[ST] '05 Model test ride

["CAPT Howard S. Serlick USNR" <serlick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all:
	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.
	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. Firmness and shape suit me well. Reach to 
the bars and controls is virtually the same. Seating position is a tiny bit more 
upright than our earlier models. Very comfortable to make the transition as 
switchgear on left and right bars is identical to '02-'04 models and not much 
different than earlier models.
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.
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.
4. Brakes- excellent as usual.
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!
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.
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.
	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.

Be safe out there,
Howard Serlick
Philadelphia
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