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Hi all,
I gave this its own topic.
Here's hoping this is written OK, and not too PI.
First ever bike review, so be gentle guys.
I arrived at my local BMW dealership on Saturday morning after having booked in for a ride the day before.
My head and heart were saying to me... "You know you want the Sprint. Just give these bikes a quick fang, then go order the Trumpy".
Now some may blame my mindset for a negative outcome, but I can assure you all I rode the Triumph Sprint ST with the same thoughts recorded above - but for the Suzuki GSX1400.
So although I had my heart set on the Sprint, I knew that if the Beemer was for me, I would swing.
The two bikes are essentially the same as far as I can tell except for the following things;
1: S has clip-ons. ST Handlebars
2: ST has larger screen and fairing
3: ST has shorter seat height
So greeting me at the dealers were the two guys I had spoken to.
One of them asked me if I was in the market to buy, so I answered honestly and said that I am all but ready to order a Sprint ST.
"Oh well, everybody makes mistakes" was the smart ar$e reply. I think that soured it from the start. I hate sales smart ar$es.
The F800S:
I was there to test ride the very pretty yellow F800S.
Got the ***** from the dealer about "please don't cane it, as its only got 159ks (100miles) on it".
They took me over and showed me the BMW blinker switches, then started it up.
OK. I admit to a BIG SMILE
there. It sounded great. Parallel twin gurgling away. Sounded awesome really.
On with my helmet and gloves and threw my leg over. Felt quite high for some reason. Kind of sitting OVER the bike. I'm 6' tall (and 100kgs - 220lbs), so don't normally have reach problems. I could touch the ground alright, but still felt stupidly high up. Not "part of the bike".
Outside and in the carpark.
So I had to let the clutch out almost half way for it to allow 1st to engage... ***??? Dealer said thats because its new. Seemed silly to me. Really didn't want to stall it at the dealer and make a fool of myself.
On the Road:
So I putted out and down to the traffic lights. OK so far, but I hadn't exceeded 30kph.
For those that know the area, I was at Worthington's BMW at Somersby, on the Central Coast of NSW, and had a perfect morning to go as far down Wiseman's Ferry Rd as I wanted.
For those that don't know the area, It is a riders paradise. Undulating tree lined roads with a great mix of left and right handers that just go on an on for about 75k's (40 something miles).
So you think to yourself, you've got a possible 150k test ride to go for it on. Unreal.
I got through the traffic lights onto Wiseman's Ferry Rd, and negotiated the mammoth Roundabouts that signal the start of it I initially though that I felt more "with" my push-bike than this thing.
You know how it feels on top of some dirt bikes? Really "high on top" of the thing, and not part of it.
Well that is how the Beemer felt. I felt disconnected from it, and that is not a good thing in my guts.
Through the gears it was predictably smooth going up, but felt notchy coming back down. Could be the newness of it.
In a straight line it felt smooth and responsive. But still felt very "not with" the bike.
Big gripe here. The master cylinder sits very high off the right clip on and jumps around with road vibration more than a kid who just sat on and ants nest and has had his arse bitten a hundred times.
Right in your peripheral vision and annoying as hell.
Similar power feel to the Honda VFR800. You know you're accelerating, but you don't have to "hang on". Much better sound though than the Honda. Not as good as the Sprint either.
I do not know how to describe this very well, but backing off the throttle produced the most disgusting wheezing and rattling sound from the drive-train. May have been the belt drive, as I've never ridden one before.
Cornering sucked. I felt it over-steered and I was wide into every bend. It certainly wasn't like I was going too fast. I just couldn't turn the thing at all. Never ever had that problem on that road on any bike I've ridden before, and certainly not on my old Zooki.
I look, I point, it goes. This thing. I look, I point. I turn the handlebars, and start shitting myself, cos it don't wanna go where i want it to.
In truth, I felt like a learner going for his first ever ride alone. Not confident at all on this thing. ;-(
7.6 k's into the ride my right wrist started aching (old injury that is the reason I don't like sports bikes - can't load weight onto them for too long.), so I turned it around and rode it straight back to the dealer.
Told them not for me. No probs there. It did sound good though.
15 minutes later the guy who had the ST arrived back..
The F800ST:
The bloke who rode the F800ST right before me got off it and was talking price to the dealer before his helmet was off, he was so impressed.
"Wow, maybe the handlebars make a huge difference." thought I.
The other bloke said it corners like it was on rails, and was seriously talking price and delivery date as I got on. Hmmmm. I thought the S cornered badly.
Seat height lower, and I could touch the ground with no worries on this as well, but still that "On top" feeling was there.
Handlebars were more comfy and the screen was higher.
OK. The ride.
Handled exactly the same ;-(
Master cylinder sat higher and bounced around MORE. Grrrr. It was all I could see.
Lots of chest buffeting form the screen that was also shaking more than a Parkinson's sufferers convention.
Cornered like***** as well.
Oh, and the larger sides on the fairing helped produce a lot of heat that annoyed the ***** out of me.
I know the Sprint has its own heat issues, but the day I rode the 06 Sprint was hotter and more humid than last Saturday, and was nowhere near as annoying as this thing was.
I took it for about a 35k run only because it was slightly comfier, but turned around because I was bored stupid on it.
I suppose the most "like" bike I can compare it to is Honda's Deauville 650.
So thats it.
Not a fan at all. Maybe it was me because that other bloke loved it. He was a bit shorter than me and at least 25kilos heavier by the look of him.
I'd still like to take a big R1200GS for a ride one day, but for now I cannot wait for my Sprint to get here. ;-)
Cheers,
Mike
I gave this its own topic.
