Anyone own a Street Triple?

[garth]

Hi

I'm trying to figure out what bike I'd like. I currently own a 2002 GSXR600, which I like a lot - when I'm in the mood. However, it's crap on fuel, it's uncomfortable and it doesn't do slow. I definitely don't want to go touring on it again like I did last year.

I'm after a bike that I can use for commuting, a few weeks away in the summer, the odd trackday etc.

Budget circa £4k.

Other options I've considered have been a gen2 Versys (had a mk1 before - good bikes, good at road speeds) F800GS (can scrap the idea of doing a trackday on that, pricey) and Brutales (They're pretty.)

I don't want clip ons.

So, anyone own one - if so, anything to look out for?

Are they happy bimbling along at road legal speeds?

Thanks.

[MarJay]

I got one, it's awesome. You're welcome to have a go whenever you want. It currently has no MOT but I plan to rectify that in a few days. You can either come up to my place in Farnborough/Aldershot and have a go or I can cruise down to yours sometime.

Mine is an R model. It's not slow. It can do bimbling, but the bottom end is a tad on the woolly side so a remap would go a long way to improving it. It does, however have a completely nuts top end and a huge chunk of midrange. It's probably quicker than I'd really want on the road to be honest... I certainly can't see me wanting much more any time soon. it handles as well as any bike I've ever ridden including the two Buells I've owned and the gearing was specified by a genius. The way you can be doing 20mph one moment then a moment later be doing 90mph in third is amazing. In first it wheelies without even trying, I accidentally wheelied mine at the weekend.

The build quality is not up to mid nineties Honda standards, but it does OK for what I use it for. It's reliable, comfortable and quick. I think mine also looks good, although I'm not really sold on the Matte metallic grey. The paint scratches if you even breathe on it.

The brakes are excellent (being the four pot radials from the Daytona) and you can stoppie without even really trying too.

Overall I'm very pleased with mine. The only thing it really lacks is a little bit of the character of something like a Buell, but that's personal preference and if I'm honest the Street is a much more capable bike than either of the Buells I've owned.

It'll do trackdays without breaking a sweat, and in fact you're probably better off on one of these than a lot of legit sports 600s. I did an airfield day on mine and haven't had as much confidence at a trackday for years.

With commuting the only downside is the very wide bars. I happen to like it but others who have ridden it say that they are too wide for filtering.

I love mine. It has taken a long time for me to properly bond with it, but at the moment I think it's a keeper.

Mine blew the Reg Rec which took out the stator, but Triumph replaced it all FOC as it was under recall.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MarJay]

Mine's an early 2008 Street Triple R by the way, with the round headlights. The most recent models have a much taller first gear which isn't as much fun apparently. They are supposed to be 7kg lighter than the older model, but I have the Arrow full system which is supposed to be 7kg lighter than the standard exhaust... go figure!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[garth]

Might take you up on that offer.

I'm looking at the early models, and I like the low exhausts.

Don't know if it's worth going for an R over the standard one?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

That's 2004 R1 money.
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[garth]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Polarbear]

I had one. 2011 R model and loved it. The only reason I never kept it was it was crap at touring becuase you just couldn't strap anything to it. I ended up getting Venturer luggage but while it's good quality wise, it's not the same a s hard luggage.

Other than that, the only thing I remember was thinking the paint seemed a bit soft and easy to scratch when using bungies.

As MarJay said, they handle wonderfully and the motor is a peach but the fuel consumption isn't wonderful for commuting.

I didn't find the fueling 'woolley' at low revs, it was fine. A product of the remap for the Arrow system MarJay?

In hindsight I should have kept that and one of the 2 bikes I have now. Then I would have had a bike that is fun with a capital F, rather than two very similart touring bikes.

When I was looking at buying the street I rode a speed triple at the same time and have to say the Street is by far a superior machine, and this is from someone who is a big engine supporter.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MarJay]

[Polarbear]

For what it's worth, bike magazine doesn't rate the mods for the R version worth the extra 700 quid.

