michaellovett
08-11-2008, 01:26 PM
I know these are different bikes and can't be compared directly, but I've been thinking about switching to the GL lately from the ST and today I had my first test ride on the GL.
I share some of my impressions for those of you who might be thinking about making the same switch :-)
- The ST wins in the fun-factor. On the ST you are more exposed to the outside, and the ST's seating position also makes me feel more like I'm part of the bike rather than just sitting on top of it. The GL has more of a wrap-around sensation and the stock screen is just frickin' huge in comparison to the ST. I almost felt like I was sitting behind the dashboard of a car.
- The GL wins, hands-down, in overall comfort. The seating position for me is definitely an improvement over the ST. The bars are at a comfortable distance and height. My issue with neck and shoulders did not show up on the GL. The stock seat was very comfy and I could see easily sitting on it for hours.
I do miss having my feet under my hips, though. The GL's controls are more forward than the ST.. about in the same position as your feet would be in if you sat in a straight chair. However, the GL foot controls are much closer to you than on a cruiser and thus you can stand up on the pegs. I think the GL's position is more natural than the ST and more natural than any cruiser I've owned. I would love it if the controls had, say 6" of forward or rearward travel , but that's asking a lot.
- I was seriously smiling ear to ear, going down the highway at 80 and listening to the local classical music station on the Premium Audio speakers! This was while wearing a full face helmet AND earplugs. Very cool. I didn't expect to like that as much as I did.
- The ride is softer than the ST, some would see too cushy, I would imagine. The bike corners well and is nimble enough to quickly flick around a pot hole without needing 1/2 mile to prepare for it :-).
- the GL was plenty peppy. Not as a quick to react as the ST but very strong and consistent. I thought I had accelerated to 50 or so on the freeway, and when I looked down I saw I was at 80+.
- One big surprise for me was that I felt more head vibration on the GL. At first I was going to attribute it to the position of the windscreen, which, at the lowest setting, cuts right in the middle of my vision (Would have to change that). But I always ride the ST with the shield completely down so I don't think it's turbulence. On the ST I can read highways signs (generally speaking) as if I were sitting still. On the GL there was some blurriness trying to read signs. Oddly enough I didn't sense this vibration anywhere else in my body so I'm not sure what to make of it.
- The brakes are strong and effective, but I found the rear brake to be a bit too sensitive...it's like it was wooden initially and then pow, grabby all of a sudden. I prefer the more linear brake feedback on the ST.
- Shifting and throttle response are more smooth than the ST. It's hard to hear the engine at all and I think you could probably wind it up to pretty high rpm's in a lower gear before you would realize that you should have shifted a couple minutes ago :-).
-I did not get the same throttle jerk on the Wing as I do on the ST, when trying to modulate speed while in first gear. The Wing is very forgiving and seems to just ignore little imperfections in your steering and throttling.
- Who can complain against the storage, the cruise control, the heated seats (passenger gets their own control) shin and toe vents, IPOD connection ability, electronic suspension with two memory presets, etc, etc, etc? All the toys, really.
- I loved the reverse. No more realizing too late than you've parked slightly down hill ("It looked level when I pulled in!!") and that you might play hell having to get out of your parking spot. Especially for us short guys and especially on gravel, etc.
- As many have mentioned, the weight of the GL is more than the ST but is lower yet than the ST and thus the GL feels less top-heavy than the ST.
Once, I came to a less than perfectly balanced stop and I thought I might have to muscle the bike a bit to get it perfectly vertical (I'll say this was an intentional test :-P ) Anyway I was surprised that I didn't have to use as much leg strength as I would have to on the ST. Also, I was in a parking lot whose exit forces you to wait (i.e., for the car in front of you to go) in an uphill, and banked angle. The bike was very stable and I had no problems positioning it and creeping forward in that weird position.
- I didn't get the chance to do a lot of slow-speed, tight turn kind of maneuvers. I understand the bike intentionally cuts all power and gas when it is leaned at 45 degrees and this might be a bit upsetting at times, but probably not often.
The GL is pricey, that's for sure. And apparently it sucks down gas pretty good. Those things aside, I think it could be just the ticket I'm looking for. Still have to noddle it around and see if I want to take twenty grand out of savings to buy a vehicle that in few years will probably be getting worse MPG than lots of cars..
