Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Touring Motorcycle shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Touring Motorcycle offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Touring Motorcycle at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Touring Motorcycle? Wrong! If the Touring Motorcycle is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Touring Motorcycle then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Touring Motorcycle? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Touring Motorcycle and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Touring Motorcycle wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Touring Motorcycle then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Touring Motorcycle site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Touring Motorcycle, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Touring Motorcycle, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for long-distance touring and heavy commuting. Although any motorcycle can be used to tour with, manufacturers have brought specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders. Common to the touring motorcycle models is usually large displacement fairings and windshields (to offer a high degree of weather and wind protection), large capacity fuel tanks (for long ranges between fill-ups), engines offering lots of low-end horsepower, and a more relaxed, more upright seating position than sport bikes. These motorcycles can be further subdivided into multiple sub-categories, which are commonly used terms within the motorcycle industry.
Full-dress tourers
Full-Dress touring motorcycles are generally characterized by extremely large fairings and bodywork compared to other forms of tourers, the integration of hard luggage into the design of the motorcycle (often including both saddlebags and a top-mounted box), very large displacement, torque-rich engines, and a very upright, comfortable riding position. Additionally, standard and optional amenities on full-dress tourers often encompasses equipment not normally offered on other motorcycles, such as complete stereos (AM/FM plus CD or cassette is standard, and now satellite radio is becoming more common), heated seats and hand-grips, GPS navigation systems, selective venting, power windshields, electrically controllable windshield, and for certain models in certain model-years, such oddities as integrated air compressors, air conditioning and air bags. Full-dress tourers are designed specifically for riding on pavement, although they may be taken onto hard, compacted dirt roads; they are specifically not designed for off-road duties.Common current examples of full-dress tourers include the Honda Honda Goldwing, the
BMW K1200LT and the Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson FL#Electra Glide, all of which have become quite popular.
Standard tourers
Standard tourers normally offer fewer amenties and less weight than full dress tourers, but still are designed with the primary task of laying back miles over pavement in comfort. Notable current examples include the Honda ST1300, the
BMW R1200RT, and the
Yamaha Motor Company Yamaha FJR1300. These three motorcycles all offer hard luggage, electrically adjustable windshields, and Anti-lock braking system.
Global on+off-road tourers
This category encompasses motorcycles designed specifically to provide global touring capabilities on both pavement and off-road with the intent of making virtually any destination reachable. Motorcycles in this category share a unique combination of traits that provide them very high ground clearance (for off-road purposes), particularly large fuel reserves, large displacement understressed engines for high reliability and heavy torque output, large size and good high-speed highway behavior & handling. This combination of traits (and their weight) is also what separates them from traditional off-road, enduro and MX class motorcycles.
It is common for a large selection of purpose-driven options to be available for global tourers, including skid plates (to protect the engine and transmission during off-road use), larger and additional fuel tanks than stock, metal-formed hard luggage for extreme condition use, hardened GPS naviation systems designed to handle off-road abuse, etc. These bikes do not necessarily ship with hard luggage, but usually offer them as optional extras either from the manufacturer or via third-party suppliers. These motorcycles are often used as the basis for competitions in extreme rally events, including the grueling Dakar Rally.
Noteworthy current examples include the
BMW F650GS, R1200GS, the
KTM 950 & 990 Adventure series, as well as the
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom and
Kawasaki KLR650.
Sport-tourers
Sport tourers are a hybrid form between sport bikes and tourers, allowing long-distance riding at higher speeds and with more emphasis on sport-like performance (in both handling and speed) than standard tourers; these bikes offer a mid-ground between both segments. The paradigm arguably originated with the 1976 BMW R100 RS, which combined BMW's traditional strengths for touring with a full-coverage racing fairing that entailed clip on-like handlebars and a semi-crouched riding position. The sport touring category includes such motorcycles as the Honda VF and VFR and Honda ST series, the Yamaha FJR 1300, the Triumph Motorcycles Sprint & Sprint ST, Ducati
Multistrada and ST series, (debatably) the
Suzuki Katana, several subsequent BMW models and (debatably) the
Buell Ulysses. These bikes do not necessarily ship with hard luggage, but usually offer them as optional extras either from the manufacturer or via third-party suppliers.
