride. The tire's quick and stable performance, combined with its smooth handling of rapid turns, left me astonished—especially after conquering 10,000 miles in just five months last year.

Responsive Riding, Unparalleled Stability

Jumping on my Yamaha Tracer 7, I found myself recalibrating my inputs, despite my vast experience, showcasing the need for a rider to adapt to the sheer responsiveness of this tire. On the road, the Dunlop's stability, sensitivity to body position, and quick responses during mid-corner inputs are nothing short of impressive. Side-to-side transitions become effortless, requiring less bar pressure and promoting good riding technique.

Even in scenarios where you overshoot your braking marker, the RoadSmart IV facilitates a swift turn, allowing you to hit your apex with ease, unlike the flatter profile of the Pirelli Angel GT that tends to resist turn-in. Yes, the Michelin 6 boasts a better profile without the resistance of the Pirelli, but the Dunlops RoadSmart IV seem to almost anticipate the turn-in.

Effortless Handling

I'd estimate needing 30% more effort to achieve the same handling with the Angel GT, and honestly, I might even put that number closer to 50%. Surprisingly, even after 3,500 miles, I find that the RoadSmart IV handles better than a brand-new Angel GT. A broad claim, yes, but with the Dunlops, it feels like I can just lean into it, whereas the Pirelli’s demand significantly more effort.

Visual Distinction

Despite the expected decrease in handling over time, it's hard to tell if the handling has diminished because the tip-in on the RoadSmart IV remains sharp and light, retaining the nimbleness from when they were new. And this distinction is visible too. Dunlop’s RoadSmart IVs maintain their smooth curve, while the Angel GTs develop a distinctive flat spot and a hard, creased line on the transition from center to edge.

Extended Wear Mileage

I also get longer wear mileage-wise, with an increase of 23% in the front and 26% in the rear compared to its predecessor. Even when stacked against the famous Bridgestone Battlax T32, the RoadSmart IV shines with an impressive 50% more tire life . I used to run the Battlax T32 for years on my Kawi 400, and I can push the Dunlops just as hard, yielding twice the mileage.

Adding to its prowess, the RS IV offers an extra wet weather grip – a notable 10% more for the front and a substantial 25% more for the rear , combining to instill full confidence, ensuring optimal performance even at speeds exceeding 70 mph.

Versatility with Two Versions

Highlighting the RoadSmart IV's adaptability, it now comes in two versions. The SP targets lighter, sportier bikes, while the stiffer GT caters to heavier touring models, featuring a dual compound on the rear. These variants cater to diverse preferences with options in 17, 18, and 19-inch front sizes, and 17 and 18-inch rears. My loyalty remains steadfast!

2. Michelin Road 6: Best Handling

When Florent Menegaux unveiled the Michelin Road 6 as an upgrade to the already impressive Michelin Road 5, his promise of,

"15% better wet traction and 10% better wear"

caught my attention. Now, having logged some miles with these tires, I can attest that these claims hold true, and my riding experience tells the tale.

Mastering Every Curve

Navigating various types of corners, from constant-radius to decreasing-radius, positive-camber to off-camber, the Road 6 demonstrates precise steering and allows mid-corner corrections effortlessly. The secret behind this performance lies in the revamped rubber compounds and refined tread design.

A Delicate Dance

Silica, known for its wet/cold weather grip, often posed a challenge in maintaining tire durability in warm, dry conditions. The Road 6 tackles this issue with a combination of compound enhancements and a tweaked tread design, ensuring durability without compromising grip.

Revolutionizing Wet Grip

The introduction of X-Sipe technology takes the wet grip to the next level. As the smaller grooves open up to a wider space within the rubber compound, the tire displaces water consistently, enhancing wet weather performance. The Michelin Water Evergrip Technology , optimizing the void ratio on the tread, contributes not only to increased wet grip but also to the consistent behavior of the tires even as they wear.

Stability Evolution

Compared to the Road 5s, the Road 6 front tire now benefits from the 2CT+ treatment , extending the firmer center compound under the softer sides. This modification adds stability to the front tire, reducing flex in the contact patch during cornering.

For larger, heavier grand-touring motorcycles like my BMW K1600 GTL, the Road 6 GT variant with an extra ply provides the necessary reinforcement to handle increased forces during rides. This Michelin Reinforced Radial-X EVO ply ensures stability and prevents tire deformation during aggressive cornering.

Handling Every Turn with Confidence

Mounted on my KTM 790 Duke, I noticed a slightly rounder profile with the Road 6s, contributing to a more predictable turn-in. While not as snappy as the hyper-sport tires, these tires handled every curve at Deals Gap with confidence.

At street speeds, I found it challenging to discern a notable difference from the sportier Michelin Power RS tires. Leaned over, the Road 6s felt planted, although I'd reserve them for street use rather than track days, distinguishing them from the Power RS or their successor, the Power Cup 2 .

3. Continental RoadAttack 4: Best All-Weather

Continental's commitment to all-weather tire evolution is vividly showcased in the RoadAttack series, with each generation fine-tuning the carcass, compound, profile, and tread design for an unmatched riding experience.

Innovative Beginnings

Starting with the inaugural RoadAttack in 2005, Continental introduced the groundbreaking ZeroDegree belt , a continuous steel wire enhancing stability by running radially around the tire carcass in the direction of travel. In 2010, the RoadAttack 2 revolutionized the game with TractionSkin , eliminating the need for mold-release agents and virtually erasing the break-in period. MultiGrip , introduced with the RoadAttack 2, offered a progressive single compound for better wear and grip transition.

Game-Changing Features

In 2013, RainGrip made a splash with the RoadAttack 2 Evo, featuring a high-silica compound for optimal wet performance. The RoadAttack 3, born in 2017, boasted EasyHandling , optimizing tire alignment for neutral handling, especially in hairpins and slow corners.

Latest Advancements

Now, the RoadAttack 4 takes the legacy forward with GripLimitFeedback , a unique combination of carcass construction and tread compound providing enhanced rider feedback as the tire approaches its traction limit. The rear tread pattern is strategically grooveless until a 10-degree lean , ensuring longevity, while grooves kick in from 10 to 40 degrees for maximum grip and precision . Beyond 40 degrees, it transforms into a slick, guaranteeing high confidence at extreme lean angles .

