Here's my long confessional 
:
My initial foray into the world of ST's was around 2 years ago when I picked up a 2004 ST1300 garage queen with 5k miles. It was blue, so it was fast.
But, my ride buddies all rode HD and things got 'odd.' I sold the ST and picked up a Road King. After my two best ride buddies disappeared (one transferred and one got wiped out in a divorce), I was once again bored with riding a couch. I literally had to make myself ride, which has never been a problem. I thought I might be done and even told my wife as much. Thankfully, she encouraged me to "sell it and get what you really want." She's a smart woman and there is a bit of a history with her and I and scooters. Our first date was 36 years ago on a '75 Honda CB550-four----and the garage has never been completely empty.
At 53, and having ridden since I was 10, I know I'm in the late-stages of my riding and don't want to make any mistakes nor waste any more riding time with something occupying my garage that doesn't move my mojo. To be sure, I looked at the new Milwaukee 8 and could not walk out of the dealership quickly enough. Having already owned an ST (albeit briefly), I initially considered the R1200RT and R1200RT-P (they are dirt cheap here in Southern California). I also stared long and hard at my neighbor's Triumph.....and the Kawasaki Councours. In the end, I came back home. Here was my recent take-away while shopping for another sport-touring bike. NOTE: I decided early on that I wanted to pick up a police model since I keep threatening to update my cert and work reserve (which meant the Triumph and Kawasaki did not merit test rides):
I was lucky, as the dealership had both a '11 RT-P (54K) and a '06 ST-PA (53k). I knew I would have a bias towards the ST1300PA, so I began with a strong lean towards the BMW (you know, something new and different) and started there....
BMW R1200RT-P: "Dang, that's a big ole faring." Real big, as in---"how do I know where to plant my front tire?" Predictably, this initial feeling subsided and things became more intuitive, but every time I got back on the bike (it was an extended test ride) during the day my first thought was "dang, that's a big ole faring---where's my front tire?" This thought kept shooting my through my head to the point that I became distracted with the ergonomics. At one point, I hit the wrong button and triggered the siren. The poor guy in front of me at the stoplight starts trying to move over for me----I'm waving him off, it was chaos for a moment, but telling to me. The boxer motor, however, was a champ----like, really good. And, that sound, oh my. The clutch was buttery (it was a '11 model with the dry clutch), but I'd heard the stories from some buddies who have them for duty bikes and this was a concern without knowing more. The motor officers I know love their duty Bimmers, but none of them own one as a personal ride. Interestingly, 3 own Concours and 1 owns a 1800. That said, the R1200RT-P was "gold, Jerry," on the slab. But, those ergonomics----it just wasn't logical to me---it just wasn't "home." Did I mention that big ole faring.....?
HONDA ST1300PA: "WOW! This just feels right." I actually said this out loud after settling in on the ST. I pulled out onto the street and pulled a small wheelie which was (I swear) unintentional---I just got a handful and she felt really familiar. One could say it was kinda of like hooking up with an old girlfriend, but I am NOT going to say that...but one could, I'm just saying... Having spent the morning on the RT-P, I was ready to spend the afternoon on the ST-PA. It was an incredible feeling. The miles just rolled by and I lost track of time. The ST is even more nimble than I remember. The handling is precise and the torque is there if you keep the needle up. I decided to take the crowded parking lot test and pulled into the busiest hamburger joint I know. There was the usual pandemonium leaving the parking lot and, again, the ST was predictable and---well, just 'money' in every regards. I had two guys chat me up about the ST (it is in traditional enforcement black/white livery, currently), and this was something I recalled about my previous ST1300----folks like them and are not afraid to ask questions.
I walked back into the dealership and my salesman loudly says in front of a showroom full of potential customers on a Saturday afternoon, "SO, LET ME GUESS, YOU'VE DECIDED ON THE BMW!" I laughed and said in matching volume, "NO SIR, I'M GOING HOME WITH THE HONDA AND THE OTHER $5K IN MY POCKET!"
They had me out of there with completed paperwork in record time! Now, this is not a BMW bashing and I hasten to add that I still like the RT-P and I plan on adding one to the stable as soon as the CalStateU system quits getting all my dough. But, then I also do not plan on ever selling my ST-PA, which was well loved by a small Southern California department. But on this day, I was in need of some motivation and a renewed spirit; the ST was in need of a good home. I'm certainly glad we found each other.
I'll post pictures when my kid visits from college this weekend and shows the old man how to upload pics....
