Does power corrupt? S1000R to Street Triple
Discussion
I've had my 2017 S1000R for just over 2 years now and have just clicked over 13k miles on it. And (almost) every one of those miles has been amazing.
I have a habit of changing my bikes every couple of years, usually because I get bored of them in that time. However the S1000 is the only bike I haven't gotten bored of and there isn't really anything else comparable 1000cc or thereabouts that I fancy at the moment.
Thing is i have always had a hankering for the Street Triple and i find myself looking at them and fancying trying one out. I know the Speed Triple is another option, but unless i can get test rides of both it's the Street I'm fancying right now.
Before I plow on with my questions I will try to answer a few things that will likely come up in any following replies.
I'm 6'-2" and kicking around the 15 stone area.
Comfort isn't a major factor as I'm used to naked bikes and the lack of protection that they offer.
Bike is used to commuting during the summer which is 70 miles each way along B roads mainly (specifically the B1257)
Headline top speeds aren't a priority, but sustained 120mph + when in Germany is definitely a factor.
Handling is a priority but I think this is covered in the Street Triple at least.
Track ability should be considered too.
Few questions for those who have either owned both bikes or made similar swaps.
Is going from a lunatic 1000cc supernaked to a middleweight naked that much of a chore? I assume the weight loss of the Triumph will cover some of that power deficit?
Being a big lad will it be a bit like a monkey riding a peanut if I were to go for the Street Triple?
Have you ever regretted getting a smaller capacity bike?
Benefits / Drawbacks between the S1000R Street Triple and Speed Triple.
Cheers in advance
I have a habit of changing my bikes every couple of years, usually because I get bored of them in that time. However the S1000 is the only bike I haven't gotten bored of and there isn't really anything else comparable 1000cc or thereabouts that I fancy at the moment.
Thing is i have always had a hankering for the Street Triple and i find myself looking at them and fancying trying one out. I know the Speed Triple is another option, but unless i can get test rides of both it's the Street I'm fancying right now.
Before I plow on with my questions I will try to answer a few things that will likely come up in any following replies.
I'm 6'-2" and kicking around the 15 stone area.
Comfort isn't a major factor as I'm used to naked bikes and the lack of protection that they offer.
Bike is used to commuting during the summer which is 70 miles each way along B roads mainly (specifically the B1257)
Headline top speeds aren't a priority, but sustained 120mph + when in Germany is definitely a factor.
Handling is a priority but I think this is covered in the Street Triple at least.
Track ability should be considered too.
Few questions for those who have either owned both bikes or made similar swaps.
Is going from a lunatic 1000cc supernaked to a middleweight naked that much of a chore? I assume the weight loss of the Triumph will cover some of that power deficit?
Being a big lad will it be a bit like a monkey riding a peanut if I were to go for the Street Triple?
Have you ever regretted getting a smaller capacity bike?
Benefits / Drawbacks between the S1000R Street Triple and Speed Triple.
Cheers in advance
You won't be sustaining anything over 90mph on a naked, they are useless for high speed touring unless you have a neck like a bull.
You'll probably find it a bit slow at first but they are great bikes, I went from R1 to 675 STR and didn't have any issues with it's (perceived) lack of speed, they are still quick enough, it fulfils the brief on every other count, make sure you go for the 'R' as the brakes are amazing, I'm 5'11" and 14 stone and didn't feel silly on mine, you'll need a better seat though as they are like a plank.
Why not keep the BMW and buy a cheap STR, they can be had for around £2.5k now.
You'll probably find it a bit slow at first but they are great bikes, I went from R1 to 675 STR and didn't have any issues with it's (perceived) lack of speed, they are still quick enough, it fulfils the brief on every other count, make sure you go for the 'R' as the brakes are amazing, I'm 5'11" and 14 stone and didn't feel silly on mine, you'll need a better seat though as they are like a plank.
Why not keep the BMW and buy a cheap STR, they can be had for around £2.5k now.
Edited by Jazoli on Wednesday 10th April 15:08
Jazoli said:
You won't be sustaining anything over 90mph on a naked, they are useless for high speed touring unless you have a neck like a bull.
You'll probably find it a bit slow at first but they are great bikes.
