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?

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.

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

).

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.

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.

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!

Freefaller · 8 Nov 2010 at 09:43

So far I'm torn between the CB1000R and the Speed Triple. I've ruled out the Z1000 took it out and whilst cool, not really keen on it.

The bking was more of a joke, it's a little OTT for me really

Freefaller · 8 Nov 2010 at 13:15

That's pretty! What are they like to ride? I know little about them.

Freefaller · 10 Nov 2010 at 14:27

The thing is I'm a realtively heavy bloke so the nimbleness of a 600 is a little lost on me, though my 600cc triumph TT was very chuckable, but most of that came from me being the ballast!

I weighed nearly 2/3rds of my bike. It is a tough call, as I do like a nimble bike, but I think, think think, I'm after something a bit "punchier" and more "lazy", but that I can still chuck around when the mood takes me! Does that make any sense? :confused:

Freefaller · 11 Nov 2010 at 20:26

I've owned a triumph before and quite happily took it to pieces and back together again. I have owned several jap bikes too. However, it is something to consider. Though for me, feel, bond and character are almost as if not more important...

Freefaller · 11 Nov 2010 at 20:32

If I had a garage with the space for several bikes it would DEFINITELY be on the list.

Whilst I want something less sport oriented, I think that's a little TOO far! But good call though!