Sports Tourers Review: Ducati ST4, Triumph Sprint ST & Honda VFR 800
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Join us as Paul Johnston pushes the limits of three high-performance sports tourer bikes, vying for supremacy on the asphalt. Brace yourself for an epic showdown featuring the sleek Ducati ST4, the formidable Triumph Sprint ST, and the powerhouse Honda VFR 800.
Get ready to witness the ultimate clash of speed, style, and precision as these titans of the road compete for the crown in an adrenaline-fueled battle for supremacy!
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I have owned a 2007 Sprint St and currently ride a 2006 VFR vetch. Both are excellent bikes, the VFR is more refined but the Sprint has more power and grunt. Neither is a bad bike, they both will put a smile on your face.
i dont get it, he doesnt like that V-tec still needs 7K revs in the top gears and that you need to do high speeds in order to have it kick in at those gears, rather obvious. but you want V-tec kicking in when you are driving it like a sportsbike meaning you arent in top gears. so that is absolute rubbish.
I think the Ducati & Triumph both, look like early 1980's bikes, and the Honda the newest & nicest, maybe that is because it is, the most modern bike here. But it's all subjective, and what a person likes best in the end. So take your pick, and be happy you can ride ! Thats my 2 cents of time.
Doesn't having your weight pressing into your hands on the bars get old on a touring bike?
If you're wanting to do some long, fast miles Robert, then you need to be leaning into the wind. You don't want to be sitting up like a wind-sock as it can become very tiring on the arms, neck and back - great for Sunday afternoon rides to the café but not for sports touring. Also, for long periods of time on the bike, it is preferable to have your back nice and straight, such as it is on a sports tourer where your pelvis is tilted slightly forward, instead of slumped which is what invariably happens when you're on a cruiser.
None of these bikes put much weight onto your hands, and the wind pressure equalises the forward lean. It's actually far more comfortable than sitting bolt upright.
+Robert Brandywine If the bars are pressing into your hands, you're riding your bike the wrong way. I tour on a Daytona600, thats a supersport!!!! No problems over here. Why??? Cause I use my legs and body to support me. When you have pain in your wrists or hands cause of the bars, that means you lean too much on them. When you lean too much on them, you restrict the selfsolvabilty (is that correct english?) of the front end. I learned that when i did a track course. Your lower body and legs support you when turning and braking, while your hands NEVER should be grasping or beeing leaned on.
VFR FTW
Moi, je serais parti avec la VFR. Mais il est vrai que je ne suis pas anglais. Be seeing you.
👍🏻
Should of took the VFR 🤦🤷🤣
Why do you poms call the tachometer a rev counter? it sounds so, er, amature. lol. Do you call the speedometer a speed counter?
tachometer originally used to measure speed of vehicle (velocity)--and from abt. 1918 also used to indicate speed of something revolving (revolutions per minute). Rev. counter (revolution counter) used to distinguish between vehicle velocity and engine revolutions when tachometer used for both--we Brits know what a rev counter is but a tachometer--well that could be a speedo.
+slothtanicbrutality what rhubab said also still have to laugh when americans say "gage" to a "gauge"
Because English is their language.
@@lillnemo1 gage???? That's what his mama does.
triumph are shite
As they get older those Viffers are getting very spendy n needy to own....rotting exhausts, coolant pumps, fuel pump and flaky finish, dragging used prices down to peanuts.
.....whilst the Triumph looks more a class act, reliable, cheaper cost of ownership, a more rewarding ride and simply a better a 20 year old purchase.
The Duke will only appeal to Duke lovers, they won't buy anything anyway😂
Non-VTEC 5th Gen is best VFR version. Get yourself one and never look back. If you ever sell it, you'll always regret it and will spend your time wishing you never did.
I just got a 5th gen. I love it!!
The vfr800 STILL looks modern in 2019!
Just bought 1 as my 1st bike, as a mature rider looking for a comfy tourer.
I just got my A-license, and bought a 99' Fazer 600. But after trying father-in-law's VFR 750F, the Vtec 800 starts looking like the perfect one.
Me 2 just got my 2005 vfr can't wait till it's in season here
@@chrisjohnson1614 5th gen is a far better bike.
@@roadwarrior8560 how do you know what gen you have
@@chrisjohnson1614 5th gen is 98-01 model years with gear driven cams.
best gen of vfr's ever built, try one if you get a chance,the engine is fantastic.
