Helmet: Vemar Jiano
Jacket:...
Helmet: Vemar Jiano
Jacket: AGV Sport Tempest
Boots: H-D FXRG-3
Gloves: FirstGear Highway
The entry level cruiser segment hasn't seen activityfor years, but all of sudden, it looks like a hot commodity. There have been entries from Honda and Harley recently, and in 2010, the Hyosung ST7.
But if the ST7 is based largely on Hyosung's GV650 platform, it's a far more Westernized version. The difference is mostly bodywork, with the ST7 going for a more classic cruiser aesthetic. The Koreans have 'fessed up to targeting the Honda Shadow Phantom as the main competition.
Front to back, the ST7 feels like a standard UJM exercise with a little more attitude. The GV650's fenders have grown on the ST7; they're now deeper, nearly covering the aluminum mags. A covered traditional 41mm fork set at a healthy 33-degree angle supports the front 16-incher, while out back, a 15 inch rear tire rolls between adjustable double shocks. Also par for the course is a wide fuel tank-and this one holds a healthy 4.8 gallons. The ST7's classic silhouette is punctuated by a set of chunky dual pipes on the right side.
Chrome, of course, is a necessary component of any cruiser-but in this case, it's chrome-colored plastic, which doesn't always have the desired aesthetic effect. Real chrome is used on the upper triple clamp, engine covers and exhaust, but most of the other shiny stuff is the plastic kind. This includes the clunky radiator shroud and an ungainly belt guard.
The ST7 certainly hits all the right cruiser cues, but with a tail light the size of Ohio, and an air cleaner to match, it comes off like a Boulevard C50 with a Botox injection.
The foundation, however, will probably make you forget all the styling faux pas. Like stablemates GV650 and GT650, the ST7's engine is a DOHC, liquid-cooled 90-degree Twin, though it widens the bore to 3.21 inches. That means the signature 648cc mill now displaces 678.2cc and compresses its gas/air mixture at a 11.5:1 ratio. At the tail end of the powertrain is a five-speed transmission and a toothed belt for final drive. A 300mm single disc with hydraulic 4-piston calipers provides the stopping power up front, while a 270mm disc with a 2-piston caliper does the job out back.
Throw a leg over the ST7, and you'll find pullback bars that sweep comfortably aft. The tank-mounted dash is user-friendly, and you get a good view of the analog speedo and its accompanying LCD window readout (time, fuel, odometer, and two tripmeters).
The dished saddle is fairly wide-all the better to accommodate your haunches, which are pushed back by the forward-set controls. But at least that 27.2-inch tall pad is comfy.
Start 'er up and...it's definitely not a Vee. The ST7's jugs are splayed 90 degrees apart, so the result is a sound that's unerringly smooth, with perfect primary balance, and none of that rough, 45 degree V-twin rumble. And because of its sporty origins, the ST7 can go impressively quick, especially compared to its stated competitors. The 31cc bump in displacement adds some low-end punch, though the peak torque (46.5 ft-lbs,) is said to arrive way up at 7500 rpm.
The ST7 also claims 62 peak horses, which explains why this middleweight launches off the line easily. Clutch pull is quite light, which means you can accelerate up to freeway speeds in a jiff-once you figure out the funky clutch engagement point. Shifting through the gears, we also encountered occasional notchiness, but the transmission otherwise impressed with its relatively positive action.
Hyosung boasts fuel injection on all its street models, but the ST7's engine would occasionally cough when the throttle was applied, and throttle response proved quite abrupt, especially at low rpm. But the DOHC, 8-valve engine packed more punch than we expected, and it's not just top-end power. Cracking the ton with this bike is easily achieved, and uphill passes are a cinch.
Because the ST7 has more lean angle than most bikes in its class, slicing into a turn isn't out of the question. You can change direction easily enough, though handling can be tippy when initiating. As for ride quality, I found that adjusting the rear dampers one click mitigated the harshness somewhat.
The ST7 betrays its budget mandate in other ways, too. You can't miss the massive flange on the gas tank, and though the passenger seat comes off with a single bolt, you're left with a great view of the mounting bracket. At $7300, the ST7 is definitely worth a look-though dropping it $500 or so would make it infinitely more attractive. The Phantom is just $600 more, and brings a higher level of overall quality as well as deeper dealer and aftermarket support.
Specifications
2011 Hyosung ST7
Base Price: $7299
Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled 90-degree twin
Displacement, bore x stroke: 678cc, 81.5 x 65mm
Valve train: DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder
Compression: 11.5:1
Fuel system: EFI
Transmission: 5-speed; wet, multiplate clutch
Final drive: Belt
Chassis
Overall length: 97.2 in.
Wheelbase: 65.9 in.
Wet weight: 538 lbs.
Seat height: 27.2 in.
Rake/trail: 33 deg./5.6 in.
Front tire:120/80-16 Shinko
Rear tire: 170/80-15 Shinko
Front brake: 300mm disc, 4-piston caliper
Rear brake: 270mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Front suspension: 41mm conventional fork, 5.1 in. travel
Rear suspension: Dual dampers, adjustable for preload
Fuel capacity: 4.8 gallons