Street Triple or MT07?

Street Triple or MT07?

Author
Discussion

SidG

Original Poster:

85 posts

74 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Hi everyone,

Would appreciate advice from owners or anyone with experience of Triples or MT07s.

Background - new rider, just passed Mod2 last week. 45 years old, 5ft 11, 15 stone and would like to use the bike for fun at evenings/weekends in fair weather to start with while I build up experience.

Budget - £5k max, looking at getting either a 1-2 year old MT07 or 4-5 year old Triple.

Read all the reviews and watched videos. Sat on both, and love both, can't decide. Will try to get test rides soon, but not sure if possible as I've just passed.

MT07 is a great bike, lot of fun, will be pretty new and affordable. Not many for sale near me and those that are base spec with very little extras fitted.

Many say the Triple is a much better bike in comparison. Have read conflicting opinions on getting an R (excellent brakes, hard suspension?) vs non-R version (not so good brakes, better suspension for bumpy roads?). For a new rider like me who won't be pushing it, do I need the upgraded brakes, adjustable suspension, does it justify the extra cost?

Is the 2013 update much better than pre 2013 (under seat exhausts) version?

In terms of quality, will older Triples hold up better than the newer Yamaha? I know the MT07 still being a great bike is built to a budget and some say they don't do well when older and exposed to the wet.

My head says get a newer MT07 with low mileage to start with, but my heart says get the older Triple with average mileage.

Tough choice as I don't have much experience, so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Cheers guys!

WarnieV6GT

1,135 posts

198 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I'd have the triple in a heart beat over the mt07. The mt07 engine has zero character compared to the triple and the components won't be of the same quality.

Also factor in depreciation as well as the triple would have done a lot more of it already

gland

109 posts

79 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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If there's very little difference you should get the older street. In a year you might want to move to another bike and you'll have lost less money through depreciation.

But if a few thousand here and there isn't an issue then ignore me. Good luck.

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I'd suggest Street also.

I've just got a 765 and love it. From what I understand its very comparable to the previous model.

Pravus1

235 posts

105 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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The triple is a different class of bike. Better engine, better suspension, better build.

Definitely the one to go for

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Get the Street Triple R and don't listen to anyone that says the suspension is too hard (you're 15 stone and it's adjustable).

You'll be bored of the MT07 after 6 months because it's gutless and the suspension is rubbish.

A well-ridden STR will put up a decent show against any other bike until the bigger bikes see a straight.

And you'll get more of your money back when you do change.
There are plenty about, so buy a decent one (no cat Cs or Ds) that already has the Arrow cans and the colour matched nose cone, radiator shrouds and bellypan.

No brainer

YouWhat

101 posts

76 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Both are great bikes, if you want reliability go for the MT07, Triumph's can be a bit more hit and miss when it comes to that. The MT engine is brilliant much more character than the triple, just look at the reviews they all mention how much fun it is. If you want a great triple engine with character then the MT09 is better than the Street.

And don't be fooled when it comes to performance any of them would get you from A to B in the UK in much the same time.

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
A parallel twin............character?

If you like tractors perhaps.
And the MT07 is pig ugly.

MotorsportTom

3,318 posts

160 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
The MT-07 doesn't (IMO) deserve the slight slating it's getting here.

It's a great bike, wheelies very well and has a decent bit of poke to it. That said it suits the entry level bike well as it's relatively cheap and you can tell it is built to a budget with the slightly crashy suspension etc.

The street I haven't ridden but I have ridden an 06 Daytona 675 and I was astounded that the engine is so usable all across the rev range! Great sound to it and without doubt the triple would be the bike I would go for, as others said it will hold it's value better and be the better bike for longer.

It might not be perfect for you for the first few months/year depending how much you ride it, but like an over-size blazer when first joining secondary school, it will leave you room to grow into I'm sure.

YouWhat

101 posts

76 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
cmaguire said:
A parallel twin............character?

If you like tractors perhaps.
And the MT07 is pig ugly.
How would you describe the Street then as its supposed to be a super sports bike with all the pretty plastic taken off!