6th gen is what you have with the under seat exhausts and vtec engine, that's a vtec he's testing in this vid.
The Triumph is a class bike. I ride my dads and it is comparable to my Honda. The triple engine is addictive. I prefer to own and look at the VFR, but prefer the triumph when riding it, such a good bike.
You had the wrong VFR, need the 5th gen. :)
exactly, 5th gen rocks.
Nah, the Vtec engine rocks.
Nearly 20 years later and still the one to have.
I think if Honda kept the gear driven cams on the VTEC model, it would be the winner in the majority of riders.
Vfr is the best bike in the world i love it
I decided this year to replace one of my bikes as the miles are racking up so its time to move it on before it loses too much of its value I looked after it well and its in good order I just fancied a change . the first bike I looked at was a late model Honda vfr 750 so what did I think of that the engine is a peach with it gear driven cams the bike had done 50000 odd miles and it sounded silent it pulled very smooth and was plenty fast for me lovely gear box and strong brakes . I probably would have bought it only for the body work was a bit tatty and it needed a tyre and I found the riding position a bit cramped having to lift my feet quite high up to reach the pegs combined with quite low bars . would I buy a mint one for sure I would and I think they make a great street fighter and with an anti social exaust they sound wicked . I prefer the late vfr 750 to the 800 they just look better . next bike I tried was a Triumph sprint st 995i that was in great order with 60000 miles done it rode very well wind it up to over take a car and its like a rocket with an addictive sound very comfortable bike too . I waited to think about buying it but it was sold when I decided to go for it snooze you lose .
I would buy one for sure they are a stormer of a bike I had a Triumph triple before and I do like them again they lend themselves well to the streetfighter style . having ridden a Ducati ss 900 before but never owning a Ducati but I always fancied mainly an early to late 90's ss900 I ended up buying a lovely low mileage st2 and yes Paul Johnson is right they are not a good choice for doing a lot of urban work you really don't want to be stuck in heavy traffic with no room to filter it would be a nightmare he is just telling it as he sees it and if you were warily of a Ducati any big twin be it a Honda firestorm 1000 or Varadero 1000 or Suzuki tl or v strom will prefer the open road I think I would probably pick the sprint st over the vfr they are just more fun when you give it a handful even on stock pipes they sound fantastic but I wont be in town on mine I will be out on the open road . I am charmed by it the Honda and Triumph are both great bikes but for me its all in the ride the Ducati has it all the way the engine makes it power . the 320mm Brembo brakes are very strong mine had goodridge hoses on the front the suspension is fantastic but best of all for me is the handling and its a very light bike . I don't consider it a fast bike at all if you came off the likes of a Fireblade or R1 you would probably be very disappointed with the speed its only 87 bhp
but its a lot of fun at only 60 mph on A roads it feels exciting where a 1000cc 4 cylinder race rep you would fall asleep on at that speed if you understand me and its happy to cruise at 80 mph all day on a motorway you don't really want to do much more because of wind blast . getting the battery out for winter storage is a faf and it needs the timing belts changed every two years but there is plenty of videos on the subject on youtube its quite easyonce you manage to get the fareing off valve shims are easy to change too you just need to buy a few tools like a micro meter verner calipers and feeler gauges £100 will cover it . an st2 with its 2 valve heads is an easier bike to live with than the 916 4 valve engine st4 the st3 has 3 valves per head and if you add an S to a st4 or later st3 you get more trick parts on them like ohlins shock . I have heard of st2 doing over 200000 miles so they are ok if you look after them keep the oil fresh and let them warm up before riding them but the same can be said for any bike . I am not biased I tried all three the Ducati St2 charmed me had it not I might have bought a pan European 1100 or a Honda cb 1000 big one as I had my eye on them too another bike I like but there wasn't any in my budget at the time near by is the Honda x11 . nobody is paying me for this review if the vfr or sprint st impressed me enough I would have picked one a lower mileage one thought . so there you go. all three bikes road tested with in a short space of time and the st2 was the winner as I said the timing belts need doing on the duck and to be honest they might not be as reliable overall as either the Triumph or the Honda if you put heed in fat blokes down the pub who used to own bikes years ago and have it all off or experts on the internet but its worth the risk to me for the enjoyment of the ride . thank you very much if you read it all LOL
Yes, what a bloody surprise the Brit picked the Triumph. Reminds me of BBC's Top Gear. Aston Martin DB anything is, of course, the worlds best super car as are all things British. That is of course you don't mind being on a first name basis with your service center. Do yourself a favor and get the Honda. I wonder what these blokes are compensating for anyway?
