The ST is Dead

[Bokerfork]

Sure it's been fun. Sport Touring. The Yamaha FJR. The Honda ST1300. The Kawasaki Concourse. The Suzuki?

But, let's face it. The ST is dead. When you really think about it, it never should have existed in the first place.

Like the Toyota Prius, it never really excelled at anything. It couldn't "Tour" like a Goldwing, and it couldn't "Sport" like an R1.

A compromise at best.

I believe the problem has always been in the name itself. "Sport Tourer". Neither one or the other. Something to satisfy those who don't know what they want.

Have I enjoyed my FJR? Absolutely. Have I found it wanting? Absolutely.

In the twisties it always felt heavy and slow.

On the slab it always felt light and slight.

The only place I ever felt it excelled was on the sweepers. Man I love those sweepers.

Dive into the initial turn, see the open apex hundreds of feet ahead of you and roll on the FJR torque until your pulse went into hyperdrive. That's what I'm talking about.

So why didn't they just call it the Yamaha Sweeper Eater.

Dunno. I suspect there aren't enough sweeper lovers to justify the marketing.

My point is this.

The Goldwing is a Tourer.

The R1 is a Sport Bike.

The CRF450 is an off road bike

And now, in 2010/2011, everything else is an ADV bike.

Dammit. I want one.

Don't let OM fool you. I was tasting the KoolAid long before he was and lately I find myself more and more often, lurking on the ADVRider Forums.

Aside from the fact that they are way too enamored with BMW and KTM, and given the fact that Honda and Yamaha are developing bikes to compete in the ADV market,

I'm already there.

I want one. I'll get one. And, I predict, the ST fraternity will die a quick death.

Don't get me wrong. I intend to keep my FJR. But I will no longer consider it a "Sport Tourer" I never really did.

Henceforth it will be known by it's proper name, "The Sweeper"

It will peruse Google Earth for appropriate roads while I, and my soon to be obtained ADV bike will search for, well, "Adventure".

Do I write this merely to stir the pot?. Obviously not. It isn't Friday after all.

Is it merely the Cabernet talking? Perhaps, but I doubt it.

I believe, it is simply time to take stock in what most of us have known all along.

The ST as we know it is dead.

Anybody got a problem with that?

Mark

 

[64Y80]

Well, rats. I just buy my first ST and really like the package. Now the whole genre is dead? :glare: Rats. Okay where did I put my brochure on the new Harley Ultra?

 

[stevec677]

Interesting topic. Currently I own an '09 FJR and a '04 KLR. I like having the two distinctly different bikes, but have thought about combining into one. R1250GS? Tenere? Honda's new CrossSomething? Will an adventure bike have the power to "open my eyes"? Does anyone have any experience?

 

[RPrice]

Well, rats. I just buy my first ST and really like the package. Now the whole genre is dead? :glare: Rats. Okay where did I put my brochure on the new Harley Ultra?

Man, I was just starting to enjoy this ST thing, and now this!!!! BUT.............I know what you mean, I have been reading those articles on the latest Adventure bikes, and even about the old one's (Beemers)! I predict that I may be converted sometime in the future to an ADV guy!! But, I'm still enjoying the sweepers, for now.............

 

[64Y80]

The ST, like any dual purpose bike will be ok in a couple of areas, but will not excel in either. I see the adv bikes the same way. They are a off road/touring cross. They make similar compromises, just in different segments. In all honesty I do not see one displacing the other.

 

[CHRIS_D]

I relate. Since owning the 990 for over 2 years I now get bored quick riding the FJR. IMO the KTM just handles hell of lot better then the FJR. However you can't beat the FJR on those long rides slabbing it, just set the cruise and she will go for miles and miles.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

You'll burn for eternity in hellfire for your treason. REPENT now!! or forever lose your soul. The ST GODS are pissed! :devil:

 

[FJRay]

Probably the wine <_< . You wasted a lot of time coming to the point. Man cannot live with just one bike. Two is the minimum and as many as the garage will hold is just right until you get a bigger garage. :yahoo:

 

[Fred W]

Ray is right. Can't live with one bike.

