Test ride on Sprint ST and concerns

On 2006-08-16 16:00, rodsprint wrote:
comparing an st with a sv650.
you have to be kidding :???:

Having only ridden an SV650S, I don't know what else to comare it to.. Would you compare it to the SV1000S? From what I hear, the SV1000S has more power but less on everything else compared to the SV650S.

On 2006-08-16 17:08, david_m wrote:
What other bikes are you considering? I looked at:

Ducati ST3s - $5,000 more expensive, but great suspension. Didn't have as much power as I wanted. In the end, it was the valve adjustment cost and frequency and the less powerful engine that scared me off.

Ducati ST3 - Still more expensive even without the top shelf suspension gear. Still more adjustability than the Sprint. Same engine issues as the ST3s.

FJR - GREAT engine, great carrying capacity. A bit too touring oriented for my blood. Yes, it's sporty but the same rider on the Duc or Sprint will ride circles around the fjR.

ST - If the FJR isn't sporty enough..........

Futura - Discontinued. Sigh.....

BMW K1200s - Drool, drool, drool, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Was looking at the FJR, BMWs, and VFR. FJR styling doesn't do it for me, BMW is just too much $$$ involved. VFR I hear has problems with Vtech and needing frequent valve adjustment. Just saw the Ducati while testing out the Sprint, but I hear they charge an arm and leg for maintenance.. I've only got 2 arms and 2 legs..

2007 versions of VFR and Sprint will be coming soon.. Hopefully some problems get solved and make it easier for me to decide. Or I may take a look at the V-Strom 1000. ABS version coming in 2007

I know you complained a bit about the price, but the Sprint is acutally quite a good deal. If sport is more important than touring, but yiou need to be comfortable then the Sprint is a great package. Use the savings to have the suspension work done to your satisfaction.

What is involved in fixing the front end? For my SV, I've changed out the springs/oil and added cartridge emulators for a total of $270 including labor. Sprint has a cartridge fork, which I'm not familiar with.

[ This message was edited by: apropos on 2006-08-17 11:40 ]

[86gn]

The mirror problem must be an isolated case because mine are fine, not car like smooth but very good for a bike.
Suspension will have to be tailored to your use and it should'nt cost much. I'm fine with mine.
The windscreen suits me well also but riders of a different height may have problems. One thing to remember is with this type of bike you want some wind on your upper body. It takes the weight off your wrist at cruising speed and you will have a quieter ride with your head in clean air.
The complaint about heat is somewhat overblown. Any fully faired water cooled bike is going to be hot. The 06 is better than my 01 was and is comparable to my XX. My wife hasn't had any complaints of massive heat either.

A Sprint may not be what you are looking for but it fits the bill with many. I looked around and it came the closest to what I want in a bike, no its not perfect but I haven't found the perfect bike yet.
The VFR is a nice bike but over complicated and underpowered. As with most Hondas I don't think it would need valve adjustments very often at all but it would be a PIA to do. There isn't much else out there that is a direct comparison.

Good luck on your bike shopping.

[DrTriumph]

Simple answer from me, I chose the sprint because it was the most comfortable in the show room in the price range I was willing to pay. The only other bike that was more comfortable was the BMW, but 12000$Cnd more for a similar set up.

I love the bike for everything now.. but started with pure Sport/Tour Comfort.

[chisel]

I think you're looking at the wrong bikes. It sounds like you want to go "up" to a liter bike, but there's no reason for it. Usually the 600s are faster in the curvy parts you say your are interested in.

You should only be looking to upsize if you want to cruise around with a load, or be the fastest in a straight line. Since your wife is taking up riding, load doesn't seem to be an issue (no offense). Off the line performance doesn't seem to be your thing, either.

The bike you think you want is really a Hayabusa. It gets around the curvy parts, can be made into a pretty comfortable sport tourer, has gobs of power, and costs about the same as a Sprint. It is probably closer to the 2x the SV650s you were thinking a bike 2x the price should be.

Whatever (liter) bike you get, i think you'll regret it. You'll always be looking back at the bike that did everything you wanted and needed it to do, the SV650s.

Tell your wife to get her own bike, and stop trying to take your stuff. :hihi:

On 2006-08-17 14:10, chisel wrote:

The bike you think you want is really a Hayabusa. It gets around the curvy parts, can be made into a pretty comfortable sport tourer, has gobs of power, and costs about the same as a Sprint. It is probably closer to the 2x the SV650s you were thinking a bike 2x the price should be.

lol, I was thinking the same just a while ago. Will take a look at the 'busa when their all new 2007 design comes out.

