Triumph Speed Triple reader feedback
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Triumph on TV
I never liked Speed Triples. Until I saw one in motion on Motorcyclist's TV show on Speedvision (I don't care who owns it, it will always be Speedvision to me). Something about seeing the bike move and lean and bounce really made it work. I'm a convert.
Hey, Hackfu, how do you like that Ku****ani Real Ride suit? Perhaps a review coming up?
I never liked Speed Triples. Until I saw one in motion on Motorcyclist's TV show on Speedvision (I don't care who owns it, it will always be Speedvision to me). Something about seeing the bike move and lean and bounce really made it work. I'm a convert.
Hey, Hackfu, how do you like that Ku****ani Real Ride suit? Perhaps a review coming up?
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155 Posts
The original Speed Triple from 1995 or so is one of the best-looking bikes I've ever seen; I guess I've never forgiven Triumph for turning it into the willfully awkward/butch creation marketed today. Then again, I guess that might be part of the appeal; like the Buell t-shirts say, "We're loud, we're ugly, and we don't care." (Or something to that effect.)
As much as I support the general idea of dealerships having more choices beyond plastic and cruisers, this one I'll have to pass on.
As much as I support the general idea of dealerships having more choices beyond plastic and cruisers, this one I'll have to pass on.
I talked to a guy that needed a few parts for his Daytona which was about a year old when this happened. He went into the dealer, they looked up the parts and told him it would be 3 months. It later had taken 6 months and the parts arrived. One of the pieces he ordered was plastic and it took long because it was back ordered. No F*CKing thank you.
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6 Posts
I bought my 2002 Triple in late January of this year, and so far (just broke 1000 miles in six weeks) I love this bike. The power, the feel of it blasting through the curves, the hum of those triples, and the attitude that it carries made this bike a love at first ride.
As for parts go, so far that hasn't been a problem. Recently the clutch lever was broken in half when in a panic I dropped the bike when a cager in the left had turn lane decided to turn right instead (A note here...Stoppies are cool when you are planning on doing them). It took a couple of phone calls to find a dealership that had the part in stock, but that was it, and the wait at the other dealerships wasn't more than a week. As for accessories goes, I've been quoted a weeks wait for various parts, and have been told that some parts aren't shipping yet...like the "performance silencer".
Now for my one real complaint. The "trunk" is very poorly engineered, its a pain to put back on after you take it off. You have to hook the left side first, twist, and then push down on the right side and the back at the same time while standing on one leg and making sure the bike is aligned with Mars.
As for parts go, so far that hasn't been a problem. Recently the clutch lever was broken in half when in a panic I dropped the bike when a cager in the left had turn lane decided to turn right instead (A note here...Stoppies are cool when you are planning on doing them). It took a couple of phone calls to find a dealership that had the part in stock, but that was it, and the wait at the other dealerships wasn't more than a week. As for accessories goes, I've been quoted a weeks wait for various parts, and have been told that some parts aren't shipping yet...like the "performance silencer".
Now for my one real complaint. The "trunk" is very poorly engineered, its a pain to put back on after you take it off. You have to hook the left side first, twist, and then push down on the right side and the back at the same time while standing on one leg and making sure the bike is aligned with Mars.
Always thought that this type of bike was supposed to be a practical all-rounder. The original comparo had the Buell that seemed to be on the recall bench more than the road, the Ducati that needs a hefty bank-balance and a really good dealer nearby to service, and the Triumph with limited spares inventory and poor support.
No Thanks
I'll stick with my plastic Kawasaki. Getting another one so I get rid of my BMW, for all of the reasons above.
I prefer to ride rather than pose.
No Thanks
I'll stick with my plastic Kawasaki. Getting another one so I get rid of my BMW, for all of the reasons above.
I prefer to ride rather than pose.
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730 Posts
Triumph Speed Triple
I know this seems silly, but did anyone else notice how the pic of the bike doing a wheelie was rotated to be more level rather than more vertical?
I think this is the first time I have even seen a photo of a wheelie being downplayed. Just thought it was odd.
--Foxy
I know this seems silly, but did anyone else notice how the pic of the bike doing a wheelie was rotated to be more level rather than more vertical?
I think this is the first time I have even seen a photo of a wheelie being downplayed. Just thought it was odd.
--Foxy
Yeeesssss, you just gotta do it - surely you guys just luv ta hav fun!?
On a more serious note - how about getting a layperson to join part of your tests - someone who may have a previous model of the bike in question of doesnt ride all kinds of bike - to get a real world perspective. No offence to the MO guys (notice I've subscribed..) but I feel this would add great interest to the already excellent reviews...........
(Unfortunately I live in OZ so it wont be me)
On a more serious note - how about getting a layperson to join part of your tests - someone who may have a previous model of the bike in question of doesnt ride all kinds of bike - to get a real world perspective. No offence to the MO guys (notice I've subscribed..) but I feel this would add great interest to the already excellent reviews...........
(Unfortunately I live in OZ so it wont be me)
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85 Posts
There are some good Triumph dealers *and* some bad Kawasaki dealers, believe me. Since Kawi has a lot more dealers it's surely easier to find a good one, I agree. Funny thing though, one Triumph dealer I use has no problem at all getting any parts they need very promptly (been my experience as well as others) while some other dealers are the subject of horror stories about long waits to get routine parts they should keep in stock. Triumph has apparently handed out franchises to some shoe-string dealers who won't hire competent staff but that's just part of their growing pains. The caveat there is ask around about the dealership before buying. IF you think Triumphs are for posers, you obviously haven't spent much time riding them. They're worth it.
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6 Posts
Amen 
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17,458 Posts
I guess that's one thing about British bikes that will never change. I'm not sure if it's totally the fault of the factory because the British system of taxation is so psychotic. I've had a British car mechanic tell me that British factories don't keep any inventories of parts because of the atrocious tax rates. So they try to produce parts at exactly the rate they will be needed- an impossibilty, of course. This was several years ago, but I doubt that the socialist British have allowed any breaks to their industries since then.
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