Sprint vs other Sport Touring Bikes

[mjac62]

A friend of mine is an avid Ducati guy who owned the ST3 & ST4 models in the past. He now has the Aprillia Futura 1000. He is selling the Aprillia now and is deciding on a new bike. I suggected the new Sprint 2006 ABS model. Since I have never driven a Sprint, I could not tell him the comparisions. Can I get some feedback from what you all think about Triumph vs Ducati , or even BMW comperable sport touring bikes ? A real open minded opinion not just a pro Triumph opinion unless it's factual. Thanks :???:

[ This message was edited by: mjac62 on 2006-07-27 18:27 ]

[ufosprint]

Before I purchased my Sprint, I looked at Ducati St's, price to high for less power and higher maintenance costs. Yamaha FJR 1300, great bike, just too much to the touring side for me. Honda ST1300, also a great bike and too much towards touring for me. I never considered a BMW, higher price and not fond of the egros. Keep in mind I have a HD Touring Bike that I use for 2 up Touring. The Sprint is more Sport than Touring and that's what I was looking for at the time.

[ This message was edited by: ufosprint on 2006-07-27 18:39 ]

[Beach]

I had a very good look around when I jumped off my 99 ST and I ended up with a 05 ST.

BMW was way to expensive (30k vs 20k) and the after sales service did not impress me.

Ditto Aprilia.

VFR just didnt do it for me and its in bad need of an update.

Ducati doesnt have the long term reliability I'm looking for and servicing is expensive.

FJR & ST 1300 are to much on the touring side.

Value for money and the overall package is what puts the ST in front.

And that updated motor is oh so sweeet! :-D

On the down side the suspension is a tad soft and needs upgrading. The factory luggage is c*** IMHO, although some people like it. Then there is the much discussed front brake and heat ussues.

My advice in these situations is to keep an open mind, really be honest with the sort of riding you will be doing and ride everything. Twice.

Hope this helps.

Brett.

I have a few points to add. I have aquaintences with Honda VFRs who are very happy with them. I have never ridden one and can't comment much beyond that.

Although the FJR is bigger and heavier, it does have some cool features. It has BIG power and punch and I love the windscreen that can be moved with a button. It might take a little more skill but one can make an FJR move through the twisities on a par with an ST.

I would agree about the BMWs, too much money for less power. Although I have not ridden the new models and my opion could be changed. I rented what was supposed to be the sport touring model exactly 4 years ago on a trip in Scotland. We were riding 2 up with quite a bit of gear. It did not move nearly as well as my Sprint ST. I was rowing through the gears much more with the BMW and much more concerned with power (or lack of it) in tricky situations. My wife did almost insist I get a top box after that though for the comfort leaning on it provided her (I did).

David H.

[Aske]

If your friend is looking at Ducatis and Aprilias, he's biased toward the sport end of sport-touring. That knocks a few bikes out of consideration (FJR, ST1300, etc.). I've ridden the 2006 VFR and I test-rode the Sprint ST/ABS and a Ducati ST4s (side by side).

The VFR is nice, but it's somewhat underpowered for its weight and the real power (and especially torque) is a tad high in the rev band for all-around riding, IMO. There is an insane aftermarket from which one can truly customize a VFR. The VFR was the most comfortable bike for me from the waist down, and middle of the three for upper body. (I'm 6' with long-ish arms and legs.)

The ST4s was nice. The one I tested was used and had a very slight shimmy in higher-speed sweepers -- disconcerting. The power was very usable, although the "s" engine really needs to be spun to get to it. Torque was better than the VFR at comparable revs, IMO. The exhaust note is incredible, and I very nearly bought it just to have that song in my garage! The ST4s was the second most comfortable bike for me from the waist down, and worst of the three for upper body (most crouched over). The Duc is costlier and its maintenance schedule means you'll bleed money even faster. To some buyers, though, that may not be a huge deterrant; don't know where your friend is on that spectrum.

The Sprint was very comfortable, although my 35"-inseam legs are a little more folded than I'd hoped for. I've ridden it for hours without pain or significant discomfort. Power is accessible seemingly everywhere and the handling is sporty, although I think ST4s with a properly sorted out suspension would have been more surefooted and fun in the twisties. The Sprint was actually the least comfortable bike for me from the waist down, but best of the three for upper body. The heat issue and the hard bags definitely are detractions, although the bags aren't THAT bad. (And I haven't seen Ducati hard cases to compare them.)

A bike that's not been mentioned yet is the K1200S. I found it fantastically comfy, frighteningly powerful, and extremely capable. You can easily fit on BMW or Givi bags. I also found its $18,595USD sticker price a bit too much for my wife's liking.

[Stiles]

I rode the ST4, the VFR800, ST1300, FJR1300 and the Aprilia Futura for the last few Americades, about 100 miles each over the same mountain roads back to back.

