The ST is Dead

[RadioHowie]

The ST is alive and well. If one could only have one bike...I'd choose the FJR in a second...and probably even get a second one.

yup

even willing to replace an engine to keep riding

Yep...B.T.D.T., right, Mike???

 

[Geezer]

My ST is definitely not dead, it's just hibernating for a few months.

 

[ndivita]

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

For most of us mortals, the FJR is the "Man for All Seasons." "Sport touring" is a label. Though I don't always succeed, I try not to let labels do my thinking for me. It does not matter what name you give to the type of riding you do or the genre of bike yours belongs to. The question presented is "What do you do when you ride and does what you ride let you do it?" So put, there is little doubt the FJR fills the bill.

 

[puppychow]

The ST is dead...

Long live the ST!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

But, let's face it. The ST is dead.

The ST is dead...Long live the ST!

Yep, the S-T bike is dead -- the new 'darling' is the ADV-bike.

For 2011, Honda has discontinued the ST1300. Manufacturers are 'falling all-over themselves' trying to come out with new Adventure Bikes (Giant Trail-ies).

Of course, these new ADV bikes are no better than the previous S-T bikes (probably worse...?) at being do-all motorcycles -- they're just the latest "fad"... :blink:

The next bike that Ewan & Charlie ride (on TV & in movies) will be the next "fad"...

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Anybody got a problem with that?

with what?

your myopic view that extends your personal preferences into universal one?

or maybe the misunderstanding that ST bikes started with the 1985 Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours FJR, ST1300, and C14 (and ended there)?

or that your purchasing patterns make a difference to the market as a whole?

why would i have a problem with that?

 

[zzzzip]

Wasn't the first dual sport the Harley that Michael Parks rode in "Then Came Bronson?

Didn't he do some hill climbs on that... what was it, a Sportster? And then there was the episode where he ran off the road down into a ravine in the woods, and had to fix it and ride it out. (Look closer-- they look like dirt bikes with a sporty tank attached) Then he went on down the road on a 500 mile ride to his next stop/adventure. All with only a sleeping bag and watch cap for gear.

Bet that show sold a lot of HD ADV bikes.

 

[johnny80s]

Dude that is Bokerforked.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Wasn't the first dual sport the Harley that Michael Parks rode in "Then Came Bronson?

All early motorcyles were dual sports, out of necessity.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Wasn't the first dual sport the Harley that Michael Parks rode in "Then Came Bronson?... what was it, a Sportster?

... HD ADV bikes.

Yep,Early, street-legal, Sportster (came from the factory w/Goodyear 'Grasshopper' street-legal knobbies):

Modern "Giant-Trailie ADV bikes" are 'girly-bikes' compared with this dual-sport bear...

 

[racer]

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?

I have an 04 FJR and 05KLR, both I dearly love, however, the day after hearing and reading about the Super Tenere in early September, I plunked down 500 bucks and ordered one. I'll try to sell the FJR after my Daytona trip in March, and the KLR will be sold when the Tenere comes in. I don't think I'll look back.

 

[wheatonFJR]

drums front and rear.......sweet!

kick start that mofo!

 

[beemerdons]

Dude that is Bokerforked.

Ding, Ding, Ding: You're the Winner, johnny80s! We've a new FJR Forum verb for 2011. From now on, whenever anything is FUBAR: We just say it's Bokerforked!

Eureka, We Have Found It!

 

[Fred W]

So I have a question:

In order to be a NEPRT does it need to be both NE and PR?

The reason that I ask that is; I can see this thing dragging on infinitely as everyone checks in with their man-love story for their FJR, yada, yada... But, I seriously do not recall this thread topic ever having occurred before. Which would mnake it impossible for it to qualify as "Recurring"

Maybe we just need a new section in the forum where we put the "trolling" threads that hook up?

Fish On!!

 

[ionbeam]

...In order to be a NEPRT does it need to be both NE and PR?...But, I seriously do not recall this thread topic ever having occurred before. Which would mnake it impossible for it to qualify as "Recurring"...Maybe we just need a new section in the forum where we put the "trolling" threads that hook up?...Fish On!!

Analysis paralysis. This is a thinking man's analysis on a drinking mans Forum. Have a beer, have a cigar, come back when you recover from making good sense.

The admins need a fishing lure logo to brand the title of some threads.

 

[beemerdons]

So I have a question:

In order to be a NEPRT does it need to be both NE and PR?

The reason that I ask that is; I can see this thing dragging on infinitely as everyone checks in with their man-love story for their FJR, yada, yada... But, I seriously do not recall this thread topic ever having occurred before. Which would mnake it impossible for it to qualify as "Recurring"

Maybe we just need a new section in the forum where we put the "trolling" threads that hook up?

Fish On!!

Right On, Fred: It's Bokerforked! Hombre, I love using this new word johnny80s invented; I'm going to say it tonight at Happy Hour at the Chandler Applebee's! Barkeep Brian, weren't the Vikings really Bokerforked up last night? The Suns are playing like they are Bokerforked! The Coyotes were Bokerforked by the refs on that icing call! I absolutely love using Bokertforked!!! Bokerforked!!!

 

[Ignacio]

So I have a question:

In order to be a NEPRT does it need to be both NE and PR?

Actually, it is a much more sophisticated algorithm with 3 or more variables and uses 3.2% of all forum server processing time to maintain. Simplified it could be NE and/or P and/or R. The P factor is particularly high with this thread due to the addition of stinkybait to the title.

We'd change the title of the area to NE,P,R Ts, but it just doesn't roll off the tongue as smoothly.

 

[Fred W]

Stinkybait?

Oh man, this thread IS BokerForked!

 

[beemerdons]

Stinkybait?

Oh man, this thread IS BokerForked!

Did someone call for Old Michael? Old Stinkybait!

 

[Fred W]

Is this what we're talking about?