Author Topic: Now: I got the Sprint ST (Read 17157 times)

medic09 · « **Reply #50 on:** June 21, 2007, 09:01:00 AM »

We've ridden two-up only a few times so far, for short distances. I'd like to do it more, and have it in mind while looking for a bike. The Honda has no backrest, and she doesn't like that for any great distance.

So far, all the bikes are out-of-town, so taking her with me isn't practical.

loonymoon · « **Reply #51 on:** June 21, 2007, 03:57:50 PM »

Shame.

Without something behind you, riding pillion is more tiring. I don't mind it too much though but under heavy acceleration it can feel like you're going to get thrown off the back!! But hey I thought you'd like her clinging on to you.... lol

medic09 · « **Reply #52 on:** June 21, 2007, 04:09:00 PM »

Quote from: loonymoon on June 21, 2007, 03:57:50 PM

But hey I thought you'd like her clinging on to you.... lol

That's precisely the excuse I gave her!

The only backrest I have for the Honda has to attach to an ugly, ponderous looking rack. I did tell her I'll clean it up and see if it'll work.

loonymoon · « **Reply #53 on:** June 21, 2007, 04:17:55 PM »

Or you could get some of those "love handles" things that sportsbike riders have for their pillions to hold on too....

Well we've successfully managed to take this thread to 4 pages already - I'm on tenterhooks now wanting to see what you get!! Whatever it is I'm sure you'll have fun in the looking and buying!!

medic09 · « **Reply #54 on:** June 21, 2007, 05:20:42 PM »

Well, I'm leaning more towards the Sprint ST than a Trophy, that's pretty sure. I found one about 300 miles from here, but the owner is having regrets that he listed it. I just got a response to a WTB that I posted, so I'm waiting for more info on that. I'd have to add bags, but it sounds pretty complete otherwise. There's on on Ebay about 550 miles from here at a dealer, and I've sent them an inquiry. I've posted on TriumphRat, too.

Since I just discovered that the exhaust (#4 header) on my Honda has completely corroded through, I think my lovely wife will see this as more urgent.

You'll be the first to know, after us!

loonymoon · « **Reply #55 on:** June 22, 2007, 01:33:56 AM »

Cool

Looking forward to seeing what you get, so post some pics once you have time.

Poor old honda though

- hope you can get a new header for her!!

medic09 · « **Reply #56 on:** June 22, 2007, 04:48:50 AM »

Well, unless a) the perfect bike just jumps out at us, or b) my Honda becomes unrideable, she'd like to wait 3 months till we pay off our Subaru. Can't say she's wrong; so I'll just hope we find the *perfect* bike!

I'm still waiting for pics and more info from the guy that answered my WTB listing in craigslist.

medic09 · « **Reply #57 on:** June 24, 2007, 07:02:58 AM »

Going to look at this one later in the week...

DarkRider · « **Reply #58 on:** June 24, 2007, 10:38:00 AM »

Looks good man

medic09 · « **Reply #59 on:** June 24, 2007, 12:48:59 PM »

Quote from: OutlawZ24 on June 24, 2007, 10:38:00 AM

Looks good man

Yeah, that's what my wife said.

We'll see if it looks and sounds and rides that good close up...

loonymoon · « **Reply #60 on:** June 24, 2007, 01:06:18 PM »

Wow it looks really clean.

It's the same colour as my dads one, nice blue that and looks good with the sun on it. My dad's isn't as clean as that but I suspect it's not as new as that one and it has had a relatively hard life with all the long distance touring!!

Panniers as well that's good.

My dad has got the fitted pannier bags that go inside. They're invaluble when packing for a trip, make the whole thing so much easier and you know exactly how much space you have left in each side. He has a big top box on his too which has a kind of back rest for the pillion. I have ridden pillion with only the panniers on and no top box and it was still fine, comfy and I didn't feel too much like I'd go flying off the back you can practically fall asleep on the back with the top box there though.