For hour upon hour maybe not. But I dont intend on using the bike for high speed touring.You'll probably find it a bit slow at first but they are great bikes.
I have sat there for 30 to 40 minute stints at that speed before without any issue, there is a bit of a sweet spot for getting your body in to that puts nice pressure on the chest to take weight off the arms and air flows over the helmet pretty cleanly too.
Very little of my riding is down in town at slow speeds so I have built up fairly decent neck muscles because of that.
If I were you I would wait for next year, BMW surely will bring an update to S1000R based on the new RR.
In the nakeds the three bikes you mentioned are the only ones I personally like.
It is all so extremely subjective though.
I am 6.1 and 15 stone.
I rode STRS and SPeedTRS back to back and I would choose Speed.
I rode all versions of S1000R, it is a great bike, the first impression for me personally always was that S1000R is more of a tool (albeit very effective one) and steered a bit slow. Somehow SPeedTRS provided more sense of occasion for me.
I was looking into buying SPeedTRS, but have hard time separating from any of my sportbikes, so now I decided to wait till next year and see what BMW brings out and then decide.
In the nakeds the three bikes you mentioned are the only ones I personally like.
It is all so extremely subjective though.
I am 6.1 and 15 stone.
I rode STRS and SPeedTRS back to back and I would choose Speed.
I rode all versions of S1000R, it is a great bike, the first impression for me personally always was that S1000R is more of a tool (albeit very effective one) and steered a bit slow. Somehow SPeedTRS provided more sense of occasion for me.
I was looking into buying SPeedTRS, but have hard time separating from any of my sportbikes, so now I decided to wait till next year and see what BMW brings out and then decide.
CousinDupree said:
Hmm, they are quite small. The only way to know is to take a test ride.
The later 675 models didn't feel as lively as the earlier ones, partly due to the longer first gear. I've not ridden one of the 765 models. That might be more suitable.
Agreed, Engine/gearing on the mk1 street was spot on.. just its a tiny bike and I found it cramped and uncomfortable after riding it just an hour. Newer 675R wasn't as lively.. and the suspension was just horrible and too firm again still a little cramped for me.The later 675 models didn't feel as lively as the earlier ones, partly due to the longer first gear. I've not ridden one of the 765 models. That might be more suitable.
Speeds I've always preferred (test rode 2009) and they have more space and the torque wins it for me - so ultimately I got a 2011 instead.
This was me stepping down from just a blackbird too, once the worlds fastest production bike lol let alone a S1000R with even more power
I needed the lack of fairing to slow me down.. it works too, bike is still way way fast enough for public roads.
Test ride street and speed OP and then you'll know yourself!
I did this bit of research /fact finding last year, not including the Street Triple but I had factored in the MT10 and very nearly bought an MT but I decided against them both over the BM.
IMHO the Speed is the best looking , best sounding and finished of the super nakeds but against the others,It had a slight top heavy feel and compared to the BM and MT , a sensation when cornering at low/medium speeds that the back takes a fraction or two to follow the front on line, im sure its something you would get used to.
I did not like the keyless ignition either, still had to carry a key for the petrol cap anyway..
It has enough wallop in the motor but it offers less urge bottom end than the MT , nor the vivid top end of the BMW.
No quick shifter (or anything at all) on the base model either.(£375 plus fitting costs extra).
The RS version has similar kit to the S1000R Sport but at the time I was buying list was £13,500..
Even the base model worked out a similar price just by adding a quick shifter (£375 plus fitting costs extra).
My BMW had everything on it and was £11,500 and the PCP deal was 5.5%.
The Triumph RS was £2000 dearer and they wouldnt budge on the PCP APR of 9.9%.
....even an older , pre registered 2017 Speed was dearer than a new BMW....Couldnt get my head around that.
So, IMHO, the Speed is better looking than the BMW but not as quite as easy to just start throwing around and abusing
Doesnt have the urge of the motor either but sounds better doing what it does.,,,and I couldnt justify the price despite wanting to buy British.
I didnt test ride a Street but they are getting rave reviews and as they are not built in the UK but Thailand , the pricing is much more competitive, go test ride one and see what you think, id be interested to know.
