Street Triple or Speed Triple - that's the question

**AllanC** · 24th July 2012, 20:32

So, I was given a Suzuki GSR750 the other day as a loaner while my Speedmaster was in for a service and new tyres and had a ball on it. So much so that I've decided I'm more of a street bike kinda guy than a cruiser kinda guy so started looking around and thinking about my next bike (as ya do).

I then took a Speed Triple for a test and absolutely loved it, what a beautiful machine. Only trouble was that, not being a big guy (only 5'8" in the old language), my legs were at a bit of a stretch at standing so I couldn't get my feet flat on the ground. I tried, but haven't yet ridden, a Street Triple and it was pretty much a perfect fit. I know I need to ride it but I'm thinking I might have more fun throwing a Street Triple around cause it's that little bit smaller and possibly more nimble than the Speed Triple but I'm also worried that after a few months with the Street, I might wish I'd got the Speed!

A dilemma, I'd appreciate any thoughts y'all might have as to why you would buy one over the other (mind you, the GSR750 was kinda fun too and a lot cheaper........)?

**Subike** · 24th July 2012, 20:43

street tripple
you will never regret it

**Devil** · 24th July 2012, 20:47

The Street Triple is one of the most fun bikes ever built. Buy one, now. Fit pipes. Wet pants.

**Geeen** · 24th July 2012, 20:50

I went for the Speed for a couple of reasons, 1) GRUNT, 2) I'm not a fan of dancing through the gearbox to make forward progress 3) Easier to chuck the better half on the back and still have heaps of poke and like you I rode one and had to have one. From my understanding the Street is more revvy and nimble but the Speed has the grunt and will happily cruise at 50 or 100 comfortably without begging to burn your license.

**Gremlin** · 24th July 2012, 20:55

If your background is cruisers, the Street is probably plenty. Just because it's a smaller capacity doesn't mean it's going to be boring... it's far from boring...

**skippa1** · 24th July 2012, 21:01

I went speedy (I'm only 5'7")and LOVED it. Saddest day of my life when I wrote it off..............

PM me if you want more info

**AllanC** · 24th July 2012, 21:07

Originally Posted by Geeen

I went for the Speed for a couple of reasons, 1) GRUNT, 2) I'm not a fan of dancing through the gearbox to make forward progress 3) Easier to chuck the better half on the back and still have heaps of poke and like you I rode one and had to have one. From my understanding the Street is more revvy and nimble but the Speed has the grunt and will happily cruise at 50 or 100 comfortably without begging to burn your license.

I could still get the other half on the back of a Street tho right? Kinda felt like the Speed could easily take my license but it also felt like a bike I could ride lazy on as well (all that torque, mountains of it).

**AllanC** · 24th July 2012, 21:08

Originally Posted by skippa1

I went speedy (I'm only 5'7")and LOVED it. Saddest day of my life when I wrote it off..............

PM me if you want more info

And it was okay not being able to flat foot it?

**Batcerb** · 24th July 2012, 21:09

Street +1

More fun out of the box. Have had both, I went from the 675 to the 1050 because I was doing alot more 2up riding.

**AllanC** · 24th July 2012, 21:10

Originally Posted by Gremlin

If your background is cruisers, the Street is probably plenty. Just because it's a smaller capacity doesn't mean it's going to be boring... it's far from boring...

Didn't think so much that it'd be boring, was just worried that once I got used to it, I might want more. Mind you, have hardly seen any used ones for sale so those that have bought them have certainly held on to them I guess.

**AllanC** · 24th July 2012, 21:14

Originally Posted by Batcerb

Street +1

More fun out of the box. Have had both, I went from the 675 to the 1050 because I was doing alot more 2up riding.

So how was the Street with occasional short haul 2 up stuff?

**Gremlin** · 24th July 2012, 21:15

Originally Posted by AllanC

Didn't think so much that it'd be boring, was just worried that once I got used to it, I might want more.

Pretty much why I put the caveat about cruiser. I don't know how you like riding, style of riding etc. If you constantly want to sit on the back wheel, or slide around or speed, then sure, the Speed. Otherwise the Street will still easily exceed the speed limit if you want it to, but won't bite quite so hard and your tyres might even last longer

Personally, I found the suspension and handling lacking on a Speed (didn't ride the Street as I was coming from a litre bike) but it was back in 2008. The engine was a real peach tho.

**John_H** · 24th July 2012, 21:22

I've ridden both back to back and the street was great, not much difference in power, but it was the way the power was delivered that made the Speed so much better to ride. l love mine and would recommend it. The street is cheaper though but much more common.

**skippa1** · 24th July 2012, 21:23

Originally Posted by AllanC

And it was okay not being able to flat foot it?

yeah good as. At 5'7" you get that on most bikes. They are two different bikes aye. The Street is a quick bike, believe me....I rode hard against one in some twisty stuff and he was quicker in the corners, only just, and I hauled him back when it got straighter. It was down to how much gear changing you had to do etc. The 1050 has a lot more torque so there is less gear changing gear to keep speed on. My call would be that if you are buying to do one up day trips with a bit of caning, I would go street if you are going to do it two up or do longer hauls, get the speedy.