DJP

1,198 posts

178 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I owned an MT07 for a couple of years and came to it after a long period of riding much faster inline 4s. I think that the engine is a peach - very economical and a proper wheelie monster. Also very capable of embarassing much larger bikes, with the right rider.

However, the suspension and overall build quality is crapola.

By all accounts, the Striple is a great bike although I could never get on with the riding position.

But if the Striple fits you then I'd go for that.

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
YouWhat said:
How would you describe the Street then as its supposed to be a super sports bike with all the pretty plastic taken off!
I assume you're referring to the looks rather than the engine character?

If so, then provided it has the bellypan, clock shroud and radiator shrouds then I think the STR is a decent looking bike with a whiff of old school looks about it. Arrow cans and tail tidy finish it nicely. And it'll do 140mph.

The new transformers style bikes I find absolutely hideous.

But looks aside you still can't get past the engine. The 675 lump is a cracker, the 900 CP3 is too.
The MT07 parallel twin is a piece of crap.
And the bike is hideous.

Jazoli

9,086 posts

249 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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cmaguire said:
The MT07 parallel twin is a piece of crap.
And the bike is hideous.
Its not crap, its just that you don't like it, they are great fun to ride (I've only had a quick 20 mile squirt on one) I was amazed how much it wanted to wheelie, great little bike, although I thought my Street Triple R was better (but too hard)

jonindorset

1,039 posts

243 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
DJP said:
I owned an MT07 for a couple of years and came to it after a long period of riding much faster inline 4s. I think that the engine is a peach - very economical and a proper wheelie monster. Also very capable of embarassing much larger bikes, with the right rider.

However, the suspension and overall build quality is crapola.

By all accounts, the Striple is a great bike although I could never get on with the riding position.

But if the Striple fits you then I'd go for that.
I tend to agree with this. I'm riding my MT07 all year round, just coating it liberally with rust inhibitor and have zero rust or furring. The engine is an absolute peach, feels much torqier than the Triumph (I also came from a more powerful IL4). The riding position of the Street Triple wasn't for me as a 40+ year old (still feels too much like a sports bike) and may not be for you either. I also think that the MT07 will be a cheaper ownership proposition with values holding well, lower fuel consumption and much cheaper servicing costs.

The only way to decide this is to ride both and very quickly you'll know which is for you!

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
I just don't care about wheelies. Seems to be all about showing off to me.
Maybe that's the problem, although the Street Triple is apparently very good at them.

Jazoli

9,086 posts

249 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
cmaguire said:
I just don't care about wheelies. Seems to be all about showing off to me.
Still doesn't qualify your comment about them being crap though? done many miles on one?

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Dont take this the wrong way but either will be far better than your ability as a rider.

This isn't a criticism of you, what I'm saying is you really won't be pushing the capabilities of either bike, or at least you shouldn't be, and I doubt you'll notice the effect of any upgrades. Take your time and learn gradually so you make your next birthday.

And have fun whichever you biy

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
quotequote all
Jazoli said:
Still doesn't qualify your comment about them being crap though? done many miles on one?
50-odd.
But 1500 on a '12 ER6N. Apart from the extra 25Kg (making it even more st) you'd have trouble telling the difference.
I.E. They are both crap.

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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To further validate my point, I rode that ER6N to Webbs in Peterborough and took their demo MT07 out. Returned feeling somewhat underwhelmed to park up next to their '13 STR demo. At that point I'd never ridden a STR (or base model). I'd read plenty of reviews saying how great it was but it had passed me by up till then. Brief chat with the salesman and off I went on that.

Revelation. It really is that good.

The STR and MT07 don't belong in the same sentence, whatever MCN say about it.


DuncsGTi

1,152 posts

178 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Not very fair on the Yamaha here

I've not ridden the Stripple so I can't really offer a fair opinion on that but I've had a few shots of a friends mt07 and thought it was great fun. Nice and flickable with a decent wedge of grunt out of the corners.

Imo Yamaha have got the winning formula with the mt range. The 07 is fun without being overbearing, not ridden the 09 but they sound lovely, and my 10 is ballistic (4k miles on it since August and I still grin like a crazed lunatic every time I start it)