Three Sport Tourers, One Road Trip, One Winner
The sport tourer segment is one of motorcycling's most hotly contested battlegrounds. These bikes promise everything: the thrill of a sportsbike, the comfort of a tourer, and enough practicality to make long-haul trips genuinely enjoyable. To find out which machine does it best in 2024, we gathered three of the top contenders — the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT, and the Honda NT1100 — and spent three days riding them hard across mountain passes, sweeping A-roads, and inevitable motorway miles.
Meet the Contenders
Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
The Ninja 1000SX is the most overtly sporty of the trio. It's powered by a 1,043cc inline-four producing around 140bhp, and it wears its Ninja heritage proudly with sharp bodywork and an aggressive riding position. Kawasaki has added touring credentials over the years — a taller screen, a quickshifter, cornering ABS, and semi-active suspension on higher-spec models — but underneath all of that, this is still a bike that wants to be ridden hard. Starting from around £12,000, it's the most performance-focused option here.
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
The Tracer 9 GT sits firmly in the middle ground. It's based on the same triple-cylinder engine found in the MT-09 — a 890cc unit producing around 119bhp — but Yamaha has wrapped it in a touring-oriented package complete with a large adjustable screen, electronically adjustable suspension (KYBS on the GT), heated grips, cruise control, and a 45-litre luggage capacity with the panniers fitted. At around £13,500, it commands a premium, but it arrives more comprehensively equipped than either rival.
Honda NT1100
The Honda NT1100 is the wildcard. Based around the Africa Twin's 1,084cc parallel-twin engine producing 102bhp, it's the least powerful machine here but arguably the most refined. Honda has designed the NT1100 specifically for long-distance riding, prioritising comfort, wind protection, and ease of use above outright excitement. It features a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) option, excellent standard equipment, and a composed, confidence-inspiring character that experienced tourers will immediately appreciate. Pricing starts at around £12,500.
Out on the Road: Day One — Mountain Passes
Our first day took us through a series of demanding mountain roads — exactly the kind of terrain where each bike's sport credentials are tested. The Ninja 1000SX was immediately at home here. Its inline-four pulls with linear aggression from low revs and absolutely howls as it approaches the redline. The chassis is precise and communicative, and the semi-active suspension dealt confidently with the uneven road surfaces. If you love the sensation of a committed sports bike but need to carry luggage home, the Ninja is deeply satisfying on this kind of road.
The Tracer 9 GT surprised us most. Yamaha's CP3 triple engine has a characterful, urgent power delivery that feels genuinely exciting in a way the numbers alone don't convey. The chassis is lighter than the Kawasaki's and the bike changes direction with an eagerness that borders on playful. The KYBS suspension soaked up the bumps beautifully in auto mode, and the traction control and cornering ABS operated with impressive subtlety. It was the most fun to ride on day one — by some margin.
The NT1100 was honest about its priorities. It's not designed to excite; it's designed to reassure. The parallel-twin engine is smooth and torquey but lacks the fizz of the other two. Through the mountain twisties, it felt slightly cumbersome compared to its rivals, and the more upright ergonomics don't naturally inspire you to push harder. It wasn't unpleasant — it was simply honest about what it is.
Day Two — Long Motorway Miles
Day two was the real sport tourer test: a 250-mile motorway slog. Here, the dynamics shifted dramatically. The NT1100 came into its own. Its wide, effective screen provides outstanding wind protection, the riding position is supremely comfortable for hours at a stretch, and the DCT-equipped version we tested removed the cognitive load of gear changing entirely. Honda's long-distance DNA runs deep in this machine, and it showed. After five hours of motorway riding, we felt fresh on the NT1100.
The Tracer 9 GT held up well, with good screen adjustment range and comfortable ergonomics, but the triple-cylinder engine's vibration became more noticeable over a long stint than on shorter runs. The Kawasaki was the least composed here — the riding position is slightly more crouched, and wind noise around the helmet was the highest of the three despite its adjustable screen. The Ninja is clearly happiest when you're working with it actively, not sitting back and watching the miles accumulate.
Technology and Equipment: How Do They Stack Up?
- Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX: Cornering ABS, traction control, semi-active electronic suspension, quickshifter, cruise control, smartphone connectivity, adjustable screen, side cases included.
- Yamaha Tracer 9 GT: Cornering ABS, traction control, slide control, KYBS electronically adjustable suspension, quickshifter and auto-blipper, cruise control, heated grips, TFT display with smartphone connectivity, 45L panniers included.
- Honda NT1100: Cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), cruise control, DCT option, heated grips, TFT display, 28L panniers included.
On balance, the Tracer 9 GT is the most generously equipped as standard, offering heated grips and the sophisticated KYBS suspension system that genuinely elevates the riding experience. The NT1100's optional DCT is a genuine differentiator for riders who want it, and the Ninja's package is strong but the electronics feel a touch less intuitive to navigate through the menu system.
Comfort and Ergonomics
The NT1100 wins this category convincingly. The seat is wide, well-padded, and supportive over long distances, the footpeg position is natural, and the upright riding position puts minimal stress on the wrists and lower back. Pillion comfort is also excellent — a real consideration for touring couples.
The Tracer 9 GT is genuinely comfortable too, and the adjustable seat height is a thoughtful touch for shorter or taller riders. The Kawasaki's ergonomics feel the most compromised for pure touring — it's not uncomfortable, but it clearly prioritises sport riding over all-day comfort.
The Verdict
After three days and over 600 miles, a clear picture emerged. These are three excellent motorcycles, but they suit different types of riders.
- The Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX is the best choice if outright performance and sport riding are your priority and touring is a secondary consideration. It's an outstanding all-rounder that rarely feels out of its depth.
- The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is our overall winner. It blends genuine riding excitement with proper touring capability, impressive technology, and the best balance of sport and comfort of any bike here. That distinctive triple engine gives it a character and energy its rivals simply can't match.
- The Honda NT1100 is the best choice for the committed long-distance tourer who values comfort, refinement, and the effortless convenience of DCT above all else. It may not excite in the way the others do, but it will never let you down.
Ultimately, the best sport tourer is the one that best matches how you actually ride. But if we had to pick just one? Hand us the keys to the Tracer 9 GT, please.