2011 Speed Triple Update

[scottzilla]

msrp around 13K?
None of you cheap f*ckers will buy one.

[Poweranger]

Looks cool. I like it. But it will take some time getting used to those headlights.  

[Rincewind]

Headlights look like horn-rimmed glasses..  I'm not sold on them yet either, nor the small scrap of bodywork on the side.  

[JReazor]

It looks like they forgot to put the fairing on.

[Jeff]

I want to love this motorcycle. I really do. But I don't.

Let's compare.




The lines of the bike are all wrong. The old one just looks more cohesive, where the new one just has shit going in every direction. Less body color on the tail, the black plastic in front of the seat, at the front of the tank, the body color radiator cover thingamabob. The headlights no longer being round is blasphemous - that's signature Speed Triple. They're so iconic the Rocket III and Street Triple, and now the T-Bird Storm, all followed suit. And maybe they don't, but the headlights look like they stick out so far from the front end that it just looks weird.

Now I'm sure the bike is still gonna be big fun to ride. Adding the aftermarket flyscreen and stuff does help in the looks department, to the point where the flyscreen is a necessity. But on the 05-10 bike they are nice but not a requirement. It's just so... not right and the first miss in the looks department that Triumph has had in years. IMO of course.

This just makes me want this one even more.


Jeff

[Croak]

The problem is, Ducati, Aprilia, even Kawasaki have been siphoning off Speed Triple buyers, and all of those bikes look more...modern.  

I've heard it from my other, non-Triumph riding friends...

"I'm sure it's a great bike, but it just looks so unfinished and old-fashioned...now that Monster/Tuono/Z1000, that's a great bike that's also good looking".

I don't agree, but I bet a good chunk of those Duc/Ape/Kawi buyers do, and might give the Speedy a second look now. Wanna bet sales pick up for the new model?  And automotive styling rule 101, give status-conscious current owners a reason to upgrade.  

Beyond the styling, what I find interesting is that they finally ditched the Daytona T595 semi-trellis frame.  

[falconati]

Wow, I'm really glad I bought one before the style change.  I'm not really a fan of the new look.

[ANZAC]

A lot of guys here say the headlight change was no big deal and inevitable - but I say it's a mistake by Triumph to get rid of the Bug Eyes  

I mean the Bug Eyes are all about British styling - just look at the Austin Healy Sprites    Our Street's and Speed's are raw naked bikes with those in your face head lights  

[Rincewind]

I want to love this motorcycle. I really do. But I don't.

Let's compare.

The frame of the new one is more attractive to the eye, with straight lines instead of dog legs.  The new seat is better stepped and may be lower, plus it stretches forward quite a bit more for better comfort..  Passenger pegs were lowered slightly, as have the rider pegs it seems.  Most importantly there is no longer any shiny chrome - everything's gone matte, brushed finishes which I prefer.  The chrome bug-eye headlight bowls are gone - not a bad thing.  

Overall I like it.  C'mon the S3 hasn't been updated since 2005.  These changes are good.  Less weight and more power is great.  If they got better performance out of the new headlight design, than I'm for it.  

You can see the new S3 in the new Triumph video:

[SalsaShark]

I understand the changes, but they're not for me. I love my 07 and the style that it has.

Plus... I haven't seen ONE picture of the new speedie in Roulette Green.

[scottzilla]

The problem is, Ducati, Aprilia, even Kawasaki have been siphoning off Speed Triple buyers, and all of those bikes look more...modern.  

I've heard it from my other, non-Triumph riding friends...

"I'm sure it's a great bike, but it just looks so unfinished and old-fashioned...now that Monster/Tuono/Z1000, that's a great bike that's also good looking".

I don't agree, but I bet a good chunk of those Duc/Ape/Kawi buyers do, and might give the Speedy a second look now. Wanna bet sales pick up for the new model?  And automotive styling rule 101, give status-conscious current owners a reason to upgrade.  

Beyond the styling, what I find interesting is that they finally ditched the Daytona T595 semi-trellis frame.  

Monster is completely changed every 2-3 years and correct me if i'm wrong, being discontinued from Ducatis lineup.  The Tuono hasn't been updated in 10 years.  The Z1000 is at two strikes and like the first one, not selling all that well.
None of those bikes are more "Modern" than a Speed Triple.

[DogBoy]

The Monster is far and away Ducati's best selling model and has been for years. They aren't discontinuing it.

[JReazor]

The Monster is far and away Ducati's best selling model and has been for years. They aren't discontinuing it.

The Monster is still here for 2011. It looks like the last of the Sport Classic line is dead.

[Jeff]

Monster is completely changed every 2-3 years and correct me if i'm wrong, being discontinued from Ducatis lineup.  The Tuono hasn't been updated in 10 years.  The Z1000 is at two strikes and like the first one, not selling all that well.
None of those bikes are more "Modern" than a Speed Triple.

The Monster had new engines and all sorts of different configurations for years. The original Monster was what - 1995? It had a 10-12 year run with the same overall design. It wasn't till the new 696 came out that it was an "all new" Monster.

I have no problem with the frame of the new S3. My main beef is the headlights, and then the overall styling issues. It looks cobbled together. I don't see why they couldn't have a new frame, more power, less weight, etc, and still make it look like an evolution of the breed.

[Croak]

I understand the changes, but they're not for me. I love my 07 and the style that it has.

Plus... I haven't seen ONE picture of the new speedie in Roulette Green.

Which is probably the best news about the new Trip I've heard yet.  

[Rincewind]

The Monster came out in 1993.  It didn't receive many changes until FI in 2000, then the S4R in 2005.  The 696 wasn't until 2007, so that is a 15-year run on that original style!  BTW, Sorry to hear the Sport Classics are gone.  


Anyway here are some more 011 S3 pics.

[chornbe]

That thing's beautiful.

[Dave the slave]

I like it, but I like the current model better    However it may look better in person, these things often do!  But the one thing I DON'T like is those silly little fairing bits on the side, if they aren't really hiding anything I'd probably just remove them.  This bike is on my short list due almost entirely on the fact that my wife's Street Triple is one of THEE most enjoyable/fun bikes I have EVER ridden.  I never get off that little big without a big smile

The only problem is I'm really diggin the green Z1000 this year (and it's new brother the Ninja 1000)  I can't wait for a few reviews of the new Speedy!

[MadOzodi]

It looks much better with the 3-1 Arrow can.  I also think the white is not the best color for the new S3 cuz that white plastic bit just sticks out like a sore thumb.  Maybe they'll offer a CF replacement piece.

[scottzilla]

Ref: The Monster.  I thought I read they were letting the MTS take over the Monster line.  If I'm wrong I apologize.
The Monster, based on reviews/tests I've been reading since the bike came out show the bike is very different year to year.  It's true it may have only received a few major redesigns but the year to year minor changes make the bike quite different.  One constant bs line you see when reading a Monster review is how much better this years model is compared to last years.