Street triple test ride - what to look for
Discussion
As an update (from my post on the Street Triple forum):
I went to look at that one at the [My local bike shop].
First impressions after a test ride are that I NEED a Street Triple in my life! Despite taking it really gingerly on the test ride I could tell what a good bike they are. Was very careful seeing as it was the first bike I've ridden since my accident, in the wet, on an unfamiliar bike with twice the power. And I have to pay if I break it! Though I did get to give the acceleration a go and ride some good roads I know, even if I wasn't hanging off it.
So did I buy it? No.
Not a criticism of the [my local bike shop], the bike was fair for the price, and they offered to put 12months MOT and check the valve clearances.
Some things that put me off:
Renthal bars, shorty levers and rubbish bar-end mirrors. Nothing intrinsically wrong with them, but I dunno, I felt a bit like if I'd gone to see a car and found a Max power gear knob. How has the bike been treated? Could be 100% unreasonable paranoia on my part of course!
Rear tyre pretty worn as some noticed, but that's not a deal breaker.
I see the difference people were saying about the clocks. I REALLY didn't like the fact that on the old 3-button dash I have to actually tilt my head down to see the speedo as it's obscured by the chin bar on the helmet. I notice it's higher and bigger on the new dash. Also the buttons were pretty difficult to get at, especially with the Renthal crossbrace in the way.
Also might not get as much as I wanted for my bike in part-ex. Cost to change was looking at being £1100-£1200. Which was a little too high, even before I'd seen the off-putting things. For an extra £200 I probably could have sold mine to WBAB and bought a private 2010 one that was also local.
Good things:
The engine. Not that I have to tell you people. I'm used to a 50bhp plodder. It just revs so well and fires you at the horizon!
Even on the stock exhausts it sounded really good. Though what the heck is with the high pitched whistling from the front at town speeds - I didn't like that.
Comfy - I was riding pretty tensed up because of the weather and fear of breaking the bike, but the riding position was spot on. I've not ridden an "R", but I have the feeling the non R suits me better.
Almost too tall. It's just about bang on what my maximum is. I can get the ball of one foot on the ground but that's about it.
Importantly - Good to ride round town and at normal speeds. Being based on a sports bike, I was worried that it'd be useless/boring at anything under 8/10ths. That was my biggest worry and I'm glad I was proved wrong.
The search continues, but I think I'm going to try and sell my bike first and have the cash to work with. WBAB offer was a little too low, even for the convenience of having the money NOW but I'm in no rush. Going to look round more places as well when the time comes as my Dad's volunteered his trailer. There's one in Newcastle just out of budget but it's a forum members and very nice.
Thanks for all the advice everyone, I really appreciate it!
I went to look at that one at the [My local bike shop].
First impressions after a test ride are that I NEED a Street Triple in my life! Despite taking it really gingerly on the test ride I could tell what a good bike they are. Was very careful seeing as it was the first bike I've ridden since my accident, in the wet, on an unfamiliar bike with twice the power. And I have to pay if I break it! Though I did get to give the acceleration a go and ride some good roads I know, even if I wasn't hanging off it.
So did I buy it? No.
Not a criticism of the [my local bike shop], the bike was fair for the price, and they offered to put 12months MOT and check the valve clearances.
Some things that put me off:
Renthal bars, shorty levers and rubbish bar-end mirrors. Nothing intrinsically wrong with them, but I dunno, I felt a bit like if I'd gone to see a car and found a Max power gear knob. How has the bike been treated? Could be 100% unreasonable paranoia on my part of course!
Rear tyre pretty worn as some noticed, but that's not a deal breaker.
I see the difference people were saying about the clocks. I REALLY didn't like the fact that on the old 3-button dash I have to actually tilt my head down to see the speedo as it's obscured by the chin bar on the helmet. I notice it's higher and bigger on the new dash. Also the buttons were pretty difficult to get at, especially with the Renthal crossbrace in the way.
Also might not get as much as I wanted for my bike in part-ex. Cost to change was looking at being £1100-£1200. Which was a little too high, even before I'd seen the off-putting things. For an extra £200 I probably could have sold mine to WBAB and bought a private 2010 one that was also local.
Good things:
The engine. Not that I have to tell you people. I'm used to a 50bhp plodder. It just revs so well and fires you at the horizon!
Even on the stock exhausts it sounded really good. Though what the heck is with the high pitched whistling from the front at town speeds - I didn't like that.
Comfy - I was riding pretty tensed up because of the weather and fear of breaking the bike, but the riding position was spot on. I've not ridden an "R", but I have the feeling the non R suits me better.
Almost too tall. It's just about bang on what my maximum is. I can get the ball of one foot on the ground but that's about it.
Importantly - Good to ride round town and at normal speeds. Being based on a sports bike, I was worried that it'd be useless/boring at anything under 8/10ths. That was my biggest worry and I'm glad I was proved wrong.
The search continues, but I think I'm going to try and sell my bike first and have the cash to work with. WBAB offer was a little too low, even for the convenience of having the money NOW but I'm in no rush. Going to look round more places as well when the time comes as my Dad's volunteered his trailer. There's one in Newcastle just out of budget but it's a forum members and very nice.
Thanks for all the advice everyone, I really appreciate it!
Avoid ones with the alarms. When the battery is below 12V,the ecu wont let the bike crank over at all.
The electrics are not the best and do give problems,especially if the bike lives outdoors,particularly charging systems,and sometimes the loom goes bad.
Front disks warp easily.
They have no factory immobiliser and thus are a magnet for thieves. Triumph want £300 for a lock set, but you can use a pattern aprillia RS 125 lock set for less than £50.
As with all triumphs,the tank filler drain gets blocked,letting rainwater get in the tank.
If you find the R stiff, you can adjust the suspension,thats the idea of fully adjustable suspension.
Chain adjusters can seize into the swingarm too,and yes even on garaged ones.
Is that usefull info?
The electrics are not the best and do give problems,especially if the bike lives outdoors,particularly charging systems,and sometimes the loom goes bad.
Front disks warp easily.
They have no factory immobiliser and thus are a magnet for thieves. Triumph want £300 for a lock set, but you can use a pattern aprillia RS 125 lock set for less than £50.
As with all triumphs,the tank filler drain gets blocked,letting rainwater get in the tank.
If you find the R stiff, you can adjust the suspension,thats the idea of fully adjustable suspension.
Chain adjusters can seize into the swingarm too,and yes even on garaged ones.
Is that usefull info?
Edited by fred bloggs on Sunday 17th January 18:21
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