A British bike for British roads. (Triumph Speed Triple)

Member Name: Jonny_L

Product:	Triumph Speed Triple
Date:	20/10/08 (534 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The engine. Oh that engine! Looks gorgeous, not bad in comfort

Disadvantages: Handling OK but nothing to write home about

OK before I start, I'd like to apologise to those avid speed triple followers who've just spat their coffee out at the shock of it not getting the full 5 stars. But before you burn me at the stake, hear me out.

Now let me get this out of the way first. The reason behind that menacing 4 star rating for me is this: It just didn't handle like I was expecting. It's not that it's not good at handling, but it reminds me a bit of the Hayabusa in the handling department. Now I liked how the 'busa handles, it's comfortably stable, and chuckable, but when you get to a bumpy corner the suspension's just a little slow to react. It'll still grip like hell, but just won't settle very well. And that's exactly what I'd say of the Speed Triple. It really does handle nicely, but when it's competitors are the likes of Aprilia's Tuono (basically a stripped RSV-R), and KTM's bonkers Superduke, it just doesn't quite cut it. Of course the competitors are a lot lighter for a start, the trump is just not quite as agile.

Now that I've hopefully cleared that up, I'll move on to the best thing about the Speed Triple... That engine, and what an engine! You may have seen my review about the Sprint ST, where I commented on the 1050cc triple engine being absolutely gorgeous. This is better. It's the same engine, but it's not in a big sport-tourer, it's on a naked bike, there's more (ok, I'll say it) Soul.

The engine is as smooth as an inline four, but has the grunt of a twin. Any gear, any revs, twist the throttle and away you go. This thing is a real wheelie machine, a bit of an animal, and that's what I love about it. Thing is though, it's no so much of an animal that you can't ride the thing, it's so user friendly, it never frightens you like the Superduke might, it just revs up and down so easily, with that beautiful exhaust barking away and popping on the overrun.

Comfort wise, well it's alright, but nothing to write home about. There are a few companies that make aftermarket seats for the triple, which is useful as I personally didn't find it all that comfy. The other thing is that for a naked, the bars are perhaps a little low and stretched. You are in no way in a racing crouch or anything, it's just not all that comfy on the wrists. Again though, I'm sure you can find some bar risers if you're fussed.

Got a pillion? Not any more you haven't. Not unless your passenger is a child, and even then they won't be too happy, the seat's more of a perch than a seat. But then that's not what this bike is about either, is it.

Wind protection, erm, well, that's for sissies, isn't it? Seriously that little screen is amazing. Of course the bike's not faired so you are a little exposed, but tuck up a little bit and you don't notice the wind too badly.

As for reliability, well that's something that I'm a little unsure about. The build quality of the bike is excellent, it all looks well put together and feels plush, which is something that I'd hope triumph reflect from their internals too, however the bike I rode did have an annoying squeeling front brake which slightly ruined the ride for me. From what I hear, as long as you keep the engine oil levels topped up, the triples are pretty bullet proof.

The clocks are easy to read, you get all sorts of pointless (erm, I mean useful) functions, like real time MPG, average MPG, clock, trip meters, temp gauges, a digital speedo and analogue tacho, though you have to take your hand off the bar to switch between some of them, and I'd jack it all in for a decent fuel gauge and a gear indicator, something I was suprised not to see.

All this aside though, you'll forget about it's niggles in no time. There's something very pure about the Speed Triple, something that exists in all Triumphs actually. The marketing men will no doubt call it "soul" or "passion", but I'd just call it british engineering at it's finest. These bikes are designed by brits, for british roads, and my god does that show. The suspension may not be the best, but unless you're planning on doing lots of track days or really ragging the thing everywhere, you won't be complaining. It works on all occasions, including some of these botched repaired roads that seem to be everywhere these days.

Personally, my money would be on the KTM Superduke, just because it's the most insane of the bunch and handles like you wouldn't believe, but if there was no Superduke, the Speed Triple would be my next bike, no question.

Summary: It's a great machine with plenty of following, I just wish it handled as well as it looks and goes!

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