Hyper-Touring Excellence

The addition of a silica-rich compound enhances wet grip without compromising mileage. A blend of resins makes the tire sticky even in cold temperatures, and the entire rubber concoction is optimized for compatibility with modern ABS and traction control systems . Described as a "hyper-touring" tire, the RoadAttack 4 is tailored for today's high-performance sport-tourers, adventure tourers, and sportbikes.

What captivates me is the RoadAttack 4's swift warm-up time, taking just about two corners, as Continental claims. This, along with other innovations, translated to a remarkable 3-seconds faster-wet lap around the renowned Contidrom , clocking in at 89.4 seconds compared to the RoadAttack 3 .

4. Pirelli Angel GT II: Best Endurance

For the past five years, I've embarked on countless journeys with the Yamaha MT-10, first on the original Pirelli Angel GT and then with the upgraded Angel GT IIs. Tailored for enduring long distances at consistent speeds, these tires have become my trusted companions on the road.

The Sport-Touring Essence

I'm a dedicated track rider, and the allure of something more sporty might beckon. But considering that most track schools employ sport-touring tires, it becomes evident that extreme performance is not a prerequisite for the majority of us. The Angel GTs and their successors, the GT IIs, cater precisely to this ethos.

Dual Compound Mastery

Visually, both the Angel GTs and the GT IIs are strikingly similar, employing a dual compound strategy. The central area is engineered to be harder for enhanced longevity, while the softer outsides ensure superior grip.

The noticeable distinction lies in the pair of channels gracing the middle of the new GT IIs, promising improved wet performance, heightened stability, and superior grip.

Technical Ingenuity

Pirelli delves into technicalities like ' variable cord end counts ' and a ' multi-radius design ,' but what resonates for me is the tire's neutral profile. It strikes a balance, avoiding the twitchiness of extreme sports tires while maintaining responsive and nimble steerin g.

Targeting Diverse Riders

Designed for 'Grand tourers,' the GT IIs target riders covering extensive distances solo or with pillion and luggage, on sport-touring and adventure bikes. They also appeal to 'Smart urbans' traversing all year round on super-sport, naked, and adventure-tourers, along with 'Free timers'—those who relish weekend rides on super-sport and adventure bikes.

The GT IIs are available in various sizes, including those designated for heavyweight motorcycles, catering to a diverse range of riders.

Weather-Resilient Performance

While the tire undoubtedly shines in fair weather, even under the onslaught of challenging conditions, such as two hours in the worst of American weather, I've never experienced a worrisome moment. These tires effortlessly displace water, providing a secure grip.

Wear and Durability

With about 5,500 miles on the clock, the rear tire has started to show signs of wear, particularly squaring off after extensive use with luggage and a pillion. Crossing white lines and over-banding, there's a subtle change in the bike's tracking, attributed to the flatter center profile. But this minor alteration doesn't instill fear; it's a testament to the tire's durability.

5. Bridgestone Battlax T32: Best Tread Life

In a bold leap into the future, Bridgestone introduced the Battlax Sport Touring T32 tire range in 2021, poised to inherit the mantle from its predecessor, the T31, as the flagship for road-going distance, elevating the standard with an impressive 50% increase in wear life , alongside superior grip and enhanced wet performance.

Revolutionizing Road Contact

The rear tire has undergone a significant transformation, boasting a reshaped design and a 13% increased contact patch with the road . The innovation doesn't stop there; the new tires incorporate a 3% increase in the number of grooves at the front and 6% at the rear , strategically positioned to efficiently channel water away.

Compound Mastery for Enhanced Performance

The angle and positioning of the grooves have been fine-tuned for optimal effectiveness, showcasing the introduction of 'Pulse Groove' technology —a system of small raised grooves within the tread itself. Based on my personal experience, this technology accelerates water drainage, further enhancing wet weather performance.

Tailored to Your Ride

Bridgestone has precisely created the T32 with a single-layer compound up front and a dual compound at the rear. The result? A remarkable 7% improvement in stopping distance over the T31 in damp conditions , coupled with significantly enhanced traction under acceleration in wet weather.

Positioned between Bridgestone's S22 sports road tire and the touring-focused BT46 , the T32 range caters to a diverse audience. For those with a penchant for mid to heavier touring motorcycles, there's even a GT variant. Bridgestone not only retains the positive traits of the standard T32 but also boasts a 10% increase in stability and longevity over the previous T31 GT .

More Than a Tire

Available in a range of sizes accommodating bikes with 17, 18, or 19-inch front wheels, and 17 and 18-inch rears, the Battlax T32 isn't just a tire; it's a statement. A statement of commitment to pushing boundaries, enhancing performance, and providing riders with an unmatched experience on the road. Welcome to the future of sports touring.

8 Steps to Change Your Motorcycle Tire

Now that you've got your hands on the best sport-touring rubber, here's a straightforward 8-step guide to help you change your motorcycle tire like a pro:

• Wheel Removal: Lift the bike and loosen the axle using a socket. Release the chain, remove the brake caliper, and consult your manual for specific steps.
• Deflate the Tire : Unscrew the valve cap, remove the valve stem core with a proper tool, and ensure you have a valve core remover.
• Break the Bead: Use a bead breaker tool and tire spoons to separate the tire from the rim. Apply silicone lubricant to prevent resticking.
• Pry the Bead Over the Rim: Insert a tire spoon to lift the tire, leaving it in place. Use a second spoon to pry the tire away from the rim until it separates. Repeat on the other side.
• Clean and Prepare: Wipe the inside of the rim and new tire, applying bead lube. If using a tube, insert it into the tire, aligning the valve stem with the rim hole.
• Mount the New Tire : Use tire spoons to wedge the entire tire under the rim on both sides.
• Reinstall Valve Stem and Inflate: Put the valve stem core back, inflate the tire until it sits on the rim, and check the air pressure.
• Remount the Wheel: Follow your manual’s instructions to remount the wheel. Check air pressure again, adjust wheel alignment and chain tension, and ensure all fasteners are tight. Now, you're ready to hit the road with your new sport-touring rubber.

