Re: Am curious

[Erik Miner <axeis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Can't compare the Sprint ST to the ST-4 but I put almost 20k miles on 
a K1200RS so I'll try to give you some info there. The BIG K12RS is a 
wonderfully smooth bike. Almost too smooth, in fact the bike feels 
slow until close to triple digit speeds, and it is almost boring to 
ride, it is that smooth. It is very stable and ulmost unflappable in 
it's stability. The motor is tremdous gobs of torque from 3500rpm on 
up.. thing pulls like an electric frieght train. Brakes are awesome 
big 320mm disc's, w 4 piston Brembos and the wonderfull ABS II  ( the 
only thing I really miss not having on the Sprint)  Fit and finsih 
are of course typical BMW that's to say damn near flawless. Warrenty 
is one year longer than Triumph's but limited to 36K miles, and BMW 
does not through their dealers offer an extended warrenty. Suspension 
is great the Telelever front really works and there is no shaft 
jacking with the Paralever rear . Fuel injection works great, almost 
as nice as the ST's. All in all a fabulous bike. THE FAULTS: It is 
really F__KING over priced! I believe it is now up to over $16,000. 
that's plus bags and mounts $800+  heated grips $250.+ and so on. The 
big K is BIG really BIG, pig big over 625lbs wet with out bags etc. 
Long wheel base, the big K is a bit of a handful it is NOT a sport 
bike. It really isn't a touring bike either. I called it a 
between..er  not comfortable enough for a long tour, not light or 
nimble enough as a sport bike. The ergonmics though is it's real 
problem. It is very wide so when one sits on it your legs are splayed 
rather wide, so at least for me my hips got sore. The reach to the 
bars is far. BMW has tried to address  this for year 2000 models with 
farther set back bars but they are also wide. The width needed for 
leverage, this width would make my shoulders sore after a few hours 
in the saddle. The whole package becomes a bit much.. big and fast, 
smoothly boring to ride, with weird ergonomics. If you are 6' or 
taller with long arms and short legs you may like it. I could never 
really get comfortable on it. The Sprint on the other hand is a true 
sport touring  bike that's all I'll say :-)) There have been several 
magazine write up's the most recent was Sport Riders shootout between 
the BMW R1100S, Honda VFR 800, Ducati ST-4, and The Sprint ST.. and 
the winner.. you guessed it, the ST!
The bottom line is that YOU need to go ride them. They are all nice 
bikes we here on this list of course are partial to the ST.. duh it 
the ST list :-))  But Really GO RIDE THEM you will then know what YOU 
like and won't have to rely on anyone's opinions!

Erik


>Hello,
>
>I have just started the research process for buying a new sport 
>tourer.  I was the proud owner of a 1985 Honda Magna V65--great 
>bike--got me across the country and up and down the coasts in 
>comfort and never lacked power.  Despite the Honda's reliability and 
>output I am ready for a change.  I have been looking at the Ducati 
>ST4, the BMW K1200, and the Triumph Sprint.  I was wondering if 
>anyone can compare these bikes on reliability, comfort over a long 
>haul, and performance.
>
>Thanks,
>Thompson
>
>Thompson Godfrey
>FreeShop.com
>thomg@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>206-441-9100 x 121
><http://www.freeshop.com/>http://www.freeshop.com/

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Can't compare the Sprint ST to the ST-4 but I put almost 20k miles on a
K1200RS so I'll try to give you some info there. The BIG K12RS is a
wonderfully smooth bike. Almost too smooth, in fact the bike feels slow
until close to triple digit speeds, and it is almost boring to ride, it
is that smooth. It is very stable and ulmost unflappable in it's
stability. The motor is tremdous gobs of torque from 3500rpm on up..
thing pulls like an electric frieght train. Brakes are awesome big
320mm disc's, w 4 piston Brembos and the wonderfull ABS II  ( the only
thing I really miss not having on the Sprint)  Fit and finsih are of
course typical BMW that's to say damn near flawless. Warrenty is one
year longer than Triumph's but limited to 36K miles, and BMW does not
through their dealers offer an extended warrenty. Suspension is great
the Telelever front really works and there is no shaft jacking with the
Paralever rear . Fuel injection works great, almost as nice as the
ST's. All in all a fabulous bike. THE FAULTS: It is really F__KING over
priced! I believe it is now up to over $16,000. that's plus bags and
mounts $800+  heated grips $250.+ and so on. The big K is BIG really
BIG, pig big over 625lbs wet with out bags etc. Long wheel base, the
big K is a bit of a handful it is NOT a sport bike. It really isn't a
touring bike either. I called it a between..er  not comfortable enough
for a long tour, not light or nimble enough as a sport bike. The
ergonmics though is it's real problem. It is very wide so when one sits
on it your legs are splayed rather wide, so at least for me my hips got
sore. The reach to the bars is far. BMW has tried to address  this for
year 2000 models with farther set back bars but they are also wide. The
width needed for leverage, this width would make my shoulders sore
after a few hours in the saddle. The whole package becomes a bit much..
big and fast, smoothly boring to ride, with weird ergonomics. If you
are 6' or taller with long arms and short legs you may like it. I could
never really get comfortable on it. The Sprint on the other hand is a
true sport touring  bike that's all I'll say :-)) There have been
several magazine write up's the most recent was Sport Riders shootout
between the BMW R1100S, Honda VFR 800, Ducati ST-4, and The Sprint ST..
and the winner.. you guessed it, the ST!

The bottom line is that YOU need to go ride them. They are all nice
bikes we here on this list of course are partial to the ST.. duh it the
ST list :-))  But Really GO RIDE THEM you will then know what YOU like
and won't have to rely on anyone's opinions!


Erik



<excerpt>Hello,


I have just started the research process for buying a new sport tourer.
 I was the proud owner of a 1985 Honda Magna V65--great bike--got me
across the country and up and down the coasts in comfort and never
lacked power.  Despite the Honda's reliability and output I am ready
for a change.  I have been looking at the Ducati ST4, the BMW K1200,
and the Triumph Sprint.  I was wondering if anyone can compare these
bikes on reliability, comfort over a long haul, and performance.


Thanks,

Thompson


<color><param>0000,0000,8080</param>Thompson Godfrey

</color>FreeShop.com

thomg@xxxxxxxxxxxx

206-441-9100 x 121

<underline><<http://www.freeshop.com/><color><param>0000,0000,FFFF</param>ht=
tp://www.freeshop.com/</color></underline>

</excerpt>

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