Triumph Sprint ST vs GT

[stw]

Some Triumph Sprint ST suggestions on another thread for choosing a first sport touring bike that was a bit smaller and lighter than bigger bikes like FJR or Councours.  

For those knowledgeable about the Sprints, can you compare the the ST and the newer GT. From the specs it looks like they made the Sprint bigger with the intro of the GT. Longer wheelbase says alot--the GT is 60.5" vs. the old ST at 57.4". Looks like the GT is 60 lbs. heavier too.  In the promo stuff on the Triumph site it sounds like they were optimizing the GT a bit more for 2 up riding.  

For those who like the Sprint ST, does this make the GT less recommendable as a lighter smaller sport tourer?  Does it put it closer to the FJR (despite smaller displacement of course)?

Haven't ridden the GT yet, but it's available at my dealer. Don't have access to an ST to compare though.

Based on the advice from that other thread, I started my sport trourer search by riding the Daytona 675. I like triples (and twins) better than 4 cyl. bikes for various reasons.

Looking for a smaller sport tourer for mostly 1-up riding. Loved the Daytona 675 but looking for more sit-up ergos. I like the practicalities of sport tourers: stock panniers, weather protection, electrical accessory connections, ABS, underseat storage, touring features in the instrumentation, etc. Otherwise, I guess putting bags on a 675 would be an option. Wish I could like the looks of the BMW F800.

[Croak]

The GT is NOT 60 pounds heavier.  The GT is less than ten pounds heavier than the an ST with panniers and ABS (the GT has ABS as standard, it was an option on the ST).  

Part of that extra weight is in the longer swingarm, part of it is in the longer seat (with storage!), part of it is the heavier (but improved) headlight assembly, part of it is in the larger (and better mounted) bags, and part of it is Triumph being more straightforward with weight figures than they were in 2005. If you go with an aftermarket exhaust, you'll change the weight difference in favor of the GT.

The ST is a fine bike, you can get them dirt cheap too, but I think the GT is a genuine improvement.

Three inches of wheelbase doesn't kill the handling, and frankly, after riding one myself, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference on the road in terms of steering effort at any speed, but it does feel more stable in a turn.  The stock suspenders are improved on the GT as well.  And it's still considerably lighter than the FJR.

[caddydaddy]

I'll second what Croak said.  I own a '08 Sprint ST and after test riding a GT, I really couldn't tell any difference in handling or weight!  The saddlebags on the GT are much better than the ST.  
  If the GT was out when I bought my ST, I probably would have bought a GT!

[ride200mi]

Although I bought the GT, I did get to ride the ST also. The ST wasn't on my short list but was offered the ride to compare. The ST peg to seat ratio is shorter and the ST has more of a "Crotch Rocket" stance. I do 90% of our riding with two up. And though there are better two-up bikes (We like the BMW R1200RT) the GT feels the lightest I ridden in a true "Sport Touring" category. This is by far a subjective point of view as I'm sure there will be others with different needs and ergo's wanted. Coming off a Aprilia Futura, the Futura has pretty much the same feel and ergo's for me. The only thing I'm not overly thrilled about are the bags. To hard to use and you need a key to open and close it every time. With a 2 year warranty and the dealer I bought it from bending over backwards to get the bike ready and on my way in short time, felt I made the right dealer choice and the bike fits our needs for two-up travels.....

[drbenjamin]

Agree with everything posted above; I replaced the stock exhaust which I found visually unappealing. The replacement weighed 10 lb less, which as someone pointed out is the weight diff. between GT and ST.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5n85pZ6kB0

Great bike, what I really appreciate about it is that it is an absolute blast to ride solo, but toss on the bags and you and a passenger can ride to a destination, get off the bike, stow your gear, and go do something else.

[Roadscum]

Agree with everything posted above; I replaced the stock exhaust which I found visually unappealing. The replacement weighed 10 lb less, which as someone pointed out is the weight diff. between GT and ST.

Replace the exhaust on the ST and the weight differential remains..... just say'n!

Regards, Paul

[drbenjamin]

I see your point Paul, but I have to point out that the GT has an enormous 14 lb exhaust. The only way to shed 14lbs of exhaust from an ST would be to take off everthing including the headers!  

[Croak]

There's not a lot of weight savings changing out the stock underseat can on a Sprint ST, and you'd still have the longer mid pipe and all the heat shielding that isn't needed on the GT.

[Dan K]

I own an '06 ST, and test rode the GT. I found the GT to have almost exactly the same ergos (my '06 has the higher bars from the '07- models), including peg placement.

The GT didn't feel any heavier, and handledas good if not better - it was simply more refined. Brakes were great, handling crisp, and it's definitely not (regardless of marketing) in the FJR/Connie class.