Information for this article was partially sourced and researched from the following authoritative government, educational, corporate, and non-profit organizations:

• Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
• Michelin Tires
• Continental Tires
• Bridgestone

About the Author:

Michael Parrotte started his career in the motorcycle industry by importing AGV Helmets into the North American market. He was then appointed the Vice President of AGV Helmets America. In total, he worked with AGV Helmets for 25 years. He has also served as a consultant for KBC Helmets, Vemar Helmets, Suomy Helmets, Marushin Helmets, KYT Helmets, and Sparx Helmets.

In 1985, he founded AGV Sports Group, Inc. with AGV Helmets in Valenza, Italy. For over 38 years now, the company has quietly delivered some of the best protective gear for motorcyclists in the world.

Click Here  for Michael’s LinkedIn Profile

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Top 10 Best Sport-Touring Helmets Which One Came Out On Top?

Sport-touring helmets are one of the most popular types of helmets. However, when we look at premium sport-touring helmets, we still get a wide range of performance, particularly when it comes to noise, which is important on longer rides.

The Shoei GT Air 2 is the best sports-touring helmet overall for the quality of the materials, safety, comfort, ventilation, noise levels, weight, and features.

In this post, we will look at the top ten sports-touring helmets together with the materials used, the comfort, and more importantly the price. The first thing we will look at is the materials used for each of our top ten sports-touring helmets.

If you want to jump to our summary to find the best Sprots-Touring helmet click here

Best Sport-Touring Helmets

Table of Contents

We begin with the helmet’s outer shell because it is one of the most important features that will affect weight, comfort, and safety. Next, we will use our matrix to understand better how we arrived at our conclusions.

The more helmet shells a helmet has, the better, resulting in a more proportional fit and less weight. In addition to helmet shells, we consider the material from which the shell is made, with carbon being the highest quality material.

Let’s see how the helmets compare in terms of material. The Bell Star DLX is visible at the top. The Bell Star DLX MIPS is made of carbon, aramid, and fiberglass, but what sets it apart from the competition is available in six different outer shell sizes.

The HJC F70 and the Icon Airflite can be seen at the bottom. The HJC F70 has a fiberglass composite shell available in only two shell sizes.

The Icon airflite, on the other hand, is made of polycarbonate and comes in three shell sizes. For the material aspect, both helmets receive three stars.

Furthermore, there are no obvious outliers in this section, and they are all fairly evenly distributed. In general, we see good results, but will they last?

Materials Ratings

You can see how the scores are constructed in our weight matrix. The more stars a helmet receives, the lighter it is.

We weighed all of the helmets in a size M to make a good comparison for the weight component. 

We use bandwidths here, and a helmet gets more stars as it loses weight. Sport-Touring helmets are generally lighter than System helmets because they do not have a flip-up chin piece.

However, because most of these helmets have an integrated sun visor, they are often a little heavier than racing helmets. 

Let’s take a look at the results now. Most helmets weighed between 1400 and 1500 grams, earning them four stars. However, no fewer than four helmets stand out in this category, each with a perfect 5-star rating.

Regarding weight, the AGV K6 is the most striking helmet in today’s review, weighing only 1330 grams. This is the lightest helmet we’ve weighed for this segment. 

As a result, the helmet receives the full 5 stars for weight. The RPHA 70, Exo 1400, and NXR 2 are also lightweight contenders in this category.

However, the K6 retains its lead as the lightest helmet to date, especially since it is still 60 grams lighter than its nearest competitor, the HJC. 

At the bottom, we see the Icon Airflite again, this time with a 3-star rating due to its disappointing weight of 1720 grams. 

Weight Ratings

The results are very close when we look at the visor, but I’ll explain how we arrived at our scores before revealing them.

We consider a variety of features when assigning a score to the visor. Examples include whether the helmet is pinlock ready or not and whether the pinlock lens comes standard in the box or must be purchased separately.

The helmet earns extra points if the lens is a Max Vision Pinlock. We also investigate the visor mechanism. Is this a simple lever, or does it have a sophisticated spring mechanism?

Furthermore, we want to know if the helmet has an integrated sun visor, what the field of view is, if it comes with a free dark visor and if it comes with any other accessories.

But, of course, one option is not the same as the other.  As a result, some options are rated higher than others. First, let’s take a look at how our helmets performed.

On top is the Shoei GT AIR 2, which stands out from the crowd thanks to its advanced visor mechanism. The visor on this helmet earns it a well-deserved 5 stars. 

Furthermore, this section has no major outliers, and everyone is reasonably matched. Most receive 4 stars because of their integrated sun visor or dark smoke visor, a solid visor mechanism, and a pinlock lens in the box. 

Almost at the bottom is the AGV K6, which receives 3 stars due to a slightly weaker visor mechanism and the absence of an integrated sun visor. 

So, where the K6 excelled in weight, it falls short in the visor department. Finally, at the bottom, we see the Icon airflite, which has so far posed no threat to its competitors in any way. 

Now that we’ve gathered all of our data for the visor, we can put our helmets to the test on the road to see how they perform in terms of noise and how well the ventilation works.

Visor Ratings

Noise level.

We gave the helmets to our rider and sent him on his way with all of our measuring equipment on the bike to arrive at the scores for this section. 

Sound is an important consideration, especially when sports touring helmets. After all, you want to be able to go on longer rides in comfort and good silence, free of noise and wind. 

We use a decibel meter mounted on our bikes to measure sound during our road tests. This is linked to a microphone placed near our rider’s ear, allowing us to see the noise as it occurs on the bike. 

Our rider has ridden long straights on the highway to determine the average decibel score with each helmet. These measurements were taken at wind speeds ranging from 115 to 130 km/h. 

A decibel difference may appear insignificant at first, but every decibel difference is audible at these levels, so every decibel does matter and is heard!

We also use a scoring matrix that we created specifically for the sound insulation section in this section. We’ve established bandwidths in this matrix to map performance (or lack thereof) for you.

