| Author | Message | ||
     Sifo |
I was riding past the local Triumph dealer this AM and saw they were just putting the new Sprint GT into the showroom. It's supposed to debut tomorrow. Looks like a great bike for 2 up touring. Very comfortable, looks great, built off the legendary 1050 platform. The bags are pretty huge and the bike looks very good with the bags off. This just might be the next bike to take up space in our garage. We've had the Sporty for sale for about 2 months with zero bites on it. Someone finally came to see it yesterday. He called me this morning and is coming with cash tomorrow morning. The timing of all this just seems conspiratorial to me.  What ever happens, the Buell stays. This would let me keep the Buell as my every day rider, and keep the touring miles off of it. Might be time to swap to the XB9 primary, and possibly some clubman bars. Been wanting to do that for a long time now, but didn't want to hurt the ability for touring. YAHOO! | ||
| F_skinner |
Sifo, I am going to look at it tomorrow. It is only at a handful of dealerships from what it says on the Triumph web site. I have no experience with any modern Triumph but I have been on the rat site reading all I can. I started looking at the Sprint ST about a year ago. I liked it a lot. I would be interested in hearing your impressions if you get to see, touch or ride the GT. I am kind of curious as to why they kept the chain final drive vice a belt or shaft. I am with you, the Buell stays... Or I should say Buells... I have to see what the better half thinks. The S2T, by far my favorite of the ten Buells I have owned, is a great bike but I think a Triumph Sprint GT would make a nice addition... I have been looking at and riding the following: Honda St1300 Kawasaki Concourse Yamaha FJR They all have good and bad points but that is due to my personal preference and nothing to do with the quality of the bike. I have yet to ride the Triumph but maybe that will change this weekend. | ||
| F_skinner |
Glad you were able to sell your Sporty. Lynn has a mishap with hers on Monday. They crash well. I am hoping I can talk her into selling it and getting a Triumph so it will be easier to convince her I need another bike. | ||
| Strokizator |
A guy at work here has the current generation Sprint. Overall a nice bike but they went cheap on the suspension pieces to keep the price down. I don't think they've addressed that on the new one. | ||
| Sifo |
I've ridden the Sprint ST. Nice bike too. Under seat exhaust isn't my idea of comfort on a touring bike though. The dealer sold their only ST yesterday, so I can't compare side by side. They tell me the body work is all new, but VERY similar. It's supposed to be longer, and it does have tons of room for and aft for 2 up riding. I hate the chain, but it's the standard for most bikes. I can deal with that I guess. My wife has the Street Triple and that's a great bike in that class. I'm sold on the modern Triumphs. Next best thing to American made in my mind. I haven't had a good look at the suspenders. They are touring bikes, not track bikes, so I can imagine that would be a place they would cut corners. I trust Lynn is OK. Hopefully it won't put her off mentally too much. My wife had a crash this spring. It's been hard for her to really start trusting things again. | ||
| Sifo |
One more thing... They said the had the demo bike for a month, then it goes back. I'm not really sure when one could be had. Spring would actually be fine with me. They said they have pretty much booked up appointments to test it this weekend. Again suits me just fine, I'm planning to do the color tour thing this weekend. I can stop in and get a nice long demo ride when they aren't as busy on a week day in the next week or so. I'll post up my thoughts when I've done that. | ||
| F_skinner |
Thanks Sifo, I read that the suspension and many other areas were updated to include the exhaust. I will know for sure tomorrow. I agree, it is more touring than sport for sure (not a track bike at all)and that is not an issue for me. Lynn is ok and went back to work today. Here is the link: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 194028.html?1286553632 She was wearing all her gear thankfully. The Sporty did crash well but I was hoping for it to be totaled so I can sway her to Triumph. In the long run she likes her Sporty and that is all that matters. Thank you for asking about her. We ride with another couple and she has a Bonny that I got to ride down in NM a few months ago. It was light, stable and a lot of fun to ride. I do not what the motor size was but it felt under powered to me but it did not matter when she got it in the twisties. She had no problems keeping up with me and her husband. I will try and post up some info when I see it. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>> I agree, it is more touring than sport for sure (not a track bike at all)and that is not an issue for me. << It's not an R1 but It will definitely not be embarrassed at a track day either. | ||
