Looking for thoughts on the ST

[Deans BMW]

What a good looking bike, You are going to enjoy your new ST's.

[PizzaMan]

WhhhhhooooooHoooooooo...... I remember when she was brand spankin'.

[Bulldog]

Nancy and I are the proud parents of a new pair of R1200STs. Hers is the red and graphite, his is the (faster) blue and silver. We picked them up just in time to go to the RA Rally in Tennessee last weekend and already have more than 1200 miles on them.

We both love the bike, coming at it from very different perspectives; Nancy from her K12RS and me from my R1150R.

At 505 pounds wet, it is lighter than either of our previous bikes. The thing is incredibly easy to flick around tight curves, as we discovered in Tennessee last weekend.

Below 4500 rpm, the boxer is as smooth as a K-bike. Over that, there is a fair amount of vibration, but it is already decreasing as we put the miles on.

Compared to the R, 4th and 5th are much taller gears, and 6th is shorter, letting you stretch the acceleration to higher speeds earlier. Compared to the RS, you can get into 6th much earlier with out bogging down the engine, creating better fuel economy on those long stretches of super-slab.

Compared to the R, the ergos are much sportier. Leg position for me is about the same as when I had the standard (low) seat on the R. Tighter than with the custom (tall) seat that I put on. The handlebars are significantly narrower and more forward, but still comfortable on long rides. I did more than 450 miles the day after I got the bike with no problems. Compared to the RS, the low ST seat gives a much better footing for Nancy (5'2") and the forward position is less than it was on the RS.

All-in-all, we are really happy with our decision.

[fnfalman]

I'm glad that you guys are enjoying the ST. Lots of the moto magazines don't like the ST but praise the RT. They just don't "get" the niche that the ST fills.

I'm waiting for the S or the R to come out though.

[priapismic]

Congrats on the new additions, Bulldog. Mighty fine pair o' machines. I know the stacked headlights are controversial, to say the least, but I gotta admit that ST is growing on me. If I was to come into a sudden windfall of cash, the ST is the first bike I'd want to try on.

[Bulldog]

Yeah, I'm still not so sure of the looks myself, but I don't have to look at it when I'm riding it.

The performance, on the other hand, improves daily.

Bulldog

[mistercindy]

Great post, Dean. You've added to my lust of the ST... I'd sure like to test ride one, though. That's pretty hard to get done around here (N. Dallas).