Newish list member with a few questions

["Pen & Adam" <penadam@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Everyone-
I've been lurking the mailing list for a few weeks trying to glean
information about the Sprint ST.  After reading the reviews and then your
mailings I'm 80% sure that an ST is for me.  I just need to get a test ride
for me and my wife-she wants to test the rear seat I also need to work on my
personal speed triple issues-I want one of those too.
 
A little info about myself, I'm in Gilbert, AZ.  My previous bikes were a
Nighthawk 450 (my learner) and then a Hawk GT which I rode for 4-5 years,
most of those years without owning a 4 wheeled vehicle (It was in Atlanta so
I did freeze my rear off occasionally in the winter - electric vests and
grips are very nifty).  I sold the Hawk when I moved to Arizona two years
ago (gee, I'm done with school, I have a real job, I can easily afford a new
bike-VERY naive of me).
 
To be honest, when I first went bike hunting this time around I thought I
was set on a Superhawk.  But, my wife nixed that idea, "I don't like the way
it looks, it can't be comfortable". Then of all things she suggested going
to look at Triumphs and Ducatis (I have NO idea where that idea came
from-honest).  So, I started reading up on my options and realized that the
Sprint ST or the ST4 were the main choices (except I really wanted a Speed
Triple, but she nixed it also).  After reading all the reviews floating
around in the press, I'm pretty much decided on a Sprint ST (unless I change
her mind on the speed triple-yes I know it isn't a sports tourer but it is
such a hooligan looking bike-or maybe Hawk GT looking...).
 
Anyway, enough background on me, I have a few questions to ask some are
technical and some are more business related.  Very special thanks to Jong
for the searchable archive! The night before it showed up on the web site I
had begun to copy every archive digest into Word so I could search for
keywords-luckily I only copied about 25 days worth.
 
Technical Questions (Sorry, I'm an engineer by trade so I like to have all
the information I can):
1) Does the pipe pivot down when you put on the panniers?  The salesman at
the shop said they didn't but the pictures I've seen looks like it does.
2) If you do have to lower the pipe, does it drastically effect your ground
clearance on that side?
3) Is the Triumph slip-on as loud as the TBR slip on?
4) Does the Triumph slip-on have to be re-packed occasionally? (again, the
salesman didn't sound all that sure)
5) How much HP is gained with the Triumph slip-on and re-map (I read in one
article 6 HP but has anyone done a before-after dyno run?)  Same thing for a
TBR slip on (and also, what is the best program to use for the re-map?)
6) Did anyone ever find out why the 2000 sprockets changed teeth (I didn't
quite catch an answer from that thread. Again, the salesman didn't
know-actually he didn't even know they changed it until I pointed it out).
 
Business Questions:
1) How do you pronounce Panniers? (sorry, Georgia schooling)
2) Does anyone have any negative comments on the dealers in Phoenix?  I'd
hate to learn the hard way.
3) I have one estimate from a dealer, it includes a $140 "Documentation"
line item.  It seems kinda bogus to me (same with the $429 freight and the
$286 set-up) but before I push him on this Documentation Item I want to make
sure that it is bogus (and tax, tag, and title are listed separately).
 
Thanks for the great mailing list.  It has been a really big help in making
my decision.  Again, thanks for the searchable archive.  If it wasn't for
the search, a would have 3 times as many questions.  Also, thanks to your
fellow lister Mark Dieck from Mesa, AZ.  I crossed him at a bike shop and he
answered a whole lot of my questions!
 
Adam Nagel
Soon to have 2 wheels again
Gilbert, AZ




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