The lower the decibel count, the quieter the helmet is, and the higher the number of stars the helmet receives. According to our matrix, fewer than 98 decibels earn the highest possible score of 5 stars.

All that remains is to answer the question, “How did our helmets perform on the noise component?” Let’s take a look…

The Shoei GT AIR 2 and the HJC RPHA 70 Carbon stand out right away, with average decibel levels of only 97 decibels on the decibel meter. These are exceptional results. 

These are the two quietest helmets in this category, but they also have the lowest scores we have ever measured. No helmet has ever been tested at less than 97 decibels. 

And we’ve tested dozens of helmets by now, so these are some exceptional results from the GT Air 2 and the RPHA 70 Carbon.

The Shoei NXR 2 with a score of 98db and the Scorpion EXO-1400 with a score of 100db also perform admirably in this category. 

Furthermore, we can see that the other helmets scored well, but there is a difference between the quietest and the mid-range. 

To put this into perspective, a 1-decibel difference may not seem like much, but with these kinds of values, each decibel makes an audible difference and is thus noticeable to the rider. 

And, as we’ve come to expect, we find the Icon Airflite at the bottom with a disappointing result of 110db, earning the helmet only 1 star.

Noise Level Ratings

Ventilation.

One of the most important aspects of a good sports-touring helmet is ventilation. 

You want to stay nice and cool, especially on long rides and in the summer, to stay comfortable while riding.

Therefore, we compare the temperature inside the helmet to the outside temperature to determine the ventilation component’s score. 

A well-ventilated helmet efficiently dissipates heat and maintains the inside and outside temperatures. Again, a brief explanation of how we arrived at our conclusions. 

We use bandwidths to determine our score when looking at our ventilation matrix. We’re talking about excellent ventilation if it’s no warmer inside the helmet than outside.

The greater the temperature difference, the more stars the helmet receives for ventilation.

Let’s see how our helmets fared now. Most helmets are approximately 1 degree warmer or equal to the outside temperature, which is excellent. 

This is not particularly noteworthy, given that we are discussing the best sport-touring helmets available today. 

So there’s a lot to look forward to. However, what is remarkable and worthy of mention is that the Icon Airflite finally competes and does not finish last. 

The helmet earns 4 stars for ventilation with a temperature difference of zero. The Arai Profile-V, on the other hand, disappointed us and managed to take the Icon’s place in this section.

Unfortunately, this helmet was at least 7 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. This is a huge letdown.

This helmet performed admirably in the other categories, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t expect much ventilation on hot summer days if you buy it. But, overall, the data shows that the vents are effective.

It’s worth noting that the Bell Star DLX is the only helmet in which the temperature inside the helmet was 1 degree lower than the temperature outside.

As a result, the helmet receives a well-deserved and excellent 5-star rating, giving it the lead in the ventilation component.

While noise and ventilation are two of the most important aspects of a helmet, we’ll also look at the comfort and features. 

Ventilation Ratings

The only subjective aspect of our Road Test is comfort. We call it comfort, but it is so much more than that.

This section evaluates subjective criteria such as comfort, road wind resistance, the feel of the inner liner, finishes, and overall helmet feel. These are difficult criteria to capture in hard data. 

As a result, we rely on our Test rider with more than 15 years of riding experience for this section.

What’s nice to know is that our test rider also tested all of the helmets, so he can compare them like no other and make an honest judgment about how they compare to each other. 

These helmets have been thoroughly tested in an individual review, and a score for comfort has been assigned. 

Because these are the best helmets available, we can already reveal that their liners are all removable, washable, and anti-bacterial. 

Bell, Shark, Arai, HJC, and the Shoei NXR 2 all received 4 stars in this category because they felt extremely comfortable and behaved very well on the road. 

However, the GT Air 2 is the helmet that stands out here because it has a comfortable liner, but it is also exceptionally well finished.

The liner feels very comfortable, you can tell that the helmet has been wind tunnel tested, and the overall feel of the helmet is just really strong. 

As a result, our test rider chose the GT Air 2 as the most comfortable helmet, and the helmet received a full 5-star rating for comfort.

He also mentioned that the inner lining behind the ears was made of a slightly softer material, which was done because this is a more sensitive area. He said this was indicative of the overall comfort and finish of the helmet. 

This was fascinating to witness. Our rider mentioned that the 4-star helmets were very difficult to find flaws because they were so good, but one part was still not optimal.

On the other hand, our rider couldn’t find any flaws with the GT Air 2. 

Furthermore, we see that the Icon Airflite has returned to its previous position, with a dismal 2.5 stars for comfort.

Our rider mentioned that the lining felt a little basic and that the helmet’s behavior at higher speeds on the highway was a little tiring and less streamlined; additionally, the lining’s finishing left something to be desired.

Comfort Ratings

This section will look at the extras that come with the helmets. In doing so, we considered the options that riders had requested the most frequently.

Of course, one option is not the same as the other, so more emphasis is placed on the important options that contribute the most to a pleasant riding experience.

A helmet gets half a star if it has speaker pockets. It also receives a half-star for Quick Release and a quarter-star for Glasses Preparation. 

A quarter star can be earned for the finish, including the paint, screws, stitching, glue, and other materials used. A half-star can be earned for communication options.

Levels here range from (1) built-in speakers to (2) the ability to conceal the communication system within the shell to (3) a built-in microphone.

Then we look into interior lining options further: consider the ability to customize the lining, the included pads in the box, etc. 

Then there are the other options, which include additional safety features such as the Schuberth’s anti-roll-off system, drinking options, special materials used, and special features that a shell provides. 

Next, we have homologations, which are very important because they are safety certificates that indicate how safe a helmet is and how thoroughly it has been tested. 

Also, beginning in 2023, all newly introduced helmets must be ECE 2206 certified but consider an FIM certificate, which many circuits require.

Manufacturers must spend a lot of money to obtain additional certificates because more testing is required. 

This is an important component that is frequently overlooked by inexperienced riders. As a result, our helmets can earn a full star in this category.

Helmets can also earn a full star if they have been wind tunnel tested. But, again, this is an expensive testing method for manufacturers, and wind tunnel-tested helmets are frequently at the top of the list. 

