Sprint St Vs Speed Triple debate again

[Mi-KEY]

But this time with a bit of a twist...

Hi All,
I have an 07 Sprint ST that was my first big bike that I bought for touring, commuting to work, and having fun on.

Tours haven't and prob won't happen.
I do have a lot of fun on her, but (and here is the twist) she is too heavy at the end of a ride day because I have two dud arms form an earlier industrial accident. Because of my arms not being as strong as the rest of me, I always feel like the Sprint is too heavy to haul into corners fast, and then I end up going way slower than I otherwise could,.
I end up losing confidence and my mates because of the weight I feel she has...
Does that make sense at all??

Anyway, I have ridden the S3 and its little brother a bit, and love them. I am in the position to possibly get an S3 soon. The Street is not an option, as I am used to the 1050 donk.

Does anyone have any observations similar to mine?
Does the S3 have those issues? I am assuming the S3 would do the daily commute (7klms) with no worries at all...


Thanks for any comments, and apologies for not making much sense.

Mikey

[DADDI]

Hi Mikey,

The speedy is really easy to throw around and the wide handle bars make a big difference here. I used to have an R1 and a Hayabusa the busa was way heaver than the S3. Hope this helps.

[roxxo]

Originally Posted by Mi-KEY

But this time with a bit of a twist...

Hi All,
I have an 07 Sprint ST that was my first big bike that I bought for touring, commuting to work, and having fun on.

Tours haven't and prob won't happen.
I do have a lot of fun on her, but (and here is the twist) she is too heavy at the end of a ride day because I have two dud arms form an earlier industrial accident. Because of my arms not being as strong as the rest of me, I always feel like the Sprint is too heavy to haul into corners fast, and then I end up going way slower than I otherwise could,.
I end up losing confidence and my mates because of the weight I feel she has...
Does that make sense at all??

Anyway, I have ridden the S3 and its little brother a bit, and love them. I am in the position to possibly get an S3 soon. The Street is not an option, as I am used to the 1050 donk.

Does anyone have any observations similar to mine?
Does the S3 have those issues? I am assuming the S3 would do the daily commute (7klms) with no worries at all...


Thanks for any comments, and apologies for not making much sense.

Mikey

Makes sense to me Mikey. Sound like a confidence thing. So here's my thoughts.

I. No offence meant but "It's not what you ride it's the way that you ride it."
Counter steering is the technique required for easy quick direction changes.

The weight of a bike really only becomes an issue when doing walking pace manoeuvres or pushing the bike around in the driveway or the garage.

II. If you get it into your mind that you are not satisfied with a particular bike then you never will be.
Lifes too short, change the bike for one that you really want / like.

III. Dont be put off my smaller ccs, less power/torque. The Street Triple is a fantastic bike.
We all ride bikes that have way too much power that few of us rarely use.
I have had 36 bikes in 34 years of biking, ranging from 12 BHP to 150 BHP and can honestly say I have had just as much fun, if not more, on smaller bikes.
If it's a macho/image thing, no probs buy what you want.

If through incapacity you really are having problems riding a more sporty styled bike, the Sprint isn't a sports bike though have you thought about having your riding assessed and getting some tuition?

The above isn't meant to have a go at you or belittle your problems, but is meant to be constructive.

Just to repeat myself, old people do that :-), life really is too short to put up with something you are not satified with.
Buy a new bike. If that doesn't suit, sell it and buy another one.
Easy to say I know but you're a long time dead.

Best wishes to you.
:

[DADDI]

Like Roxxo said counter steering is the key to make cornering easy but what a lot of bikers do is that when cornering they tense up. The trick is to relax just like your on your lounge but don’t go to sleep LOL. Its way easy to be tense especially when the pace gets faster. Try to relax and you will be amazed at the difference. Also practice getting your butt off the seat just like the racers do you don’t have to do it all the time just till you feel comfortable with it then just go back to riding normal. It might seem funny telling you to practice this but it will save you butt if you go in to a corner to hot.

[Synergy]

Both the Sprint ST and Speed Triple will steer easily.

Technique wise just try to relax on your rides - you'll be faster. Also, try to lean forward into the bike. This will take some of the bodyweight off your arms (taking the strain on your stomach) and help reduce tiredness.

Don't grip the bars too tight, or lock your arms straight, as this will also make you tired.

When cornering try to make sure your inside elbow is bent a touch and drop the corresponding shoulder a little. You shouldn't need to get out of the saddle to corner easily, save that for the track. Plus, moving around in the saddle is just going to tire you out more.

You might also try a few exercises to build some more strength in your limbs.

Good luck!

[Mi-KEY]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Roxxo, no offence taken at all.

The problems only arise at the end of a bigger ride day, or if I am in considerable pain (sometimes it is constant and quite chronic). To give a bit more detail, I am missing part of the scapular and all the deltoid muscles on my left arm, have constant pins and needles in the left hand (and not much feeling beyond that) with a lot less strength than my right, and courtesy of the industrial accident which caused said damage, the Dr's had to remove a flap of muscle from my right forearm to place on my left shoulder, leaving that one prone to fatigue. Even writing is a problem a lot of the time. Typing is a two fingered affair - that is prob most of us though :-D.