Whatever (liter) bike you get, i think you'll regret it. You'll always be looking back at the bike that did everything you wanted and needed it to do, the SV650s.

Tell your wife to get her own bike, and stop trying to take your stuff. :hihi:

She's just graduated from the Ninja 250 and if I didn't have the SV650s, I'd probably get her the Kawasaki 650R, which is pretty much the same bike but a little more mellow. Hmm.. now that's an idea.

[chisel]

If you're willing to wait to see what the '07 'Busa is going to be like, you may want to wait to see if Triumph builds the Speed 675...

A light weight package with adjustable suspension... A D675 styled half fairing showing off the Triumph triple engine... Pricing somewhere between $7-8k... Yummy.

Has your head started spinning yet?

[Tankman]

Mate there are very few bikes on the planet that do it all. I find my mirrors do a pretty good job and least I can see flashing blue lights behind me these days and are much better than the mirrors on my T595.

My suspension works a treat and I ride two up with the "minister for war and finance" on the back most of the time, I took some time and got my settings spot on.

As for the clunk noise when shifting gears, in time that does settle down, try shifting without using the clutch when on the move.

The after market screen from Triumph works well, but the bike is a sports tourer not a land barge.

I have put some heat shielding under the seat which works fine.

As for carrying gear either buy a seat bag, a rack, or a Goldwing, simple.

All in all I think the Sprint is a pretty good bike, although it doesn't suit everyone. it does most things I want it to and after my T595 the wife loves it. Take some time look around and be sure to get the bike that suits you best, and remember everything is fixable.

Best of luck the Tankman

[ This message was edited by: Tankman on 2006-08-17 15:36 ]

[david_m]

As far as fixing the front suspension goes, expect about $110 for new springs, and about the same for new valves. The labor cost could be anywhere from $0 (if you do the work yourself) to about $400. It's probably worth it to have a suspension expert do everything and customize the suspension to your needs.

Again, I agree with your harsh assessment. The springs are too soft in their early compression range (progressive springs) which causes too much brake dive, and a lot of folks complain of an overall soft front end. However, the compression damping seems too harsh, which creates an odd sensation; too soft a spring with too stiff compression. The front suspension is non-adjustable, so you're stuck with the comppression setting. After 5,000 miles I've gotten used to it. At this point I have a good deal of confidence in the bike's handling. I expect to get significant improvement when the Bridgestones wear out and are replaced. I HATE those tires. Your choices for front suspension changes are:

Different viscosity oil - cheap
New springs and valves - less cheap, but not terrible
New front end - WAY, WAY EXPENSIVE. Plus, you would be in uncharted territory.

Also keep in mind that there's a good chance you'll need to drop another $100 - $150 on front brake upgrades. This would include either swapping out the stock Sprint pistons for Daytona 675 pistons or getting an entire front brake system off a rashed up Kawasaki or Suzuki (all over Ebay). The front brakes on the Sprint seem to be prone to sticky brake pistons and significant lever travel.

What you really have to ask is, "Do you want a sport touring motorcycle?" To me, comfort was a MAJOR concern. I wanted something comfortable for my 45 mile (one way) commute that could easily cruise at 80mph - 90mph and get about 200 miles on a tank, but was still sporty enough to take advantage of NoCal's great roads. The selection set was pretty narrow.

Based on some of your comments I would take a HARD look at the new ZX-14. It's basically the same price as a Sprint with a MONSTER motor. The bike is basically designed to go in a straight line like crazy. The long wheelbase may not lend itself to extreme handling, but it should probably handle very, very well. It has fully adjustable suspension, pretty good seating ergos, and with a set of soft travel panniers and some bar risers would make one hell of a hyper-sports tourer.

I've never ridden a ZX-14. If I had to guess (and this is a guess) it will leave a Sprint 1050 for dead in a straight line, but the Sprint is probably better in the twisties (even with the stock suspension). I have no idea how much better (if at all) the Sprint is better in the twisties.

Another bike you should consider is the FZ1. It's a bit cheaper than both the Sprint or the ZX-14. You can use the cost savings to equip it to your satisfaction. My previous bike was a first generation FZ1, and it's a fantastic all around motorcycle. The new generation has a wonderful chassis, decent (but not great) suspension components and a slightly re-tuned version of the R1 engine. The only downside I know about is that the FI mapping is pretty bad, and evidently it's more than a PC can fix. A lot of FZ1 guys are UP IN ARMS about the FI and the fact that it's not fixable with a PC. I feel fairly confident that the after market will get it sorted out, but it may take a while.

Make no mistake. I REALLY like my Sprint, but I also recognize it's not the best bike for everyone. For me, it was the right choice.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the help. You guys have given me valuable information to make a better decision.