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[ST] BIKE Sport Tourer comparison test



Bike (a UK EMAP title - I wonder if they use the same test data as other
titles in the group?) has published the results of a comparison test between
the ST, ST4, VFR and Futura in this month's issue.

Whilst others will no doubt share my disappointment that the ST doesn't romp
home as the (clear) victor, I would have to admit that the article seemed to
be a fair assessment of the relative merits of the machines, taking a
2000-mile trip from Peterborough [the home of EMAP] to St. Tropez and back.
We can but hope that the powers that be are listening...

Overall placings (rider's choice) were:
Equal first: ST, VFR & Futura
Fourth: ST4

A more detailed analysis yields the following scores:
                    VFR ST  ST4 Fut
                    --- --  --- ---
Engine & gearbox    16  16  16  15
Chassis & handling  17  17  16  16
Value for money     16  15  16  15
Finish              16  14  15  15
WOW factor          14  15  14  17
                    --  --  --  --
Total score (/100)  79  77  77  78

I personally would take issue with the third rating (value - i.e.
depreciation & running costs), as I suspect most ST owners (like myself)
don't trade too often. Also the fifth category ('Wow' factor), as most of us
(like it or not) seem to be high-volume 40-somethings, for whom I suspect
the current design trends seem a tad too avant garde! This leaves us with
the main engine and chassis categories where we rate equal best if not THE
best!

What we seem to have been pulled up on are:
- - Gearbox (IMHO Could do (much) better)
- - Seat too soft (I don't do many long motorway runs, so I don't get the
problem)
- - Screen too low - too much buffeting (IMHO the screen is ideal!)

I think we populate the most difficult bike category about which to be
objective, as the Sport Tourer envelope must surely be the widest of all.
Different bikes will fit different parts of the envelope better than others,
so IMHO, there can never be an outright winner in this class.

Nonetheless, Wolfram and I can still hold our heads high ~:)

Regards,
- --
BRG
email: keith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'00 Sprint ST BRG 'Wolfram'


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