| Sifo |
Frank, That's a scary story, glad to hear Lynn came out fairly well. Our Sporty crashed well when I got to much lean angle on a switch back down in Suches, GA. Picked it up and once I got the gravel out of the clutch lever pivot it was rideable to limp back to the hotel. Then some bending of the clutch lever and shift lever and it was riding good as new. Took a few hundred more in parts to make it look good again. The buyer said it looked like it had never been dropped, kind of as a question. I explained that it was from the HD rental fleet when we bought it, so it has almost certainly been down and fixed somewhere along the way. So I stopped by the Triumph dealer again on my way home. It isn't a high end suspension, but it's not the worst either. The front end isn't an inverted fork, and only has a preload adjustment. The rear has a big knob for preload adjustment and there's a rebound adjustment on the damper. It does have a radial brake up front which is a nice touch. Comes standard with ABS too. A full face helmet fits into the saddle bags with no problem, the optional top case is supposed to fit TWO full face helmets! There's some real nice grab handles for the passenger. The saddle bags have a rod that connects them so they can sway together an inch or two. Supposedly this helps the handling so you don't feel the weight so much. The gasket on the bags are pretty much air tight (you can hear the air suck into the bags as you open them) so they should keep water out quite well. The seat seems pretty comfortable for a stock seat, and the reach to the pegs is about the same as my XB12Ss. The reach to the bars is quite a bit longer than my XB, but should be fine for sport touring. The dash has an analog tach and speedo. The numbers on the speedo are small, but should be better than the digital speedo on our Street Triple. On the other side of the speedo there's an LCD screen that has a fuel gauge, temp gauge, and a multi-function area. Looked pretty nice, and the buttons can be reached easily unlike the Street Triple and Daytona. He said no problem with taking for a couple of hours after the initial weekend. I love this dealer! I'll be sure to post up my impressions after a nice long test ride. Honestly at a MSRP of $13,200 it seems like a very nice bike as long as the budget suspension isn't Sportster parts. EDIT: There was also a power jack to run heated clothing, etc. Nice touch. (Message edited by SIFO on October 08, 2010) | ||
| F_skinner |
Sifo thanks for those observations. I am looking forward to checking it out tomorrow. | ||
| Kenm123t |
I ride with the Rotle guys when I get to Some of them have done IBA rides on Sprints. Check them out nice guys high milers mostly. They can fill you in on the triumphs | ||
| Kenm123t |
I ride with the Rotle guys when I get to Some of them have done IBA rides on Sprints. Check them out nice guys high milers mostly. They can fill you in on the triumphs Riders of the lost empire | ||
| Sifo |
As long as we are discussing Triumphs so much, I picked a neat product for our Street Triple today. It's a very slick kit to protect vulnerable places on the tank. You get pieces for zipper protection, knee protection, rock chip protection on the front edge, and circles for where the magnets hold down the tank bag. It's a very thin clear film that is all pre-cut for the model Triumph you have. It comes with a bottle with some applicator stuff that you just add water to, and a rubber squeegee. Very easy to apply, just wet the tank with the spray bottle, peal the pieces off the sheet and lay on the tank, slide into place and start working the water out with the squeegee, working out from the middle. It's close to invisible once it's applied. It can be taken off and reapplied. It conforms reasonably well to compound curves. It also comes in a flat finish, obviously for the flat finish bikes. It also does NOT protect the paint from UV rays. This is important so that the paint fades evenly over the years of fun in the sun. I just put 5 pieces onto the STriple's tank in about 30 minutes, and it looks great. I've seen this stuff in a generic kit where you would have to cut your own patterns somewhere, so you can do your own kit to fit whatever bike you may have. Pretty cool stuff if you are concerned about this sort of thing. Cost from Triumph was $50. Not bad when you compare it to the stick on zipper protectors that are available. I don't see any reason it shouldn't work on our Buell plastics too.  | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I rode one of these about an hour or so ago. Even got the t-shirt for riding it. it is a comfortable bike to ride but the engine is just plain gutless to me. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