IMHO the Speed is the best looking , best sounding and finished of the super nakeds but against the others,It had a slight top heavy feel and compared to the BM and MT , a sensation when cornering at low/medium speeds that the back takes a fraction or two to follow the front on line, im sure its something you would get used to.
I did not like the keyless ignition either, still had to carry a key for the petrol cap anyway..
It has enough wallop in the motor but it offers less urge bottom end than the MT , nor the vivid top end of the BMW.
No quick shifter (or anything at all) on the base model either.(£375 plus fitting costs extra).
The RS version has similar kit to the S1000R Sport but at the time I was buying list was £13,500..
Even the base model worked out a similar price just by adding a quick shifter (£375 plus fitting costs extra).
My BMW had everything on it and was £11,500 and the PCP deal was 5.5%.
The Triumph RS was £2000 dearer and they wouldnt budge on the PCP APR of 9.9%.
....even an older , pre registered 2017 Speed was dearer than a new BMW....Couldnt get my head around that.
So, IMHO, the Speed is better looking than the BMW but not as quite as easy to just start throwing around and abusing
Doesnt have the urge of the motor either but sounds better doing what it does.,,,and I couldnt justify the price despite wanting to buy British.
I didnt test ride a Street but they are getting rave reviews and as they are not built in the UK but Thailand , the pricing is much more competitive, go test ride one and see what you think, id be interested to know.
Jazoli said:
You'll probably find it a bit slow at first
You really, really won’t, especially the 765RS. Having ridden both, the S1000R has a fair bit more ‘shove’ at the bottom end, but wind that 765 up and it’s absolutely ballistic. Fair bit lighter than the S1000R. 675RX owner here. 5’9 and it’s about the perfect size really, not sure it would be as comfortable for anyone 6ft and above. The bike as a whole is really comfortable, and no issues doing sustained motorway on it. Riding position is a fair bit more wrist heavy than the S1000R. Quite happy doing 150/250 mile days on it.
The handling on mine is excellent, and on the 765 better still. You’d have to work the engine and gears a bit more than the S1000R but that’s half the fun, and the quickshifter is without a doubt the best I’ve used.
All it is really is a stupidly fun, nimble, light machine with excellent braking and handling, that (if you fit on it) will let you do basically everything from track days to touring and commuting.
You’ll have to ride one though. For what’s it’s worth the Speed is also an incredible machine.
I hadn't considered the MT-10 when I was thinking of the competition beforehand, but I really should have it's the natural competitor to S1000R, perhaps moreso than the Speed Triple. Even the new Speed Triple RS is down on power compared to the S1000R and the MT-10, although really, the Speed isn't slow by any stretch.
I really like the look of the MT-10 Touring, which is just a marvellous idea. However, I wonder if would be a bit quick for my tastes. When I watched the BVG video of him out on the S1000R, it did seem ludicrously fast even at 160bhp. I once followed a bloke on an S1000R whilst I was on my T595 Daytona and even with an estimated 45bhp or so over my bike, it really did go flying off down the straights. I absolutely love them, and can see a super naked as my next bike.
I really like the look of the MT-10 Touring, which is just a marvellous idea. However, I wonder if would be a bit quick for my tastes. When I watched the BVG video of him out on the S1000R, it did seem ludicrously fast even at 160bhp. I once followed a bloke on an S1000R whilst I was on my T595 Daytona and even with an estimated 45bhp or so over my bike, it really did go flying off down the straights. I absolutely love them, and can see a super naked as my next bike.
Cheers for the replies. Some cracking info in there.
I'm booked in for a test ride next Tuesday so I'll see how it goes after that. Hopefully Triumph are as accommodating as BMW are with their test rides? Before I bought the S1000R I was given a set of keys first thing in the morning and told to come back in time for them closing.
Interesting points raised by Podman are the deals not offered by Triumph, while reading that it reminded me of your posts at the time, I'd forgotten about that.
I've looked at MT10's previously and as good as I am sure they are they dont really do it for me.
