ebster1085
Junior Member
As some of you may know, I sold my 2008 FZ6 a few weeks ago to another forum member and picked up a 2007 Triumph Speed Triple. While I loved the FZ and was very sad to see her go, I have always had an obsession with the look of the Triple. When I was presented with an offer I couldnt refuse, I made it happen.
So, after riding her for two weeks, here are some thoughts:
1. Holy sh1t TORQUE! While I would not say the FZ lacks in power or is by any means a slow bike, the Triple is an absolute monster. The torque across the the entire power band is crazy and she pulls like a frieght train. Power delivery is very smooth, and there is no gradual increase in power as revs rise.
2. Silky smooth. The Triple is just a smooth bike. The suspension is more plush and the bike is a tad bit heavier, and this just translates into a very smooth ride. As per the last point, power comes on very smooth as well.
3. Shifting is much different. With the FZ, there was a nice mechanical click into and out of each gear and I hardly would ever miss a shift. While the Triple shifts smoother, the click is nearly non existent, and this can causes misses, most notably from 1st to 2nd and from 5th to 6th. Oddly enough, many Triple riders alleviate this issue by installing a Sunline shifter designed for Yamaha bikes. This eliminates the shifter linkage and provides a direct link to the transmission. If I begin to find this issue more than just an infrequent annoyance, I will likely perform this mod as well.
4. Comfort. The Triple, like the FZ, is a comfortable bike to ride but is definitely a more aggressive riding position. Your hands are a bit lower and your feet further back, but overall it has not been bothering me. The seat is shorter and thinner and I find it less comfortable than the FZ. While many complain about the OEM FZ seat, I rather liked it and miss it a bit with my Triple.
5. Maintainence. So far I have changed the oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, and brake pads on the Triple and I can say it is a very user friendly bike just like the FZ. The tank doesnt have the nice rear hinge that the FZ had, but it comes off very easily. One allen bolt up front, a through bolt in the rear, a quick release fuel fitting, two vent lines, and a fuel pump plug and its off. Never changed the plugs on the FZ but it was a very straight forward simple job on the Triple. Air filter change was also a cinch. I definitely miss the center stand on my FZ as far as chain maintainence goes, but I already made a little center stand out of some spare 1x2 wood that rests right under the rear suspension lower linkage. This raises up the rear wheel a tad and makes the job much easier. Adjusting chain tension, however, is super easy with a single swingarm bike which is great.
Overall I really like the bike. I love the new found power, single sided swing arm, short rear end, and sound of the 1050cc 3 cylinder motor. I do find myself missing certain aspects of the FZ, though, and would by no means say the Triple blows it out of the water. Both bikes are awesome, and I am pleased that my FZ has found a home with another forum member. As promised, I will continue to lurk the boards.
Happy riding!!
So, after riding her for two weeks, here are some thoughts:
1. Holy sh1t TORQUE! While I would not say the FZ lacks in power or is by any means a slow bike, the Triple is an absolute monster. The torque across the the entire power band is crazy and she pulls like a frieght train. Power delivery is very smooth, and there is no gradual increase in power as revs rise.
2. Silky smooth. The Triple is just a smooth bike. The suspension is more plush and the bike is a tad bit heavier, and this just translates into a very smooth ride. As per the last point, power comes on very smooth as well.
3. Shifting is much different. With the FZ, there was a nice mechanical click into and out of each gear and I hardly would ever miss a shift. While the Triple shifts smoother, the click is nearly non existent, and this can causes misses, most notably from 1st to 2nd and from 5th to 6th. Oddly enough, many Triple riders alleviate this issue by installing a Sunline shifter designed for Yamaha bikes. This eliminates the shifter linkage and provides a direct link to the transmission. If I begin to find this issue more than just an infrequent annoyance, I will likely perform this mod as well.
4. Comfort. The Triple, like the FZ, is a comfortable bike to ride but is definitely a more aggressive riding position. Your hands are a bit lower and your feet further back, but overall it has not been bothering me. The seat is shorter and thinner and I find it less comfortable than the FZ. While many complain about the OEM FZ seat, I rather liked it and miss it a bit with my Triple.
5. Maintainence. So far I have changed the oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, and brake pads on the Triple and I can say it is a very user friendly bike just like the FZ. The tank doesnt have the nice rear hinge that the FZ had, but it comes off very easily. One allen bolt up front, a through bolt in the rear, a quick release fuel fitting, two vent lines, and a fuel pump plug and its off. Never changed the plugs on the FZ but it was a very straight forward simple job on the Triple. Air filter change was also a cinch. I definitely miss the center stand on my FZ as far as chain maintainence goes, but I already made a little center stand out of some spare 1x2 wood that rests right under the rear suspension lower linkage. This raises up the rear wheel a tad and makes the job much easier. Adjusting chain tension, however, is super easy with a single swingarm bike which is great.
Overall I really like the bike. I love the new found power, single sided swing arm, short rear end, and sound of the 1050cc 3 cylinder motor. I do find myself missing certain aspects of the FZ, though, and would by no means say the Triple blows it out of the water. Both bikes are awesome, and I am pleased that my FZ has found a home with another forum member. As promised, I will continue to lurk the boards.
Happy riding!!
