2006 Sprint ST "First Impressions"

[Spyda]

I bought my used Sprint on last Sunday and just got to take it out today for it's first semi-serious ride. I've had several ST bikes (2000 VFR (non-V-TEC), 2004 VFR (V-TEC), 2005 FJR1300) and a few other bikes (2002 Ducati Monster620, 2003 Monster1000, Honda VTX1800 and most recently a 2007 GSXR 750). My initial impression of the Sprint is that:

1. + My initial feeling pulling out of my driveway was that it was very comfortable.
2. + Even though it is significantly heavier than an inline-4 supersport, it handles exceptionally well.
3. + The power delivery is linear and super smooth!
4. - It redlines very quickly compared to the GSXR that I was used to riding.
5. + The rear visibility is awesome because the mirrors stick out so far!
6. - The rear visibility on the highway is average because the mirros shake so much.
7. + The tac is very easy to see.
8. - The speedo is very difficult to see and digest. The numbers are really small. A digital speedo would have made more sense on a bike like this.
9. - The front brakes are spongy and don't have a strong initial bite. I guess this could be the pads or the master cylinder, I have no idea when the pads were changed last or what kind of pads they are.
10. -, -, -, - WHERE IS THE GEAR INDICATOR????
11. + My feeling about 2 hours into the ride was that the bike was very comfortable and "roomy".
12. + The seat didn't "cup" my butt, so I could easily slide off of it in the twisties.
13. - The directional housing as well as the starter housing were both loose and freely rotating on the bars. I need to address this asap.
14. + The motor feels very strong!!
15. + The motor is reasonably quiet. (some may feel like that's a minus, but I think it's a plus).
16. + It's very stable on the highway and at 80mph in 6th gear it feels like the motor is barely working.
17. - The suspension feels a bit too mushy, especially in the switchbacks. I might just need to adjust it for a little more sport and a little less touring.
18. - Not having heated grips was a downer, but that's easily addressed.
19. +/- The wind protection to the body was great, but it was more or less hitting me in the neck and blowing up into my helmet. I guess I just need to put the chin piece back into my helmet, but that's going to be a downer this Summer when it gets hot. I'm pretty certain that I'm going to need to ride with my Panoptix glasses.
20. + The bike felt very confident/planted leaned over in the sweepers (not in the switchbacks).

I guess the pluses outweigh the minuses! I have a feeling that this is going to be a bike that I keep for a while. I was pretty set on just getting another VFR, but this is much better IMO, there is more power there and there's no annoying V-TEC business. I just wish that the motor revved out a little father and that there was a gear indicator. Now that I have a dedicated track bike and an ST bike, I think I'll be satisfied with my stable for quite a while!

[a1fa-]

Welcome to the family.

[Razzoo]

Welcome to the forum Spyda
Thanks for posting the list, and btw, I agree with most of your impressions.

Regarding the gear indicator: I have found I can pull off from a redlight in 1st 2nd or 3rd. I just try not to make it a practice
Regarding the speedo: Given the fun of the bike and the hard to read speedo, I am expecting a ticket, It's just a matter of time.

[NEV1050]

Hey Spyda, good to see that you are getting used to the sprint and enjoying it. They do benefit from suspension tweaking as you will find.
You need to realize that this is not a GSXR and use the torque more than extreme revs. These bikes don't need to see redline to make good power and speed . You just need to get used to the different power delivery. I have a GSXR1000 also and find that it is easier to ride the sprint fast and much more relaxed than the suzi. I love the way that the sprint makes good power in any gear at any rev range and you dont have to ring its neck to do it.
if you want faster acceleration, drop the front sprocket by one tooth . Cheers mate.

[DEcosse]

Gear Indicator:

This is a nice combo voltmeter/gear indicator by Acumen
Given the propensity for R/R concerns, this one is good device that kills two birds with the one proverbial stone.
(You should be good now on the R/R front though with the mods and new battery)
The Acumen has a pretty slow update when used on the ealrier models with the front wheel speed sender due to the low pulse per rev ratio. However on the late model with the output shaft sender, this should be much improved.
I LIKE gear indicators - some poopoo them but I personally think they are useful asset to have.



Brakes:

Many are satisfied with the Triumph 4-pots with a set of good pads.
You can also swap in Hayabusa Tokico 6 pots which are direct fit replacement.

Suspension

Good rear shock of your choice brand.
For front see this thread - can still even use your newly acquired 'Busa 6-pots!

[wannab]

As DeCoose said, some are happy with the stock brakes, some are not. I fell in the "are not" category. I did the 6 Piston swap. if you search "6 pots" or brakes, you will find all the info you need to know. I think it is listed in the "cheap mods" sticky too, along with all the donor bikes you can get them off of. you will get much better initial bite with the upgrade. congrats Oh, also, if you do the swap and have ABS, DO NOT let the M/C go low on fluid and get air into the lines. If you do, you have to go to the dealer to get the ABS "noids" fired by their computer to get a complete bleed. I did the swap, without having to, but an ounce of prevention......(yada yada). good luck, and enjoy it.