I rode mine out of the showroom and thought I was riding a hard tail. It handle fine but wasn't very comfy. I got it set up by a suspension firm when I was at a track day at Rockingham and that transformed it.

I gather you don't have that problem with the standard, it comes with a much softer set up.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MarJay]

[MarJay]

[garth]

[MarJay]

[Old Git Racing]

I'm probably the only person in the world who thinks this but here goes.
Bought a new STR in 2012. Kept it less than a year, did about 5K on it.
Never gelled with it, couldn't get it to handle to how I like it. The suspension was crap to say it was an R model with the adjusters working for about 3 clicks at either end so it was rock hard or like a pogo stick. The brakes were only OK imho but coupled with the front sussies gave a worrying lack of feel.
I dropped the front 10mm to get it to hold a line then everything dragged on the road. I aren't some novice when it comes to bike set up either.
The engine ran out of puff at the top end, why oh why didn't they put the Daytona engine and suspension in it?
Finish wise the bike wasn't even up to Suzuki standards. Indicator stalks breaking for no good reason (except they were cheap generic crap), seat rubbing paint away on the tank, headlights misting up and cracking. I nearly took my thumb end off cleaning under the exhaust heat shields that were finished like a razor blade.
There were plenty of suspension threads on the STR forum, many recommending changing the shock, what! on a new bike?
Comfort wise it had the gel seat but my arse was numb after an hour.
The tool kit consisted of 1 5mm Allen key.
Maybe it's just horses for courses, it was replaced with a 999 Ducati which for me does everything 10 times better.
All in all I thought it was mediocre at best. I know I am in a minority, but there you are, you asked.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Pigeon]

I've got very limited experience with types of bikes (7 years on 125's, 3 days on a CBF600 and 6mths on the Striple).

For what it's worth, agree with everything MarJay said really.

Was looking for an all-rounder, something that was light weight, was fun, but could happily do 6-9 hours in the seat.
Tested a CBR600 and then a STR. Won't forget that test, had me squealing like a child and grinning like an idiot where the CBR had not.
I could not imagine not owning one, it was such an easy decision (0% helped).

The suspension on the R was too hard for me and I didn't like the red paint. The brakes on the standard seemed to have loads of initial bite so went with the standard bike as trackdays were not on my radar.

It's so light and narrow (but with wide bars), that I can still enjoy the local B-Roads, but the riding position is quite comfortable so 4 hours without a stop is fine too.

0-60 in <3.5 seconds, 74mph in 1st, 55mpg, sounds great, is very nimble. Bendy + fast A-Roads are just silly fun.
I'm 16st of muscle (somewhere) and stuck 2 clicks of rear pre-load.

Top speed "only" 135mph, scratched the tank paint very easily now use two coats of detailing + wax. Apparently the new bike has a "better" turning circle, it's still seems a bit wider than ideal.
Fuel tank is supposed to be 17.4 ltrs (around 210 miles), but one test shows it appears to be only circa 13. 130 miles to reserve, then 20 left(ish).

[MarJay]

[Old Git Racing]

No it was the R. The Daytona has 2 speed damping adjustment and the adjusters work. The R has a lower level suspension set.
Like I say everybody can't be wrong, just didn't suit me.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[andys675]

I'm on my second

nuff said
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[JonnyFoxtrot]

[JonnyFoxtrot]

I'm also seriously looking at a Street Triple so useful info here, thanks guys!

For what it's worth from the looking into it I've done, most I know seem to either really gel with it and never look back, miss the buzz of their sports bikes too much, or finding it lacking for a specific purpose like touring, commuting or two-up. Always seem to be the same praises or criticisms. IMO it seems to me to be more of a fantastic "Sunday 4 hour rider" than a "do it all".
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[Polarbear]

[garth]

I rode a VFR800 and it really didn't inspire me.

[Kris]

Can't help about the Street but I'm in the market for a K2 GSXR600 so let me know if you put it up for sale please...
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
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