Sprint ST 1050 - parting shots

[Gazza77]

Well after 3 years ownership, it's time to move on. There have been many things I've liked about the Sprint, and some that I haven't.

Likes:

• Grunty triple engine, plenty of power and torque, and silky smooth.
• Predictable handling, especially when two up. Not as flickable as the SV was, but far more stable, especially when the road is bumpy.
• Two up capability, and the ability to carry a load easily, even if the panniers are disappointingly small when you peer inside.
• Comfortable enough for all day riding.
• Convenience of sockets. Plug in for the sat nav, and a handy power socket to run Gerbing gloves from and charge it up by.
• Great triple soundtrack, especially once the TOR exhaust had been fitted.

Dislikes:

• The lights. You may as well strap a candle to your lid for night time riding. Dipped beam gives very little illumination, and whilst main beam is better, the spread of light is tiny, so you only get visability on straights.
• The battery. Partially caused due to an alarm and a lack of use over winter, it was always a pig to start from cold. The battery is barely capable of firing the big triple when fully charged, so anything less than perfect, no hope. Even with a brand new one on, it was little better. Thank god I live on a hill to be able to bump start it.
• The electrics. One trip to the dealer meant a 10 hour hunt for an intermittent fault that meant the bike cut out, and that couldn't be replicated in the workshop, only when ridden. Turned out to be a chaffing wire near the headstock that shorted when turning. Other electrics were also a bit hit and miss at times.
• The weight. Not overly heavy and certainly not once on the move, but compared to the SV when having to drag it across gravel and a slope to get it in and out of the garage it always felt far more likely to be dropped if I lost my footing on gravel or a muddy patch.

I'll be sorry to see it go, but I never felt like I bonded with it like my earlier SV. I never covered half as many miles as I expected, and I suspect part of my issue with it is due to that fact. I bought it intending to do two up weekends away, and due to changing circumstances that never happened. For me, a bike needs to be owned because it's what I really want, and the Sprint was bought as a tool to do a job, even if it never really got to. The replacement is being bought with my heart, not my head...

[steveg]

Hi

Only had my sprint since November and has taken a long while to get used to after the sv650s

The weight and size takes a lot of getting used to filtering in heavy traffic / moving around into garage etc

However love the bike for longer distance riding

What are you thinking of buying for its replacement ?

Cheers Steve

its my opinion that you have to bond with a bike on some level for it to be good,

I have only really had that with one bike the Tuono

Given the 11 miles on the new ST2 i think we will bond eventually..

Good luk with whatever your new toy is

[Gazza77]

I'll be getting another Triple. Not a Triumph though.

The man has seen the light Mega Cool points....

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by 454697819

its my opinion that you have to bond with a bike on some level for it to be good

Agree, it's a bit like falling in love, you can remember the moment. I can remember the moment with all the bikes I have kept.

To the OP, hope you get many miles of smiles on the new steed.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by Daimo

The man has seen the light Mega Cool points....

Why thank you kind sir.

[Teejayexc]

Benelli Tornado by any chance? RS?

Nice

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Agree, it's a bit like falling in love, you can remember the moment.

And tonight was my moment of lurve with my Tiger.

Well and truly fecked off with whiny, moany prats at work who hang around this forum sniping in the background without having the man-stones to say it to my face.

The proposed traffic cop cuts have been postponed, so another two or three weeks of worry.

The job itself frantically covering it's back whilst failing to support the workers.

THE WHOLE FECKIN' PI$$ING **** OF A THING.

ten minutes after getting home, the Tiger is out of it's lair, and the world feels better, although at a much faster pace.

I fell for my bike today.

Pete

Pete, have i misread your post?
People of this forum work at your place? or was it a typo?