Hope this helps someone out there.
Michael
I share some of my impressions for those of you who might be thinking about making the same switch :-)
- The ST wins in the fun-factor. On the ST you are more exposed to the outside, and the ST's seating position also makes me feel more like I'm part of the bike rather than just sitting on top of it. The GL has more of a wrap-around sensation and the stock screen is just frickin' huge in comparison to the ST. I almost felt like I was sitting behind the dashboard of a car.
- The GL wins, hands-down, in overall comfort. The seating position for me is definitely an improvement over the ST. The bars are at a comfortable distance and height. My issue with neck and shoulders did not show up on the GL. The stock seat was very comfy and I could see easily sitting on it for hours.
I do miss having my feet under my hips, though. The GL's controls are more forward than the ST.. about in the same position as your feet would be in if you sat in a straight chair. However, the GL foot controls are much closer to you than on a cruiser and thus you can stand up on the pegs. I think the GL's position is more natural than the ST and more natural than any cruiser I've owned. I would love it if the controls had, say 6" of forward or rearward travel , but that's asking a lot.
- I was seriously smiling ear to ear, going down the highway at 80 and listening to the local classical music station on the Premium Audio speakers! This was while wearing a full face helmet AND earplugs. Very cool. I didn't expect to like that as much as I did.
- The ride is softer than the ST, some would see too cushy, I would imagine. The bike corners well and is nimble enough to quickly flick around a pot hole without needing 1/2 mile to prepare for it :-).
- the GL was plenty peppy. Not as a quick to react as the ST but very strong and consistent. I thought I had accelerated to 50 or so on the freeway, and when I looked down I saw I was at 80+.
- One big surprise for me was that I felt more head vibration on the GL. At first I was going to attribute it to the position of the windscreen, which, at the lowest setting, cuts right in the middle of my vision (Would have to change that). But I always ride the ST with the shield completely down so I don't think it's turbulence. On the ST I can read highways signs (generally speaking) as if I were sitting still. On the GL there was some blurriness trying to read signs. Oddly enough I didn't sense this vibration anywhere else in my body so I'm not sure what to make of it.
- The brakes are strong and effective, but I found the rear brake to be a bit too sensitive...it's like it was wooden initially and then pow, grabby all of a sudden. I prefer the more linear brake feedback on the ST.
- Shifting and throttle response are more smooth than the ST. It's hard to hear the engine at all and I think you could probably wind it up to pretty high rpm's in a lower gear before you would realize that you should have shifted a couple minutes ago :-).
-I did not get the same throttle jerk on the Wing as I do on the ST, when trying to modulate speed while in first gear. The Wing is very forgiving and seems to just ignore little imperfections in your steering and throttling.
- Who can complain against the storage, the cruise control, the heated seats (passenger gets their own control) shin and toe vents, IPOD connection ability, electronic suspension with two memory presets, etc, etc, etc? All the toys, really.
- I loved the reverse. No more realizing too late than you've parked slightly down hill ("It looked level when I pulled in!!") and that you might play hell having to get out of your parking spot. Especially for us short guys and especially on gravel, etc.
- As many have mentioned, the weight of the GL is more than the ST but is lower yet than the ST and thus the GL feels less top-heavy than the ST.
Once, I came to a less than perfectly balanced stop and I thought I might have to muscle the bike a bit to get it perfectly vertical (I'll say this was an intentional test :-P ) Anyway I was surprised that I didn't have to use as much leg strength as I would have to on the ST. Also, I was in a parking lot whose exit forces you to wait (i.e., for the car in front of you to go) in an uphill, and banked angle. The bike was very stable and I had no problems positioning it and creeping forward in that weird position.
- I didn't get the chance to do a lot of slow-speed, tight turn kind of maneuvers. I understand the bike intentionally cuts all power and gas when it is leaned at 45 degrees and this might be a bit upsetting at times, but probably not often.
The GL is pricey, that's for sure. And apparently it sucks down gas pretty good. Those things aside, I think it could be just the ticket I'm looking for. Still have to noddle it around and see if I want to take twenty grand out of savings to buy a vehicle that in few years will probably be getting worse MPG than lots of cars..
Hope this helps someone out there.
Michael