Triumph Street Triple extended review

[Coro Kid]

About 8 months ago, I blogged a comparison between the Honda Blackbird I'd owned for 8 years and 2500 km on a new Street Triple. Now, having had the Triple for 10 months and got fully used to it, I thought it might be interesting to re-visit the initial thoughts. I'm nearly 63, have been riding for over 40 years and have had litre plus bikes for over 2 decades so I'm probably looking at the Triple from a slightly different perspective to someone who is progressively moving up in capacity.

Anyway, if there's any interest, here are my thoughts: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/08/triumph-street-triple-review-revisited.html

Cheers  ,

Geoff in NZ

[TBone]

Fantastic write up!  

I'm seriously considering trading the Sprint for a Striple - I don't really tour and I love the look of the naked Triumph.

Thanks for the post.

[falconati]

^^^^^^I would really, really recommend test riding one.  I would be surprised if you kept your Sprint.  The striple is mindblowingly excellent.

[Coro Kid]

Cheers  

Well, you'll have seen in the review that one of my worries was stepping down in capacity.  Sort of a bit of an affront to my manhood and possibly signalling the beginning of the end as far as my motorcycling career goes.  Couldn't have been more wrong and I was a complete idiot for thinking it.  My mates with big capacity, heavier bikes are now completely gun-shy about having a crack at me on twisty toads.  If I was riding mainly on big, open roads over long distances, the Triple might not have been the bike of choice.  However, NZ doesn't have many long, straight roads so it really is the perfect bike for me.

Geoff

[TBone]

^^^^^^I would really, really recommend test riding one.  I would be surprised if you kept your Sprint.  The striple is mindblowingly excellent.

I know this.    It's why I'm afraid to go near a Triumph dealer. There just isn't any way to make it work money-wise or I'd have done it already.

[Flyer]

Outstanding bloggery!
The Striple (to my eye) looks rather dowdy, stock, but the opportunity to farklize is va$t.  
Sounds like a "larrikin" bike!
(Assuming this means "Bitchin'").
 

[Coro Kid]

Thanks Flyer

Larrikin is a "Down Under" word meaning irreverent, rebellious, anti-authority.  Sorta fits well with the Triple  

[MadOzodi]

Took the Sprint in for the 6k mile service and was given a Striple loaner to use for the remainder of the day.  Honestly, I can't see myself giving up my Sprint for a STriple at this point in time.  That is NOT, however, me saying that it's not an absolutely fantastic bike.  My GAWD it's an absolute H00T to flick the STriple around.  The bike handlebars were set up for a taller rider, i.e., rolled forward; I know, because I recently rode with the guy who traded that particular STriple in for a Speed Triple a month or so ago.  Very comfortable for me, even on the stock seat but honestly, my total ride time couldn't have been for more than 45min.

What I CAN see is wanting to have a STriple R in the stable alongside the Sprint...but there's no way I could do that right now.

[siclmn]

I got off the K bike and took one out for a spin. I thought it was a fun bike for the curves and back roads. But it felt like a little toy and when I got on the freeway it was useless. A no fairing naked little bike. Anything over 70mph was horrible. I need a freeway bike just to get to the good twisty's. To have this as my only bike would not do at all.

[mike in oregon]

To each their own    I personally like the clean, smooth air of naked bikes at freeway speed.  Also, the wind push is a nice way to help me keep my speed down to less than felony tickets  I miss my naked speedy.

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the write-up, Coro Kid in NZ.  I have had my Triple for about the same time, and I've done about 9500 very happy miles on it, and I agree with most of your points, especially the lovely sound of that honking air intake.  My clocks haven't had any cloudiness.  Like you said in your blog, the engine is spinning a little high on the highway compared to a touring bike, 6000 rpm at 70mph.  But that also means you are already in the meat of power delivery so gaining speed is not a problem.  The bike doesn't feel very tiny once you get used to it - more that it is sized "just right."

To enjoy this bike, you must subscribe to the naked-bike pro-wind philosophy.  If you are used to being cradled from the wind behind a fairing, then fairing-freedom won't be comfortable right away.  It's sort of a purist version of motorcycling.  I like it but it's certainly not for everyone.

[ANZAC]

If you watch the youtube video of:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRbsToYD1MU

1:16 Milky is pulling the bike from 4k to 14k in one gear then at 2:16 listen for the giggle and 5:14 the wheelie at Creg Na Baa is  

The commentary at the end is cool too as these guys know every square inch of the island.

The sound of the engine gear whine, intake growl and exhaust are just     This is what biking is all about.  I love my Street Triple.

[Coro Kid]

Hey, thanks for that - what an awesome video .  Almost lost control of myself, grinning and laughing, imagining myself to be riding it!  Captures the essence of the Street Triple perfectly.

In 1969 (confirming old fart status), I rode my 1955 Triumph Tiger 100 round the Isle of Man course.  I was using the back brake so hard down the Mountain that the bearing grease melted and was leaving a trail of smoke behind me!

[ANZAC]

You are lucky to have ridden the Isle of Man course    Really like that photo too.  Did you wear that outfit or just posing?

Yes, the video is great and really captures the essence of Street Triple riding  

[Coro Kid]

Hahaha - that's what is laughingly called my "going out" gear!  Green cardigan, orange T shirt, dark brown trousers and suede boots.  I still shudder with embarrassment  .  The girl I'm with in the photo must have either been colour blind or she really liked me  .  Met her at the TT.  Anne McGregor from Glasgow.  She was real nice

My riding gear wasn't much better.  Jet" helmet with bubble visor and Belstaff waxed cotton riding suit.  There wasn't a lot of choice then!

Cheers,

Geoff

[25knots]

I used to be confused about what my second bike would be.  Problem solved.