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| F_skinner |
Me to:  I guess I have a different opinion of the engine. | ||
| F_skinner |
I thought this was cool  | ||
| F_skinner |
     I meant to get more pictures but it was a busy day dealing with Denver and Colorado Springs traffic. My impressions: Just about every Sport Touring bike I have ridden in the last year may be able to take this off the line (no big deal and that is not where it performs). I did a short ride on some side streets then got on the freeway, The power band is constant and it really likes cruising around 80 to 90 mph. You can really tell it has a longer wheelbase than the ST but I got used to it quickly and was doing tight turns in the parking lot with little practice. I could have ridden all day on the highway. I noticed the bags seemed loose and the salesman explained to me why that was. They do actually move vice the bike moving (it was an interesting and simple design). They were big, water tight easy to remove and put on. Remember, I am the guy that had my saddle bag open up on the Interest going into Milwaukee during rush hour LOL. I could get used to this bike as a long distance bike and commuter. It was comfortable on the side streets and highway. What I did not like: The pegs are a little higher than I thought they would be (maybe a half an inch) but not extreme. The handle bars had me forward (I would guess it is a cross between the S2 and the S2T bars). The aftermarket has already addressed that anyway. And that was the only thing I thought was odd. The dealership, which I have never been into, was great. I had the salesman show me how to do chain adjustment. There were several other BMW and Triumph guys there and all commented on how Harley screwed Buell (of course I was wearing Buell stuff so maybe they felt the need to comment). Just amazing. The dealers is a BMW/Triumph dealer and had a lot of bikes with many of them with sold signs. They had a ST that I rode so I could compare the difference between the two. They also had a wide selection of Triumph and BMW stuff. I would be hard pressed to determine which brand hey favored unlike the HD dealerships we all know about. Bottom line: I liked it better that the other brands of Sport Touring bikes and it will be my next one. PS, Lynn liked the Bonny... Who knows, maybe I can talk her into getting rid of the Sporty and going with the Triumph. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I always thought the Triumph sport tourers were the best out there for reason that they're pretty basic and still sportbike light. A Sprint ST weighs what my S3T does, where as something like an ST1300 or C14 are, quite literally, in Road King territory. | ||
| F_skinner |
Mark, you nailed it. I am a Buell guy so this is a little hard for me and if BMC was making Sport Touring bikes then that is what I would have. My S2s stay with me. For less than 500 mile days my S2T is the bike. There is something about riding an old, undependable bike that was just "sweeping off the Harley Davidson's assembly line floor" that gives me a certain since of pride, I guess. I am getting a Triumph for many of the same reasons I got my first Buell in 96. Frank | ||
| Sifo |
Well my Sporty buyer never got back to me so I went for a ride today on my own bike. About 45 minutes out, this happened.  Best option was for me to take my buddies Daytona 675 back to my house to gather tools and the new belt I was planning on putting on at the end of the season and return by car. Got the belt on, back to my place to pick up the Daytona, and went for a much shorter ride than we had planned. The Sporty buyer eventually called and we have a time set up Sunday to finish the deal. The Daytona is just not a comfortable bike to me. Beyond that it's a great bike. Sprint is a much more relaxed riding position. Can't wait to try it out. My dealer told me the GT has 130 HP and 80 ft/lbs of torque. Hard to imagine that being described as gutless. I guess some folks needs are different than others. I found the Buell 1125CR to have excessive power, my XB12 is just fine by me. I would think that 130 HP should move the heavier GT along at least as well as my XB. I hate messy chains, love the maintenance free belt, then this happens. It did have 36,500 miles on it so I can't complain too much. I should just consider it a maintenance item to replace the belt every 20 to 25 K miles. Still had a great day today. | ||
| F_skinner |
Damn Sifo, I am glad you were able to repair it and still enjoy a ride. I am in the habit of bring a spare belt (and the proper tools) with me when too far from home. I am not big on chains either and my last chained bike was a ironhead. I was impressed with the way it adjusted. Seemed to be easy enough but different. I bet I can screw it up.  When you do get a chance to ride one post up or shoot me a pm. I am very interested to hear your impressions. It is a great bike, 130hp, decent brakes, adjustable on the fly pre load, big water tight bags and a good dealer network. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
