Speed triple

Freefaller · 29 Oct 2010 at 09:40

I'm moving away from sports bikes for a while, nearly 10 years of riding them, bar a couple, I'm thinking of heading down the street bike route for bit.

However, keen to be on a bigger engined bike. Having had a ride on a 2002 Speed triple I must say I was hooked, the noise, the grunt, and the looks just make me weak at the knees.

I know there are alternatives like the Z1000, or the Bandit or Monster but am I missing any others? This won't be until next year anyway before I think of buying, but I need to wet my appetite and start to have a look and test ride!

General thoughts/opinions on the speed triple or are there any other worthy contenders?

Fireskull · 29 Oct 2010 at 09:44

Why have you not considered the street triple?

sloth · 29 Oct 2010 at 09:48

The Tuono appears to be missing.

Sagalout · 29 Oct 2010 at 10:27

Are you set on no fairing, or do you just want a more relaxed riding position? I have an S3, but whilst its an awesome bike on the right day and road, in all honesty it doesn't get ridden very much because the lack of fairing annoys me on all but the sunniest of Sunday rides, so I tend to take the Blackbird out a lot more.

If you're looking for more of a compromise the new Z1000S looks very nice

Freefaller · 29 Oct 2010 at 11:48

Fireskull said:
Why have you not considered the street triple?

Haven't tried the street triple, but there's something quite appealing about the bigger torquier engine of the speed - though I've heard that the street is more spritely?

sloth said:
The Tuono appears to be missing.

Tell me more!

Sag, yeah, a more relaxed position for riding, just don't need a sports bike for my sort of riding. Doesn't have to be naked. I used to have hornet which I thoroughly loved, you can still hang off the bike and ride it like a sports bike. Had an R6, but I felt like a gorilla on a toy bike. Quite keen to play with a bigger displacement bike.

Fireskull · 29 Oct 2010 at 11:51

You should definately try the Street, much more spritely, proper hooligan bike so suits you

Get a test ride back to back at a dealer with the Speed.

Freefaller · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:06

Ok will do. Is there the big difference in the street as there is in the speed over the last generation?

The speed is a hooligan's bike, so if the street is more so of one then yes it will suit my needs well!

The biggest difference I can imagine between the street and the speed is the torque, and chuckability - but as you say I should test both of them back to back (and promise not to pop wheelies

).

Fireskull · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:21

Yea the torque and easy of higher speed should be easier on the Speed, Ive had the Street to 140 and that is a strain on the neck

I guess its weather you want to keep the feel of the 600 handling, revs, acceleration wise but have the sit up of position on street rather than go for something easier (lazier imo

) of the speed

Freefaller · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:32

I'm lazy! I like lazy!

The thing is with my weight I do like the extra grunt from a bigger engined bike - however I do like the nippiness and agility of the smaller 600s... I will have to test them - but I'd like more info on the others mentioned.

Fireskull · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:36

Im sure I read they are bringing out a new Speed or its already out, looked good, if you wanted a new one that is...
Yea I forgot youve got 200k of muscle to lug around, the extra grunt of the speed will probably suit you then.

Sagalout · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:39

After seeing your pics in the sports forum I think the Street will look a bit small on you.

You should look at the BKing with aftermarket exhausts! Doesn't get much gruntier than that

Fireskull · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:42

Yea forgot about that Segalout he will probably look like donkey kong on it

Freefaller · 29 Oct 2010 at 12:55

No barrels to throw at marios though!

These are just ideas, at the moment, I've only ridden the older speed (2002), so just testing the water and getting ideas.

bloodiedathame · 29 Oct 2010 at 14:52

Speed Trips are lovely. Will probably get one when I am bored of my S4.

Bigsy · 29 Oct 2010 at 15:27

SuperDuke?

I rode pretty much all the decent nakeds not so long ago, speed triple, new z1000, cb1000r, tuono.. trying to decide and within seconds of getting on a SuperDuke knew I had to get it, most fun by far. The 07'+ bikes look a lot nicer, few uprated bits and a bigger tank.

d.chatten · 30 Oct 2010 at 00:53

Honda CB1000R? handles like a 600 and has more than enough low to mid range grunt.

My old CB1000R

bloodiedathame · 30 Oct 2010 at 02:52

I really like the Superduke and CB1000R... I think if anything would be to deter me from a Speed Triple it would be one of these two. I rode with a guy on a Superduke in the Lake District last year, and by jove that thing can hustle! Ironically he traded it in for a Speed Triple, then onto an RC8...

Freefaller · 30 Oct 2010 at 07:02

Oh now that is nice! I do rather like the idea of a single sided swing arm as well hence my idea of a speed!

That CB1000R is rather nice I must say! I think I'm going ot have a busy spring test riding!

Freefaller · 8 Nov 2010 at 07:44

Ooooh I just had a look at a bking.... yum!!

I'm so torn!

Scythe · 8 Nov 2010 at 08:35

Nooo don't go for a BKing!

I've been on a ride with a guy on a orange/bronze CB1000R, it looked like a monster and it sure did go, the rider was bloody huge both tall and wide too.