Cheers.int
: My initial foray into the world of ST's was around 2 years ago when I picked up a 2004 ST1300 garage queen with 5k miles. It was blue, so it was fast.
But, my ride buddies all rode HD and things got 'odd.' I sold the ST and picked up a Road King. After my two best ride buddies disappeared (one transferred and one got wiped out in a divorce), I was once again bored with riding a couch. I literally had to make myself ride, which has never been a problem. I thought I might be done and even told my wife as much. Thankfully, she encouraged me to "sell it and get what you really want." She's a smart woman and there is a bit of a history with her and I and scooters. Our first date was 36 years ago on a '75 Honda CB550-four----and the garage has never been completely empty. At 53, and having ridden since I was 10, I know I'm in the late-stages of my riding and don't want to make any mistakes nor waste any more riding time with something occupying my garage that doesn't move my mojo. To be sure, I looked at the new Milwaukee 8 and could not walk out of the dealership quickly enough. Having already owned an ST (albeit briefly), I initially considered the R1200RT and R1200RT-P (they are dirt cheap here in Southern California). I also stared long and hard at my neighbor's Triumph.....and the Kawasaki Councours. In the end, I came back home. Here was my recent take-away while shopping for another sport-touring bike. NOTE: I decided early on that I wanted to pick up a police model since I keep threatening to update my cert and work reserve (which meant the Triumph and Kawasaki did not merit test rides):
I was lucky, as the dealership had both a '11 RT-P (54K) and a '06 ST-PA (53k). I knew I would have a bias towards the ST1300PA, so I began with a strong lean towards the BMW (you know, something new and different) and started there....
BMW R1200RT-P: "Dang, that's a big ole faring." Real big, as in---"how do I know where to plant my front tire?" Predictably, this initial feeling subsided and things became more intuitive, but every time I got back on the bike (it was an extended test ride) during the day my first thought was "dang, that's a big ole faring---where's my front tire?" This thought kept shooting my through my head to the point that I became distracted with the ergonomics. At one point, I hit the wrong button and triggered the siren. The poor guy in front of me at the stoplight starts trying to move over for me----I'm waving him off, it was chaos for a moment, but telling to me. The boxer motor, however, was a champ----like, really good. And, that sound, oh my. The clutch was buttery (it was a '11 model with the dry clutch), but I'd heard the stories from some buddies who have them for duty bikes and this was a concern without knowing more. The motor officers I know love their duty Bimmers, but none of them own one as a personal ride. Interestingly, 3 own Concours and 1 owns a 1800. That said, the R1200RT-P was "gold, Jerry," on the slab. But, those ergonomics----it just wasn't logical to me---it just wasn't "home." Did I mention that big ole faring.....?
HONDA ST1300PA: "WOW! This just feels right." I actually said this out loud after settling in on the ST. I pulled out onto the street and pulled a small wheelie which was (I swear) unintentional---I just got a handful and she felt really familiar. One could say it was kinda of like hooking up with an old girlfriend, but I am NOT going to say that...but one could, I'm just saying... Having spent the morning on the RT-P, I was ready to spend the afternoon on the ST-PA. It was an incredible feeling. The miles just rolled by and I lost track of time. The ST is even more nimble than I remember. The handling is precise and the torque is there if you keep the needle up. I decided to take the crowded parking lot test and pulled into the busiest hamburger joint I know. There was the usual pandemonium leaving the parking lot and, again, the ST was predictable and---well, just 'money' in every regards. I had two guys chat me up about the ST (it is in traditional enforcement black/white livery, currently), and this was something I recalled about my previous ST1300----folks like them and are not afraid to ask questions.
I walked back into the dealership and my salesman loudly says in front of a showroom full of potential customers on a Saturday afternoon, "SO, LET ME GUESS, YOU'VE DECIDED ON THE BMW!" I laughed and said in matching volume, "NO SIR, I'M GOING HOME WITH THE HONDA AND THE OTHER $5K IN MY POCKET!"
They had me out of there with completed paperwork in record time! Now, this is not a BMW bashing and I hasten to add that I still like the RT-P and I plan on adding one to the stable as soon as the CalStateU system quits getting all my dough. But, then I also do not plan on ever selling my ST-PA, which was well loved by a small Southern California department. But on this day, I was in need of some motivation and a renewed spirit; the ST was in need of a good home. I'm certainly glad we found each other.
I'll post pictures when my kid visits from college this weekend and shows the old man how to upload pics....
Cheers.
int
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