Getting back to the S1000R, that motor is something else, even though it 'only' has 160bhp it's an absolute missile and sounds a lot better now I have the Akra GP can on it. But going fast on it is easy, you dont really have to work for the speed, it just comes with the slightest twist of the throttle in any gear at almost any revs. So while I probably will miss that power I'm hoping it will be offset by a more rewarding riding experience?
If any S1000R owners are free and in Newcastle on Tuesday and fancy a ride out over Hartside or somewhere feel free to come along , it will be interesting to see how the Triumph compares against it and if chasing down a bigger bike will be frustrating or not?
Ohhh and I'm also going to try and get out on Tuono as well while I'm off. That will either clarify or cloud my decision on which bike, if any I do change to.
Why cant I be richer and have a bigger garage so I can have ALL the bikes??
I'm booked in for a test ride next Tuesday so I'll see how it goes after that. Hopefully Triumph are as accommodating as BMW are with their test rides? Before I bought the S1000R I was given a set of keys first thing in the morning and told to come back in time for them closing.
Interesting points raised by Podman are the deals not offered by Triumph, while reading that it reminded me of your posts at the time, I'd forgotten about that.
I've looked at MT10's previously and as good as I am sure they are they dont really do it for me.
Getting back to the S1000R, that motor is something else, even though it 'only' has 160bhp it's an absolute missile and sounds a lot better now I have the Akra GP can on it. But going fast on it is easy, you dont really have to work for the speed, it just comes with the slightest twist of the throttle in any gear at almost any revs. So while I probably will miss that power I'm hoping it will be offset by a more rewarding riding experience?
If any S1000R owners are free and in Newcastle on Tuesday and fancy a ride out over Hartside or somewhere feel free to come along , it will be interesting to see how the Triumph compares against it and if chasing down a bigger bike will be frustrating or not?
Ohhh and I'm also going to try and get out on Tuono as well while I'm off. That will either clarify or cloud my decision on which bike, if any I do change to.
Why cant I be richer and have a bigger garage so I can have ALL the bikes??
I went from an R1 to a speed Triple and it was great fun.
The lack of power was mad up for by the more basic suspension, it made the rides much more loony at slower speeds than the R1.
I don't think I could have managed on a Street triple though (6'3" and 15 stone) and the drop in power I think would have been too much
The lack of power was mad up for by the more basic suspension, it made the rides much more loony at slower speeds than the R1.
I don't think I could have managed on a Street triple though (6'3" and 15 stone) and the drop in power I think would have been too much
Tim1989 said:
You really, really won’t, especially the 765RS. Having ridden both, the S1000R has a fair bit more ‘shove’ at the bottom end, but wind that 765 up and it’s absolutely ballistic. Fair bit lighter than the S1000R.
The handling on mine is excellent, and on the 765 better still. You’d have to work the engine and gears a bit more than the S1000R but that’s half the fun, and the quickshifter is without a doubt the best I’ve used.
I traded a k4 Gsxr 750 for a 765rs. Kept it for 800 miles and a few months as I just didn’t feel like riding it.The handling on mine is excellent, and on the 765 better still. You’d have to work the engine and gears a bit more than the S1000R but that’s half the fun, and the quickshifter is without a doubt the best I’ve used.
I’m increasingly thinking I got a duff one because I was distinctly underwhelmed by the power delivery. There was a feeling of the ecu closing the butterflies at around 10k which made it feel artificially flat. I rarely pinned the throttle and held it for very long on the Gsxr it felt so fast at the top end. The first time I rode the 765 I ran into the limiter and thought “is that it?”
I also had a £200 healtech QS on the Gsxr which felt miles better than the triumph factory effort.
The general engineering and packaging of the triumph was also a big disappointment for me coming off a 14 year old Suzuki - which was much better all round.
The tft dash on the 765 also got old quickly, it simply wasn’t nice to look at.
All I can offer is that the later 675 can be tweaked and made more than lively with some simple mods so I wouldn't get hung up on the new/old debate. I'm just under 6ft but about 3 stone lighter, I have ridden other bikes like the tracer 900 but what I love about the street is how quick to turn and light it is, genuinely laugh out loud fun and you can revs the pants off it without immediate arrest. The sound is naturally outstanding when it's cranked up. Definitely try one of you fancy something different.
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