The ST is Dead

[Old Michael]

Is it merely the Cabernet talking?

Plobbly.

Especially considering the quantities YOU guzzle.

Anybody got a problem with that?

Trouble-makin' *******. :clapping:

Markie-Mark, we need to take a ride.

Death Valley this week?

Camping in the sunshine?

Merlot?

Hookers?

...and thanks a lot Beemerdons. Your videos gave me a stiffie. (Noted that although it showed that fellow dropping it a couple of times, it never showed him lifting it back up.)

 

[ionbeam]

When you travel and need to slab and still be able to ride dirt:

Pete Springer solution:

 

[fjrchooser]

Many is the times I've looked longingly down dirt roads as I zipped by on the FJR wondering where they led, what life was like on them, what I may be missing by limiting the FJR to what it does best.

Enter a used 05 KTM 400 EXC earlier this year. Street legal but only just barely, many of those roads opened and explored - some of them several times. I now find the KTM lacking in its street manners and typically too dirt oriented to get me comfortably to the further unexplored areas while an absolute blast in the woods and single tracks closer by.

A third bike thats not afraid to get dirty is on the horizon, perhaps even one of those Kool-Aid machines.

Whoever said one ain't enough and two is the minimun nailed it !

None of the current genre of motorcycles will ever die but instead continue evolving as technologies mature and aging riders redefine their requirements. Make sure your mind and garage always has an open space available and all will be good.

 

[Bokerfork]

Anybody got a problem with that?

Trouble-makin' *******. :clapping:

OM,You know me too well.

Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised with the kindness shown toward this post. I expected a truly horrific dogpile.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I agree with the general consensus that one bike is not nearly enough.

The problem I have is the same as has been pointed out. Going down that strip of pavement and seeing that dirt road going off in to the distance and wondering, to where?

And yes OM, we do need to ride somewhere soon. A&S perhaps?

I'll keep an eye on the weather.

Beemerdons, do I get to pick which cheek the tat goes on?

 

[starwolf]

rode the fjr axactly 1 block turned around and bought

it, that was 5 years ago, don't want anything else

 

[Niehart]

Allen, bike and trailer pictures were cool. Wonder how many of us did that? Use to pull my motocross bike to races with a 79 Wing.

 

[beemerdons]

Beemerdons, do I get to pick which cheek the tat goes on?

Well of course you do, Mark; but just remember not to put the tat on the "wrong" cheek. In Hawaii, Tahiti and Fiji: The men put a flower behind one ear and the women put the hibiscus blossom behind the other ear.

When I offered to buy Old Michael his BMW Blue and White Roundel tattoo: He picked the "wrong" cheek. But, this is the FJR Forum and we do strongly support the Policy of: "Don't Ask and Don't Tell!" jes' sayin'

 

[RaYzerman19]

I can see that Ionbeam has way too many old V-4's...... I only got one, like the tow bike. Good bikes.

The OP is just wrong... and in a mid-life crisis. I've had an ST13, GL and FJR and must say this segment is growing, not shrinking. The ST13 is a better tourer than sport, and is heavy and underpowered by today's standards. To those who think the FJR is heavy, man, what are you guys smokin'? Great twisty bike, lots of power (although the Connie and the K13GT upped the ante a bit). I just got back from the bike show this weekend, and must say, it's still going to take something better to pry me off the FJR in that segment.

The OP is seemingly looking to justify an adventure bike.... found it. The Super Tenere is it. Suddenly the kool aid is yesterday's news.... these will sell.

The real answer is as stated... definitely more than one, and less than you have.

 

[Ignacio]

The ST as we know it is dead.

I disagree. The FJR is a GREAT sport-touring-dualsport bike.

I can make it to Grosvenor Arch and Bristlecone where Goldwings and 1200GS tip over in the dirt...point it down a slab on I-80 and cruise like a continental cruise missile........twist the grip and haul my luggage at 150 down the ET highway.....or through the twisties of the Dragon with or without sidebags to great effect. It's the single most versatile bike I've ever had.

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.

 

[Bounce]

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 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?

 

[Niehart]

Damn it Bounce, can't ya just use small words. Had to go look up myopic just to understand what you were saying.

 

[Bounce]

Damn it Bounce, can't ya just use small words. Had to go look up myopic just to understand what you were saying.

things could be worse. you could be so totally off base as the OP.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Many is the times I've looked longingly down dirt roads as I zipped by on the FJR wondering where they led...

so I turn my FJR and head down that path as far as I dare to go...and sometimes up hill climbs!

 

[RavFJR]

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 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?

+1... Riding how and what you want is a personal preference. Go ride what pleases you... :glare:

 

[El Cajone]

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

Right, and last week I saw a Jesus freak with a sign that said, "Repent. The end of the world is near."

I ain't puttin' too much faith in his forecast either.

 

[marcusorelius]

Yhea there no good, I'll give ya 500 bucks for it! (gonna teach duke to drive my gen1)

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

After exhaustive search for a bike that identified with my own character, the ST was the

only one to hit the spot. Of course, I have not desire to be on the open road, and

then go beep bopping on a trail through the dessert.

It fits the perfect mold where I tend to linger most, between sport and touring...just perfect.

Dying breed, well...I don't plan on doing that soon so, Sport Touring will always have one fan.

 

[rogdeb]

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

Great "tongue in cheek" post Mark :lol: Or was it really tongue in cheek ?

So ...... now I have to have a second bike, cause popular opinion demands it Guess I'm going to quit this retirement gig then and get me some cash !! Oh well, nobody will do it for me huh? .... Mark .... buddy ?

 

[08FJR4ME]

I am not sure about you adventure bikes. Yeah, there fine for some fire road with plenty of room

to travel or open gravel pit. I can say the same thing about the heavyweight ADV bikes. To heavy, poor

handling and so on. Dual sport is where it's at. I will never forget some of the greasiest snot **** I ever

went through up in NH. Light rain and mist all morning to start out with. First 3 miles nothing but woods

no trail just markers. Boulder hill climbs where only a few bikes could ride up. I had no idea what I was

getting into but dam it sure was fun.

The one in the red truck is mine



Before the ride nice and clean



These are the two guys I rode with that day.



Just another mud hole, I don't recall seeing any GS's that day.

https://rides.webshots.com/photo/2923131600105030702ZkVPyR

[/URL]

 

Taking a break after the mud hole.

 



 

After snapping a chain I was out of commission for the day. Not only had to push it out of a ravine

and get it to road. I then had to be towed to the halfway point. Sure was a great day.

 



 

I will be putting her back on the road again this spring. Can't wait. I have missed jumping off

and hitting some power lines or trails at times like the old days. She sure can suck up the bumps.

 

[Patriot]

The ST as we know it is dead.

I disagree. The FJR is a GREAT sport-touring-dualsport bike.

I can make it to Grosvenor Arch and Bristlecone where Goldwings and 1200GS tip over in the dirt...point it down a slab on I-80 and cruise like a continental cruise missile........twist the grip and haul my luggage at 150 down the ET highway.....or through the twisties of the Dragon with or without sidebags to great effect. It's the single most versatile bike I've ever had.

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