The MCN Test: Punching above their (middle)weight

How times change. It wasn’t that long ago the go-to sports tourer was Honda’s VFR800, a bike that forged an enviable reputation for its do-it-all ability which regularly saw it loaded up for adventures across Europe.

Nowadays, however, if you talk about a bike with a similar (or slightly lower) capacity it’s viewed either as a ‘new rider’s bike’ or a ‘budget middleweight’ that the majority of experienced riders wouldn’t consider.

But is this obsession with the biggest and best clouding our judgement? And are we missing out on cracking middleweight options?

Flying the flag for the smallcapacity do-it-alls are two great offerings – the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and Kawasaki Versys 650.

Despite the fact both can be restricted to become A2-licence compliant, in full-power form they each offer more-than-adequate performance and come with a level of tech that includes ABS and traction control.

Even more eye-catching for many riders will be their price – how does just £80 a month on a three-year PCP deal sound? If you are prepared to ignore the lure of a larger-capacity model, that makes them very tempting…