But they also don't have to be "single purpose" bikes unless you are "single purpose" kind of person. Do you have to own the bike that is the very best at that particular endeavor, or can you just have fun with one that will do what you want it to?

I have 2 ST bikes and an ADV bike, all of which are by definition (at least) dual purpose bikes. And all 3 are different enough from each other to keep things fun for me.

If you think that any ADV bike suffers less from the dual purpose dilemma of being a jack of all trades, master of none (as compared the single purpose bikes), then you have not been paying attention and will be sorely dissappointed when you do get your ADV bike.

 

[dcarver]

Wait till ol' Borker finds out the ADV bike continuum. Then we'll see a post like, "Yeah, sure, the 990 is a good road bike for consuming 1,000 miles a day, but it sure sucks in the dirt as compared to the 690 Enduro." :lol:

 

[wheatonFJR]

I disagree with the OP.

..but then again maybe I don't ride my FJR touring bike sporty enough to qualify as a sport tourer.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

WTF? The dual sports you are refering to have the same exact problem as the ST. Not really a tour bike, not enough protection, tour amenities, or storage. not really a dirt bike, way too heavy, and too expensive to thrash around the trails, or fix along side the road. Your crash could cost a thousand $$$$ to repair. So you still have a delima to deal with. I disagree with your view of the sport tour market, I think it's growing rather then shrinking. my solution is to own both. :yahoo:

 

[101stpathfinder]

Probably the wine <_< . You wasted a lot of time coming to the point. Man cannot live with just one bike. Two is the minimum and as many as the garage will hold is just right until you get a bigger garage. :yahoo:

+1 The FJR has certainly fit into my life well. I don't see myself ever going to a wing. 2 up is just fine

with my "Baby Blue".... However..... I think a dual sport will make its entry into the garage soon. (For the wife of course

even though she lacks an MC endorsement"

Each bike has a purpose and they may differ as do the riders. The ST has a purpose that fits some VERY well.

I am one of those it fits.

 

[beemerdons]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_R1200GS Guten Morgen Bruder Mark, Wie geht es Ihnen? I know you are hearing the BMW R1200GS calling your name and you must answer this call! SkooterG and Smitty 141 also heard the R1200GS shouting out their names and they warmly embraced the ever delicious purple BMW Kool-Aid. As for the Cabernet, nothing beats a delicious white from der Rhine River Valley.

 

[phroenips]

Man cannot live with just one bike. Two is the minimum and as many as the garage will hold is just right until you get a bigger garage. :yahoo:

This is just like the correct answer to the eternal question: "How many bikes is enough?"

Proper answer: "One more than I currently have" (hint: the answer never changes, no matter how many bikes you own)

 

[lonerider]

Man cannot live with just one bike. Two is the minimum and as many as the garage will hold is just right until you get a bigger garage. :yahoo:

Couldn't have said it better myself...

 

[LagerHead]

I disagree. While it may not be the best tourer or the best sport it is a fitting and worthy compromise. Maybe it's not an R1 in the turns, but it sure beats the pants off a cruiser. And maybe it's not a Goldwing on the open road, but it beats the R1 (comfort and storage wise). And some, like me, aren't exactly track ready when it comes to the twisties anyway so the FJR performs admirably. It is a bit heavy in the curves but not so much that you can't enjoy them. For some the compromise is exactly what they were looking for, not what they settled for.

I've looked at the R1's and GSXR's and the Goldwings of the world, but none of them fit the bill for me. The first time I laid eyes on an FJR I knew that was the bike for me. Still is.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...I've looked at the R1's and GSXR's and the Goldwings of the world, but none of them fit the bill for me. The first time I laid eyes on an FJR I knew that was the bike for me. Still is.

Exactly.

:clapping:

 

[HaulinAshe]

I totally agree one bike is not enough. That's why I own two FJRs.