Sprint ST the new Kawi Concours?

[ikonoklass]

The Sprint ST, with its "new and improved" pricing, represents an exceptional value in a sport-touring motorcyle. It's light, powerful enough, and equipped to go anywhere. Its few shortcomings--bad seat, middling suspension--are easily fixed. I find the styling to be exceptionally good and likely to continue looking good for a long time, as opposed to the Daytona 600, which will look dated in short order. I wonder if the ST might wind up like the Concours... not cutting edge, but too good as-is to update, because it will probably sell well for years to come without any improvements. I also haven't heard any rumors of updates to the 955 engine, and Triumph's focus seems to be elsewhere. Thoughts?

[dolson]

With me you are preaching to the choir though I feel that the engine in itself is pretty cutting edge in it's latest iteration. The only thing with it and, it's more political than anything else is the fuel mapping is on the lean side through the major area of it's power making capabilities.
That too though is easily remedied. I've found for me that it's the best non-mental liter engine out there and that she has plenty of cojonies for me. If I wanted something more I'd buy something else.

I also find nothing wrong with it's styling. If I wanted something more "hard edged" I'd take a class in origami. After all, I dare anyone to say that an E or especially D type Jag looks dated.

I'd be hard pressed to make any recommendations on what to upgrade. Anything would be of a personal nature not befitting a manufacture to do.

I get 47mpg riding with my idiot friends on the logging roads or get 53-54mpg in touring mode in the 75-90mph range on the secondary mountain roads. I don't think there's another bike that can do that.

Just my thoughts,

Don

[preachp]

Hi All,
"Sprint St the new Kawi Concours?"

Could be, but with a lot more class, and a much better engine.

Preachp :-D

[rodneybrown]

Bought a new 02Connie in October 01. By June 03 and after spending $3000 trying to get it "right" I put my title in the bag and was heading to buy an SV1000 or FZ1. Stopped by the guy who sold me the Connie and he said take that green ST for a spin and take your time getting it back. The next day I bought my Sprint and have loved it ever since.

Comparing a Sprint to a Connie is like comparing a Quarter Horse to a Purchuron. One isn't the fastest but does lots of things well. The other is just a work horse. A good work horse, but nothing more.

[woodrow]

I test rode a Connie before buying the ST. As for ergos, the Connie comes out on top, but the performance, appearance, handling - I will go with the ST anyday. No way will she ever leave my stable!

[ikonoklass]

We all know which is the better machine. My point is, both bikes are at a point on the price/performance continuum to sell well enough without future improvement to justify keeping them unchanged for a long time.

[kann]

I see the theory you are making here, however, I think that Kawasaki can do that because they have the income elsewhere to allow them to. I mean, Look at how many different products, not just motorcycles, Kawasaki sells. The Connie is also not their only tourer/ST.

So, they have a hit with the Connie. Just like the little EX250, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's been selling steadily for years due to price and reliability.

Triumph, although not floundering by any means, can't afford to do that. They don't have that mass market that Kawasaki and the other Japanese bikes have. They are going to need to keep updating with the times. I mean, they've got only a handful of models to work with, and their best sellers are the cruisers.

I would like to see the ST as the "'Ol Reliable", but I dont' think it can happen.

nk

While I agree with your assessment regarding the styling of the Sprint, it's too bad you're glasses are fogged regarding the Daytona styling. I own both and don't offer my own opinion, but those of others. To a person, it's "that bike is great", or "the yellow is dynamic and is totally better looking than the R6". These comments are from individuals who own 600 and 1 litre bikes. And they are not being charitable.
With a pipe, fender clean up kit and K&N air filter, the 600 screams. Do the same for the ST and you've got a great mix. Put a Sargent seat on the ST and, as my wife says, "let's put 200 on the bike today".
Rock 'n' roll. :-D

[ikonoklass]

I think the Daytona 600 looks sweet, particularly in yellow with the ValMoto paintjob. But I think the angular look will require updating within about three years, whereas the Sprint's look is less "cutting edge," and therefore can go unchanged for a longer period. As to the ST being updated or remaining the same, it's an interesting question. It's not absolutely necessary that a new engine precede an update, but that seems like the most natural way for it to happen. And the engine can't be updated too radically without exceeding 1000 CCs, which is a magic number in terms of marketing. If they're going to create a new engine, I would think they'd want to use it in the Daytona and S3, as well, and having already had a 1200 CC Daytona, I don't think Triumph wants to go too far back in that direction. On the other hand, they could do a styling update without a new engine, like they did with the Daytona this year. But that would really screw with the aftermarket, and give them reasons not to make accessories for our beloved bike. As far as Kawasaki goes, the fact that Triumph's cruisers are its best sellers seems to indicate that they DON'T need to keep up with the times. Kawasaki's only other ST also uses warmed-over technology, and I would bet dollars to donuts that the Connie makes more money for Kawasaki than the ZZR1200 ever will. You make a lot more dough selling the same bike year in, year out, made with fully amortized equipment, than you do reinventing the wheel every year. That's why I think the strategy would work even better for Triumph than for a big company like Kawasaki, where the mass market DEMANDS cutting edge products, since there is little brand value. Regardless, I hope they DO update the ST in a year or two, as I feel a lot of brand loyalty toward Triumph, and would like to own another one. Final thought: Kawasaki's flagship bike is its new literbike, and it has stiff competition from all three of its Japanese rivals, two of which have done complete re-do's to compete this year. Triumph's flagship bike hasn't touched American soil yet and has NO meaningful competition.