maybe gutless is the wrong word. It just seemed to be missing something. I guess I am too used to v-twins. I feel like I would fall a sleep on it, that and it sounded like my grand mothers sewing machine. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Frank, I agree. In the year I've owned my S3T, I've had to replace the front motor mount bolts, front iso, repair the bags, fix the bag mounting system, then fix it again when it came loose, then fix it again when it came loose again, replace 3 tail light bulbs, replace the rear trunk I had on it that fell off, upgrade the headlight, multiple attempts at getting the right leg fairing to stay attached at the top, reroute the breather lines and add a catch can to stop all the oil on my leg, add 5 quarts of oil during my coast to coast to trip, replace the speedo sensor, watch the paint on the gas tank bubble before my eyes, deal with a pulsating front brake, track down an intermittent miss in the engine, the front caliper needs to be rebuilt as it binds once in a while and I'm sure I'm missing some other things. I shouldn't be able to trust it as far as I can throw it. And yet... I love it. It took me from NY to CA and despite being a little thirsty with the oil, she didn't complain once on that trip. Out of all the bikes I've owned, this is, without doubt and by a wide margin, my favorite. But of course, the time will come when something will need to replace it as my daily ride. It's already 9 years old, and more importantly, I know myself and my need to have something new. Triumph makes a good product, though I'm sad to the ST no longer in the 2011 lineup (looks to be the GT is a replacement). The Honda VFR800 has always intrigued me and was going to be my next bike until Buell came out with the 1125CR and I just had to have one. Maybe a Uly will be in my future. If money was no object, I'd have a Duc Multistrada 1200 Touring in my garage already. We're living in the golden age of motorcycle, yet the "sport touring" segment is a little vacant. I don't consider bikes like the ST1300, Concours14, K1300GT, or FJR1300 as sport tourers because they're just too damned heavy. They're more "touring light but with a riding position slightly more uncomfortable than a Goldwing which isn't needed because they don't handle any better than one". Maybe I'll just build my own - I do have a 3-peice hard bag setup for the CR - wouldn't be hard to add lower pegs, higher bars and a laminar lip - it's be all set, then. Of course then I'd have to worry about the stator, lol. Rant over, lol. | ||
| Sifo |
Triumph makes a good product, though I'm sad to the ST no longer in the 2011 lineup (looks to be the GT is a replacement). Cheer up! I was told the ST is still in the line up for 2011. maybe gutless is the wrong word. I think you may have the same complaint that my Datona Buddie has. He just calls it "boring... in a good way". Basically it's a very linear power band with no hiccups or surprises. It lacks the low end punch of the V-Twin, yet also lacks the high end power jump of the I-4. It somehow blends the best of both into a package that smoothly and predictably builds power very linearly without anything that really grabs your attention. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Cheer up! I was told the ST is still in the line up for 2011. That what my impression has been, but they just posted the 2011 model lineup on the Triumph website and the ST isn't on there anymore. | ||
| Sifo |
That's odd because my dealer was telling me about the changes on the ST for 2011 a while back and comparing it to the GT specs. They are so close in style and function I can see only having one, but then why the name change? You are right though, I don't see the ST on their web site. | ||
| F_skinner |
It is shown on the UK site so maybe it is not available in the US. From reading the RAT net it appears the STs still have a good following. Looking at the Triumph lineup they sure do have a diverse selection of bike. Classic and modern looking bikes. The Street Triple R looks great in person. Lynn likes the classic looking Bonny. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Frank,I have had two Sprint St's, a 99 and a 2002. Both excellent bikes.Great luggage,heated grips. Have bar risers on both. Triple makes great power and torque.40-50 mpg.Minimal maintenance needed.Don't care for the underseat exhaust on newer ones. Also had a 99 Daytona and loved the motor,just not the ergos. | ||
| Rick_a |
I'd rather have this:  ...but you can't go wrong with Triumph, either. |