Here's hoping this is written OK, and not too PI.
First ever bike review, so be gentle guys.
I arrived at my local BMW dealership on Saturday morning after having booked in for a ride the day before.
My head and heart were saying to me... "You know you want the Sprint. Just give these bikes a quick fang, then go order the Trumpy".
Now some may blame my mindset for a negative outcome, but I can assure you all I rode the Triumph Sprint ST with the same thoughts recorded above - but for the Suzuki GSX1400.
So although I had my heart set on the Sprint, I knew that if the Beemer was for me, I would swing.
The two bikes are essentially the same as far as I can tell except for the following things;
1: S has clip-ons. ST Handlebars
2: ST has larger screen and fairing
3: ST has shorter seat height
So greeting me at the dealers were the two guys I had spoken to.
One of them asked me if I was in the market to buy, so I answered honestly and said that I am all but ready to order a Sprint ST.
"Oh well, everybody makes mistakes" was the smart ar$e reply. I think that soured it from the start. I hate sales smart ar$es.
The F800S:
I was there to test ride the very pretty yellow F800S.
Got the ***** from the dealer about "please don't cane it, as its only got 159ks (100miles) on it".
They took me over and showed me the BMW blinker switches, then started it up.
OK. I admit to a BIG SMILE
On with my helmet and gloves and threw my leg over. Felt quite high for some reason. Kind of sitting OVER the bike. I'm 6' tall (and 100kgs - 220lbs), so don't normally have reach problems. I could touch the ground alright, but still felt stupidly high up. Not "part of the bike".
Outside and in the carpark.
So I had to let the clutch out almost half way for it to allow 1st to engage... ***??? Dealer said thats because its new. Seemed silly to me. Really didn't want to stall it at the dealer and make a fool of myself.
On the Road:
So I putted out and down to the traffic lights. OK so far, but I hadn't exceeded 30kph.
For those that know the area, I was at Worthington's BMW at Somersby, on the Central Coast of NSW, and had a perfect morning to go as far down Wiseman's Ferry Rd as I wanted.
For those that don't know the area, It is a riders paradise. Undulating tree lined roads with a great mix of left and right handers that just go on an on for about 75k's (40 something miles).
So you think to yourself, you've got a possible 150k test ride to go for it on. Unreal.
I got through the traffic lights onto Wiseman's Ferry Rd, and negotiated the mammoth Roundabouts that signal the start of it I initially though that I felt more "with" my push-bike than this thing.
You know how it feels on top of some dirt bikes? Really "high on top" of the thing, and not part of it.
Well that is how the Beemer felt. I felt disconnected from it, and that is not a good thing in my guts.
Through the gears it was predictably smooth going up, but felt notchy coming back down. Could be the newness of it.
In a straight line it felt smooth and responsive. But still felt very "not with" the bike.
Big gripe here. The master cylinder sits very high off the right clip on and jumps around with road vibration more than a kid who just sat on and ants nest and has had his arse bitten a hundred times.
Right in your peripheral vision and annoying as hell.
Similar power feel to the Honda VFR800. You know you're accelerating, but you don't have to "hang on". Much better sound though than the Honda. Not as good as the Sprint either.
I do not know how to describe this very well, but backing off the throttle produced the most disgusting wheezing and rattling sound from the drive-train. May have been the belt drive, as I've never ridden one before.
Cornering sucked. I felt it over-steered and I was wide into every bend. It certainly wasn't like I was going too fast. I just couldn't turn the thing at all. Never ever had that problem on that road on any bike I've ridden before, and certainly not on my old Zooki.
I look, I point, it goes. This thing. I look, I point. I turn the handlebars, and start shitting myself, cos it don't wanna go where i want it to.
In truth, I felt like a learner going for his first ever ride alone. Not confident at all on this thing. ;-(
7.6 k's into the ride my right wrist started aching (old injury that is the reason I don't like sports bikes - can't load weight onto them for too long.), so I turned it around and rode it straight back to the dealer.
Told them not for me. No probs there. It did sound good though.
15 minutes later the guy who had the ST arrived back..
The F800ST:
The bloke who rode the F800ST right before me got off it and was talking price to the dealer before his helmet was off, he was so impressed.
"Wow, maybe the handlebars make a huge difference." thought I.
The other bloke said it corners like it was on rails, and was seriously talking price and delivery date as I got on. Hmmmm. I thought the S cornered badly.
Seat height lower, and I could touch the ground with no worries on this as well, but still that "On top" feeling was there.
Handlebars were more comfy and the screen was higher.
OK. The ride.
Handled exactly the same ;-(
Master cylinder sat higher and bounced around MORE. Grrrr. It was all I could see.
Lots of chest buffeting form the screen that was also shaking more than a Parkinson's sufferers convention.
Cornered like***** as well.
Oh, and the larger sides on the fairing helped produce a lot of heat that annoyed the ***** out of me.
I know the Sprint has its own heat issues, but the day I rode the 06 Sprint was hotter and more humid than last Saturday, and was nowhere near as annoying as this thing was.
I took it for about a 35k run only because it was slightly comfier, but turned around because I was bored stupid on it.
I suppose the most "like" bike I can compare it to is Honda's Deauville 650.
So thats it.
Not a fan at all. Maybe it was me because that other bloke loved it. He was a bit shorter than me and at least 25kilos heavier by the look of him.
I'd still like to take a big R1200GS for a ride one day, but for now I cannot wait for my Sprint to get here. ;-)
Cheers,
Mike