Speed Triple vs Street Triple

[Rockin SV]

I'm playing with the idea of a second bike in the garage strictly as a play bike. My main bike right now is an 05 Yamaha FZ1. I've done some long distance touring on it and it does everything I want it to, but I've got some serious Triumph lust I've been lusting for the Street ever since it came out. I owned an 01 SV650 for 10 years and loved it, especially in the twisties. I view the Street as an SV on some serious steroids which sure sounds like a heckuva lot of fun in the twisties to me!!! Here's the dilemma, I have a buddy that has a gorgeous, mint 06 Speed that he'd be willing to let go of for a very fair price which is thousands less than a Street would cost, especially since I'd probably end up looking at new. I will be keeping the FZ1 and have this one as a weekender and maybe even take a trip down south to throw it through the smoky mountains. So would a Street be worth and extra $5,000? I've been debating this pretty heavy and would appreciate any input from those with experience with both bikes.

[Stripes]

Buy the Speed Triple from your buddy. If you end up not liking it or not riding it you can always resell it. I personally try not to passup on good deals. Now w/ that being said, if you do end up buying the Speed 3, chances are you'll end up riding it more than the FZ1 & letting that go! Just my $0.02. Cheers

[garry]

I don't have personal experience with either bike, but since you're looking for a weekend play bike, I would think the Street Triple R would be the ticket due to the lighter weight (more nimble). I don't know if that's worth $5K to you or not. It seems to me the FZ1 and Speed Triple are more likely to overlap each other since they are both sporty naked liter bikes, with the Triumph being the sportier of the two.

[Rockin SV]

I don't have personal experience with either bike, but since you're looking for a weekend play bike, I would think the Street Triple R would be the ticket due to the lighter weight (more nimble). I don't know if that's worth $5K to you or not. It seems to me the FZ1 and Speed Triple are more likely to overlap each other since they are both sporty naked liter bikes, with the Triumph being the sportier of the two.

Yeah, that lightness and the overlap is the only thing stopping me, other than money which I should have in the spring. Though I know he's taken a decent amount of weight off the Speed, though it'll never be as light as a Street. Still that's alot of $ difference too, and from all I've heard both have fantastic motors!

[falconati]

Yep, both have nice motors - most people just have a preference of one model over the other.

The Street Triple is the better bike for me; however you should ride them both and decide.  I don't want/need the extra motor of the Speedy.  If it's a good price, just buy it and you'll likely have the option to resell it and not lose money (as Stripes suggested).  I also agree that if you end up with the Speedy, you'll find a significant amount of overlap with the FZ1....and sell it instead of the Triumph  

Have you ridden both back-to-back?

[miles]

I don't know that 56 pounds will make or break the difference between the two bikes.  My recommendation is to ride your buddy's S3 and see if you fall in love with it.  My guess is that you will.

Expect to sell your FZ1 next spring.

[Rockin SV]

I've done a short ride on a Street and loved it. I have ridden my buddies Speed for probably 30 miles or so and absolutely loved it. It was actually the second Speed that I've ridden, and I'm amazed at it's power at parking lot speeds and lower rpm speeds compared to the FZ1. We've ran them off against each other and the FZ1 will win, but it's darn close and the FZ don't do it 'til it gets time to wind up. Just a totally different way of delivering power and I just love the way that triple sounds The reason for keeping the FZ1 would be because I do take my wife for rides now and then and it certainly would be a better two up bike.

[Stripes]

Hold the phone... are you talking about an '05 or newer 1050 Speed Triple or an '03 & older 955i?

[Rincewind]

Unless you are considering the Street Triple R, I would go with the Speed Triple.  The basic Street 675 rear suspension was jarring to me on highway bumps.  The STR has noticeably better controlled suspension.

Like you said, the 1050 engine has great grunt at low and mid range revs.  The 675 needs revs to really come alive.  I owned a STR675 for a few years and 25,000 some fun miles.  I own a SFV650 and it is very much like that on steroids.  The Street R is a very capable and fun bike even for touring if you accept a minimalist philosophy.  The riding ergos were a bit compact in the legs for me (6' tall) and after my first tour it was time to change the seat.  Long days in the saddle felt pretty long, but riding twisty roads is like a hot knife through butter.  

Either bike will tour but I would prefer a Speed Triple for its larger chassis and lower revs at highway speeds.  The beefier Speed Trip is not as lithe but its big power is more accessible than chasing after power in the mid to high revs of the 675.  By 25,000 miles I was almost tired of having to rev big to get the big results.  I had owned a 1050 Tiger for years before my 675, and I've ridden loaner Speed Triples for maybe 100 miles total.  I'm happy to have had my STR675 but I don't really miss it all that much because my Tiger 800 is more capable and versatile in the real world.  Faced with your decision I would get the Speed Triple and save all the depreciation... or sell your FZ1 and get a Tiger 800.

