Picked up a Street Triple for Wife, impressions vs my VFR1200

I did not get the R version because she wanted the pearl white street triple. Street triple is equoped with bt016 tires, vfr bt023 up front, bt016 on back.

I knows this review isnt apples to apples, but ide thought ide throw it up anyways.

Brakes: Not even close to the VFR. They are adequate thats about it

Suspension: Not even close again, i get some nose diving at stops. My VFR is Solid

High Speed turns: 100mph in 45mph turns, feels unsettling on the striple. VFR feels like its on a rail; solid and confident. I think a steering damper and some more agressive bars would help alot.

Low speed city turns: Striple has a slight edge here, mostly to the wide handlebars. Not by much tho imho. VFRs weight goes away after 5mph for me.

Parking: Striple wins by far, its 420lb wet weight makes parking easy. VFR feels like a tank trying to back it up.

Fun factor: Striple wins at sub 55mph speeds. Thing is pure hooligan, wheelies with ease. High speed stuff tho vfr pwns it, its just so planted feeling.

Powerband: Striple powerband is amazing. VFR loses here because of the restricted gears. Otherwise ide put em pretty close

Clutch: I prefer the striples clutch. It has a nice positive click to it. The VFR clutch is a little too smooth for me, and the distance between 1st and 2nd on teh VFR is just too far. I dont know how many times during agressive starts on the VFR ive accidently gone into Neutral instead of 2nd.

Engine Character: Im torn on this, they both have amazing character. Striple may have a slight edge. I really love both.

Commuting: I though the striple would be a better commuter. But hell no. I got stuck in traffic and the seat felt like it was gonna start on fire. There is absolutly no heatshielding from teh undertail exaust on it. I may try to put some heat reflective tape under the seat to help. Its fcking hot.

Comfort: VFR easily wins here. I never felt sore after a 1 hour ride on my viffer. I think more agressive bars would help the Striple. My spine feels almost vertical on the striple, beating the crap out of my back over even small bumps.

Build quality: VFR is just so polished, striple is decent tho.



Conclusion: Overall, if it was my bike i would have got the Striple R, maybe it would solve my suspension/brake woes. Other than thaat and the burning seat, its a great bike.

But i would take my VFR any day over the striple if i only could have one bike. Its just a great do it all for the type of riding i do.

Oh and this morning i was on the striple and he engine cut out in a deep lean. freaked me out. Turns out the battery terminals came loose. Will be adding some star washers tommorow.

 

I always like the street triple and could see myself owning one someday to have another naked bike. I want something small, under 800cc. The duc monster 796 looks like a nice bike too. Nice bikes you got there.

 

Okay my bro-in-law has the 'R' version and the other weekend we went for a ride to Bastogne and into Luxemburg. Here's my take on 'slow speed city turns': we got into some real tight - hairpin - turns and while the non-competitive striple rider was dancing through the twisties, seemingly with no effort at all, I was actually sweating by the time we came to the end of them.

Suspension: well it IS the 'R' and I set it up, especially on the front, so it's as planted as can be. Long corners at high speed sure, I run away but that may have more to do with the rider than anything else.

Comfort: on that 500-mile ride my butt was sore, despite bicycle shorts, but the 'R' rider had no discomfort at all on the OE gel seat, apart from the fact that I had to keep cruising speeds down to 95 mph due to the lack of wind protection on the Striple. Though it has everything Triumph offers when it comes to that.

I spent most of the day in 5th rather than 6th because of the low cruising speeds. The 'R' got 32 mpg, I managed 38 mpg.