The Triumph Speed Triple - Proper Mad Max stuff. Ha ha!
This is the hard man’s streetfighter. Short, stubby and very purposeful looking, the Speed Triple is not meant for dawdling around. If you’re on one of these mean looking muthas, you’d better be up to hoisting mega wheelies, pulling high-speed rolling stoppies and generally riding like a man possessed. The Triple is fitted with a 1050cc three-cylinder engine that makes 113 horsepower – enough for acceleration that’ll leave most BMW convertibles in the dust, and a 230km/h top speed.
More than top speed, which is anyway of academic interest only with most naked bikes, it’s the acceleration that counts. And the Speed Triple is quick enough to keep up with most fully-faired race reps, what with 0 to 100km/h taking less than three seconds. The big, howling, three-cylinder engine pulls hard from 2800rpm, and makes serious stomp from 4000rpm onwards – the kind of muscle that’ll have you doing wheelies without meaning to. If attention is what you always craved, this bike will get you lots.
In addition to the ‘bad boy’ styling and wheelie/stoppie antics, the Triple also handles well. Given its stiff, dual-rate USD front forks, and front-endy stance, turn-in is quick and sharp. The bike changes direction in a jiffy and stays superglued to the tarmac in fast bends. The rider’s seat is well padded though take a pillion along only if you wish to severely punish him/her. The bottomline is, this one is not for the pretty boys. It’s a lean, mean machine meant for the advanced rider who wants serious performance from his streetfighter. The Speed Triple is the bad boy pin up of streetfighters. God bless Triumph.
Update (20.02.2007): Triumph are said to be working on a new naked bike which will be in the Speed Triple mould, but which will be fitted with the Daytona 675's engine. Revvy, powerful engine in a stiff, lightweight package - stunt riders should love this one!
Engine: 1050cc, 12-valve, inline-three
Power: 113bhp@9100rpm
Top speed: 230km/h
In a line: You there, step out. Now!
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2 comments:
It makes 131bhp not 113 as stated in the article.
I believe its 131 at the crank but 113 at the rear wheel.
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