Street triple test ride - what to look for
Discussion
Hello all,
I'm thinking of chopping in my NC700X for something different. I'm going to test ride a Street Triple next week I think. What should I look out for? It's a 2008 bike.
My thinking is I'd like something with more power than the NC's mighty 51 thunderous ponies, but not something that won't be fun at low speeds. Sportsbikes aren't really my bag. Doing 90mph in first holds no appeal to me, I'd rather do 90mph in top on a less powerful bike having worked it hard through the gears. I like the idea of an upright riding position and the light weight too. Plus, it's a Triumph!
I was also thinking about the 900 Thunderbird sport, so you still have the triple engine but the classic styling. Or even a Bonnevile. Though my worry is that I want to get a classic Bonnie in the next couple of years and I'm scared it'll just feel like a crap unreliable version of a bike I already have rather than a special classic bike. So thought I'd go all modern with the STR.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Dan
I'm thinking of chopping in my NC700X for something different. I'm going to test ride a Street Triple next week I think. What should I look out for? It's a 2008 bike.
My thinking is I'd like something with more power than the NC's mighty 51 thunderous ponies, but not something that won't be fun at low speeds. Sportsbikes aren't really my bag. Doing 90mph in first holds no appeal to me, I'd rather do 90mph in top on a less powerful bike having worked it hard through the gears. I like the idea of an upright riding position and the light weight too. Plus, it's a Triumph!
I was also thinking about the 900 Thunderbird sport, so you still have the triple engine but the classic styling. Or even a Bonnevile. Though my worry is that I want to get a classic Bonnie in the next couple of years and I'm scared it'll just feel like a crap unreliable version of a bike I already have rather than a special classic bike. So thought I'd go all modern with the STR.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Dan
cmaguire said:
Unless you have good reason then don't get the base model, get the R. That way you get sportsbike quality suspension and brakes.
Either way these bikes seem to get more than their fair share of people falling off them or nicking them, so just make sure it's straight and legit.
Am I right in thinking the R has lower bars and higher seat? I'm only 5'4" so every inch counts! Either way these bikes seem to get more than their fair share of people falling off them or nicking them, so just make sure it's straight and legit.
neelyp said:
You'll hate the fuel consumption, around 120 miles to a tank, but they're a good bike, I've had mine nearly five years and can't see me ever getting rid of it.
I can see that being a pain in the arse, I'm used to 80mpg and 220 miles to a tank! But I'm sure I'll survive. Work is 31 miles away so that should see 2 complete commutes.To be honest I think from some research and the responses here I'd be better off with the base bike. Plus hopefully I might be able to get a better condition one for my budget. What I basically want is a lighter more powerful version of my comfy upright NC700X, as opposed to coming from a GXR1000 and wanting a nakeder less powerful version of that (if that makes sense). So I won't miss what I never had, suspension and brake wise.
Thanks for the heads up on the forum. And I'm 69kg, so not a tiny wee slip of a girl, but not a massive chunker either.
Thanks for the heads up on the forum. And I'm 69kg, so not a tiny wee slip of a girl, but not a massive chunker either.
neelyp said:
You'll hate the fuel consumption, around 120 miles to a tank, but they're a good bike, I've had mine nearly five years and can't see me ever getting rid of it.
I can see that being a pain in the arse, I'm used to 80mpg and 220 miles to a tank! But I'm sure I'll survive. Work is 31 miles away so that should see 2 complete commutes.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!
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