Aprilia Pluses:
The Aprilia had great power out of a relatively crude feeling engine. Very sporting handling and feel. Love-it-or-hate it styling.

Minuses:
Vibratey, poor seat, expensive for what you got, sparse and distant dealer network, reliability unknown at the time, very expensive (for me) to insure.

ST4: pluses: light, good power, great sound, good bags, nice styling IMHO. Exellent handling.

Minuses: expensive and frequent maintenance, long term reliability issues, expensive to start with, seat only average at best.

VFR pluses: exellent fit and finish, great sound, very smooth, very reliable, good handling.

Minuses: needlessly complicated VTEC makes maintenance very expensive, underpowered compared to the competition, expensive with bags, expensive to insure, glitchy injection/VTEC operation.

ST1300 pluses: very comfortable, big, well integrated bags, shaft drive, good seat, exellent wind protection, very smooth. Cheap to insure for it's size.

Minuses: definitely more "touring" than "sport". Heavy, big, bulky to handle at low speeds, although things improve a lot as you get past parking lot speed. Expensive.

FJR1300 pluses: Exellent power, smooth, good bags, nifty power windscreen works well. Decent seat, good overall quality. good instrumentation.

Minuses: heat issues (resolved for this year, i'm told), generic UJM-feeling engine compared to the rest of this crowd, expensive to insure (for me).

Sprint pluses ( I have an '02 ST, haven't ridden the '06s yet so YMMV): smooth, good power, good character to the engine, good injection, good handling. Cheap to insure, a good deal (I paid $9K for mine new in '03 with free bags). Definitely on the "sport" side of sport-touring. Very reliable (22K on mine so far with no problems).

Minuses: fit and finish not up to Honda standards, poor seat, brakes need periodic piston re-seat to keep firm lever.

[ This message was edited by: Stiles on 2006-07-28 13:18 ]

[iceman]

its been pretty well covered above already but .... I considered VFR800, ST3, Aprilia Futura, and 05 Sprint ST.

I had already decided I wanted a Sprint and had nearly bought an 02 Sprint a couple of years previously.When the new 05 Sprint came out it was love at first sight but I did try to make an objective decision.

VFR800 - a smaller bike physically and the 800cc engine is struggling to do what the 1050cc does so well.A well built bike though.

Aprilia Futura - I was quite taken by this but I know some cant stand the look of them.No longer in production and less dealer support in NZ so probably not very practical in the long term.

Ducati ST3 - about the same price as the new Sprint.Starting to look a bit tired and some nagging issues with reliability and costs of servicing.My 2nd choice.

05 Sprint ST - the clear winner for me.It has it all - looks,sound,handling,comfort,good price,and the sweetest engine.12 months and 8500km on and I still think I made the right decision. :-D

If I was doing more long distance riding probably the Honda ST1300 - a bit of a whale but a superb tourer.

I didnt look at BMWs.

Hope this helps,

Grant

[DaveM]

I'll add my simple Sprint ST resume'.

although my comments are based on an '04 955i model.

The Sprint is a lot of bang for your buck. Very good pricing.

Handles well except on very bumpy roads and being pushed along really quick. A suspension upgrade can fix it if it bothers you that much. (it doesn't bother me that much I just ride the pants off it).

Even with a suspender upgrade it's cheaper than the Dukes or Beemers.

If you ride hard in the corners it will put a smile on your dial, it tracks like a Rhino on heat in a corner ........ I love it!!!!!!!!

The engine is a superbly balanced peice of motorcyling engineering, good smooth power everywhere you look.
Torque of a V-twin with the revs of a four and silky smooth.
(did I mention it was smooth?)

Comfort good for pillion also and good grab rails.

Brakes good (mine are and that's that)

Quality of finish as good as most Jap stuff IMHO but some minor niggles here and there.

Has truck loads of character.
It is a real motorcylists Motorcycle.

Service costs and intervals comparable with Japo stuff and cheapr than a Duke or Beemer.

It is the sort of bike you just want bto get out and keep riding and you quickly fall in love with even though like all bikes it has a few minor flaws.

Therya go!

Davem

[Aske]

On 2006-07-28 14:13, iceman wrote:
VFR800 - a smaller bike physically and the 800cc engine is struggling to do what the 1050cc does so well. A well built bike though.

Check out the specs on the 2006 VFR800i and Sprint ST. The VFR is 7 pounds heavier; and the wheelbase and seat height are almost identical. Surprising.

[iceman]

yes Aske, I remember checking the specs and they measured up very similar.I just felt that the Sprint feels roomier - I felt that the VFR would feel a bit cramped after a while as I am approx 6' tall.

Another bike that I looked long and hard at was the Kawasaki ZZR1200 (might be a different model no in USA).I liked the big bike feel to it but it was on carburettors and the end of the model run.Also it was at a disadvantage with 4 cylinders as I really do prefer the triple.A good price though.

I really do need a stable with about 4 bikes in it.

Grant :-D