I also like the underseat exhaust, so style-wise, the ST wins for me. Plus I use a top case, so the bigger side cases aren't much of an issue.  But the level of improvements in the refinement category were VERY noticeable.  My ST may be older, but it has only 12k miles and the suspension is set tight (I set it for track riding one day and left it...it's still a bit soft) and the GT just felt improved.  Same feel from the motor, same ergos, just, refined.  Don't know how else to explain it.  

- Dan

[stw]

Great information and perspective on the GT.  Good to have my wrong impression of the GT corrected, as well as my faulty web-sourced weight info.
This forum is great for the well-informed and thoughtful experience shared here. Thanks.

[Galo]

This past Saturday I picked up my GT and absolutely love it.
I am coming into this bike from an '01 Sprint (955) so there were 1.5 generations I skipped, but compared to my '01, this bike is the schitz!
- I agree with the 'it's really not that much heavier' comments....maybe a couple dozen pounds, fully fueled, with bags, etc.
- the longer wheelbase makes it more stable and sedate while tracking straight but the reduced trail & resultant quicker steering makes it turn in as good if not better than the ST
- It's far easier to change lines mid-corner in the GT than the ST, if you can believe that
- compared to the rather agricultural thrashing of the first-gen 955 mill, this mill sounds like a sowing machine.
- the engine is smoother
- the tranny is quieter, smoother and quicker-shifting
- fueling is spot-on
- suspension is very compliant and well-sorted. I weigh 180 lbs with gear, so....I don't get the feeling that it's under-sprung. At 30 mm of rear sag, it's plenty firm enough for my almost exclusively 1-up riding.
and the list goes on.

 My only gripe is that the windscreen isn't high enough to blast the air above my helmet, but Zero Gravity is already working on the Double Bubble for it and should be out in a few weeks

I bought my '01 when I was 49, 10 years and two back surgeries later, I find the GT is perfect.

[BBB]

Weight difference between the two, according to the Triumph website is 27kg (59 pounds) though it doesn't specify if the GT weight includes the panniers (though I suspect it does as the photos on the website show the panniers fitted). I would imagine the panniers would weigh in at about 10-15kg's in total.

[Croak]

   Not this crap again.

[BBB]

What crap would this be?

[Galo]

Weight difference between the two, according to the Triumph website is 27kg (59 pounds) though it doesn't specify if the GT weight includes the panniers (though I suspect it does as the photos on the website show the panniers fitted). I would imagine the panniers would weigh in at about 10-15kg's in total.

Much less than that..maybe 5-6 kgs total.
Muffler is bigger and heavier, steel tank vs plastic tank on earlier generation STs, center stand prolly a lb heavier due to longer 'lever' to help pull/swing the bike up on it...probably more lbs here, more there, etc.

[BBB]

I was including the pannier frames and fittings in my estimate.  I know that standard silencers can be pretty hefty. For example the silencer on my K1200S was a hefty 17 pounds. I replaced it with a Remus powercone which was 4 pounds for the stainless version, a saving of 13 pounds. But then savings could be made on the weight of the ST silencer as well, so that would counteract any savings made in replacing the GT silencer.

[ShervinRRR]

Many manufacturers that should know much better put too much mass in exhaust.  I have been making this right for Kawasaki now for almost 2 years and the results speak for themselves.

[Galo]

Many manufacturers that should know much better put too much mass in exhaust.  I have been making this right for Kawasaki now for almost 2 years and the results speak for themselves.

 

[sprk_sprd]

The only thing I'm not overly thrilled about are the bags. To hard to use and you need a key to open and close it every time.

ride200mi (or anyone else),

Can you please explain this to me?  Do not all hard saddle bags (whether it's a Sprint ST/GT, Futura, etc.) require a key to open/close them?  I may be paranoid, but that's actually one of the reasons I'm looking into buying a sport-tourer with factory bags.  The soft, zippered luggage I use on my SV650 doesn't give me any peace of mind when I stop somewhere.  

Thanks.

[JReazor]

ride200mi (or anyone else),

Can you please explain this to me?  Do not all hard saddle bags (whether it's a Sprint ST/GT, Futura, etc.) require a key to open/close them?  I may be paranoid, but that's actually one of the reasons I'm looking into buying a sport-tourer with factory bags.  The soft, zippered luggage I use on my SV650 doesn't give me any peace of mind when I stop somewhere.  

Thanks.

I think the issue is that you can't choose to close the bags and leave them unlocked. The is no button to press to open them, you have to use the key to operate the latch mechanism. I don't know if that's true on all bikes but it can be a little annoying when the bike is already running and you realize that your groceries are still sitting on the curb.