Other helmets are tested using simulation software, which produces a much cheaper and less effective result. So much for how the helmets are graded.

Most helmets received 3 stars in this category due to their strong liner options and safety. But it is the Shoei NXR 2 that manages to outperform its rivals with a score of 3.5 stars. 

The NXR 2 received this rating because it has been wind tunnel tested, has Quick Release, a good

Communication System preparation, and is the only helmet on the list with the new ECE 2206 certificate. And that last one was the deciding factor.

Features Ratings

Which helmet came out on top.

The answer is the Shoei GT AIR 2! It is the rightful winner, with an overall score of 8.8. 

That scored well in every area was singled out by our rider as the most comfortable and offers an extraordinary amount of options for a very reasonable price. 

The Shoei’s advanced visor mechanism and comfort made a minor difference. So it’s an extremely narrow margin. 

Please note prices shown are correct as of writing this review. Always check prices before you buy.

MotorcycleGear

Keith Mallinson has been a motorcycle enthusiast for the past 20 years. He has owned a variety of bikes during this time, ranging from sport bikes to cruisers. Keith has a passion for all things motorcycle related, including riding, maintaining, and customizing his bikes.In addition to his personal experience with motorcycles, Keith has also kept up to date with industry news and trends. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and insights with others through his motorcycle blog.When he's not out on the open road, Keith can be found tinkering in his garage, planning his next road trip, or spending time with his family.

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Touring And Sport-Touring Motorcycles

Traveling across the country on a motorcycle is the touring and sport-touring motorcycle’s job. Find the latest touring bikes and reviews on Cycle World.

Designed to offer uncompromised long-range comfort, touring and sport-touring motorcycles are the choice of bike for those who want to hit the open road and keep going. These large-displacement machines provide excellent wind protection with large fairings, have a full-feature entertainment/navigation system, and offer more storage capacity than any other class of motorcycle. 

Riders who prefer a sportier and superior-handling long-distance motorcycle may opt for a sport-touring bike. With detachable saddlebags, a firmer suspension, and a higher-performance engine, the sport-touring motorcycle lets you drag knee and travel 400 miles all in a single day.

The most popular touring bike manufacturers are BMW , Harley-Davidson , Honda , and Indian , while BMW, Ducati , Kawasaki , Suzuki , and Yamaha offer the most notable sport-touring models.

Latest Touring And Sport-Touring Motorcycle News

Touring and sport-touring motorcycle reviews.

Touring and sport-touring motorcycle reviews require multiple hours in the saddle and hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to complete. The editors at Cycle World put in the time and miles to obtain an accurate representation of each touring motorcycle we review. First ride reviews give our editors a good idea of what to expect from the bike and also what to look for later on. 

When we get our hands on the tourer, we commute with it, stick it on the dyno , take it on trips, and compare it to other similar touring or sport-touring bikes. We care about things like handling, cargo space, and even if the infotainment system is easy to set up and use.

Latest Touring And Sport-Touring Motorcycle Reviews

Touring And Sport-Touring Motorcycle Buying Tips

Sportbikes don’t tickle your fancy and you’ve found that standard and naked bikes don’t have adequate wind protection for your long rides, so you’ve decided on a touring or sport-touring motorcycle. There are a couple of options that you can go from here, depending on what you are looking for from a touring motorcycle. Would you like a more relaxed seating position? Then Harley-Davidson, Indian, Honda, and BMW offer some large-displacement cruiser touring motorcycles. Honda’s Gold Wing Tour is such an amazing bike that it won our top spot for best 2018 touring motorcycle.

Cruiser touring bikes not your thing? You want something a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more forward leaning? Maybe you want to take it on a long trip and then to the track? Then a sport-tourer is your speed. Kawasaki’s 2018 Ninja H2 SX SE, a supercharged sport-touring bike, won our 2018 best open-class bike spot. Other manufacturers, like Honda, BMW, Ducati, Suzuki, and Yamaha offer some of the top sport-touring bikes that consistently rank well in our reviews.

Touring And Sport-Touring Gear And Accessories

Being on the road for hours at a time puts a strain on the body and this is why touring and sport-touring riding gear is designed around giving comfort back to the rider. Textile touring motorcycle jackets are breathable and don’t restrict your arm and shoulder mobility, reducing pressure points and numbness. Base layers aid in regulating body temperature as the outside temperature fluctuates throughout the day. Helmets with a visor help keep the sun out of your eyes. Earplugs keep the wind noise down and lessen your fatigue over long rides.

There are countless touring motorcycle accessories that you can add to your touring bike to make long journeys better. Motorcycle panniers are becoming standard equipment from the manufacturer, but aftermarket suppliers always offer bags that are sometimes larger than factory sizes. Tank bags are another way for you to haul items without the bulk of bags sticking out of the side of your motorcycle.. Tires have come a long way, and some manufacturers design tires just for touring bikes. 

Gel seat cushions keep your back and butt from not getting sore. Windscreen attachments can increase the protection offered from the stock windscreen, and an external fuel supply, like those offered by Rotopax , allows you to travel farther without having to find a gas station.

Latest Touring And Sport-Touring Gear And Accessories

Touring On A Motorcycle

If you’ve ever traveled long distances by car, you know that your joints gets stiff, you need to stretch, go to the bathroom, crack your back, do something other than be in that car. The same goes for touring on a motorcycle, but is amplified because you’re exposed to the elements.

Before you leave on your motorcycle tour, you should check out the condition of your bike. Check, and if need be, replace your tires, oil, chain, sprocket, spark plug(s), and brake pad(s). Plan your route on a map, physical or digital. If you’re motorcycle camping, pack your tent where it will be the first thing that you set up at camp. After riding all day, setting up your tent is going to be an arduous task.

Along your journey, make sure to check your bike every time you stop. Check for leaks, check your oil level, check your tires and final drive. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritiously. Avoid caffeine, sugar, and large meals. Do realize your limitations and your fatigue. Pull over, take a nap—the road isn’t going anywhere without you. Also try to avoid urban areas around times of congestion. Traffic will slow you down physically and mentally as you work your bike through the stop and go.