[Rockin SV]

Hold the phone... are you talking about an '05 or newer 1050 Speed Triple or an '03 & older 955i?

It's an 06 Speed Triple.

[Rockin SV]

Unless you are considering the Street Triple R, I would go with the Speed Triple.  The basic Street 675 rear suspension was jarring to me on highway bumps.  The STR has noticeably better controlled suspension.

Like you said, the 1050 engine has great grunt at low and mid range revs.  The 675 needs revs to really come alive.  I owned a STR675 for a few years and 25,000 some fun miles.  I own a SFV650 and it is very much like that on steroids.  The Street R is a very capable and fun bike even for touring if you accept a minimalist philosophy.  The riding ergos were a bit compact in the legs for me (6' tall) and after my first tour it was time to change the seat.  Long days in the saddle felt pretty long, but riding twisty roads is like a hot knife through butter.  

Either bike will tour but I would prefer a Speed Triple for its larger chassis and lower revs at highway speeds.  The beefier Speed Trip is not as lithe but its big power is more accessible than chasing after power in the mid to high revs of the 675.  By 25,000 miles I was almost tired of having to rev big to get the big results.  I had owned a 1050 Tiger for years before my 675, and I've ridden loaner Speed Triples for maybe 100 miles total.  I'm happy to have had my STR675 but I don't really miss it all that much because my Tiger 800 is more capable and versatile in the real world.  Faced with your decision I would get the Speed Triple and save all the depreciation... or sell your FZ1 and get a Tiger 800.

Funny you mention the Tiger 800, I have sat on them and they feel about perfect. Maybe in the future the FZ1 may go bye-bye in favor of a Tiger. I still like a bit of adrenaline and I don't think the state of tune of the 800 would really dish it out like the Speed or even the Street does would it? I knew about your Street, I think I've read about all your posts on it and have been lusting for a Street since they came out, I'm just currently coming into a financial stiuation where I can afford it. The Tiger does seem like a nice compromise, but I'm thinking of that in a few years.

[Rincewind]

Funny you mention the Tiger 800, I have sat on them and they feel about perfect. Maybe in the future the FZ1 may go bye-bye in favor of a Tiger. I still like a bit of adrenaline and I don't think the state of tune of the 800 would really dish it out like the Speed or even the Street does would it? I knew about your Street, I think I've read about all your posts on it and have been lusting for a Street since they came out, I'm just currently coming into a financial stiuation where I can afford it. The Tiger does seem like a nice compromise, but I'm thinking of that in a few years.

For dishing out maximum speed and adrenaline, the 675 and 1050 have the edge but I don't think the difference is that severe for real world riding.  The T800 can be ridden pretty hard and is capable of adrenaline filled riding, wheelies, and general law breaking.  At first i missed the extra top end scream and zest of the 675.  However, in time i have come to prefer the 800's wider spread of power and higher amount of torque.  Its still very much a triple.  For general elevated pace riding the T800 is not that less capable for me and I don't reach high into the triple digits to need the higher top speed.  I just replaced the tires with Anakees and the experience of new tires reaffirms how sweet the T800 handles the corners.  The wider handlebars give a lot of control input.  It's a lark.

[1000lbs]

Having owned, toured, and flogged a 07 Speedy and now a 12 Striple R, I don't think you will regret your decision regardless of which bike you choose.  A good deal on a Speed Triple is hard to pass up (I still miss mine from time to time), and the Street Triple R is worth the price of admission. That being said, they are more different then similar once you spend some time on each.  With hooigan bikes there is not a lot to compare outside of power, handling, and how it feels when you ride it.

In the motor department, you have the low end and mid range grunt of the 1050, and the high rpm rush of the 675.  The difference mostly shows itself in roll on applications where the 1050 will just pull without hesitation. For simiar acceleration, a down shift is generally needed to get the 675 to warp drive.  Where the 675 shines is in the power delivery above 6k rpm.  In the twisties or track the free reving 675 encourages riding in the 6-12k rpm range allowing for using more engine breaking and getting back to the throttle quickly with out upsetting the bike. When riding a spirited pace on the 1050, I'd usually be in the 5-8k range using less engine braking rolling into the corner, then powering out with the torque cracking the throttle a bit later. Both fund just different.  At cruising speed The rpm difference doesn't bother me with the 675 about 1.5k rpm higher on the tach. The 1050 actually does slightly better on mpg, while the 675 is a little easier on tires.

