2003 Speed Triple 955i - Dare to be different (Triumph Speed Triple)

Member Name: Stephen - Belfast

Product:	Triumph Speed Triple
Date:	18/03/09 (525 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Power, looks, presence - oh and what a sound from that engine

Disadvantages: Poor mirrors ( but cheap to fix). Triumph acessories ludicrously expensive

After owning a Honda Blackbird for 6 years I wanted something that was special like the bird but didn't have me wondering why everyone else on the road was going so slow (then realising they weren't - I was 'touring' at 3 figure speeds). So I decided on a naked.

There's lots of good stuff out there but it's all a bit the same. Then I saw a roulette green 2003 speed triple with colour coded fly screen, belly pan, rad cover and seat hump. It looks like nothing else and, with it's 3 cylinder engine, sounds like nothing else either. A 2 hour test run and I was hooked. When I asked the dealer if the pillion seat was available, he explained that it was (oh and the previous owner had also left in a Triumph high level carbon race pipe, 2 alternative rear sprockets and a front sprocket which were all included in the price). Ooh deep joy!

Have the bike now about a month. Fitted the race pipe which doesn't have the same mad wail as the (fairly sporty) standard can but emits a throaty burble at low speed (this neatly avoids attention from the police and neighbourhood watch stasi in villages) which turns into a cacophony of warbles, pops, growls and screams once the bike's given the berries. It even does the most lovely backfire when changing down. Orgasmic!

Looks-wise, especially in the green and with the fly screen etc, it really stands out. When I park it up, I invariably come back to find a few admirers gazing at it. In traffic, lorry drivers seem a bit intimidated by the streetfighter stance and move over. At the lights, 'wimin' in sporty soft tops smile (the first owner of mine was a lady so she probably had the same from every bloke on the road). Kids point at it open-mouthed.

Riding the thing just rocks. It handles; brakes are excellent; there's power on tap from tickover and the odd accidental wheelie if you forget your manners.

Adding mirror extenders (or different mirrors) is a must as the standard ones give a great view of your arms. I took the former option and can now watch my tail for bandits.

You've probably realised I like it. But I'm not alone. The bloke who traded it in tried to buy it back a few days after I got it.

Sums it up really.
Stephen - Belfast N Ireland

Summary: The bloke who had it before me tried to buy it back. Sums it up!

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