Re: [ST] '05 Model test ride

[Steve Lawler <slawler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

In a previous email, CAPT Howard S. Serlick USNR wrote:
>     I had my 6K service done at Freehold Triumph in Freehold, NJ 
> yesterday. I was offered their new blue '05 ST to take out for a test 
> ride while waiting for my bike to be finished. Any of you that live in 
> or around the area are invited to take the bike out for a demo ride. 
> Bring your riding gear and your motorcycle license.

Sounds like you went out on the one that I rode last Tuesday.

>     My observations: (based in comparison to my '00 & '03 ST's)
> 1. Great seat - Height for rider is a bit lower than the earlier models. 
> Grip-tex material is nice on the butt. 

Aye. That was the first improvement that I noticed.


> 2. Engine is strong and the exhaust note is a bit lower. Gearing is 
> different and I found myself upshifting (changing-up) very quickly until 
> I was in third gear for most riding situations (35-55 mph). The gearbox 
> (tranny) was smooth, neutral was easy to find when downshifting. The 
> shifter was well placed and the actual shifts took no physical effort up 
> or down. Major improvement.

When I went to start out I pulled in the clutch stepped on the shifter 
and felt a slight notch. The neutral light was out and I thought "Holy 
Shiite is that ever smooth!" I started to ease out the clutch and 
nothing happened. I looked down and saw that the neutral light had come 
back on. On the second attempt I heard that recognizable "thunk."


> 3. Throttle/fuel injection is a lot "twitchier" than current bikes. 
> There was no feeling of the bike being "carburetted". Fine adjustments 
> ("blips or roll-ons") while going around a tight corner or defects in 
> the road were not easy to do. The engine just wants to go, go, go! This 
> is a common problem with fuel injected bikes, and the earlier ST's have 
> a really smooth and responsive feel. Not this bike! That engine was 
> either "on" or "off". I didn't like the feel in comparison with my '03 ST.

I found this too.


> 5. Ride & Suspension- No problems here. Front and rear end are tight and 
> stock tyres grip the road with precision. Turns, tracking, and feedback 
> from the road are precise and crisp at any speed or gear. Wow!

Like I posted last week, it seemed that someone had dialed the 
suspension in for me.


> 6. Fully adjustable clutch lever- A four point adjuster is now at the 
> handlebar to "fine tune" clutch engagement point. Works just like the 
> unit on the brake lever on the right bar. Very nice touch.

Sweet. Huh?


> 7. Gauges- Nice with lots of options. Since I didn't have the manual, I 
> don't know if one can programme/view speed on the far right gauge which 
> provides LARGER, digital read-outs of damned near anything you want to 
> know. The analog speedo on the left side of the cluster (of three) is 
> small and difficult to read at speed.

That was one of my chief complaints. Huge numbers to tell me the time 
and tiny numbers to tell me my speed.


>     I like the bike very much and think Triumph have made some major 
> improvements. However, I'm very pleased with my '03 and will wait for 
> refinements and bugs to be worked out of this first year of production. 
> I'd like to see the throttle response issue sorted.

Ditto. Ditto. Ditto



--
Steve Lawler
Verona, NJ, USA

2001 Sprint ST "Blue Devil"

"The difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is that a drunk doesn't 
have to attend all those meetings."
            -- Arthur Lewis
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