Aprilia RST Futura Feedback

[minime]

Did you say ST4? Interesting. Another sport-touring v-twin made by Italians. The same bike the Futura's project leader aimed at with this RST. So, you're curious how the two bikes compare?



Interesting...

[TCAir]

Quirky styling. I didn't care for the mirrors/turn signals design. But everything else tended to grow on me. Being 6'5" I did find the bike comfortable, I will stick to my adventure tourers still.

[chainhead]

I'm sure it's a perfectly fine motorcycle but.....



I sat on one at the Seattle motorcycle show and got close enough to SEE it...



the upper fairing and turn signal combo looks like some sort of angry bug or a transformer toy thingie of some sort. I'll take a pass on that. The seat is big and cushy and FUGLY. The example I saw was pre-production and the seat has been re-worked with decorative plastic panels to hide it's sofa like dimensions. It is STILL FUGLY.

Frankly I'm disappointed, the sport bikes and Falco are standard Italian stunning. The futura looks like it was designed by Volvo.

[RRocket]

Minime,



Toss in the VFR800 VEE-FOUR just for good measure...

[minime]

Maybe as a side-bar since that bike doesn't have bags, etc.

[kwh]

Hmm... then best lob in the Triumph Sprint ST as well - that has luggage available. And, just for the crack as well, chuck in the R1150GS. It's a different kind of bike on paper, but it'll do the Sport Touring thang just as well as the others, I'll wager...

[Latro]

Neither did the one you rode.

[desertbilly]

Okay, so the spectrum is R1150RT and ST1100 on the Toury Sport-Tourer end of the scale; and the Sprint-ST, K1200RS and ST-4 on the Sporty Sport-Touer end of the scale.



Is the Futura right in the middle? The seat, weight and the ergo's sound good, but the tank is only 5.5, it doesn't look like there could be a lot of protection behind that screen for a tall guy, and there's still a chain. The sparseness of the Aprillia dealer network also gives me concern, for a long-haul bike.



Is the FJR-1300 right in the middle? It appears to have the performance and attitude, with the tank, shaft and windscreen. The buzz seems to be that it's on it's way stateside.



If these bikes are right in the middle, do they do a good job at both roles, or are they just compromise bikes? And what in the heck do Honda and Kawasaki have up their sleeves?



I want to get a sports tourer this summer or fall, but which one to get sure isn't an easy decision.

[minime]

The bags weren't available yet. They are now.

[drwarr]

Nice write up - thanks.



You list a dry weight of 462 pounds, but Motorcyclist claims 500 lb - comments?



I hope it is successful. I think the sport tourer class needs some new machinery, light weight, powerful, good performance, wind protection and lockable panniers. Build them and maybe people will buy more of them.



TW