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RE: [ST] fjr, again

Sorry, I can't resist having a go !!!!!

I read with interest, the comments about the "shortcomings" of bikes, and I am not being Triumph or Sprint specific here. I sit on a number of forums and have owned a number of bikes. I am also involved with Historic racers. If you want to know how good your modern bike is, go ride one that is 20 YO, then 30YO, then 40YO, get my drift.

The motorcycle manufacturer is challenged with several factors when offering a product. Cost, Handling, performance, styling to name a few. All a compromise. The buyer also has a diverse range of motivating factors for his purchase and comes in all shapes, sizes, weights and wants. The manufacturer can only provide a product that out of the box provides a reasonable compromise of all the factors mentioned. If the bike does not suit, that is why over the years they have built more adjustability into the product. If the adjustments don't suit, that's what aftermarket products are for. You pay more to get more so to speak. The perfect bike is an illusion as the riders expectations are so diverse. What is also assumed in much of the responses, is that bikes spec are the measurement of why people buy bikes. Some of us will trade some performance for a devotion to a brand, or simply just that they like the looks. 

On the FJR vs. ST issue. I rode the FJR and like the FJR  I purchased a Sept 02 red ST, polished rims, Staintune pipe, seat cowl, genuine soft panniers, Ventura rack and tank protector on the road for Aus$18900.00 The FJR was $23000.00. That has to have an influence on many buyers ! The extra power ? With a maximum speed of 110 Kp/h in Australia and hefty fines, I had to question the benefit. I can get to the limit just changing into second and a little over 3 seconds. That will do me fine. 

So buy the bike you like, change on it what you don't, and respect that there are others with a different view than your own and collectively enjoy what is the most fun you can have with your clothes on :-). The pursuit of an always better thing, often leaves you never happy with what you have.

How many of you guys have read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance ?     What is Quality. how do you measure it ?

Stay Upright

Trevor



- -----Original Message-----
From: Tom Emberson [mailto:ate_st@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, 18 February 2003 2:16 AM
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ST] fjr, again



I will say one thing about the FJR, it is obvious, with the fact 
that Yamaha has decided to fix almost all of the nits after a 
single year of production for the US market.

Watching the racetech/Ohlins threads go buy, I can only think 
that Triumph is letting the Sport Touring market go away. I can 
understand Triumph wanting to open up other markets, but, at the 
same time, they are allowing the ST to become old.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my ST, but when it got totalled, it 
was not worth the difference in price to stay with Triumph.

Hands down, and I have said this before, If they could have sold 
me a Daytona engined, Daytona suspened 3 bag ST for 13,000 OTD, 
I would have not even stepped into the Yamaha dealership.

But as it stands, I now have a more comfortable ride, that is 
more confidence inspiring in the corners and faster of the line 
than the ST, exactly the same as the Daytona!

And no I don't mean to dis everyone's STs, they are great bikes, 
they are just a half generation older than the FJR, Triumph is 
just not keeping up on that end of the business. And have I said 
before, I wish they had!

regards,
Tom



/*************************************************************
 Thomas Emberson, Dallas, TX
 '00 Yamaha WR400F (self abuse in style)
 '01 Suzuki TL1000s
 '03 Yamaha FJR1300

 sold: '98 ZX6e, '99 ZX9r, '95 EX500
 killed by rocks: '01 BRG Sprint ST (18 months old, 25,152 miles)
*************************************************************/


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