Hope your test ride is as good as the pic promises.

medic09 · « **Reply #61 on:** June 24, 2007, 01:11:04 PM »

Quote from: loonymoon on June 24, 2007, 01:06:18 PM

Wow it looks really clean.

It's the same colour as my dads one, nice blue that and looks good with the sun on it. My dad's isn't as clean as that but I suspect it's not as new as that one and it has had a relatively hard life with all the long distance touring!!

Panniers as well that's good.

My dad has got the fitted pannier bags that go inside. They're invaluble when packing for a trip, make the whole thing so much easier and you know exactly how much space you have left in each side. He has a big top box on his too which has a kind of back rest for the pillion. I have ridden pillion with only the panniers on and no top box and it was still fine, comfy and I didn't feel too much like I'd go flying off the back you can practically fall asleep on the back with the top box there though.

Hope your test ride is as good as the pic promises.

You're ahead of me...

I was going to ask you if your dad did something for a pillion backrest. My wife and I were just talking about that.

I will of course keep you apprised.

Mind you, I'll not get the reactions I get with my Honda. We rode to a touristy little town called Madrid, and parked in front of a bar with several dozen other bikes: mostly Harleys, including some choppers, and other big bikes. Soon as I parked the 750Four, all eyes were on it and a couple of guys came up to look and ask about it. There's nothing like riding a history-making bike.

loonymoon · « **Reply #62 on:** June 24, 2007, 01:16:22 PM »

Quote from: medic09 on June 24, 2007, 01:11:04 PM

You're ahead of me... I was going to ask you if your dad did something for a pillion backrest. My wife and I were just talking about that.

I will of course keep you apprised.

Mind you, I'll not get the reactions I get with my Honda. We rode to a touristy little town called Madrid, and parked in front of a bar with several dozen other bikes: mostly Harleys, including some choppers, and other big bikes. Soon as I parked the 750Four, all eyes were on it and a couple of guys came up to look and ask about it. There's nothing like riding a history-making bike.

Yes pulling up pretty much anywhere where there's other motorcycles in the UK on the 350 usually causes a stir. Even if the crowd are all plastic rocket riders, they see the 350 and look at it really quizzically trying to figure out why such a small motorcycle has 4 - yes 4 exhaust pipes!!

The triumph won't get that reaction I'm afraid, but it is a nice looking bike, just not anything unusual. Perhaps in 20 years time hey...!!

Yes the Triumph top box has a kind of back rest for the pillion. Nothing amazing just a little bit of plastic. You may be able to get other boxes, but of course they won't be nice and colour coded like the panniers if they're not Triumph ones. I don't know whether they did a pillion backrest as such - maybe!!

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #63 on:** June 24, 2007, 01:24:31 PM »

Here's mine...

Better than the VFR

loonymoon · « **Reply #64 on:** June 24, 2007, 01:43:55 PM »

Quote from: SteveD CB500F on June 24, 2007, 01:24:31 PM

Here's mine...

Better than the VFR

#

Forgot that you have one now Steve, I thought you'd have piped up earlier giving us the virtues of the VFR, glad you like the Triumph too, I felt a bit of a traitor suggesting a Triumph over a Honda.

Yours is a nice bike- looks good in red too. They look really sporty with no panniers but with they're a proper tourer too. Very versatile.

medic09 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 24, 2007, 04:01:49 PM »

So Steve, how's the riding posture? I like the sit-up posture that I have on my Honda. A bit of forward is okay; but I wouldn't want much. Are you using the nice looking bike mostly as a sport rider, or touring? C'mon, let's hear some opinion from you!

DarkRider · « **Reply #66 on:** June 24, 2007, 06:25:45 PM »

It seems you would be best with either the Triumph or an older VFR with hard bags on it like the one steve had. Either bike would serve the purpose well.

medic09 · « **Reply #67 on:** June 24, 2007, 08:55:18 PM »

Okay, Tuesday I go to see the blue Sprint ST.

