Riden Anything Else Recently.

[Skip]

Had a blat on a neighbours brand new NC700 Honda today. A sweet little twin but makes you appreciate the comfort of the ST.
Got me  .
It's not until you ride something else that you realise just what a great ride the ST is, the 1300 in particular for me.
Bikes ridden recently for me include M109 Suzuki Boulevard, C50 Boulevard, Suzuki GSXF 650, Suzuki GSX1250FA, Suzuki 650 Burgman, Suzuki 650 V-Strom, Yamaha R1, Honda VT750S. ( includes friends and bike shopping for son ) He's keen on the C50. A nice little cruiser.
As I've stated elsewhere, we all ride what suits our needs in the present. Currently, wouldn't swap the  for anything else.
But what have YOU tried recently and what was the verdict?
Cheers.
Skip.   

[saaz]

I tried the last model Goldwing and it was very nice.  Far better than I thought it would be, but it did not justify and extra +$30,000.  VFR1200 went like a cut cat, fantastic brakes, but too sporting in the ride positon for me.  ST13 felt like a newer St11, funny 'bout that :)

[Streak]

Rode an FJR1300 recently, I think am to used the ST1100 though, apart from the low down get up and go which was pretty cool, still felt far to hunched and sporty for me

[Brock]

Rode the Daughters Ninja 250, now thats hard work, 5 gears before 60Ks...

[alans1100]

My partners Lifan V250B (Chinese cloned Virago 250) and like Brock, 5 gears before 60kph. It's ok but with cruiser styling my feet miss the foot pegs as I'm used to the ST.

[saaz]

I have to admit that I did ride a mates Intruder 1500, and his later Vulcan 1600 cruiser.  Modest power and ponderous handling, but I can sort of see why people might like them, but not for me.  He loved them for the riding he did, which is all that matters in the end.

[Gavo]

Recently rode an excellent egsample of a Valkiriee 1500 that pulled like a freight train and sounded like you were riding a V8  and that was only in suburbia

[Aj1300]

Rode a mates ktm950 superenduro, it was a suprising ride you could tip into corners and hold a tight line. Alot of vibration from the twin.I would have one. M109. Suz this has so much torque . Still love my st though, for me it is the best all round bike

[STeveo]

Only crusier I've ridden is friends 250 Virago. Went ok for what it is, but the riding position just put too much pressure on my spine and when I hit a bump the seat tried to push my bum up through my neck, then my feet kept sliding down the pegs. Can't see what people see in cruisers other than some sort of distorted image of them selves in shop windows. Not for me, ST does all I want of it with plenty in reserve.

 

[Brian]

I went for a ride on a new Goldwing today up through the mountain twisties to the ginger factory @ yandina today. We were 2 up , tunes playing , blue skies. This bike ticks all the boxes for me , on my other bike I'd be getting seat sore and shoulders aching but riding up the driveway I felt the same if I'd been out for an hours jaunt.

[Skip]

Was out myself today for a lovely lunch at Monteville with my "Lovely". What a glorious day here in SE Qld.
My son started on a 250 Ninja a couple of years back, and yeah, don't they work hard at 110k/h.
I forgot to mention my lapse in judgement when I took to the road on a GT1000 Ducati while waiting for the workshop to finish the ST some time ago.
Gotta love that V twin rumble though.

[Couch]

Well!.........are we going to see one in the stable then??     

I went for a ride on a new Goldwing today up through the mountain twisties to the ginger factory @ yandina today. We were 2 up , tunes playing , blue skies. This bike ticks all the boxes for me , on my other bike I'd be getting seat sore and shoulders aching but riding up the driveway I felt the same if I'd been out for an hours jaunt.

[Brian]

Yes mate it was mine I was riding.... And luvin it

[sac468]

I Took a new Goldwing for a spin, wow loved it would buy one in a heart beat IF I could afford it, the other bike I ride occassionaly is a Yamaha 650 V star, nice but not really for me.

[Couch]

I had the 1100........nice, but I prefer the Honda!! :)

I Took a new Goldwing for a spin, wow loved it would buy one in a heart beat IF I could afford it, the other bike I ride occassionaly is a Yamaha 650 V star, nice but not really for me.

[Streak]

Speaking of the 1100 this is what I had before the ST1100....

[Mitch]

 Took a Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 8v & a Suzuki V Strom 650 for test rides, both really nice. 
   I ended up trading the Valk  on the new Suzuki, it did all the things I wanted & was lighter, more economical, more comfortable and Half the price of the Guzzi,
                   

[Maverick75]

The coolest bike I've ridden recently (apart from the ST) was a Suzuki SV650 I was testing for a mate looking at getting his first 'big' bike.  Awesome fun, great response and handling from what is essentially a budget machine. Felt just like a modern version of my old CX650.

Definitely recommend to anyone upgrading from a 250.

[StinkyPete]

My son has recently upgraded his Honda 250cc learners bike for an older Honda VFR750.   It's a genuine sports tourer, and despite my reservations about the rather sporty riding position, is quite comfortable over 100km/h as the wind took the weight completely off my wrists.   It's light, quick, and handles rather nicely.   However, if I was to have a second bike in the shed, it would probably be a 650cc adventure tourer, on which I could still tour, but with the added capability of exploring the dirt roads and rough trails that are "out of bounds" for the ST.