I have attended the Superbike School Level 1 here in Sydney, and am an active counter steerer - something I learned a long time ago form my dad. Confidence only becomes a problem once I am in a lot of pain. It is possible I do tense up before bends later in the day, but not really because I am scared of the bike/road/my abilities. It tends to be when I am fatigued and have two sore arms.

But yep, I do have it in my head that I don't like the bike (My Sprint ST)... you got that bit 100% right. . Most of everything you wrote was great, and not at all offensive.
I have also been thinking more about your comment on the Striple 675. I first rode that bike, and thought it was the most fun I had ever had on two wheels. With the second, and more intense ride I had on it, I found the rear wallowed a little under my 98kg weight in faster bends (maybe fixable with a stiffer shock - haven't investigated that). Apart from that, it was great - albeit it lacking the grunt of the big engine. I'll take it for another spin this week and see how I feel.


Thanks again guys.

Really appreciate it.
Mikey

[roxxo]

Originally Posted by Mi-KEY

Thanks for the comments guys.

Roxxo, no offence taken at all.

The problems only arise at the end of a bigger ride day, or if I am in considerable pain (sometimes it is constant and quite chronic). To give a bit more detail, I am missing part of the scapular and all the deltoid muscles on my left arm, have constant pins and needles in the left hand (and not much feeling beyond that) with a lot less strength than my right, and courtesy of the industrial accident which caused said damage, the Dr's had to remove a flap of muscle from my right forearm to place on my left shoulder, leaving that one prone to fatigue. Even writing is a problem a lot of the time. Typing is a two fingered affair - that is prob most of us though :-D.

I have attended the Superbike School Level 1 here in Sydney, and am an active counter steerer - something I learned a long time ago form my dad. Confidence only becomes a problem once I am in a lot of pain. It is possible I do tense up before bends later in the day, but not really because I am scared of the bike/road/my abilities. It tends to be when I am fatigued and have two sore arms.

But yep, I do have it in my head that I don't like the bike (My Sprint ST)... you got that bit 100% right. . Most of everything you wrote was great, and not at all offensive.
I have also been thinking more about your comment on the Striple 675. I first rode that bike, and thought it was the most fun I had ever had on two wheels. With the second, and more intense ride I had on it, I found the rear wallowed a little under my 98kg weight in faster bends (maybe fixable with a stiffer shock - haven't investigated that). Apart from that, it was great - albeit it lacking the grunt of the big engine. I'll take it for another spin this week and see how I feel.


Thanks again guys.

Really appreciate it.
Mikey

Hi mikey

Bloody hell mate. Didn't realise the extent of your problems.
Seems you've done all the "right" things" and need a change of bike.

I don't know what the dealers are like in your neck of the woods, but here, I cannot fault Webbs of Lincoln. You can take out any of their demonstrators for as long as you want. I had the Speed triple out for 3 hours one morning and then went out another day on it for about an hour with my wife on the back. Having said that, I had made up my mind that I wanted a Speed Triple and would have bought one anyway without a test ride :-)

Your comments echo what I was told by a bloke with a Street Triple when I had my bike in for it's first service. A mate of his was racing a Daytona 675 and had fitted an Ohlins rear unit to his race bike and then sold the standard unit to him which he fitted to his Street Triple. He said that it had firmed up the rear and transformed the handling. Maybe that's the way to go and fit a Daytona shock.

Hope you get sorted and satisfied.
:

[Goffe]

I partially ruptured a couple of tendons on my right bicep two years ago, and despite PT and continual workouts, it still isn't on par with the right. I notice it mostly at the end of track days (when I am hanging off way more than street riding). However, I suspect that even if you want to tour, you will run into fatigue regardless of the bike. Taking weight off your arms should help, and either Speedys' more upright position should help. Also, and I think more significantly, strengthening your core muscles - stomach, back, hips, etc. - will allow your arms to do less work. I think that is one of the keys to lessening riding fatigue overall, as well as allowing you to shift your weight easily and more effectively. It has really helped me. 02

[DADDI]

Im not sure how much lean forward the ST sprint has but the speedy would help with you prob as less weight on the arms. The street triple is a great bike and i was surprised at the power it has and it handled really well but what i dont like with smaller bikes is that they rev to high for my likeing so biger bike less revs last longer.

[listo]

I was able to ride the 08' Sprint ST at my local dealer demo over the weekend. I found it to be a very comfortable bike. Very similar to my brothers 99' Honda VFR, but with less weighty feel. It had alittle lower seat than the S3 but alittle more sporty feel on the bars as they are clipons but with risers. I felt the 1050 motor was really detuned from the S3 as it didn't have the grunt that the S3 had. But the gearing was really nice and just like the S3 you could practically stay in 3rd or 4th gear all day long. It really cornered good too. Granted I was on the demo ride but I backed off from the guy in front of me and got a few good dives into corners on it and it was really fun to ride. Had a smile the entire time. They didn't have the hard bags installed so I don't know if that would have made any differences in handles or not.

If I was going for a sport tourer I'd have to give it serious thoughts. For everyday riding I wouldn't trade my S3 on it though. I'd miss the torque monster that it is.