Re: [ST] ST vs VFR and Sports tourers

[Erik Miner <eeminer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

May want to check out the soon ( August-Sept) to be released all new BMW 
K1200 S  it will be one hot number.. 100lbs lighter than the current model 
( should be about 525 wet) with 150hp and a truely revolutionary suspension 
design.

Erik



At 02:21 AM 4/28/2004, you wrote:
>As part of my PP (prolonged procastination) over whether to trade in my 01
>ST for a 04, or tart up the 01 (pipe, sprockets etc) (or trat up a 04) or
>wait for a new model 05, I thought it would be good to re-acquaint myself
>with the Sports Tourer market.
>
>I have been trying to get a test ride on a Duc ST4 for months. Can they be
>that good or are Duc just useless?
>
>Last w/e I had the chance to take a VFR out on a Honda track day. Its been
>3.5 years since I rode one and I must say that it seems to me no longer
>applicable to compare VFRs with Triumph STs. Apples with apples so to speak.
>Why? Because IMHO the VFR is now effectively a sports bike with an option of
>hard panniers. With the Vtec its more like riding a 2-stroke than a smooth
>sports-TOURER (my emphasis). Plus, the throttle is hopelessly twitchy so at
>'low revs' (effectievly anything below 8k) its truely horrible. Perhaps you
>get used to it, but on a wet track the VFRs (way) superior handling was
>completely nullified by the twitchy throttle. I'm told they are all like
>that? In comparison my 16k km ST was like silk after the VFR so track times
>were no different.
>
>The VFR handling/cornering makes the bog-standard ST feel like a wallowing
>hog and the VFRs finish/electronics are very good. The underseat exhuast
>allows no underseat storage.
>
>All in all it made me conclude that if I want a (balanced) Sports-Tourer
>I'll stick with the ST and upgrade the suspension on my 01 or 04 or even 05
>if Triumph don't get the message. Having said that, if the recent
>speculative MCN article on the 05 ST is correct, and they have not upgraded
>the suspension, then it will be such a huge anti-climax that I'm not sure
>I'll want another ST because of Triumphs ignorance in not listening to its
>customers. Where's that Duc dealers number again ;)
>
>Barry
>01 BRG ST
>
>
>
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