Triumph Speed Triple
Triumph Speed Triple
Excuses no longer needed
DON CANET
A YEAR AGO, CW INCLUDED TRIUMPH'S T509 SPEED TRIPLE IN our "Hell-Raisers" streetfighter shootout. Armed with a chassis lifted from the sporty T595 Daytona, the Speed Triple possessed all the right moves in the curves, but its liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 885cc, three-cylinder motor lacked the punch needed to gun down its opposition. There was plenty to like about the T509; its engine performance just stopped it from being all it could’ve been.
Triumph was paying attention, though, and has given the Speed Triple a significant performance boost for 1999. The solution was obvious and simple: Install a T595 motor re-tuned for maximum torque. Bang!, what a difference the 70cc dose of additional displacement has made. At 955cc, the Speed Triple is now worthy of its name, and can back up the bad-boy image its controversial, “stinkbug” styling conveys.
While the old T509 we tested wheezed out 81 peak horsepower and 53 foot-pounds of torque, now we’re talkin’ 97 horsepower and 61 foot-pounds of the stump-pullin’ stuff Peak torque comes in at 5000 rpm, with the curve remaining nearly flat all the way to the 10,000-rpm rev limiter. Power delivery is very linear and throttle response is crisp, although we did experience a very slight hesitation at times when coming off closed throttle. Shifting action was a little notchy-particularly on downshifts-until we adjusted all excess slack out of the cable to allow the clutch to fully disengage during shifts.
Our testbike’s 11.08-second at 119.86 mph quarter-mile performance was a major improvement over the 11.70-second/114-mph mark set by the T509. Top speed increased just 1 mph, as an added bonus, the bike zipping past our radar gun with a 135-mph head of steam. Sure, these numbers may pale when compared to the mightiest sportbikes, but rich of torque and abundant of character, the Speed Triple shines brightly.
Its unique triple-time exhaust note and distinct brand of engine vibration-felt mostly when accelerating under load-adds much to the riding experience. No worry about numb fingers, however; keep the revs below 5500 rpm while cruising (90 mph in sixth gear) and the engine is extremely smooth. The Speed Triple’s upright seating position and wide Superbike bar provide both comfort and a great sense of control. Steering is nearly effortless and stability is excellent at any speed. For a 465-pound (without fuel) bike measuring 56.9 inches axle-to-axle, it’s remarkably nimble.
As delivered, the Triple’s fully adjustable Showa suspension was on the firm side for anything other than serious comer carving. Backing off compression and rebound damping at both ends greatly improved bump compliance for general use about town and helped soak up freeway slab-joints.
Versatility such as this is the Speed Triple’s real strength. It’s equally at home on a backroad or in a back alley, and offers enough comfort to be used for longer rides.
Think of the $10,195 Speed Triple as a standard with attitude. My daily commute hasn’t been this much fun since the last time we had a few hell-raisers hanging out in the CW garage. It nearly tempts me to work weekends... Nah, true redemption is found in the hills. □
