duckbubbles Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 It seems like a lot of the people who bought the ST have gotten rid of them. I have worked the sore points out of mine and plan to keep it indefinitely. I'm just curious, after shelling out a load of cash for a bike, why did you sell it, specifically? Frank
kopov260 Posted October 21, 2007 Posted October 21, 2007 I can only guess one reason: the riding position. It seems that people who are into sport touring are looking at the RTs or GTs with more upright position than ST. I can see how for some it can tiring to do 500-600 mile days in that lean forward position. I am happy with mine at 30K miles.
Firefight911 Posted October 21, 2007 Posted October 21, 2007 Not sold, but for sale. Only reason is a change on the genre of riding I am doing. If it sells, it sells. If not, I keep it and chase Whip around on his . . . I have the stock saddle and have done 1250 miles in one day on it. I could still walk fine!!
bakerzdosen Posted October 21, 2007 Posted October 21, 2007 I have the stock saddle and have done 1250 miles in one day on it. I could still walk fine!! And you're a better man than I because I could NEVER have done that on the stock seat (as I'm sitting at your computer and you're not ).
Firefight911 Posted October 21, 2007 Posted October 21, 2007 (as I'm sitting at your computer and you're not ).
russell_bynum Posted October 21, 2007 Posted October 21, 2007 It seems like a lot of the people who bought the ST have gotten rid of them. I have worked the sore points out of mine and plan to keep it indefinitely. I'm just curious, after shelling out a load of cash for a bike, why did you sell it, specifically? I think that's fairly universal with this crowd...regardless of the bike. Everyone had RT's. Then everyone got all fired up about the K1200RS and everyone bought one of those. Then the GS was big, so everyone bought one of those, etc. Many people seem to buy a new bike every couple of years. Some people are just like that. Personally, I like to keep a vehicle for a while. It takes a long time for me to really get attached to a vehicle and get it setup the way I want. The last thing I want to do is go through all that crap again and again every couple of years, so for me to switch bikes there's got to be a good reason.
tom collins Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 i will take a stab at this question. my experience is an 84 R100RS and a 97 R1100RS. i traded my 97 for an 04 RT because i could not think of riding the 40 miles home from the shop, my wrists hurt that bad. this did not happen all at once, but over time due to aging and computers. yes, after 6 years on these types of bikes, i was very familiar with the master yoda riding position. looking at the threads on this board it would often go like this: they get the bike, love the bike, best bike in the world. 2 weeks later, they ask a question about bar-backs and maybe peg lowering. a few weeks later, a question about better windscreens. then a request for the link to the master yoda riding position. i noticed the same with the ST as had been with the RS. those bikes were built to be ridden on their terms. every ergonomic change on an ST or RS changes the riding dynamic, usually by helping one area of concern while simutaneously creating another problem. for example, bigger windscreen takes the wind off the chest which maybe feels good, but that wind holds the rider up and off of the wrists, so wind coverage is better, but wrists still hurt. or, bar backs put you higher in the windstream, but gives you buffeting. the windshield hardware is not designed for larger fairings, so larger fairings flap around if there is any turbulance. it goes on. anyone considering that type of bike must take a very long test ride or borrow a friend's bike for a few days. one of the main problems is the BMW age demographic as that style bike is hard to come into if you are 40ish and not in good shape. if you are closer to 29 than 39, it should be no problem to adapt. i don't know if this info is useful, but such has been my experience. tom collins
HexHead Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 one of the main problems is the BMW age demographic as that style bike is hard to come into if you are 40ish and not in good shape. if you are closer to 29 than 39, it should be no problem to adapt. Gee, I got mine at 53 and the riding position is fine (and I'm hardly in shape. LOLOL) On a 450 mile run last year, I commented to my wife that "those guys in Berlin really know what they're doing", I was much more comfortable than I expected to be. In a perfect world, my pegs would be a little lower, espcially since my knee surgery. I cringe when I see a post where someone put a couple of hundred miles on the bike and are looking for bar backs and taller windscreens. You guys should have just bought an RT.
smiller Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 I cringe when I see a post where someone put a couple of hundred miles on the bike and are looking for bar backs and taller windscreens. You guys should have just bought an RT. It's possible that one could want a lighter and leaner alternative to the RT, but not a 'sport' riding position.
