Touring relates to the type of ride. If you're running 300 miles in a day, you're touring. That can be running around the country side in your area or on the open road. Touring models are types of bikes that are designed to make touring better. You can tour on a sporty, but a sporty was designed as Harley's Hot Rod to combat the brit bikes and so-called cafe racers. You can tour on the sporty, it's not as comfortable at the end of the day as a touring designed bike. my .02

 

I ride from Washington State to Tennessee and back each June. I guess I'm touring when I do that?

 

Overnight

 

I prefer to look at touring is a decent length ride in which you enjoy the journey and scenery. It isn't about the destination. You are not in a big rush to get off the bike. Although best enjoyed on a touring bike (recliner on wheels?) touring can be done on any type of bike.

53,136 miles in 107 days covering north america (49 states, canada, mexico) is touring....well, ok, it's more like an obsession. My friends say I'm really comitted to riding ....or did they say I should be committed, I forget. (oh, be quiet voices or poke you again with a Q-Tip!)

 

It may help to look at what touring isn't:

Riding up and down the highway from one beer joint to another

Riding to church

Riding to work

Going after milk and bread

Poker runs

Sitting in your garage, drinking beer and admiring your bike

Washing and waxing your bike

Adding more chrome and go-faster equipment

Riding back and forth to the local Harley shop

Hauling the bike on a trailer

You could do any of the above on any bike. But when you need to pack up everything into saddlebags and luggage and hit the road on two wheels for a few days, weeks or months you want to be on a touring bike.

 

I guess the trip the wife and I took from mile marker ???? on route 1 in Central Jersey (exit 11) to good ole'
mile marker 0 on route 1 in Key West Fl. would be considered a nice little tour ?

Load up the bags,TOUR pak and hit the open road[sm=shades.gif]

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