This is not a comprehensive list, but something to get you started with. Touring on a motorcycle can be a fun activity, whether you are with a group or by yourself, so remember to stay safe and know your limits.

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Best Sport Tour s. r. o., IČO: 48185477 - Obchodný register

Tento výpis z obchodného registra obsahuje údaje o spoločnosti Best Sport Tour s. r. o. Údaje boli stiahnuté 11. 4. 2023 z dátovej služby orsr.sk podľa IČO 48185477. Z dôvodu ochrany osobných údajov nie sú na stránke dátumy narodenia a úplné adresy fyzických osôb. Kompletný výpis vrátane dát narodenia a adries je možné zobraziť po zadaní IČO 48185477 na originálnej stránke obchodného registra orsr.sk .

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25 Best Sports Travel Companies and Packages Tour Operators Worldwide

Last Updated on May 11, 2023

On this page, you will find 50 of the best sports tourism and sports travel providers in the world. If there is a company that is missing that you feel we should add, please feel free to contact me .

Table of Contents

1. Sportsnet Holidays, Australia

An Australian-based company that provides tickets, accommodation, and packages for sports events worldwide.

Sportnet includes a focus on Aussie events such as the Australian Open Tennis and the Melbourne Cup horse racing.

Visit SportsNet Holidays

2. MVP Travel, UK

As a subsidiary of Hays Travel, MVP Travel are a UK-based company that organises trips to some of the world’s best sporting events including:

• Indianapolis 500
• US Open Golf

Visit the site of MVP Travel .

3. SportsTravelandTours, USA

Sportstravelandtours.com is one of the leading U.S.-based companies providing tickets and packages to major events.

Whilst they have a heavy focus on U.S. sports such as basketball, baseball, and rodeo, they also provide tours for tennis, soccer, hockey and motor racing.

Visit sportsandtraveltours.com here.

4. Roadtrips.com, USA

Another U.S. based company that is worth looking at are Roadtrips.com

Roadtrips focus more on the luxury side of sports travel and events and provide a more bespoke service than some sports tickets and tour providers.

They also focus more so on the major events including the summer and winter Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, the MLC All-star game, and the major F1 races and soccer tournaments.

Visit Roadtrips.com here.

5. Elitesportstours, Canada

If you are Canadian-based, you might wish to take a look at ‘Elite Sports Tours’. EST offers sports travel packages to Major League Baseball (MLB) games, NBA basketball, and Major League baseball games.

So, if you are Canadian and looking to travel to the U.S. to experience one of the major U.S. sports, EST is worth looking at.

Visit Elitesportstours.ca here.

6. BAC Sport Limited, England

BAC is a London, England, based sports and hospitality provider, and they’ve been in business for over 25 years and made a good name for themselves.

As a British company, BAC offers packages for Commonwealth sports such as rugby and cricket. They also deal with all of the Formula One Grand Prix, golf, and tennis.

More on BAC Sport here.

7. Victory Sports Tours, USA

Based in Massachusetts, USA, Victory Sports Tours is a little different from the aforementioned companies in that they focus on helping sports teams to tour.

So, if you are a school, college, or university sports team, Victory can work to organize a tour for you within the States, or to more regions of the world.

They organize the travel, matches versus local sides at the places you visit (if needed), and cultural excursions for the tour group.

You can find Victory Sports Tours website here and they are also on Facebook .

8. Fanatic Sports, India

Fanatic Sports are based in Mumbai, India, and they are a sports tour operator that is heavily involved with sports such as cricket, tennis, F1, rugby, and golf.

They focus on hospitality and have offices also in Singapore, UAE, and Canada.

You can find Fanatic Sports here or on Twitter .

9. Spectate Travel, UK

Based in Chester, England, ITC has been organizing tailor-made sports trips for over 35 years and they are very good for cricket and rugby packages, as well as many of the major horse racing events (such as the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders Cup).

They also provide packages for F1 trips and the Ryder Cup.

Find Spectate Travel here .

10. Sporta Tours, U.S.

Similar to Victory Sport in the U.S., this sports travel agency based in Jaipur, India, organizes sporting trips for teams from schools, clubs, universities, colleges, and professional clubs, to visit several locations worldwide.

Sporta has been organizing tailor-made trips since 2006, having originally focused on cricket. Now though they organize trips worldwide for some major sporting bodies.

You can find Sports Tours here on Facebook .

11. Sportsbreaks.com, UK

‘Sports Break’ is a Manchester, UK, based company that provides packages that include tickets, travel, and hotel.

Few of the other providers we have so far mentioned have a heavy focus on football (soccer) but sportsbreak.com offers packages to many games for many of the leading European clubs, including Manchester United/City, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, Rangers, and Benfica.

They also offer packaged trips to see tennis, cricket, darts, and a few other events.

You can find Sportsbreak.com here.

12. Sportstravelinternational.com, Ireland

As one of Ireland’s leading sports travel and package companies, ‘Sports Travel International’ are quite distinct from all of the aforementioned companies.

They are especially good for runners , i.e if you want to enter one of the main marathons around the world. This includes the Petra Desert Marathon, triathlon, and cycling events are focused on.

So, if you are interested in running, cycling, or triathlons then they are especially good.

You can find the site of SportsTravelInternational.com here .

13. Go Sport Travel, Sweden

Based in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, ‘Go Sport’ is particularly adept at putting sporting travel packages together for Premiership football games, especially for the Scandinavian market.

They do also though provide tickets and travel for other major events, including the golf majors and for gold breaks.

You can visit the site of Go Sport Travel here .

14. VenaTour

Based in Cheltenham, England, VenaTour is a specialist in rugby tours to see the major rugby events.

If you need tickets to events such as the Rugby World Cup, 6 Nations, the Dubai Sevens, or the British Lions tour, VenaTour is certainly worth checking.

Visit VenaTour here .

15. Ski Solutions, UK

Turning to winter sports, an excellent company in the UK that specializes specifically in skiing is ‘Ski Solutions’.

