Better than $ex (Triumph Speed Triple)

Member Name: redbites

Product:	Triumph Speed Triple
Date:	14/03/03 (4305 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brakes, British, Brutal

Disadvantages: Tyres for bikes expensive

I've had my current Speed Triple (955cc) for nearly 4 years. I had the original T509 but that bike lacked some speed. I love the new Speed Triple. So far, I have done 18,000 miles with no major problems at all (apart from blown light bulbs, but that is pretty normal apparently).

The BIG 18,000 mile service cost £200, which is very reasonable. Reliability wise, it does what you come to expect from a bike; it always starts, is on the same battery and apart from some inconsiderately placed nails on the roads where I live, gone through 4 rear tyres. A bit expensive mind...

Insurance (even with 6 years NCB) has suffered. Living in London does not help one bit. Still, if your looking for an all round bike (city, back lanes, track days and moderate touring) then this has to be the best bike on the planet.

I commute 22 miles a day into and out of London. The engine is excellent and has bucket loads of torque from 3,000rpm. You can even potter in 6th gear and still pick up sweetly from 40mph. I fitted an MHP titanium can (so car people can hear me) and had the Fuel Injection updated all done by Jack Lilley ? Shepperton.

What sets this bike apart from your normal Jap stuff is the build quality. OK it might be a couple of kilos over fighting weight, but you get a great looking single sided swing arm. Nothing has fallen off. The aluminium is still clean and the bodywork always shines with a dab of T cut.

A lot of people go on about the looks. I love it. It just looks so mean and menacing.

Update: 16th July 2004 ? I part exchanged the ST back in August ?03, for a Sprint RS. I have included a review for that. Put it this way, I made a mistake losing the ST.

Summary: