06Triumph Sprint ST

**Lou Girardin** · 5th March 2006, 17:06

We've just put this on as a rental at AMPS, so I took it home to put some k's on over the next week or two.
It's a pleasant bike, but doesn't ring my bell like the Speed Triple. It's probably a combination a of a little extra weight, a little less power and maybe gearing, but it doesn't have the instant lunge of the Triple. Nice induction roar though.
The riding position is a little more leant forward than the old Sprint, so there's a bit more weight on your wrists, as I noticed through peak traffic. On the open road, wind pressure relieves some of this, but it isn't as comfortable as a naked bike. If we were able to cruise at realistic speeds, this would make a lot more sense. I could imagine cruising at 180 -200 k's would be a doddle on this.
Handling is fine, tip it in and it assumes a super stable lean angle. Very confidence inspiring. Brakes are good, but need a bit more bedding in.
I guess there are no bad bikes anymore, just varying degrees of great.

**pritch** · 5th March 2006, 19:37

The Brit mags give this bike a great write up. To the point that they rate it with the VFR which was for years top of the sports tourer heap. Be interesting to say what the Yanks say.
Or KiwiBiker of course... :-)

**Big Dave** · 5th March 2006, 19:40

Originally Posted by pritch008

The Brit mags give this bike a great write up. To the point that they rate it with the VFR which was for years top of the sports tourer heap. Be interesting to say what the Yanks say.
Or KiwiBiker of course... :-)

3 of us who do tests for Kiwi Rider gave it our bike of the year.

**Dafe** · 5th March 2006, 20:07

Does anybody know what Triumph are planning for their 2007 range?
Is there anything funky on the horizon?

I really love the look of the Sprint ST, only 2 moans to be had from me.

1) The Rear wheel looks whimpy. The rim size looks way too small. Out of proportion!

2) The beautiful dash and gauge setup is ruined by a rather ugly crown design. If the crown was a whole piece or even black. I think it would look far nicer.

But you've got to give Triumph some credit. They did a fantastic thing by steering away from their previous flagship 955 and deciding to invest in their other markets for riders. They've done some great things and the 1050 ST is a fabulous step ahead for Triumph.

**sels1** · 5th March 2006, 20:33

I had a test ride on one of these in Tauranga recently (Couple of days after I was in talking to you, Lou) and I was suitably impressed. Im not really a sport bike type but found the new Sprint a real pleasure to ride - for the short time I was on it anyway. Would like a chance to take one further....

**Lou Girardin** · 11th March 2006, 08:03

I'm starting to eat my words on this thing. The more I ride it the more I like it. The engines freeing up now and it'll wheelie off the throttle easily. The brakes are still not right - glazed pads perhaps?

**Dafe** · 11th March 2006, 08:16

Good to hear!

I'm always drooling over those machines. I often wonder if I took the right option going for the K6 instead of the ST.
keep us posted.
How do you rate it now against the speed triple?

**dawnrazor** · 11th March 2006, 08:21

I'm very interested in the new 675, that puppy sounds like its going to be huge. Triumph have already sold all their bikes allocated for the UK off the strength of the reviews alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Lou Girardin** · 11th March 2006, 10:06

Originally Posted by Dafe

Good to hear!

I'm always drooling over those machines. I often wonder if I took the right option going for the K6 instead of the ST.
keep us posted.
How do you rate it now against the speed triple?

It's not as "holy shit I want one" as the Triple. But it's more versatile.

**Lou Girardin** · 11th March 2006, 10:06

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

I'm very interested in the new 675, that puppy sounds like its going to be huge. Triumph have already sold all their bikes allocated for the UK off the strength of the reviews alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same here, all gone.