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Re: Articles needed



Keith, et al:

I was on the short-lead preview put on by Triumph, rode the bike for a long
day, and wrote the "First Ride" piece for the magazine. Journalists from
some *other* magazines managed to crash the two or three only RSes in the
country, so we didn't get to take one home a week later. For comparison, the
Triumph folks had a 2000 ST (blue, the slow color <g>) on hand; I have about
3000 miles on my red 99.

The RS feels smaller and lighter than the ST, largely on the basis of the
smaller fairing. (Hop from one to the other and you'd swear that the RS is
30 lb lighter; the difference is really 18 lb.) It also feels like the total
cg is a bit higher; most of the heavy bits left off to make the RS--lower
fairing, single-sided swingarm--are low in the chassis. Triumph raised the
rear ride height, giving you 0.5 degree less steering head angle and a bit
more trail. (The frame is unchanged.) And yet my impression is that the ST
steers with less effort even as it doesn't change direction quite as quickly
as the RS. (The bars are lower but not much narrower.)

The big surprise is how much different the RS feels from the ST. As
mentioned, it feels lighter, and the lower bars give a sportier riding
position. The suspension calibration is much firmer. The result is a bike
that feels sportier than the ST but not as sporty as the Daytona.

I love my ST so it's no surprise that I really liked the RS. For some
reason, though, the engine in the demo bike didn't have the same midrange
rush as my ST (or the ST along for comparison). The powerband feels more
linear and somewhat more dull. There's no good technical reason why the RS
should feel different than the ST, so it could have been a break-in/setup
issue. We'll know more when we get an RS to live with.

There's a new instrument cluster stolen from a Yam R6 with digital speedo
(at least you can read it at night), a large tach, and a multifunction
display with tripmeters, clock, etc. No fuel gauge, just an idiot light.
(Giving up on that technology, Triumph?) Don't know about you guys, but I'd
like to have something like a Yamaha reserve switch rather than an
all-or-nothing light. I wasn't terribly impressed with the unfinished nature
of the fairing backside after riding the ST, but that's the price you pay
for weight savings.

So, the bottom line is that for you guys who wish your ST would lose a few
pounds and have firmer suspension, the RS is just the ticket. It's not as
comfortable as the ST (more forward riding position and firmer suspension)
but it's miles ahead of the more dedicated sportbikes like the R1, etc. (I'm
also a bit biased here: the ST fits me *perfectly*.) You could sport-tour
without much complaint and, if you're troubled by the riding position, the
ST bars will fit right on.

I think Triumph will do well with the bike.

- --Marc

BTW, Motorcyclist editor Mitch Boehm asked me when I planned to sell my ST,
given that I'd be riding all the new stuff for free. Told him: never. It's
good peace of mind to know there will always be a fast, comfortable,
competent motorcycle in my garage.
- ----------
>From: "Keith Winter" <kwinter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Articles needed
>Date: Fri, Dec 24, 1999, 7:40 AM
>

> Ooh, Ooh!  Can those of us who have one on order (or anyone else,
> for that matter) get an early peek at the article, too?
>
> -Keith
> '00 Sprint RS (one month go to...)
>
> On 24 Dec 99, at 8:09, Marc Cook wrote:
>
>> I can probably get you a copy of SR, and I'll see about getting you
>> something early on the Sprint RS piece going in the next Motorcyclist.
>>
>> --Marc
>
>
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> 

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