Demo'd an ST Special Today

[robmorg]

I went to a Can Am demo event today and had two rides... One on this 2016 ST Special and the other on a 2016 F3 Touring. They took us on a nice long ride on back roads with lots of hills and twisties. :thumbup: The F3 was a bit uncomfortable and awkward to ride. Felt the same on F3's I've ridden in the past. Apparently I'm not built for an F3. But the ST Special was a BLAST! LOVED IT!! :clap: Felt more "nimble" than my RT. And it was really sharp looking as well. I really like this 3-way color scheme, ...and look at those wheels. And it has floorboards instead of pegs. I didn't want to get off it.

Not quite ready to trade my RT in for an ST though.

 

[Copperman]

I can relate!

I had my eye on a Pearl White F3 Limited when they were first introduced. I just needed to see, feel and ride one. Fast forward to Spyderfest, 2016 where I saw, felt and rode one on a Can
Am demo ride. I am now taking a few things off my 2014 RT Limited in order to sell it and Len is looking for one for me. I'll either sell it outright or trade it.

Looking forward to my new ride!

 

[Chupaca]

Very nice...

It is a looker and I do like the set up and the twin....love the twin...:thumbup: sounds like a nice test ryde and puts you through the paces....:2thumbs: Soooo now what....????:dontknow:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

The one big thing the ST is missing is the 1330 engine but you are used to the old engine so you don't know what you are missing.

 

[Bob Denman]

Rob,
I felt about the same way, when I demo'ed an ST Limited back in November, 2012...

It was a blast!! :clap:

 

[ralph12345678910]

st special

I bought a 2015 st special and love it, best machine I have ever owned. plenty of power and just fun. People ask a million questions when you have any spyder. Have a great day and ryde safe. I have put 8200 miles on it since Oct 29th 2015 with no problems.

 

[robmorg]

The one big thing the ST is missing is the 1330 engine but you are used to the old engine so you don't know what you are missing.

I HAVE ridden several Spyders with the 1330, Ann - numerous RT's and F3's - some for several hours at a time. I will concede that the new engine and trans are nice - very smooth and a lot quieter - but I can actually take it or leave it. I really love the sound, the feel, and the high revs of the 998 V-twin. And, of course by now, I feel very much at home on it. An F3 is NOT in my future. I just cannot get comfortable on that thing - even one with floorboards, like I rode today. I could upgrade to a new RT, but then I'd be giving up my beloved V-twin. I was thinking about this on my ride home from the demo rides today. I honestly believe that after the heat recall, the 2013 RT is now the best of the bunch - even if NO ONE else agrees with me.

However, I would never try to sell that argument to you, after your experience with a 2013 RT.

It is a looker and I do like the set up and the twin....love the twin...:thumbup: sounds like a nice test ryde and puts you through the paces....:2thumbs: Soooo now what....????:dontknow:

Yep, like I just told Ann, I also love the twin. :thumbup: And that ST Special certainly WAS a looker - no doubt about that. My favorite color is orange.

So now what...???? I can't afford both that ST and my RT, and would have no place to keep them if I could. :shocked: And I have WAY too many mods & farkles on my 2013 RT to even consider trading it in.

 

[robmorg]

Rob,
I felt about the same way, when I demo'ed an ST Limited back in November, 2012...

It was a blast!! :clap:

I bought a 2015 st special and love it, best machine I have ever owned. plenty of power and just fun.

After today's demo ride, I can certainly identify with that. :thumbup:

 

[Trbayth]

Agree with you on the twins; love the sound and high-revs too. Though I have to admit that color combination doesn't do anything for me. To each his own!

 

[robmorg]

...Though I have to admit that color combination doesn't do anything for me. To each his own!

Roger, that is exactly what my wife said when I showed her the picture. She actually used the "u" word. Show that picture to your wife. If she likes it, maybe we can trade wives.

 

[SpyderTwyn]

I love that color combo. I rode ST, F3, and RT. I loved them all! I just think the color combos on the ST and RS are the best!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I prefer the 1330 & hate orange. But you're the one who needs to be happy with it. It is a good looking paint scheme. If you don't need the RT's storage, I'd say to go for it. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

"Each to their own notion.", said the old woman as she kissed the cow.

 

[AY4B]

When I got my ST, I was looking more to get an RT but like you, I could not get comfortable on the RT. The sales man suggested to try the ST and When I sat on it I instantly felt more comfortable. Im a big person and the ST felt better. Now after having it and adding the mods that I have, it is more a touring machine now. I noticed this past weekend that the RT is a lot wider at the front of the seat than the ST. This takes a lot of pressure off the hips because you are not having to spread out as wide. The way the ST body forms to the upper legs is more natural. The F3 had a sharp protrusion. that I would have trouble getting my legs under. Also one more thing, I need to move my legs around on long trips. with an F3 you are pretty much stuck in one position. On the ST I can get my feet under me or out in front on the pegs. I like the V twin and it has all the power I need. Ill just try and stay out of the drag racing with the F3's

 

[robmorg]

:agree: with everything you just said, except that I am VERY comfortable on the RT - more comfortable than I am in my car. It's the F3 that I cannot get comfortable on, no matter how many of them I ride. ...and for all the same reasons you stated above. The F3T that I rode yesterday has a different curve to the side cowlings and it's slightly better, but my legs were still too far apart, which made it very difficult to use the brake pedal. For me the ST was the much better fit - almost as good as my RT. :thumbup:

 

[robmorg]

I prefer the 1330 & hate orange...

Patti, you're 0 for 2. :sour:

But, I'd still love to meet you some day. :roflblack: And BTW, I am not criticizing your new red F3T. It is absolutely beautiful. I suspect it is the way I am built that is the problem, not the way the bike is built.

 

[AY4B]

:agree: with everything you just said, except that I am VERY comfortable on the RT - more comfortable than I am in my car. It's the F3 that I cannot get comfortable on, no matter how many of them I ride. ...and for all the same reasons you stated above. The F3T that I rode yesterday has a different curve to the side cowlings and it's slightly better, but my legs were still too far apart, which made it very difficult to use the brake pedal. For me the ST was the much better fit - almost as good as my RT. :thumbup:

I have never ridden in an RT so it is difficult for me to make a fair comparison. Im sure if I had one I would be very happy with it. I go on rides with my spyder group and the RT is by far the Spyder of choice. BRP came out with the ST and I cant figure out why it never took off like the F3 did. I think the Givi Bags ruin the look.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I prefer the 1330 & hate orange. But you're the one who needs to be happy with it. It is a good looking paint scheme. If you don't need the RT's storage, I'd say to go for it. :thumbup:

Patti, you're 0 for 2. :sour:

But, I'd still love to meet you some day. :roflblack: And BTW, I am not criticizing your new red F3T. It is absolutely beautiful. I suspect it is the way I am built that is the problem, not the way the bike is built.

I wasn't criticizing your preference, either. I hope you didn't take my comments as such.

I think any Spyder that makes you happy is the perfect one! hyea:

 

[robmorg]

Opps

I wasn't criticizing your preference, either. I hope you didn't take my comments as such.

I think any Spyder that makes you happy is the perfect one! hyea:

:agree: I think ALL Spyders are great - they're just not all for me. It only now occurred to me that my comment may have caused you to think I was insulted. I was NOT. I was only jokin' with ya. (Unfortunately, you couldn't see me smiling as i was typing.)

 

[DrewNJ]

I'm another vtwin fan. Ridden a handful of the triples several times. Even did a several hundred mile day on an F3. That slow and low reving, marble crunching, feet out in front of me, just didn't work for the kind of riding I do.
To each their own....

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