I’m just about to change jobs to one that’s going to mean a fair amount of motorway mileage. So I’m considering upgrading from the ol’ Fazer 600.
I’ve got my eye on two bikes:
The Honda VFR 800 (2002 onwards)
and
The Triumph Sprint ST (2005 onwards)
Although I’m pretty confident that the Triumph is the better machine, I have one major concern. I’m going to be riding through most of the winter and I worry that the finish on the Triumph won’t match the solid as a rock Honda quality. It wouldn’t be garaged but I’d wash it bike once a week and douse it in FS365.
Are the any Sprint ST owners on here who have experience riding through winter?
hey mate, well one of my best mates in Devon has a Sprint st 955i, its the last of the 955i models. He chopped his hornet in for it, and again he does some big miles in the winter from Devon to Bristol most weekends and back. His bike is used on a daily basis and all he swears by is acf50, similar to the f365 spray. He once a week depending on road salt coats all his metal parts in this solution and leaves to settle over night.
So far so good, only a few little marks here and there. I use my bikes all through the winter and just keep really up on the cleaning, making sure that i douse my metal parts with f365, and wd40, seems to work ok, no pitting on forks etc…
I ride a Sprint ST in all weathers (12k miles in 16 months) and it stands up well to the abuse with some loving care. It definitely needs a hugger to deal with the spray off the back wheel - without one you’ll think you’ve been riding through muddy puddles for 100 miles.
And it’s much more fun to ride than a VFR… triple torque, excellent handling and that lurveley pop and burble from the pipes on the over-run. Mmmmm!
Sorry but until someone shows me a Sprint ST that has coped with 200+ miles I remain to be convinced its even in the same class as the VFR
I have used my VFR for the last 4 years, its just turned 102,000 miles and has never missed a beat. I am expecting it to do another 102,000 in the next 4 years as well.
Today I did close on 400 miles and now after a break of an hour I reckon I could do it again.
The VFR still suffers in the winter but ACF 50 is the trick. The problem with magazine reports (and most owner feedback to be honest) is that it is made on surprisingly little mileage. If you need a bike that you can put big mileage on, but still give a Sportsbike a run for its money at the weekend you need look no further than the VFR.
Recently bought a Sprint RS to take the strain off my 675. Good bike but as with all Triumphs remember the Servicing costs are rather high. ~£500 for a 12000 mile service.
Well I’ve had both, but I have to disagree about the vfr. Don’t get me wrong it is an excellent bike, it’s a typical Honda. Does what it says on the tin, but I’m afraid in my opinion the Sprint ST beats it hands down. Better mpg, better comfort, better handling, faster, and yes I could do 400 miles on it in a day and feel great after. I found that the Honda just lacked something…Charisma…mmmmmmm no… It’s a bike of not quites. Not quite a 1000, not quite fast, not quite big enough, not quite economic…etc. Good lights though. Oh, and this variable valve timing is B*******. This so called umph that cuts in…that all the bike mags were singing about when they first came out…don’t believe it. Buy any decent 900cc+ machine and it’s there anyway. The one thing Honda did wrong with this machine is they kept it below the litre mark.
The sprint maybe more expensive on the servicing, but it’s 6000 miles between services compared with the 4000 for the Honda so it works out even.
I think to be fair though, they are both really good all rounders personally I like the Triumph. It’s down to individual choice. If you get the chance test ride both for a day and make your own choice.
No contest, get the Sprint, We`ve ridden our Daytona 34000miles in 28 months including a 4500mile jollie to Nordcapp. Honda, pahh,get a real bike and enjoy that lovely triple (roll off the throttle at 7000rpm in a small French village and revel in the auditory ecstacy)
I’ve had two Sprint RS. One 2000 model with 65000 miles on the clocks, bodywork still looked new. Forks and engine cases were pitted, but that was due to neglect by previous owners. I’ve got a 2002 model as well that I picked up with 2580 miles on the clocks. Now has 14300 on the clocks and still looks brand new. I ride all year round, lather the bike in ACF50 and give it a good clean every month or so. No even changed the original chain yet…
I used to own a VFR750 which was a great bike, but the Triumph just pisses all over it for all the major things like economy, comfort, speed and fun fun fun. The triple engine is just so much more competent and huge fun. I regularly get 50mpg on motorways with no issues at all, 200 miles on a tank is possible if you are taking it easy.
No comparison. The 2005 Sprint is the better bike.
