I could argue that the Sport Touring/Gran Touring/Hyper Touring bikes are the best all around bike....Not the 750, though I do think that's a great "tweener" bike as well. Handles more like a 600, with almost as much power as 1000 The big bikes are comfortable for bigger guys.....Not sure I'd be very comfy on a litre bike for very long, even though I would love to have a Repsol someday. Can't see myself doing some of the longer trips I do now on a smaller bike. XX, Busa, ZX14 give you almost as much handling/performance, but like you said......You can strap some soft luggage on & ride 500-700 miles without too much discomfort, & still carve the twisties way more than on a Gold Wing. If you wanna take it one notch further toward the touring, & less sport, then you move to the FJR, Connie, ST1300 etc Unless your really slight of build, I don't think the same can be said about litre bikes & below. Just ask Josun about our Pitt trip.....He was dyin' on his 600 by the time we got home, and refused to go on the Jim Beam ride, 'cause it was even longer DING!! Fries are done