Do you all think I'll be distracted at work tomorrow?

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #68 on:** June 25, 2007, 01:16:35 AM »

Quote from: medic09 on June 24, 2007, 04:01:49 PM

C'mon, let's hear some opinion from you!

OK. Here goes.

I had a VFR800 (non-VTEC) for a year and covered 10k miles. It was good at everything and sounded awesome with a Micron race can. However, it gave me a numb right foot and throttle hand after about an hour in the saddle. This may have been specific to the bike but I could never find the source of the high frequency vibes that caused it.

The Sprint was generally praised by the boys on the VFR site, so I thought I'd try one.

As "Sports Tourers" (Triumph call them "Urban Sports"), they both meet the requirement by being completely different!

The Triumph is very torquey; it will pull from 1500rpm and is red-lined at 9500 (with a rev limiter). The VFR is gutless below 3500rpm and is red-lined at 12,500rpm. 1-0 to the Triumph then for round town rideability.

The triple sound is as unique as the V-Four growl. Evens.

The VFR has linked brakes, which I really liked. I've now got used to "un-linked" brakes.

The Sprint is a Triumph, which means something special in the UK. It's just great to ride a modern bike that outsells the VFR (in UK this year so far) with that iconic badge on the tank.

The engine does it for me though. The 955i triple is just fantastic!

medic09 · « **Reply #69 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:24:37 AM »

Steve, what do you think of the Sprint ST as a touring bike?

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:42:23 AM »

I don't "tour" as such, but do ride 150+ miles at a time to meetings as part of my business (and 150 miles back afterwards)

The Sprint is more comfy than the VFR (IMHO).

I have a large Givi Monokey topbox fitted which keeps my backpack/notebooks/waterproofs safe and fits my helmet when parked. I had the Givi on the VFR and merely bought a new adaptor plate for the rack. I've not used panniers (other than a set of throw-overs on my 500 way back) but the guys that do have the Triumph panniers swear by them. They are wider than the mirrors so be careful filtering!!

In the UK, a new Sprint will come with luggage as standard.

The thing I could really do with is a SatNav as I tend to print Google Maps and stuff them in my pockets!

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #71 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:44:29 AM »

Oh and...

on those long "commutes" I get 220 miles from a tank of fuel. That's 55+ mpg (imperial) which is pretty good for a 110bhp bike and 10mpg better than the VFR.

Even on a ride-out in the twisties, I'll still get 200 miles to the tank.

medic09 · « **Reply #72 on:** June 25, 2007, 07:22:59 AM »

Quote from: SteveD CB500F on June 25, 2007, 06:44:29 AM

Oh and...

on those long "commutes" I get 220 miles from a tank of fuel. That's 55+ mpg (imperial) which is pretty good for a 110bhp bike and 10mpg better than the VFR.

Even on a ride-out in the twisties, I'll still get 200 miles to the tank.

It all sounds pretty good; better than my Honda in *some* ways. Nothing, of course, has the character of a 750Four.

Thanks for the input, especially the commuting part. My commute by bike is about 130 miles/day roundtrip; just enough to have fun. Especially if I have time to take the long way home through the mountains.

I'm looking forward to checking out this bike tomorrow.

Off to work...

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #73 on:** June 25, 2007, 07:33:58 AM »

I've had my Sprint for 10 weeks and have done 4000 miles on it. That's not something I'd want to subject my 500/4 to...

loonymoon · « **Reply #74 on:** June 25, 2007, 07:46:40 AM »

Dad uses a Garmin Sat Nav on his Sprint when they've over in Europe touring round France etc. It's really good and finds them interesting ways out of cities sometimes!! Once it even took them down a lane that was so narrow there's no way a car would get down it, it turned out to be a great way out of the city, for a bike at least!!!

The panniers are wide enough to fit a helmet in. So if you get the big topbox and the panniers you can carry 4 helmets... not that you'd want to though!!

News:

Author Topic: Now: I got the Sprint ST (Read 17157 times)