So jealous of us superior Brits, I take it as a compliment lol ;)
hahaha, You made me spit my coffee all over me keyboard
Yes, it was a surprise and he admitted he was the most surprised. The only bike he didnt gush about was the Ducati and he gave the Honda a fair heap of praise. Are you saying he shouldnt have chosen the Sprint because he is British and we dont want to go round offending people with our honest opinion? There is enough of that PC bullshit in the world already.
Agreed. People should ride the bike they like best and are of course guaranteed their personal opinions regardless of how wrong they are..
Lol yup! I love the VFR, the Triumph just didn't do it for me. Regards.
Vfr is amazing
Of course, it's only his opinion. We all have a bias! Get over it! Oh, and by the way, they're all great bikes. He just happened to prefer the Triumph. I do commend him on his good taste, though. Guess what I own? : - )
You will all note that he has an ST4 with the 916 motor, and the old rounded styling. My 2005 ST4s has the 996 motor and the newer, more angular (i.e.- modern looking) styling. My 996 doesn’t exhibit any of the characteristics he described. The V-twin has gobs of torque, requires far fewer gear changes around town than he described, and none of the high frequency buzzy vibrations exhibited by the multi cylinder bikes. Many years spent with a Yamaha FJ-1100 taught me all about the annoyances of high frequency vibrations. I found it particularly troublesome when my throttle hand would routinely go numb from vibration. I get nothing even remotely like that with the 996 motor; what vibrations there are are all low frequency and not at all bothersome or annoying. It pulls smartly from about 1500 rpm and cares little what gear it’s in!
Im a 2005 ST4s owner too. I got the very last one in Australian stock! The dealer was pushing me to buy an ST3 (992cc), but the ST4s (996) had an extra 20hp, Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, better tyres, better paintwork and ABS. I still have mine and will keep riding as long as possible. Stay safe, enjoy your Ducati (if you still have it)
I have a 2003 st-4s 996 in the US.
I have a couple ST2s and seems to get more compliments and head turns compared to any bike or sports car I've had. And they're just cheap road runners for me!
Good Commentary. Down to Earth. No Hyperboly .A touch of Humour. Great . Loved it . Subscribed. And those Triumph Triples really are the Bees Knees. Been riding 40 years and it is my Humble opinion 3 cylinders is a PERFECT motorcycle engine configuration....Cheers!
This is a amazing motorbike the Triumph Sprint ST!! 😍😍👌✌
Why would you vtec coming in at 106mph in top gear be a problem? If you were racing you wouldn't be in 6th gear. Hahaha
If you were racing you wouldn't be on a sports tourer.
+poldsmobile Phil Harrison a SPORTS tourer
Richo Flex Vtec kicks in at 6800 rpm ...speed doesn't matter..
Better torque with two valves at lower rpm.....max HP with all 4 valves open at higher rpm (vtec).
I've owned a couple VFR's, pretty good all-around machines, but I didn't care for the look, and they didn't do things quite as well as my BMW R1100S BCR, so I moved on. I like the triple engine of the Triumph ST and the dash layout. I have ridden the bike but never owned one. Last year I added a ST4s with the 996 engine and Ohlins shock. It absolutely puts the Hondas to shame. More power, better handling, feels like a sport tourer with the emphasis on sport. Plus it looks fantastic. The Italians have always produced the most beautiful bikes.
I have a year 2000 v4, and i miss my old 1993 boxer twin so much... Unlike what the presenter says, I used the gears less. The grunt and torque at low revs made it easier and more fun at low speed. The v4 excells close to top revs. Of course it's smoother, but if i wanted smoothness i would ride a scooter.
Boxer twins are addictive. I can tell. Miss my GS.
Didn't surprise me every pommy tester always picks the triumph.....
...and the Germans do love a BMW just like the Italians rave about the Ducati. And the Australians always go on about the hot weather!