See also
A
touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for long-distance touring and heavy commuting. Although any motorcycle can be used to tour with, manufacturers have brought specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders. Common to the touring motorcycle models is usually large displacement fairings and windshields (to offer a high degree of weather and wind protection), large capacity fuel tanks (for long ranges between fill-ups), engines offering lots of low-end horsepower, and a more relaxed, more upright seating position than
sport bikes. These motorcycles can be further subdivided into multiple sub-categories, which are commonly used terms within the motorcycle industry.
Full-dress tourers
Full-Dress touring motorcycles are generally characterized by extremely large fairings and bodywork compared to other forms of tourers, the integration of hard luggage into the design of the motorcycle (often including both saddlebags and a top-mounted box), very large displacement, torque-rich engines, and a very upright, comfortable riding position. Additionally, standard and optional amenities on full-dress tourers often encompasses equipment not normally offered on other motorcycles, such as complete stereos (AM/FM plus CD or cassette is standard, and now satellite radio is becoming more common), heated seats and hand-grips, GPS navigation systems, selective venting, power windshields, electrically controllable windshield, and for certain models in certain model-years, such oddities as integrated air compressors, air conditioning and air bags. Full-dress tourers are designed specifically for riding on pavement, although they may be taken onto hard, compacted dirt roads; they are specifically not designed for off-road duties.Common current examples of full-dress tourers include the
Honda Honda Goldwing, the BMW K1200LT and the
Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson FL#Electra Glide, all of which have become quite popular.
Standard tourers
Standard tourers normally offer fewer amenties and less weight than full dress tourers, but still are designed with the primary task of laying back miles over pavement in comfort. Notable current examples include the
Honda ST1300, the BMW R1200RT, and the Yamaha Motor Company Yamaha FJR1300. These three motorcycles all offer hard luggage, electrically adjustable windshields, and Anti-lock braking system.
Global on+off-road tourers
This category encompasses motorcycles designed specifically to provide global touring capabilities on both pavement and off-road with the intent of making virtually any destination reachable. Motorcycles in this category share a unique combination of traits that provide them very high ground clearance (for off-road purposes), particularly large fuel reserves, large displacement understressed engines for high reliability and heavy torque output, large size and good high-speed highway behavior & handling. This combination of traits (and their weight) is also what separates them from traditional off-road, enduro and MX class motorcycles.
It is common for a large selection of purpose-driven options to be available for global tourers, including skid plates (to protect the engine and transmission during off-road use), larger and additional fuel tanks than stock, metal-formed hard luggage for extreme condition use, hardened GPS naviation systems designed to handle off-road abuse, etc. These bikes do not necessarily ship with hard luggage, but usually offer them as optional extras either from the manufacturer or via third-party suppliers. These motorcycles are often used as the basis for competitions in extreme rally events, including the grueling Dakar Rally.
Noteworthy current examples include the BMW F650GS, R1200GS, the KTM 950 & 990 Adventure series, as well as the
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom and
Kawasaki KLR650.
Sport-tourers
Sport tourers are a hybrid form between sport bikes and tourers, allowing long-distance riding at higher speeds and with more emphasis on sport-like performance (in both handling and speed) than standard tourers; these bikes offer a mid-ground between both segments. The paradigm arguably originated with the 1976 BMW R100 RS, which combined BMW's traditional strengths for touring with a full-coverage racing fairing that entailed clip on-like handlebars and a semi-crouched riding position. The sport touring category includes such motorcycles as the Honda VF and VFR and
Honda ST series, the Yamaha FJR 1300, the Triumph Motorcycles Sprint & Sprint ST, Ducati Multistrada and ST series, (debatably) the Suzuki Katana, several subsequent BMW models and (debatably) the
Buell Ulysses. These bikes do not necessarily ship with hard luggage, but usually offer them as optional extras either from the manufacturer or via third-party suppliers.
See also