Based in London, England, ski solutions are experts in providing ski packages to Austria, France, Switzerland, the USA, and about a dozen countries in all.

In addition to ski trips, they also provide snowboarding holidays and trips.

You can learn more about Ski Solutions here .

16. Bike Adventures, UK

For cycling and mountain biking experiences, BikeAdventures.co.uk is an excellent and well-established company and is UK-based.

They organize cycle trips worldwide including Asia, Europe, and North America.

You can find Bike Adventures here .

17. EDUSport, South Africa

EduSport is one of South Africa’s leading agencies dealing with sporting holidays, breaks, and tickets.

As a country in which rugby and cricket are particularly popular sports, you might not be surprised to learn that EduSport is a specialist in providing tickets and travel for the rugby world cups and major cricket events.

What I like about EDUSport though is that they provide participant sports opportunities for you if you are looking for yourself to get involved, such as with cycling, golf , hiking, and running.

Can visit EduSport here .

18. St. Thomas Water Sports, Virgin Islands

Watersports SVI (St.Thomas Virgin Islands) provides a range of water sports and activities for travelers to the stunning island of St.Thomas in the Caribbean Ocean.

Some options include:

• Nighttime kayaking
• Sunset sailing trips

You can learn more here .

19. Lion Sports Travel, England

Given the name of the company, it might be a giver away that Lion Sports focus on the British Lions (rugby) and other rugby international and tournaments.

Lion provides sporting tickets and travel packages also for major international cricket, netball, basketball., hockey, and golf.

A major part of their focus is on South Africa, Singapore, India, Barbados, Dubai, and Sri Lanka.

Here’s the Lion Sports official website .

20. Ama Travel, Canada

Ama Travel is a sports vacation company that is based in Canada

Whilst not specifically a sports vacation provider, their mountain and ski vacation packages in the Rocky Mountains are worth checking.

You can find Ama Travel here .

21. Alliance Sports Travel, USA

If you are looking for sports tickets and travel packages for major U.S. sports, Alliance is a great option.

Alliance focus on college-level sports and helps college sports team to organize their own package to travel and play other teams in the U.S.

Learn more about Alliance here .

22. Florida First Sports

Whilst they also provide non-sporting travel and vacation, Florida First has a sports holiday division that provides services that include:

• diving trips
• water-skiing
• tennis academies
• biking vacations
• NFL tickets for the Florida-based teams (the Dolphins, Buccanneers, and the Jaguars).
• Tickets also for the pro baseball, basketball, and soccer matches that take place in the state, such as for Inter Miami .

Learn more about the Florida First Sporting options .

23. Sportstravelinc, USA

Group sports travel is the focus of the Texan-based company SportsTravelInc.

They organize sporting trips for school, youth, and college groups, i.e. team travel trips. They also organize group sporting trips for adults.

You can discover more on Sports Travel Inc here .

24. Williment, New Zealand

Being New Zealand-based, Williment understandably has a high focus on organizing trips to NZ sporting events.

If you are interested, for example, in tickets and packages to see the top NRL (New Zealand Rugby League) games, the Repco Bathurst 1000 (Supercars event), or one of the F1 races, Williment is worth checking.

More on Williment here .

25. Sporting Holiday Group, UK

The ‘Sporting Holiday Group’ is a small UK business run by Ben Clubley and Max Alvy and they focus mostly on European-based sporting events and travel.

Their business is backed by ABTA and you can learn more about them here .

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Hi there! I’m Paul and I’m the owner of Symonds Sports. I’m a sports fanatic who travels worldwide to see major sports events and I love seeing & trying sports in different countries. Thank you for visiting this site. More on me here..

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Priebežne zverejňujeme ponuku na rok 2024, zimný kemp v ramsau am dachstein 2024 - bežecké lyžovanie ramsau am dachstein, rakúsko |.

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• garancia snehu aj vďaka umelému zasnežovaniu a výške nad 1000 m.n.m.
• možnosť naučiť sa behať na lyžiach od základov alebo zlepšenia sa v technike ako pre klasiku tak aj skate

Dolomity - Sellaronda Bike Day 5.6.2024 - 9.6.2024

Užite si stúpania do talianskych priesmykov bez áut na jednom z najväčších cyklistických podujatí v európe., • úchvatné prostredie talianskych dolomitov • sellaronda bike day – počas dňa je okruh sellaronda uzavretý pre automobily • príjemné, skoro letné počasie • 5 dní na bicykli • kopcovitý terén – možnosť nestúpať veľa výškových metrov v redšom vzduchu • perfektná talianska kuchyňa, aby sme mali dostatok energie, dolomity e-bike - sellaronda bike day arabba, dolomity, taliansko | 5.6.2024 - 9.6.2024, užite si stúpania do talianskych priesmykov bez áut na jednom z najväčších cyklistických podujatí v európe. dolomity sú jedno z najlepších miest na využitie e-bikov..

• úchvatné prostredie talianskych Dolomitov
• Sellaronda Bike Day – počas dňa je okruh Sellaronda uzavretý pre automobily
• v ysoký predpoklad stabilného počasia a príjemných teplôt
• rozsiahla sieť nabíjačiek pre e-biky a veľa flow-trailov
• 5 dní na bicykli
• kopcovitý terén – možnosť nestúpať veľa výškových metrov v redšom vzduchu
• perfektná talianska kuchyňa, aby sme mali dostatok energie

Sporttour - s nami sa nelehátkuje!

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Chicago cubs at st. louis cardinals odds, picks and predictions, share this article.

The St. Louis Cardinals (23-26) welcome the Chicago Cubs (27-24) to Busch Stadium Saturday. First pitch to kick off the series is set for 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze  FanDuel Sportsbook’s  lines around the Cubs vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2024, Friday’s game was postponed

The Cubs-Cardinals game, which was rained out on Friday, has been rescheduled for July 13.

Chicago is coming off a 3-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves Thursday, closing as a -117 favorite. The Cubs have lost 2 straight and 5 of their last 7. Chicago is just 3-7 over its last 10. It sits 2nd in the NL Central and has a 25-26 against the spread (ATS) record.

