jstark47 wrote:William wrote:It can't be more practical than my ST1300. I go grocery shopping on mine, and as long as it's not raining, or as long as my daughter isn't with me, I can buy everything I need.
All of this was on a stock ST1300. I would like to see anyone try that on a stock V-Strom.
2007 ST1300 - $14,399 (comes with side cases)
2007 DL1000 - $8,999 + pair of Givi E41 cases $469 = $9,468
I have nothing against the ST1300 and no issue with anyone who rides one, but I can buy a lot of "practical" for that $4,931 difference.
I never said the ST1300 was cheaper either.
However, I did get much more equipment and features factory stock for the money I paid ($14,500 in '03): Linked ABS brakes (a definate lifesaver), tipover wings (that not only are more aerodynamic, stronger, and more pleasing to the eye than crash bars or frame sliders, but also keep any part of the fairing and saddlebags from touching the ground in the event of a tipover), a bigger fairing with more protection, generous storage compartments in the fairing, huge sadlebags that are durable (and they match the bike perfectly unlike most aftermarket bags), a power adjustable windshield (can raise it just right so that it blows rain and mist off of my face shield, and over 7 inches of adjustment), a 3 position adjustable seat, more power factory stock, low maintenance shaft drive, and superior Honda engineering, reliability, and durablilty (although all of the japanese brands are really good).
You can add bags and change the windshield of the V-Strom (don't get me wrong, I like the V-Strom), and a few other items, but much of what my ST1300 has from the factory you couldn't add to a V-Strom or most other motorcycles at ANY price.
The only bike that can do pretty much everything the ST1300 can do for less money (except for the tipover wings and linked brakes) is the Yamaha FJR1300, and it's cheaper. But when I bought mine, to buy an FJR you had to put a deposit down, then wait several months for it to be delivered to the dealer. I was never able to sit on one and look at it up close until a couple of years later, when I saw a used one at a dealer. As a result, I bought the Honda.
But if Yamaha had delivered it to the dealer like everyone else does, and if I could have looked at it and sat on it before I bought it, I probably would have bought the Yamaha for less money.
1982 Suzuki GS1100GL, 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour, 2015 Kawasaki ZX-14R Ninja.
2006 Yamaha Wolverine 450 sport/4wd ATV, 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 EPS SE utility ATV
2006 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4wd 4 door, 2008 Toyota Highlander AWD
Born, raised, and spent most of my life in Florida until I moved to Farmington, New Mexico April 2011. Yes, I'm in the wonderful Four Corners area.
It's just personal taste. I look at a ST1300 and a little voice in my head says "Goldwing Lite." But maybe in 20 years an ST1300 will be exactly what I want.
