From: car377@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (charles.a.rogers)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: ST1100 still reigns supreme
Summary: LHIAJ
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:16:07 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Sep30.134828.10229@javelin.sim.es.com>, blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers) writes:
> daved@convex.com (David Dorfman) writes:
> 
>>I quote after some mention of acceleration in the 1/4 mile " Top-gear roll
>>on performance also betters that of the ST1100, currently the best 
>>sports tourer on the market" 
>
>Quoting out of context? One of my favorite net.sports! This should be
>fun!

Oooooh!  Me too, me too!

>... the FJ's roll-on numbers are
>better than those of any production motorcycle we have ever measured."
>
>... the Yamaha has the kind of flick-of-the-wrist
>grunt that's irresistable no matter where or how you ride."
>
>See, I told you that this would be fun. :-)
>
>Of course similar arguments could be made for bikes like the ZX-11.
>Hey Randy? Your turn at bat!

Waitaminnit!  Just a few more FJ OOC quotes before Randy cuts
'em off at the knees:

Check out the October '92 "Road Rider" test on the FJ:

"Whether it was touring, sport-riding, running flat out on a Nevada 
 dry lake bed or fooling around town, the FJ's engine always produced
 the right kind of power.  Most sport bikes like to run fast and the
 FJ is no exception.  But when it comes time to slow down, the FJ is
 just as happy tooling along at 35 as it is at 140.  Spot-on carburetion
 and heavy flywheels keep the FJ from surging at low speeds.  Yet 
 with an honest 100 horsepower on tap and massive amounts of torque,
 the FJ can keep up with all but a handful of today's pure sportbikes.
 Quality and quantity - what a winning combination!

     The FJ is exceptionally smooth.  Each tester that took a spin on 
 the Yamaha remarked about the lack of vibration.  One bold tester even
 suggested we stop comparing bikes against the Honda Gold Wing and
 start comparing them against the FJ."

"In our two recent tests of the new BMW K1100LT we took the bike to
 task for retaining a significant amount of the inherent K-bike engine
 vibration.  In response, a number of BMW owners wrote in, calling us
 crazy for saying the vibration was noticeable.  We suggest those
 same people should borrow an FJ1200 for a short spin, to see what
 a truly smooth motorcycle feels like."

"With sportbike-spec brakes, you expect the FJ's four-piston caliper 
 units to provide sure, quick stops. You won't be disappointed.  Our
 FJ was the AD model equipped with anti-lock brakes (the same one that
 won September's ABS shootout)."

That "shootout" matched a K100RS-ABS and ST1100 against the FJ1200AD.
Quoting (out-of-context, of course) from the September RR issue:

"If we are to try to pick a winner of this 'contest', based on both
 the stopping data and the testers' comments, it would have to be the
 Yamaha FJ1200 ABS.

 Though all the ABS systems worked extremely well, it was unanimously
 felt that the Yamaha system worked the smoothest and was the easiest
 to handle." 

"BMW's system adds $1000 and 20 pounds to the equivalent non-ABS models.
 Honda's system weighs 11 pounds and raises the ST's price tag by 
 $1900"

"The Yamaha is the light-weight king at 9 pounds, adding $1200 to the
 FJ's retail price"

BTW, RR, unlike the other rags, doesn't accept any advertising, even 
from the bike makers.  They don't *have* to push any particular model
to stay in business.  'Course, for me, the definition of "sport-touring" 
*requires* warp-drive capability, like the FJ, ZX11, Katana 1100,
CBR1000, and FZR1000 (Hi Quasimodo!).  Unfortunately, the ST1100 doesn't 
do warp.  It's OK otherwise, even if it is burdened with the extra
weight of water-cooling hardware, you can't see the engine, it's too
heavy, its plastic parts cost too much to replace when it falls
over and their necessary removal complicates routine maintenance, the 
OEM seat isn't as comfortable as a Corbin, it sounds like a sewing 
machine, it's cursed with shaft effect, the windshield doesn't work 
right, and if it breaks catastrophically the day after you buy it,
American Honda will arrange to have it fixed at *their* convenience, 
not yours, assuming they agree to fix it *at all*. (lessee, did I 
leave anything out? :-))

Chuck Rogers
car377@druhi.att.com
KotSBS, KotDoDBoC
'85 FJ1100N (The Velvet Sledgehammer, Year Two)
"OF COURSE my bike's better than yours! This *is* 
 rec.moto isn't it?"  -The Reverend Muck Mudders
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles