Bike Question

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
10/26/2016 at 16:32 • Filed to: triumph motorbike

If I sell or am able to trade my 928 for decent bike, I plan on using that money to get a motorcycle to save fuel and have fun. I have had several bikes in the past my first being a 1970 Honda XL500S and then a 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400. Anyway a dream bike of my is a ‘05 and up Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (I know ‘08 and up got a brake upgrade). The problem with those it they are slightly out of my price range right off the bat of selling my car. Though the early 955i models are fairly cheap now and still not a bad bike. I don’t particularly care for them as much aesthetically, but mechanically I am not sure whether it is worth really holding out for the later 1050 model. What are you thoughts?

2001 Triumph Speed Triple 955i

2006 Triumph Speed Triple 1050

These are basically the two bike I am looking at and yes black is a requirement.

DISCUSSION (29)

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 16:44

I want a Honda Rebel

Kinja'd!!!

jminer > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 16:45

Have you ridden a modern sport bike before? A modern liter sport bike is a monster that will try to kill you compared to a 80's thumper and a 90's 400.

I’m not trying discouraging you, just want to warn you.

Where do you live? If it’s somewhere you can’t ride year round bike prices should plummet soon and you can pick up a deal.

Good luck with your two wheeled endeavors!

CaptDale - is secretly British > jminer
10/26/2016 at 16:53

I live on the Central Coast in California. So almost always able to ride.

And no, the most modern was a little neighbor hood ride on my friends 05 Ninja 250, which wasn’t anywhere near a bike I would want

bob and john > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 16:54

Yes, they are two totally different machines.

Why not look at a STREET triple? peak HP is very similar to speed triple. speed just had more torque.

Monkey B > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 16:54

Have you considered a Street Triple? I’ve ridden the Speed Triple and it’s not to be taken lightly...it’s got a twitchy throttle and begs to go fast constantly. It’s a bike I like a great deal but won’t own.

The Street Triple is still a good amount of power with similar looks and won’t be as eager to kill you.

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65
10/26/2016 at 16:55

Not my style, but I like it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Monkey B
10/26/2016 at 16:57

Eager to kill sounds like fun, but no there is something off about the Street Triple, though they are cheaper.... hmmmm

CaptDale - is secretly British > bob and john
10/26/2016 at 16:57

I mean I see the stats and how they are different, but anything in particular between the two that really shines?

There is something off about the Street Triple

Alex Zapata > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 16:58

Tiumph Street Triple?

You could always be vigilant to a bargain, 1000s tend to feature a lot of I-bought-the-wrong-bike-for-my-expertise fire sales here and there.

Locally to me 600s are almost the same price as 1000s used, and both are way cheaper than equivalent 700+ nakeds and dualsports.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Alex Zapata
10/26/2016 at 17:08

No, the Speed and Street are two different bikes. These are two different versions of the Speed Triple. The 2005 MY had major changed including engine size.

jminer > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 17:10

Yeah, that’s a perfect place for riding. I live in St Louis and most people ride from June to October and then put their bikes away.

Ive lusted after a newer triumph for a while as well. They are beautiful machines and are reasonably reliable.

A ninja 250 is a great bike to start on but easily outgrown and underpowered. That triple is a pretty serious departure from what you’ve ridden in the past, are you sure it’s what you want? There are a lot of bikes out there.

bob and john > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 17:13

Old bike feels much heavier then the newer one. they are both pretty porky bikes, but the newer one just hides it better.

Something off on the street? whhhhaaaaa???

CaptDale - is secretly British > bob and john
10/26/2016 at 17:20

Oh ok, I am sure the little changes help, but the power differences didn’t seem like enough to make the bike too different. I think I would prefer the 1050 to the 955i. I want something that I will like to hold onto for a while and I dislike the 955i just enough that I feel like I would want the 1050 shortly after acquiring a 955i.

Yeah, it just doesn’t do something for me the Speed does. I have watched a few videos on the two and read a few comparisons and I know the street should be just as good, but I just don’t want it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > jminer
10/26/2016 at 17:23

Yeah, I know it’s a leap in bike, but yes it is the bike I want. And if I feel like it is too much for me I can always hop back on the Honda (Dad owns it now) and better hone my skills and get back on the Triumph. I keep looking at other bikes, but it is like when I found my GTO. I just got hooked and since then no looking back.

bob and john > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 17:31

its not the power difference, its in the handling. newer one seemed more eager to drop in.

go test ride a 675. its considered one of THE best handling nakeds out there for a reason. only naked that out does it is a naked SV with GSX-R suspension :)

jminer > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 17:35

Well it’s a fantastic looking bike and I can understand the feeling so good luck with the hunt!

