Devil gets a leg over...again

**Devil** · 11th October 2005, 11:50

Well I thought i'd make the official announcement, I've got a new baby

'05 Triumph Speed Four, with triumph body kit (Belly pan, radiator cowling and hugger - those last two are in transit at the moment), and I loves it!

Have test ridden a few bikes but I found out pretty quickly that this is the baby for me, it has everything I wanted in a bike. Sporty, yet comfortable. Plenty of guts without being overwhelming and handling... Yikes, it corners!

The runners up were (in approximate order, most favoured at top):
Suzuki SV1000 (naked)
Yamaha FZ6n
Honda Hornet CB900
Suzi SV1000S
Suzi SV650S
Honda VTR1000 Firestorm.

As you can see from the list, there are plenty more powerful bikes there, but none of them can compete with the triumph in pure enjoyment factor!

Heres a couple of quick photos, will post more when the rest of the kit arrives.

Thanks to Carl @ holeshot for helping me out in everyway possible to get my perfect bike!

**DemonWolf** · 11th October 2005, 11:52

Very nice bike your've got there.... very tidy

**skelstar** · 11th October 2005, 11:57

Interesting.
I was considering most of the bikes in that list also. Would be interested to hear what it is specifically about the Speed Four that makes it enjoyable...was the price a large factor in the decision?

**Devil** · 11th October 2005, 12:03

All the bikes were within $2k of each other. I was looking to buy new because of the warranty.

You'd have to go and try the bikes just because everyone's different. What I like very much about the triumph is:

The noise: Easily the best sounding bike with stock exhaust in that list. Lovely howl when you get into the midrange (and thats a very neat midrange too!)

The riding position: Its sporty, but the bars are slightly higher than the sv s models and the firestorm, my back and neck wouldn't be able to survive on those bikes.

Comfy seat and it can handle a pillion easily. It came down to the SV1000 naked and the triumph and the latter being more comfortable for the missus, apart from all the other things I enjoy about it.

The handling suits me perfectly, fully adjustable shocks front and rear, and it just feels right.

**Cibby** · 11th October 2005, 12:05

very sexy Devil...

enjoy ya new baby....

**skelstar** · 11th October 2005, 12:07

Cool. Ta for that.

Will you be doing some long miles and do you think the riding position would be an issue?

Im guessing that the SV650 (nkd) and Bandit650 (nkd) were a bit underpowered compared to this bike (about 23hp)?

Also, for conetxt reasons...what did you have before?
Sorry about the questions but I dont know who else has one

.

**Devil** · 11th October 2005, 12:12

Originally Posted by skelstar

Cool. Ta for that.

Will you be doing some long miles and do you think the riding position would be an issue?

Im guessing that the SV650 (nkd) and Bandit650 (nkd) were a bit underpowered compared to this bike (about 23hp)?

Also, for conetxt reasons...what did you have before?
Sorry about the questions but I dont know who else has one

.

I'll be doing some long miles too, and the position is fine, especially at 100km/h which helps hold you up. Its definately not a head down arse up position. Its a nice compromise from a completely naked bike.

I dont like the bandits and wasn't too interested in the (lack of) power in the 650. 1200 was too heavy for what I wanted. The SV650S has a great engine, very linear, very manageable, would be an excellent step up from a small bike. However, I dont think the naked one would do well for me with a pillion on the bike + the lack of aerodynamics.

Previous bike was a Kawasaki ZR250 balius.

**James Deuce** · 11th October 2005, 12:15

The Speed Four is definitely the pick of the bunch you listed, except for maybe the SV1000.

The suspension is superb and the range of adjustment available makes this a very adaptable machine.

Excellent choice, and I hope you have fun with it.

Have fun keeping it clean though

**skelstar** · 11th October 2005, 12:16

Originally Posted by Devil

I'll be doing some long miles too, and the position is fine, especially at 100km/h which helps hold you up. Its definately not a head down arse up position. Its a nice compromise from a completely naked bike.

I dont like the bandits and wasn't too interested in the (lack of) power in the 650. 1200 was too heavy for what I wanted. The SV650S has a great engine, very linear, very manageable, would be an excellent step up from a small bike. However, I dont think the naked one would do well for me with a pillion on the bike + the lack of aerodynamics.
Previous bike was a Kawasaki ZR250 balius.

Great. Thanks. I hope you enjoy it, and Im looking forward to the pics with the accessories fitted.

**Devil** · 11th October 2005, 13:02

Originally Posted by Jim2

The Speed Four is definitely the pick of the bunch you listed, except for maybe the SV1000.

The suspension is superb and the range of adjustment available makes this a very adaptable machine.

Excellent choice, and I hope you have fun with it.

Have fun keeping it clean though

Yers, it was quite clear that those two were the best bikes. The difference between pretty much comes down to personal preference and what you want in a bike. The low down stomp of the sv was great, as was the setting off of car alarms with the scorpion exhausts, but it lacks character which I find in the triumph. sv still a great bike though. Prefer the triumphs looks, especially with the kit, I just wish it would all hurry up and get here!

The SV had me grinning, but the triumph had me grinning more!

**skelstar** · 11th October 2005, 13:16

Did you find it difficult going from a 250 (albiet a quick one im guessing) and trying to objectively assess the merits of bikes that are MUCH more powerful than your own? I imagine this maybe difficult...maybe just requires lots of test riding.

**Devil** · 11th October 2005, 13:20

Originally Posted by skelstar

Did you find it difficult going from a 250 (albiet a quick one im guessing) and trying to objectively assess the merits of bikes that are MUCH more powerful than your own? I imagine this maybe difficult...maybe just requires lots of test riding.

You do need to test a few bikes and you pick up pretty quickly where each one stands. If you just went and tried one big new bike im sure you'd find it awesome compared to the smaller old one, but then that big bike might not be a patch on a similar style by a different brand. You HAVE to try as many as you can.

Power was interesting, out of all of those bikes I found the Hornet to have the most responsive "woah easy boy or i'll bite your head off" type power band. Then again it only had 300km on it at the time.

The Vtwins were VERY user friendly, the SV's have great engines, very linear power, easy to deal with when coming from a small capacity bike.

But as with everything motorcycle... common sense wins on the day!

**skelstar** · 11th October 2005, 13:23

Originally Posted by Devil

I found the Hornet to have the most responsive "woah easy boy or i'll bite your head off" type power band. Then again it only had 300km on it at the time.

Yeah, the Hornet was the top of my 'havent ridden it yet but like the looks' list but have been concerned about the power factor. It does sound dangerous

. Imagine trying to ride something like that through a rain drenched roundabout on a Monday morning?

**Zed** · 11th October 2005, 14:00

Originally Posted by Devil

Well I thought i'd make the official announcement, I've got a new baby

'05 Triumph Speed Four, with triumph body kit (Belly pan, radiator cowling and hugger - those last two are in transit at the moment), and I loves it!

Hey BIG congratulations Matt! Either you kept this fairly quiet or I've been really slacking in my KB thread reading??

Lovely looking bike, I'm sure that smile won't be wiped from your face for some time to come!

See you on the next ride when we can all admire it in the flesh.