[uniqueadventures]

is your bike ABS?

if it is, then that could explain the spongy brakes - the ABS models seem to need a little bit of a squeeze.

Good write up - I'd have to agree with most of your points. Have you had a chance to ride in the dark yet? It will truly be "in the dark"...

Enjoy

[COBlue]

Welcome Spyda! Glad you like the Sprint over both VFRs as I did not get to ride a VFR before buying my Sprint. (Although there is a used one at my local T dealer!)

Re the windscreen, the early models had the lowest screen, and the 'aero' screen was an accessory update. The aero screen later became standard (sorry I forget the year, perhaps when they raised the bars) and is not too visually dirrerent from the original. There is also an Aero flip up screen which is readily apparent.

I have the aero on my '05 (and gen-mar risers) and I am fine with it at 5'9".

[Spyda]

Originally Posted by a1fa-

Welcome to the family.

Thanks! I feel right at home.

Originally Posted by Razzoo

Welcome to the forum Spyda
Thanks for posting the list, and btw, I agree with most of your impressions.

Regarding the gear indicator: I have found I can pull off from a redlight in 1st 2nd or 3rd. I just try not to make it a practice
Regarding the speedo: Given the fun of the bike and the hard to read speedo, I am expecting a ticket, It's just a matter of time.

Thanks! I played around with starting from a stop in 2nd and 3rd. 2nd was ok, but I thought it felt really bogged out in 3rd. I suppose that's to be expected! I hear you on the ticket. When I was on the highway I felt like I was crawling at 80mph. I think that had to do with the fact that I'm used to hearing a screaming gixxer motor!

Originally Posted by NEV1050

You need to realize that this is not a GSXR and use the torque more than extreme revs. These bikes don't need to see redline to make good power and speed . You just need to get used to the different power delivery. I have a GSXR1000 also and find that it is easier to ride the sprint fast and much more relaxed than the suzi. I love the way that the sprint makes good power in any gear at any rev range and you dont have to ring its neck to do it.

Hi NEV. That's precisely why I got it! It was nice having a huge powerband on the GSXR, but for the street I'd trade that with usable power. I just have to shift more and not be so lazy!

Originally Posted by DEcosse

Gear Indicator:

This is a nice combo voltmeter/gear indicator by Acumen
Given the propensity for R/R concerns, this one is good device that kills two birds with the one proverbial stone.
(You should be good now on the R/R front though with the mods and new battery)
The Acumen has a pretty slow update when used on the ealrier models with the front wheel speed sender due to the low pulse per rev ratio. However on the late model with the output shaft sender, this should be much improved.
I LIKE gear indicators - some poopoo them but I personally think they are useful asset to have.



Brakes:

Many are satisfied with the Triumph 4-pots with a set of good pads.
You can also swap in Hayabusa Tokico 6 pots which are direct fit replacement.

Suspension

Good rear shock of your choice brand.
For front see this thread - can still even use your newly acquired 'Busa 6-pots!

Thanks for all the info. I have an extra Acumen gear indicator that I may use on the Sprint. I'm bummed that Acumen doesn't offer a quick connect harness, but I've found some good how-to posts on here, now I just have to get the courage to actually do it!

I was doing some searching around in here on gear indicators and people seem really love/hate about them! I live near some really nice twisty roads in North Carolina and tend to ride very "spirited" so sometimes it's nice to know what gear I'm in when I'm coming up real hard on the brakes to a sharp turn. It only takes a split second to look down and check. The feeling you get when you let the clutch out in 1st gear by mistake is pretty crappy! That said, there is such a positive "KA-CHUNK" when you shift into 1st at speed that I probably won't be making that mistake!

WOW. Those front end conversions look great, but are WAY over my head.

Originally Posted by uniqueadventures

is your bike ABS?

if it is, then that could explain the spongy brakes - the ABS models seem to need a little bit of a squeeze.

Good write up - I'd have to agree with most of your points. Have you had a chance to ride in the dark yet? It will truly be "in the dark"...

Enjoy

My bike is non-ABS. I might give those 'busa brakes a go. I'm sure that's somethin that could be picked up easily on the 2nd hand market.

Originally Posted by COBlue

Welcome Spyda!

I have the aero on my '05 (and gen-mar risers) and I am fine with it at 5'9".

Thanks. I might give that Aero a shot!

[GizmoRider]

Can somebody 'splain to me how the Accumen indicator works without any connection to the gearbox? I understand road speed vs rev calculation, but I can't see how it can accurately tell what gear you're in (especially if you're starting off in second gear...out of normal sequence).