Triumphrat

DaveM · 05-09-2008

That's nice Calliway real nice!

I would go for your description Calliway, I think I rather like that!

DaveM

KevyKev · 05-09-2008

One mag called the VFR the 'Gentleman's Express' along time ago......still kinda like that term, but for the Sprint!

DaveM · 05-09-2008

Kevy,
a much much longer time ago "The Gentlemans Express" was a customised early 1970's Honda 500 Four Cafe' Racer, which I spent some time trying to copy.

But that was a long time and many many bikes ago......................

DaveM

Niltime · 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmo

I don't care what they think. My bike, an 06, is a ripper. Its everything. Comfortable enough to travel 1200km's a day, so a tourer I suppose. Able to rip round a race track in a ride day environment and depending on the lunatic at the controls able to run ahead of R1's, MV's, etc etc. Strangley I couldn't keep up with a kid on a 250 Fireblade. So its also a sports bike with some limitations. I've ridden it slow, fast, with and without pillion, over roads good and bad and worse than bad. It's relatively fuel efficient, relatively easy on tires, relatively cheap to service and run. In terms of bang for buck the buck for me stops with the Sprint. No contest, its a Sports Tourer.
My thoughts. Cheers, Simmo

I agree entirely with you, Simmo!

Cheers,

EZOUT · 05-12-2008

I suggest the term "couch rocket" describes bikes like the Sprint, VFR, Ducati ST3. Take a sport bike frame, tune engine for max midrange power, add a two up capable seat, panniers, slightly flatter riding position, better wind protection and you have a couch rocket, or a long range sport bike for the chronologically challenged

TRISPEED · 05-12-2008

I guess they have alot of bikes that were called the Gentlemans Express. I remember that the BMW R90s was called that in the 70's.

albertvw · 05-12-2008

I always thought the FJR, BMW 1200 etc with sitting upright etc are still essentially tourers, just more powerfull /agile than say BMW RT boxer, as they are still very large, huge screen etc etc ... and that only bikes such as Sprint, VFR are trully 'in-between', in size / shape / profile, and therefor sport-tourers. So yes, its very confusing if they are not tested as such, and the big tourers are. However, often the UK magazines do test the Sprint-size category as sport tourers (correctly it seems to me).

tmarsh · 05-14-2008

If we're going to get into name-calling, I would have classified the Sprint and VFR as "sports-tourers", the BMW 1200s and Yam 1300s as "tourers" and the Bimmer LTs and Honda Goldwings as "full dress tourers". But that's just me.

You know it's not that long ago that motorbikes were just motorbikes. All this niche nonsense has been created to make up for the fact that the bulk of manufacturers flagship bikes (eg R1, 1098, CBR1000 etc) are stunningly impractical road bikes. Years ago I had a Kawasaki GPz900R. No doubt whatsoever that it was their flagship bike at the time, but it was a bike that you could commute on, race on and ride from Melbourne to Sydney in a day on. Mind you, it had a Yoshimura race pipe that would belch fire on the overrun, but that was a minor glitch.

As far as I am concerned the VFR and the Sprint are just stylish, well designed, well engineered bikes that do everything bikes were goddangwell meant to do. Labels be danged!

Vlermuis · 05-14-2008

@tmarsh

This is why some of us still consider the CBX as one of the best touring bikes of its time. Just today they don't look the bit