In the handling/physical size comparison, the weight difference on paper doesn't seem like it would make a huge difference, but in IMHO it does.  The Speedy is no pig and is very confident in a corner, but he Striple carries its lighter payload in a more compact package.  Steering on the Striple is quicker and with less effort then the Speedy. Also, while leaned over, it is much easier to change or correct your line on the Striple R without unsettling the suspension or getting a choppy throttle input. That same compact package has a narrower tank/seat area and gives a little more room for moving from side to side when hanging off the bike.  As others have said the 05-10 Speedy is a little roomier for taller riders with a longer reach to the bars and a little more leg room.  The 1050 feels bigger from the saddle and at 5'8" the Striple fits me better.  I'd say suspension is comperable on both with the Stiple R getting a nod for better damping.

If I had keys to either bike, I'd grab the key for the Steet Triple more often, but the Speed Triple wouldn't get dusty either.  If you decide to spend the extra $$$ on a new Street Triple, I'd get the R.  The suspension and brakes are worth it.

[falconati]

^^^^^^^^well said.  Except the Speedy would probably get dusty for me.  

[SVTNate]

Back in March or April of 2011, I rode my FJR1300 to my local Triumph dealer.  They had one of those demo days where the big corporate semi truck comes out and they have all the new models available for test rides.  It was a cool and overcast Friday, so very few people showed up.  I was able to ride the 15-minute route on one bike, hop off, try another bike, etc.  It was great.

Anyway, I rode the Street Triple R and the Speed Triple back to back.  I went home with a new Speed Triple later that day.

Why?  The 1050 motor.  Great, usable power down low.  IMO it sounds better, too.  The Street is a great bike, but I prefer the 1050 motor.  I also love the SSSA, I have to admit.  

If I was to replace my Speed Triple today, I'd probably pick up a new Speed Triple R.

[shooplick]

Buy the speedy. With the money saved buy a Sargent seat and upgrade the rear shock. 2up riding on the speedy is not fun for the passenger( according to my wife). The speedy is an awesome bike. Enjoy

[tankertruck]

Having owned both of these for a bit of time (well, 2 speedy's, 1 street), I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring with my opinion.  First thing to remember is that the street is not just a small speed, and the speed is not just a big street - they really are two different bikes (even though they look the same).  

The street is a super fun bike, but it likes to be wound up to go from 'fun' to 'really fun'.  This doesn't mean fast necessarily, but the motor really performs well in the upper RPM range, kind of like a sport bike in some regards, which calls you to continually twist the throttle to get up into that rev range.  The issue with this, is that areas that allow 'really fun' tend to also have 'lots-o-cops' in my area, which inevitably leads to 'lots-o-tickets' and 'no-licence-itis'. I tend to ride bikes the way they like to be ridden (which I why I don't have the B-King anymore), so for me, I wasn't mature enough (at 33 years old) to ride the street the way it likes to be ridden.   But it was super fun - and I believe better in the corners than a speed (but not by as much as people say, IMO - but it was inherently more flickable).  

The speed is a torque monster from down low (2000 rpms with the way I have mine set up) up until about 8k when it starts to run out of juice (well, air I think, but you get the idea).  The bike just smoothly pulled out of corners, and handled really well for it's size and weight - particularly if you spend some time getting the suspension right and go with a 45T rear sprocket.  It very easily covered mistakes you make in throttle & entry speed because of the torque.  I barely ever got the bike above 6000 RPM because you just didn't need to.  You can also practically steal an '05-'07 right now in the market.  

So, my summary of this question is basically: if you like to ride in the upper rev ranges and gravitate towards/enjoy more 'sportbike' motors, get a street R.  If you like the lower rev ranges, and tend to like twin/cruiser motors, get a speedy.  They are both GREAT bikes, and you'll be happy with either, but they do tend towards different riding styles.

That being said, I just sold the '09 speedy and I'm looking for a sport touring mount - and the larger bore triples are calling me to them.  

[Rockin SV]

Awesome responses everybody, thanks for all the opinions! I'm leaning towards the Speed and very much looking forward to it. My buddy added lots of extras and she looks awesome!

[gradus]

Given the price difference and accessories already on the Speed, I'd pick that one.

I love my Street R and plan to keep it for a long time.  Concerning the cramped space, I had to fix the leg room with these.  I'm 6'1" and lowering just 23mm completely solved my cramped leg issues.    

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/mfw-vario-footpeg-mount-rider-triumph-daytona-speed-triple-street-triple-tiger-1050