Weirdly when I got there on Monday they hadn't got a ST765RS but did have a SP RS and a STR765, so I said fook it I'll ride both
I had a good test route mapped out over approx 100-110 miles that involved; a short amount of city centre riding, motorway, country villages, fast country A roads, mountain roads and back lane "B" roads so a good mixture of everything, which as some of the roads were dry, some damp and some actually rivers this was going to be a good test of the bikes ability.
So out I head on the little STR765 with a full tank of fuel and the first thing that I notice is the obvious
how upright the riding position is. As its a relatively small bike i was not expecting it to seem so tall and I would say sat on the bike I felt as elevated as I did on the BMW GS And Ducati Multistrada, that I had test rode previously.The next thing you notice is how well the bike fuels, not surprising really as the D675 fuels very well and this more modern 765 engine is maybe a little more buttery smooth in fairness. Talking of the motor, I ve got to say this and hope it does not offend any owners but its not as great as I had been told or led to believe. Its a good motor YES!!!! but people and the media have you believe its a torquey unit and IMO its not. Dont get me wrong its flexible and will pull from 30mph in 6th gear cleanly but unless your giving it revs, you find your constantly waiting for something to happen and for it to get going with the throttle fully open and on the stop. Don't get me wrong I m not saying its bad and maybe I expected too much after listening to all the blurb, but its still a middleweight engine and needs plenty of revs to get a shake on in my experience. Quick yes, definitely yes, but you have to work for it and plenty will tell you that's no bad thing, all I'm pointing out is its not the torque monster I was told to expect. Dynos graphs might say other wise but going by my seat of my pants dyno its not more torquey than my D675 in back to back riding. Being very honest and comparing that motor to my 675 I would not say its not any stronger in the mid range. I tried the flexibility on the motorway and on the A roads in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gears from a range of different speeds and found unless she is heading past 8-9000 rpm your found waiting for it to get going and if your cruising in a high gear you have to drop it a few gears if you want to make quick overtakes, rather than breeze by, which to be fair is the same on my D675.
I would be interested to hear if Cookie and Duke think the same, as they have come from more torqued orientated bikes and maybe share the same thought or disagree????? We are all different after all
Don't read that as its bad or sh1t
and maybe its just me, but I think its been sold as something its not or at least to me it had been. Once I got past that point and started reving the engine out and riding it for what it is, a fast, fun motorcycle, its a little gem just as the D675 is. Definitely not wanting to be negative about the bike, its just I found myself a little disappointed but maybe I expect too much.The suspension is obviously a little softer than my D675 but it suits the bike and its intended use well and if you use the revs and throw her around it can certainly motor with confidence down a back lane B road. I can see why Duke has picked it for this role as its something the bike clearly excels at
.The brakes are good, but lack initial bite as most road bikes do these days in my experience, but that's easily and cheaply fixed with a more aggressive fast road pad change.
So what did I think of it. Great bike, plenty of pace and good fun but not for me unfortunately
. I want something with more torque, and that's not cos I m talented or a riding god, probably the opposite its because A, I want something different to the D675, other than just a sit up and beg riding position and B, for the type of riding and use I have in my mind for my next bike a engine with more torque will better fit my needs.
Thats the beauty of biking we are all different with different wants, needs and expectations from a bike. Duke clearly wants a fast, light and nimble bike for thrashing up Back lanes, away from the old bill and having a good old giggle on, at sensible-ish speeds and the Street 765 is fantastic in that role. Me I want a bike more like Dukes old Multistrada, stacks of Torque, capable of a gentle lazy sunday blast, good with a pillion, comfortable for touring or chasing sportsbikes down twisty welsh roads or shredding rubber on a trackday.
So onward's to the Speed Triple RS, maybe this has all the answers i m looking for