For daily commuting I use my 2014 suzuki vstrom 1000. For fun I recently bought myself a 2003 triumph sprint rs 955i. This will be my project to give it a makeover (new paint and several parts to change). When it is done the triumph will be my summer bike and the Strom my whole year around.
same here , i have a k8 vstrom 650 for daily commuting , and a 2003 sprint st ( blue ) a project bike , had problem with the headgasket
I’ve just bought a 2004 triumph st 955i as my first big bike. Mainly for Sunday ride outs with my mate who has the BMW 1250gs. Not a fast rider by any means, so hopefully I can enjoy the ST as a touring bike over the Dales.
VFR for the win!!
Ducari best looking🤙
If you don`t want bored to death...You`ll go for Ducati.
I concur. Ducati's have souls.
100% correct they get in your blood.
Triumph Sprint ST👍
No surprises there. Thats what i dont like about brits, they always prefer their own brands. I mean, come on, where is triumph, compared to honda? Nowhere. Same with the cars, Jaguar wins against the germans, sure...
I have a ST in red and a RS in black. Enjoy every ride, surprise people with the speed and handling...Getting older now, but they handle well, are predictable and comfortable and still sporty. Check out the RS clips on the track. The french one, where he unfortunately slides it at the end, shows him overtaking a lot of bikes and the sound....even with the crappy music he added, is triple singing! Overlooked and under-rated....take one for a ride!
I'd buy a RS 955 or ST 1050 if I was not living in France, but when limited to 100bhp, you're left with frustration and long gears. Not Triumph fault of course, but apart from that they're not perfect either. VFR still the king of Sport Touring
He must have referring to the edge styling found on a Harley Davidson of the period. Actually he didn't provide an example of a bike with that edge styling so l wonder which bike brand he was refferring to? And given that the honda looked pretty much like the other two, l'd hazard a guess this guy is on the take from honda.
Sorry people but behave when papa talks. ok? because japanies don't like spoiled kids.
He is very biased. The Triumph does not look half as good as the Ducati.
Morten Nielsen you’re right, the Triumph does not look half as good as the Ducati. The Triumph is actually at least twice as good looking as either of the other two bikes on that test. That Triumph is gorgeous!
@@psychalogy All 3 of them look like turds. The Ducati is the least ugly of these 3 crap-bikes. Oh, and by the way - this review is terrible. Have a nice evening 😎.
In all earnestly, I prefer the look of the Honda. I will probably own a VFR800 one day.
@@Morten_Nielsen1979 I was set to get a VFR800 until I became aware of the Triumph. The VFR may be a better bike, but the Triumph looks better.
@@psychalogy Have you tried them? Is the Triumph cheaper than the Honda? The Honda is damn expensive if you want the newest version. I like the latest VFR800 in red. The Ducati is very cheap - 2000 euro.
Morten Nielsen Where i am the Honda will be about twice the price of the Triumph. I love Hondas (I own 2) but I personally prefer the sleeker look, and colour palette, of the Triumph. The white on white VFRs look amazing, but lots of Aussies bought silver and grey ones which i despise and thus wont pay top dollar for. I haven’t seen a bad colour on the Sprint ST (apart from silver... i really hate silver). Test rides will be the ultimate arbiter though.
Cheers from 2024.
You're Welcome from 2024!
"I don't like twins…" What an idiot. And he does not like the rounded look of the Ducati - Well ain't that a matter of taste? Some could very well argue that the round design creates a timeless look unlike the space age looking Honda. The Triump is with out a doubt a nice bike and it could be my choice too if the ST4s wasn't on the shelf, but the way he makes his choice STINKS!
ST4s is a bit of a pig in heavy traffic but once out of that environment . . . and aren't these Sports Tourers being compared not commuters!!!!!!!!!
He was right, the Honda still looks good nearly 20 years later. The Triumph and Ducati look dated. They both got a restyle after this video.
@@splodge5714 Well again, its subjective as hell. Most Ducati's never looks dated. They grow into classics and the original ST2\4 models are definitely classics today. The second generation ST4 was more "modern" and hood Honda like looking, hence much less attractive. Same as the ST3.
@@cookingconfessions Exactly. Most modern bikes look like cookie cutter 2 wheelers. My 20+ year old ST2 turns heads all the time, which was a surprise to me. Bought it for a highway beater. Cheap!
@@splodge5714 and the restyling of the ST4 sucked! Doesn’t look as timeless as it predecessor and that design did not age well at all.
Great insights.....thanks.
Tr and docati sam like a dunky vfr shap is amazing
The VFR is an ugly bike.... its just gawd damn awful looking...