Which bike?..Please help

[winger]

VFR

If i was Mr Average who thought like mr average i buy the VFR,and if you come up against a rider who knows how to use it(a VFR),you'll have a hell of a game to shake him off,enjoyable to ride?? my VFR man loves e'm, feels like sitting in arm chair to me.

ST(1050)

Great bike,even better motor,fast,vibe free,handles great and so long as your passenger is either a midget or your a phedophile with a step ladder,without doubt a great bike.

1100s

I test rode one in 98 a week before the launch,i thought it was shit,if the fazer 1000 had been about i'd have bought one without a seconds thought,as my FJ1200 was showing it's age,it was a case of my head ruleing my heart,i knew it was a good base to start from.
The first 10,000 miles it was a nightmare in the summer months,20 miles down the road,my index finger was white from the vibes,and the way i got round it was leave it at home and use my Tiger.

A combination of miles on the clock,and no little amount of money has turned it into a serious bike on anything but a motorway,it has the ability to drive you mad, depending on the weather conditions affects how it runs,somedays i love it,and others i'd like to chuck in the canal,there can be very few bikes that gain so much from all the bits and bobs you can buy for it to make it run,steer,and brake better,the problem most people cannot either afford or justify it.

Would i recomend buying an S,no i wouldn't cuz the chances are your just Mr average,but then only way to find out is to buy one,you might just be missing somthing!!!,and if you do,try and buy one with Lennies Induct,a decent filter,a cat bypass and some decent suspension.

I forgot to say, i've had mine 8 years last january,and haveing spent all day saturday changing the rad fluid on my Tiger am i glad the S is aircooled.

[m25jambuster]

I like this subject -

I have previously owned an R1100S for 2 years, I currenty own a Sprint ST1050 and work have supplied me a VFR800 VTEC.

So which one would I buy now having had long term use of all of them??

Well I would go back to the BMW tomorrow but as I have said before, if I were to buy a BMW now I would look at getting a R12S as the R11S is getting older now although they do just keep going.
In relation to the VFR having torque, thats not the case. You do have to work the motor to make any kind of 'progress'. Its a good bike and its well made and the quality of finish is good and even though I have now put nearly 21k miles on it, it does not look it. The problem I find is that it is so well developed and refined that its got to the point where it does not really involve the rider in the ride its that clinical at what it does.
The Sprint ST has a peach of a motor - the 1050 triple, plenty of torque and a lovely sound to it as well. I really rate it as a bike and again, its well put together with some nice details. However, Laura has pointed out that from a pillion point of view the exhaust does make the rear pillion pad very hot and it does get to a point of being almost unbearable. If you go for a Sprint get one with the Triumph luggage - its purpose made and good quality. Dont pay over the top for it as it has come free of charge with the bik since mid to late 2006.
The VFR is lighter than the Sprint and the Sprint feels a little top heavy compared against the VFR even without the luggage on it.

Personally I would buy the best BMW you can afford!!!!!