How would you define a touring machine? It's a debate which could well go on until long after the cows have come home. Even then there would be no unanimity.
Recently an intrepid soul rode across the Sahara on a MV Augusta Brutale, an uncompromising, cutting-edge, Italian sports machine. We know of a Honda 50 which did a Dublin- Strasbourg-Dublin tour, and of a 123cc 2-stroke which toured 16 European countries in three months. So, you can tour with most anything but in some cases perversity and masochism are required.
Many machines claim to be touring bikes or sports tourers, but few measure up to what would be reasonably regarded as touring machines. If we mean a machine capable of carrying one or two people for a long distance involving overnight stops away from base, then few indeed appear well suited. If we also want comfort and some weather protection, the list shortens.
We are leaving aside for another day luxurious super tourers such as Honda's Gold Wing, BMW's K 1200LT and Harley-Davidson's Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Instead we're looking at the main, genuine touring contenders.
Most would accept these to be BMW's R 1200 RT, the Honda ST1300 Pan European, Yamaha's FJ1300a and, the only one which until now we had not tested, the Triumph Sprint ST.
The Triumph appeared at last year's NEC motorbike show complete with panniers and GPS, which are options rather than standard. Do panniers and GPS turn a sports tourer into a serious tourer? Well, it boils down to your idea of a tourer.
The Sprint ST is the cheapest of the four mainstream tourers and the only one with chain rather than shaft drive. Although the received wisdom proclaims that shaft drive is de rigueur for a touring machine, chain drive is not to be ignored. A chain drive system soaks up less power than shaft drive and, in far flung places off the beaten track, a local blacksmith is more likely to be able to repair it.
The other thing that sets Triumph apart is that it is British - the name evokes a time when "British-made" meant the very best in motorcycling. Given the changes that have been thrown at Triumph over its 103 year history, it's remarkable that the name still exists and that today the firm is producing seriously good, competitive bikes.
For 2005 the ST has been re-designed with an all-new chassis. The triple exhaust is now located, in conformity to current fashion, under the seat. There is a new triple headlight cluster, a computer, a slightly larger engine, over-run backlash gear as well as GPS and pannier options.
We were among the first to sample the new machine. Our test machine was fitted with the Garmin Street Pilot 2610 which prevented us getting lost in the wilds of Nottinghamshire. It also had a single-sided, monoshock swinging arm, centre and side stands.
On the road, the fairing gave reasonable protection, but not as good as the R1200RT or the Pan European but about the same as the FJ1300a.
Acceleration and braking were of a high order. Roadholding was good throughout our test which included everything from meandering country roads to motorways.
The ST has far more the feel of a sports machine than the sort of staid mount some might expect a touring bike to be. The way it held the road, really impressive acceleration and powerful brakes were everything someone more used to sports machines would appreciate.
Rider comfort was good but pillion comfort is somewhat basic in touring terms. Top speed, academic except for the odd stretch of German autobahn, was a very impressive 238km/h (148mph). Overall fuel consumption worked out at 39mpg.
Overall, the Sprint ST was an enjoyable machine to ride. Certainly one can tour in reasonable comfort and, no matter how demanding the road, it will not disappoint.
We wouldn't see it as the best touring bike - currently this has to be BMW's R 1200 RT - but there is the small matter of price. Honda's Pan European costs €19,999, BMW's R 1200 RT is €18,200, Yamaha's FJ1300a €17,748 - and the Triumph Sprint ST, with added panniers, is €14,950. That's between €2,798 to €5,049 less than you'll pay for a similar touring machine. Treat yourself to €1,500 worth of GPS, an option on all the other machines, and you could still have enough left over for a small commuter bike.