Got to ride Speed Triple. Demo ride was a bit short of 30 minutes. Total of 14 miles. Few curves and a bit of highway riding.
The good:
Torque!!!: Holy cow does this thing pull!!! Rolling on from 3k rpm feels about the same as rolling on from 8k rpm on FZ6.. perhaps even a bit stronger!
Air flow: Even though my screen is now very good on FZ6 (chopped and slotted), there was even less noise on this bike. Zero buffeting. I am now convinced that faired
Brakes: Very strong front brake. Minimal effort to slow the bike down and modulation is very good.
Peg vibration: Pretty much none.
The bad:
Lever feel: I'm spoiled by aftermarket levers (shorty Pazza knock-offs). The ones on Triumph felt cheap and flimsy. Reach was adjustable on both, so at least there was that.
Transmission: Once started and shifted into first, the bike would not shift back to N. I asked the guy if it was normal for these bikes to act like this and he said he'd been having problems with that specific one.. don't know how honest he was being.
In general, shifting was OK.. throws seem a bit longer than on FZ6. All in all smooth, but not the smoothest.
Exhaust: OK.. not really the exhaust, but when engine-braking, the thing would pop like crazy. I'm hoping it's because the specific bike I rode has been abused and they're not all like that.
Handlebar vibration: I was sure it would be way better than my FZ6, but it wasn't at all. Once again, I don't have a stock setup (I've got aftermarket bar, heavy bar ends and fat soft grips), but stock Speed Triple actually had a bit more bar vibration.
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Overall, I really enjoyed riding it, but if the transmission and exhaust issues are *normal*, I don't think I'd consider buying one. This is just my opinion.. no offense to anyone who owns one
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The douche factor: As I'm getting ready to leave, 2 cruisers ride in. 1st one has a guy and girl on it.. both wearing tank tops, shorts and flip flops. 2nd guy is alone, but is dressed in the same super protective Corona top as the first one. 1st guy pulls in 2 spots away from me. His lady gets off and he proceeds to get off and drops the bike on its side (oops.. someone forgot to put the side-stand down). They pull the bike up and then his buddy pulls in behind him and proceeds to scratch his front fender and his friend's rear fender by pulling in way too close.
Funny and sad at the same time.. oh well.
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As far as the promised food and drinks @ xtreme machines (Millstone NJ) there was NOTHING at all at first. I got there at 9 and the store didn't even open till 10, even though Triumph crew was setup before 9. When I came back from demo ride at about 11, they had few sad looking hot dogs and some warm water bottles. That was it. I know they don't owe me anything, but I think it would've been better if they didn't promise "free food and drinks" on their site to begin with.
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And now for some pictures:
The good:
Torque!!!: Holy cow does this thing pull!!! Rolling on from 3k rpm feels about the same as rolling on from 8k rpm on FZ6.. perhaps even a bit stronger!
Air flow: Even though my screen is now very good on FZ6 (chopped and slotted), there was even less noise on this bike. Zero buffeting. I am now convinced that faired
Brakes: Very strong front brake. Minimal effort to slow the bike down and modulation is very good.
Peg vibration: Pretty much none.
The bad:
Lever feel: I'm spoiled by aftermarket levers (shorty Pazza knock-offs). The ones on Triumph felt cheap and flimsy. Reach was adjustable on both, so at least there was that.
Transmission: Once started and shifted into first, the bike would not shift back to N. I asked the guy if it was normal for these bikes to act like this and he said he'd been having problems with that specific one.. don't know how honest he was being.
In general, shifting was OK.. throws seem a bit longer than on FZ6. All in all smooth, but not the smoothest.
Exhaust: OK.. not really the exhaust, but when engine-braking, the thing would pop like crazy. I'm hoping it's because the specific bike I rode has been abused and they're not all like that.
Handlebar vibration: I was sure it would be way better than my FZ6, but it wasn't at all. Once again, I don't have a stock setup (I've got aftermarket bar, heavy bar ends and fat soft grips), but stock Speed Triple actually had a bit more bar vibration.
-----------------------------------
Overall, I really enjoyed riding it, but if the transmission and exhaust issues are *normal*, I don't think I'd consider buying one. This is just my opinion.. no offense to anyone who owns one
-----------------------------------
The douche factor: As I'm getting ready to leave, 2 cruisers ride in. 1st one has a guy and girl on it.. both wearing tank tops, shorts and flip flops. 2nd guy is alone, but is dressed in the same super protective Corona top as the first one. 1st guy pulls in 2 spots away from me. His lady gets off and he proceeds to get off and drops the bike on its side (oops.. someone forgot to put the side-stand down). They pull the bike up and then his buddy pulls in behind him and proceeds to scratch his front fender and his friend's rear fender by pulling in way too close.
Funny and sad at the same time.. oh well.
-----------------------------------
As far as the promised food and drinks @ xtreme machines (Millstone NJ) there was NOTHING at all at first. I got there at 9 and the store didn't even open till 10, even though Triumph crew was setup before 9. When I came back from demo ride at about 11, they had few sad looking hot dogs and some warm water bottles. That was it. I know they don't owe me anything, but I think it would've been better if they didn't promise "free food and drinks" on their site to begin with.
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And now for some pictures:
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