As I posted recently, I've decided that I need a road bike with lazier ergonomics than my current GSXR.
I rang AMPS this morning and arranged to pick up a black '03 Triple at lunchtime for a test ride. It's on sale for $12K.
I turn up, and the sales guy mentions that they've just put a brand new set of tyres on (Metzeler M1s), so would I mind taking it easy.
It's a dry day, so no worries. Hop on, fire it up. It has a stock exhaust. A very stock exhaust. The Speed Triple muffler virtually defines the ugly, boring, overly-quiet exhaust systems that factories love to ship bikes with. Is it some sort of collusion between design engineers and aftermarket exhaust brands?
The engine's warm, so I give it a blip or two in neutral. The revs rise and fall too slowly for my liking. I hop on and head down Khyber Pass and onto the northbound motorway, making my way through the traffic to the Albany turnoff. A few squirts between cars and up hills fail to impress - what are those 955 cubic centimeters down between my legs doing?
I turn off and head toward the Coatesville-Riverhead road, the same ride I did last night on the K2. Some experimental acceleration up the hill before the turnoff reveals the significant difference in power between the Triple and the K2 GSX-R1000, or even my old SRAD 750. The rush just isn't there.
Still, I'm comfortable. That's a good start.
Turn off onto SH28 and open the throttle. Lazy acceleration but confidence-inspiring handling is the order of the day. The engine pulls until 7500rpm or so. There's little point reaching for the 9500rpm redline; from 8000 upwards it generates sound and fury but little forward momentum.
The Triple corners nicely. Reasonably sensitive handling, but stable and very ready to be pointed where I want to go. The front never feels light. Still very comfy, and I notice that I'm not at all stressed or bothered, just steering the bike through the corners with nice big pushes on the bars, and whacking the throttle open much more ham-fistedly than is my wont on your average sprotsbike.
I look at the speedo a few times. I'm definitely going a touch slower than I did last night on the K2. I suppose that's to be expected. Still, everything feels pretty relaxed. I'm having fun.
I continue on up to the intersection of Old North and Peak Road, stop, and hop off for an inspection. No chicken strips left on the rear tyre (which, I notice, is an 180/55 - didn't these bikes come with 190s stock?)
Time to turn around and head back to town.
Impressions...
The Speed Triple is heavy and slow compared to most other bikes in its price range and market focus. Did Triumph really use that engine in a 'sportbike'? Ridiculous. The riding position is quite comfortable; I'd be happy as a pig in shit sitting on it all day up and down the countryside.
Compared to any Japanese or Italian sportbike of the last decade, it feels almost cruiser-ish, but has enough ground clearance and functional suspension to be punted around corners at similar rates. Just don't expect to leave black stripes on the road when you whack the throttle on from the apex!
I can't imagine one of these putting down impressive lap times at a track, but a competent rider on a Triple shouldn't have any trouble keeping up with the average toothpaste tube on a crotch rocket around the back roads.
Would I buy one?
Dunno. It didn't grab me like I thought it would. The relatively anaemic engine lets down an otherwise pleasant package.
Roll on tomorrow and a test-ride on the Street Triple!
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Originally Posted by Devil
Its great to see such selfless behaviour 
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