[ST] Re: ST-triumphnet.com Digest, Vol 1, Issue 20

[Paul H Sammut <phsammut@xxxxxxxx>]

Well, I finally got to ride a 2005 ST (wish I'd also ridden the Speed 
Triple, but oh well).  I think the ST looks very small when compared with 
most other sport-touring bikes, such as the FJR, the R-RT, ST1300 etc. and 
it clearly is heavily sport-oriented.  I may differ from all you folks out 
there who lavish praise on its looks.  I think it looks nice enough but I 
don't get goose bumps over it.  The riding experience is an entirely 
different situation, however.

The seat is a great improvement over the old stock one, but I still prefer 
my Corbin.  The exhaust note is wonderful (this bike had the Triumph "off 
road" muffler) and the throttle response significantly crisper.  The 
handling is quick with very responsive turn-in, yet it never felt unstable 
at speed.  This bike had the suspension set up very softly, which I 
thought I'd hate, but it soaked up bumps very nicely and didn't wallow. 
Nose-dive with braking was slightly less (surprisingly) than with my 
Race-Teched bike.  The engine is an absolute jewel - it feels like it has 
quite a bit more than 10 horses over the older bike and the torque is felt 
even earlier than on mine.  Truly a wonderful ride.  I think this bike is 
easily the sporting equal of the Ducati ST4s yet far more comfortable. 
With bags, however, its price is not much less than the Duc's which has 
much more expensive thingies hanging off of it.

Paul S.
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