The Cardinals completed a rare home sweep and beat the Baltimore Orioles, one of the best teams in the MLB, in 3 straight at home. They won 5-4 in the series finale Wednesday, closing as a +124 underdog. St. Louis has won 5 of its last 6 and 8 of its last 10. It is 25-24 ATS on the season.

Cubs at Cardinals projected starters

RHP Jameson Taillon vs. RHP Miles Mikolas

Taillon (3-2, 2.20 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 through 32 2/3 IP.

• Last start: Loss, 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 3-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday
• 2024 road splits: 0-1, 2.38 ERA (11 1/3 IP, 3 ER), 11 H, 3 HR, 4 BB, 3 K in 2 starts
• Career vs. Cardinals: 5-1, 3.28 ERA (68 2/3 IP, 25 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 in 12 starts

Mikolas (3-5, 5.77 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.40 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 through 53 IP.

• Last start: Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 7-2 home win over the Boston Red Sox last Saturday
• 2024 home splits: 0-2, 6.20 ERA (20 1/3 IP, 14 ER), 26 H, 5 HR, 3 BB, 24 K in 6 starts
• Career vs. Cubs: 5-4, 2.58 ERA (97 2/3 IP, 28 ER), 1.21 WHIP, 6.6 K/9 in 17 starts and 2 relief appearances

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Cubs at Cardinals odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML) : Cubs -106 (bet $106 to win $100) | Cardinals -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Cardinals +1.5 (-188)
• Over/Under (O/U) : 8.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)

Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions

Cubs 5, Cardinals 3

BET CUBS (-106) .

The Cubs have struggled as of late, but they have held their opponent to 3 or fewer in 4 of Taillon’s last 6 starts. Chicago has won 4 of his 6 starts and has only lost to the Braves and Pittsburgh with the latter being a 3-2 loss. The Cubs are also the 4th-best team in the MLB following a loss with a 16-7 record.

Meanwhile, despite sweeping the Orioles at home, the Cardinals are still just 11-12 at Busch Stadium. Given the pitching disadvantages and home-field struggles, avoid the Cardinals here and back CUBS (-106) .

Run line/Against the spread

While this is enticing with the Cubs as a run-line favorite, the odds just pose better value on the moneyline. For the Cardinals, they are far too expensive, almost 2x your potential return here, as a run line underdog and are certainly not worth any wager.

LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-108) .

The Cubs are 2-4 O/U in Taillon’s 6 starts this season. They have gone Under in 4 of their last 5 as well, scoring 4 or fewer in 7 straight games. Chicago is 21-28-2 O/U. The Cardinals are the opposite and have been red-hot.

Despite going over in 5 of their last 6, the Cardinals are still 23-24-2 O/U. They are 3-7 O/U in Mikolas’ 10 starts. Considering the trends for both starting pitchers, back UNDER 8.5 (-108) .

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NFL VP says Taylor Swift did not influence league when making 2024 regular-season schedule

Mike north says the nfl doesn't strategically schedule games around taylor swift tour dates.

Taylor Swift's global dominance is such that the NFL , which will happily overpower other sports on days previously sacred to them -- the NBA on Christmas Day and college football on Black Friday -- has to take Swift into consideration when it comes to her return to the United States to wrap up her "Eras Tour."

NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North said last week the league needed to factor in her U.S. tour dates when making the 2024 season schedule on a conference call, per Fox Sports . There's no way a star of her stature is rescheduling her tour for anything less than a natural disaster. 

However, North downplayed his previous comments about Swift's overall influence on the 2024 league schedule. 

"She [Swift] had a bigger influence on my niece Gabby's bat mitzvah last weekend -- it was Gabby's version so there was a lot of Taylor being played at the bat mitzvah. ... She had a bigger influence on the bat mitzvah than she had on our schedule," North  said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast."  

Swift is set to have concerts at Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins , three days in a row from Friday Oct. 18 through Sunday Oct. 20. She will then travel to New Orleans for three consecutive days of shows at the Caesars Superdome, the New Orleans Saints ' home field, from Friday Oct. 25 through Sunday Oct. 27. The final leg of her U.S. return wraps up at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts , from Friday Nov. 1 through Sunday Nov. 3. 

The NFL made sure to send Miami north to Indianapolis to play the Colts in Week 7 (Sunday, Oct. 20), New Orleans out west to Los Angeles to play the Chargers in Week 8 (Sunday, Oct. 27) and Indianapolis northwest to Minnesota to face the Vikings in Week 9 (Sunday, Nov. 3). 

"Look, we know she is touring still, right? So there's a tour date in Miami, Indianapolis, and one more maybe, New Orleans or something like that," North said. "When those teams submitted their scheduling forms at the start, they said, 'Hey, here's everything we want: open at home, close at home, midseason bye, don't give us a three-game road trip.' All the things they normally say, and also 'Our stadium's hopefully not available to you NFL in Week 8 because we have an event going on.' 

"Obviously we knew it was a Taylor Swift concert. As best we could, we try to accommodate whether it's Taylor Swift or Green Day or Billy Joel or Ed Sheeran or Pink or Lady Gaga or anybody else out on tour," North continued. "We know these buildings are used for things other than NFL football. To the extent that the Dolphins, the Saints and the Colts each had one weekend this year where they had hoped to be on the road or [on] bye, Taylor Swift impacted the NFL schedule."  

Swift happens to be in Toronto performing at the Rogers Centre, home of the MLB's Toronto Blue Jays, from Nov. 14 through 16 and Nov. 21 through 23. Coincidentally, the NFL scheduled the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to play in Buffalo against the Bills in Week 11 on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS when she doesn't have a concert. That would make it a breeze for Swift to make the just over two-hour drive that separates the Rogers Centre and Highmark Stadium, the home of the Bills, should she want to see her boyfriend and Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce play in person. She did attend Kansas City's AFC divisional round playoff game in Buffalo last season. 

North denied the NFL scheduled the Chiefs vs. Bills showdown in Buffalo for Week 11 to accommodate Swift and her tour.

"Did the NFL strategically try to schedule Chiefs games near her tour dates, so she could attend? I promise you we didn't," North said.  

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