DUBLINCHRIS Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 BMW made this bike for ME! I am 52 going on 53 @ 5'11" I was looking for a Jekyl & Hyde personality, i.e. a sports bike today - no luggage, and tomorrow I am off touring europe with full luggage. A buzzy motor hitting rev limiter good gear box and then for touring great fuel consumption and long days on stock saddle = 12 - 14 hours and that is not on highways! It does exactly what it says on the can. A true SPORTS TOURER . Anyone I see on an RT with that big fairing ALWAYS seems to have the luggage attached especially all the business men in the morning traffic having difficulty filtering in traffic with all that bulk. Have you noticed how most ST owners are enjoying their bikes and the bulk of the "problems" seem to relate to the RT's and I know the stock reply is there are more RT's out there than St's but it still dosent get away from the fact that the ST owners are a happier bunch with the best of BOTH worlds!!
rbstone Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 I love my ST. I'm 63 5'7" My wife and I Rode a 4300 miles to Taos,NM and back to upstate NY this Sept. We spent three days off the bike touring Taos in my son's car. I've been riding a R90s and a R100/7 with "S" bars for 30 years. I guess I'm to old to sit up.
tom collins Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 no disresect was intended to any of you older gents (or out of shape gents) riding STs and RSs. it is not a mainstream bike. i am envious of any of you that can enjoy the position as i used to be able to do. my point was just that for most people, this is how it seems to go. tom collins
DoctorC Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Riding position for older gents??? I am not old, but getting there fast (so to speak)! Though only 5-9, I think my long arms help make the ST a perfect fit. I have never had any wrist pain. Sure, I reposition myself from time to time on longer rides, but riding position is much more comfortable for me than sitting more upright. I find weight distribution between feet, arms, and butt evens things out. I look at the ST as a way ato stay young (at heart). Anyone with a birthdate prior to 1949 need not reply to post (just kidding). I agree that ST's riding position (along with cost, styling, and new K1200 bikes) were a problem. I bought mine from a guy who put on risers and a tall windshield... sold at 2,500 miles! Thank God for him!!! Are you around Doug??? Steve C NJ
duckbubbles Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 My biggest issue with my ST was the seat. That hump designed into it sure was an irritant. Sargent re-profiled and raised my seat and that was all it took to get rid of the butt burn and right knee ache. I had considered a peg lowering kit, but with the seat mod, I don't need it. By the way, I'm 58 and 6 ft. Haven't made any other changes to the seating position. I do have the bars in the upper position. No windshield change, either. I've always favored the "sportier" side of riding positions, actually the RT sit up and beg causes me more problems, so far. Frank
bakerzdosen Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 My biggest issue with my ST was the seat. That hump designed into it sure was an irritant. Sargent re-profiled and raised my seat and that was all it took to get rid of the butt burn and right knee ache. I had considered a peg lowering kit, but with the seat mod, I don't need it. By the way, I'm 58 and 6 ft. Haven't made any other changes to the seating position. I do have the bars in the upper position. No windshield change, either. I've always favored the "sportier" side of riding positions, actually the RT sit up and beg causes me more problems, so far. +1. Well, I'm not quite in my 50's yet (or 40's) but I hated the seat. I had forgotten how much until I rode Phil's around this weekend. I love his Wilbers and Pilot Powers on the thing, but the seat was probably worse than I remembered... I realize that the intent of this thread wasn't to turn into an ST love-fest, but I'm not selling mine any time soon. No changes needed. I agree with tom collins. The changes change what I feel is an excellent bike. My first day on the bike my wrists were hurting. Once I read about MYRP, I started riding better (aka I adapted to the bike.) I still hated the seat until I got mine customized, but the wrists and riding position were fine for me. Now, I don't really like the sit up and beg riding position. The FJR I rode was a bit too upright for me, and I've been told that it's more aggressive than an RT, so... To each their own though.
Dave Grinsel Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 I am 5'11" and 62 years old and love the riding position on my ST. I have ridden it 36,000 miles. In fact, it feels like a "sit up and beg" riding position after riding my Thruxton. Everything is stock except for Wilbers and Alaskan Leather seat cover. I am off this morning on a 1,000 mile three day fall ride.
TedG Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 To each their own though. Yep, me too. For the past 20 some years all I've ridden are various KRS BMWs and sport bikes. Now I'm back on a true sport touring R bike and loving it. For whatever reason a "standard" seating position just doesn't work for me. Like others here, I hate the stock ST seat, but I'll fiddle around with that issue and eventually get it resolved.
R4ND0M_AX3 Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Am I the only one who rides with the bars in the LOWER position?
jaytee Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 I tried all three positions but eventually ended up in the upper position after getting the Corbin seat done. As to people selling ST's, I suspect that most of them were just ready to move on to the next great thing. Honestly though, it seems that ST owners are a fairly loyal bunch, with far more keeping them than selling. Dissatisfaction with ergos has to be the number one reason though, Im guessing, unless the owner is just fed up with BMW in general... JT
Ben_Ricci Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Am I the only one who rides with the bars in the LOWER position? No. Although at the moment they are in the upper position.
phxforsale Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Nope, my wife rides hers in the low position, I thought my K12RS in the low position was low but the ST in the low spot puts some strain in my back (but I'd adapt).
bakerzdosen Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Am I the only one who rides with the bars in the LOWER position? It's on my to-do list of things to try. However, I get out there to do it and decide to just go instead. Maybe I'll try that this week.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.