Sport Tourer hall of fame
 

What are your picks for the all time great sport touring frames? I'm (very casually) thinking about a new project in this vein. In the past, I've owned a Trek 600 (great but too big) and a Specialized Sequioa (also great but too big). The Specialized was Miyata made and really stuck out to me and I would definitely snap up another if I could find one.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5973c3d83.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7ebbcfb73.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62fbc69f6e.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28138f118b.jpg

Neat bikes. There is a longish thread on this topic here,

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...g-bicycle.html

Please add your bikes to it!

Great bike but it don't count :rolleyes:

Many years of the Bianchi Volpe

https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/p...nearly-new.jpg

The Raleigh International belongs on this list.

--Shannon

The Original Sports Tourer made by Schwinn. :innocent: Customized to my liking, of course!

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...720&fit=bounds

The Raleigh International, billed in the catalog as "The International suits the lightweight tourist and road racer." Sounds like a sport tourer to me!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...92b6eaa015.jpg

I would say the Sequoia and the 1983 Trek 700.

Most Sport/Tourers are hampered by either a "lesser" quality frame, or more cost conscious components.

I have a 1986 Trek 400 Elance. It's a 531 main frame with Tange CrMo stays and fork. I've upgraded the components to Superbe Pro/Ultegra 600/XC Pro level stuff. It's a fantastic bike, it rides so well, the bike has such a beautiful paint job, and it shifts great. Even in it's stock configuration- it worked great. Just a little less pretty and a little less bike dork flex. :D

Stunning.

If I ever buy a custom frame, I'm pretty much just gonna ask them to make me one of these. e-Ritchey Newvex lugs, centerpulls, half-chrome front and rear. The only real question is, "copper or green?"... and what a question it is. I've lusted after the International almost my entire life, and I still don't have an answer to it.

Actually, there is a correct answer. The correct answer is "yes."

Newvex lugs are for OS tubing only, making for a pretty different ride vis-a-vis an International.

I've got a bunch of actual old Nervex Professional lugs, and some 531 tube sets, so maybe? Not taking orders yet though, check in with me next year.

Mark B

True... How much of that could you get back by using thinner-walled tubing?

Next year? Yeah, that's not gonna happen, unless I have some rich, eccentric Uncle that I don't know about! <grin>

--Shannon

Depending on one's needs in terms of strength and lightness, there are a lot of really good choices in "sport touring" frames.

A plain old PX10 or Holdsworth Special might fit the bill on the lighter side of the scale, as would my Pro-Tour (that weighs in well to the light side of 24lbs even with heavy wheels).
Then there are bikes like the Six-Ten, heavier but with greater durability. I like taking such bikes off road for some real mtb riding.

I think that the key is not having the too-long chainstays as found on a real touring bike. So my Trek 720 doesn't fit the "sport-touring" standard, but my Trek 520 might.

Not exactly a “production bike”, Simonne Marinoni called this a Sport Tourer in her response to my SN inquiry:

1987 SLX Marinoni, here with 700x32’s that just fit under the short reach calipers:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...IMG_4934-L.jpg

It also works pretty darn nicely with 650Bx38’s and fenders:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...3_160811-L.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...778793941.jpeg
Fuji America from early 1980's is an odd duck. Supposed to be a sport tourer, but without room for fenders or large capacity tires, and a low-trail geometry. However, I think it really works as a grocery getter, and might honestly be the perfect geo for a single-speed.

A trek 520 from 1984 also has short fork legs and virtually no room for fenders iir. Changing to 700c buys four millimeters of clearance atop the tire.

Trek 710. Sequoia. Early Lotus Odyssey. Viner Special Tourist.

Triple butted tubing for the win. Especially when you can find one for $80.

https://i.postimg.cc/V64HT05q/060-zpsfkgtfbvx.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/qBz9YQXg/005-zpsw-mx1xs8r.jpg

I had a '77 Centurion Semi-Pro that fits this thread's description. It was a fine riding bike.

If ubiquity is the criteria, the Raleigh Super Course needs to be on the list. My take on "sport touring" is that if there are fittings for racks and panniers, it's more likely to be "touring" than "sport".

I can speak to the joy of riding an International. It is my favorite from amongst many options that I have here.

Mine... adapted for (hopefully) 2022 Cino

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c4a9fcb163.jpg

I've always thought of the Fuji S12-S as the ultimate sports tourer. One of the ones I had I set up with 650B x 38mm wheels.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e904f22896.jpg

Another vote for Trek 710.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...614ae7b44.jpeg

Did someone say Super Course?
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0880c5e2c7.jpg

I've been trying to determine how many racks and bags can go on a "Sports Tourer" before it crosses the line to "Non Cantilever Touring Bike"

Rack trunk & small panniers / fold-up combo unit or medium saddlebag out back, plus a reasonably-sized handlebar bag seems just right to me.

Probably because that's what I've got on my Fuji. Topeak folding-pannier trunk and a Roswheel three-velcro-strap bag on the bars.

--Shannon

PS: While my League Fuji is a great sport-touring bike, it's not HoF-worthy. If they'd made a bike with the 9658 tubeset from the Team and the Club / League geometry, that bike would be a strong contender for inclusion... the 1769 pipes are a teeny bit too heavy and stiff for perfection.