I’ve felt the sting of a single point of obsession before, enjoy the journey. It is fun and less distracting than looking for ‘a new bike’.

CaptDale - is secretly British > bob and john
10/26/2016 at 17:37

I guess I should give it a try, never really thought twice about the Street. I’ll give it a go next time I am somewhere that actually has bikes.

CaptDale - is secretly British > jminer
10/26/2016 at 17:52

Thank you

OKcarburetor > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 18:19

Avoid 05-06 Speed Triples if you go that way. 07 got a much better ecu and charging system. They are roughly the same price ussually too.

955 speed triple is fun and less intimidating.

CaptDale - is secretly British > OKcarburetor
10/26/2016 at 18:26

Hmm well if I was going newer I start at ‘08 cause of the better brakes, but I couldn’t find anything particularly wrong with those 05-06 other than the later upgrades making them nicer.

OKcarburetor > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 18:49

If you do some digging on the forums you’ll find a lot of complaints with those years and even some ecu failures. I suppose one that’s made it this long is just fine though.

For the record I’ve had an 07 and now have a 2013 R. I can’t imagine not having a Speed Triple in the garage. When I got the 2013 I rode all of the new super naked bikes, and I still came home with a Speed Triple.

The Street Triple is a hell of a bike too, but up here at mile high plus elevation, it feels a bit weak. Most of my riding takes me up to 10,000+ feet above sea level, and even the Speedy loses a lot of power up there. If I were at sea level, it wouldn’t be an issue.

You may want to take a look at the Aprilia Tuono(twin not the V4) I’ve seen them for very reasonable prices. They are fantastic bikes as well.

CaptDale - is secretly British > OKcarburetor
10/26/2016 at 18:56

You know I expanded my search criteria and found these

Kinja'd!!!

So you were right, the prices for a newer one aren’t too much more than a 05-06. Looks like ‘09 might be the right year. I live almost a sea level 100% of the time.

So you like the Speed Triple? Have you compared it to the Street Triple? Guys keep suggesting it, but I’m just not fond of it (before trying one yet).

Alex Zapata > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/26/2016 at 19:02

No I mean, have you considered the Street as an alternative to the Speed? They tend to be a ton less expensive, whilst being introduced a lot later, so I don’t know if it’s an option, while I was looking this time the Street was an option, and it went pretty far down the price range for the (IMO) better looking and older round-headlamp bikes.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Alex Zapata
10/26/2016 at 19:10

I prefer the older round headlamps too, other wise it isn’t a Triumph. I mean come one guys. The ‘11 and up MY have the weird triangular ones right? Makes the bike look like any Japanese product.

I think I will go test a Street just for kicks, but I doubt I will want it due to the Speed.

Alex Zapata > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/27/2016 at 00:10

I would genuinely give it a shot, I don’t know how many/what bikes you’ve had since the ones you mention in the post, but I think the 675 packs more than enough punch.

OKcarburetor > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/27/2016 at 11:33

The Street is a killer bike. It may be one of the best handling road bikes out there. The seating position is lower which is nice, and the bike just feels small. The engine is fantastic and feels like a smaller displacement version of the 1050 engine as you might expect.

However, the Speedy handles as well as makes no difference on the street, and the engine is, IMO, one of the best street bike engines ever made. The torque right off idle is flat out addicting, and only the anonymous internet commenters a actually need more top end power. If carrying a passenger is a factor the Speedy wins there as well.

If you can swing a 2011 model, I would recommend it. The ergos are a little better, especially the seat, and the handling is a little more dialed.(it does give away a little tendency to wheelie though)

CaptDale - is secretly British > OKcarburetor
10/27/2016 at 14:29

I do plan on having a passenger quite often. So nice to know they handle that well. Is the ‘11 up so much better than a ‘09?

OKcarburetor > CaptDale - is secretly British
10/27/2016 at 17:39

It’s not a massive difference, but the handling and ergos would make the decision for me. The 11+ seat is a lot more comfy... and awesome for drag racing haha.

I do love the black forks and wheel design on the 09. Either way I don’t think you’d regret your decision.

CaptDale - is secretly British > OKcarburetor
10/27/2016 at 17:44

Ah ok. I wonder if the ‘11 seat would fit on the ‘09.... I personally prefer the ‘11 wheels, but I don’t like the non Triumph and non round lights.

I don’t plan on drag racing the bike