'06 Sprint ST handling on gravel and less than perfect roads.

[andre955]

Hello,
I am considering buying a '06-'07 Sprint ST. I would like to start doing some touring, and was wondering if anyone had much experience with these bikes when the roads get a little rough...like dirt and potholes. I would generally try to stay on the pavement, but, sometimes that is not an option. I would appreciate your input.

Thanks,
-AR

[ruscook]

Most bikes are ***** on potholes, the Sprint's about average here.

On the dirt I've found her fine. I've done 24000K of which about 2-300K has been on dirt. Everything from fine clay in wet and dry to some rough corrugations, including in mountain conditions and along riverbanks.

Obviously corrugations are no good for any bike and the Sprints no different, you need to get a speed that enables you to skim along the top of the corrugations to smooth them out.

Russ

[Django]

Perhaps consider the '07 Tiger. Not a dirt bike, but the longer travel suspension should pay dividends when the roads are poor.

Django

[andre955]

Thanks for the input. I love the looks of the new Tiger. I really like the new style Sprint though.

Thanks,
Andrejs

[iceman]

... the wide rear tire tends to float around a bit on gravel and they dont really have enough suspension travel to cope with pot holes very well.

About average for a road bike - but on the sealed road they are a treat to travel on :-D

Grant

[andre955]

By potholes I meant the occasional small hole (5-6 inches deep), not a succesion of crater like holes as they have on Detroit freeways where they are large enough to swallow an eighteen wheeler . I was just wondering if I had to go on a dirt road for a few miles...less than say 10-15. Would I have some control at a moderate speed?

Thanks.

[rodneybrown]

In 40 years of riding I have yet to find any street bike that inspired confidence on gravel or rough dirt roads. The new Tiger is NOT a dual purpose bike, it's a street bike. You can call an elephant a mouse but it's still a freekin' elephant. Even the old Tiger was a street bike trying to look like it had dirt traits.

[ This message was edited by: rodneybrown on 2006-10-29 17:06 ]

[SoCalSprint]

I don't like the way my Sprint handles on dirt, very unstable to me, but that's just my .02.
I'd consider more of a dual-purpose bike.

[ This message was edited by: SoCalSprint on 2006-10-29 17:45 ]

[andre955]

I'm not looking for a dual purpose bike. I would just like to know that in the event the pavement runs out for a little while, will the Sprint ST deal with it.

Thanks for all of the replies,
AR

[rodsprint]

I have run out of bitumen a few times and no it doesn't the best but just slow it down a little and its fine :-D