| | | | Road Test: Triumph Speed Triple- Unreserved British triple |  Written: 20/02/2006 : 13:12. Read 24996 times (29/day). | | The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members. | The Speed Triple has been around for some years now and was given a serious update for 2005. The British by nature are reserved, but the Speed Triple is as unreserved as you can get. A minimalist triple that at the same time is as luxurious as a naked bike can get.
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The first thing that hits you with this bike is that the torque in this big 1050cc engine is shifted to the bottom of the register. Right from 4.000 rpms it’s approaching top torque. We’re storming through the roundabouts like they don’t exist and grinning at how lightly this new Speed Triple handles. The broad handlebars shake from side to side when gassing hard in first, second and third gears. The Speed Triple is a bit two-faced in that it feels aggressive and rip-roaringly fast with a three-toned shriek in the high revs. In the low revs it is still rudely quick (and this is down to the new torque register) but the engine is so gentle and flexible that you won’t believe it from the rider’s seat. But it has to be said that the most impressive thing is just how easy it is to flick the triple from side to side and how light it feels to ride in spite of its very average dry weight. The Triple has got top spec tyres and brakes and the new Michelin Pilot Power are really impressive. Triumph has made the new Speed Triple more lively with the new 180/55-ZR17 rear tyre and ten extra horse-power in addition to the extra torque right from the low revs.
Lively engine. With such a lively engine it is great that Triumph has improved the gearbox so that all that is required is to press lightly up for inspired riding on twisty roads. There is more movement in the chassis when riding over uneven surfaces but riding off-the beaten track I got an insight into why this may be - my thought is that this flex is most probably designed in deliberately. The sound is a design matter as well, the triple burbling like an old coffee pot when engine braking before the bends. All this gives the otherwise soft and flexible engine more character. It doesn’t take a hard twist on the throttle before the Triple rears up on its rear wheel either. It is almost as playful as a Supermotard but with speed resources up towards 150MPH. The seat height at 815mm and no faring, sitting exposed to the wind does get tiresome for the neck muscles on the motorway. On the test bike there is a little faring, but it is mostly for show. We rode several long trips and one of these wit ...
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| Comments | |
Bonnot (27-11-2006): Un vrais bête, et avec un tempérament de feu, mais faut avoir des deltoïdes de gymnasse pour tenir au-dessus de 260. Dans les virolos les super et Hyper, tu les laches pas c'est un vrais vélo, bon d'ac elle a les molets musclés mais bon. Je résme, un couple de camion avec l'agessivité du fauve...
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 (09-11-2007): I like your no bullshit tests Tor.
Mike from Burry Port in Wales.
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