The Street Triple is a good example actually on what I mean with Triumph purpose-building bikes for their usage.

Yeah, it's using the same frame as the Daytona, and "the same" engine. But while it has a lot less plastic to carry than the fast sister it comes in at 4kg heavier. The pistons are different, the cam shaft is different, the mapping is different, the brakes and suspension is different (unless you get the R Version). It's a nice bit cheaper though and has more mid-range grunt.

So again they went and added/removed what was necessary to go from a very good Supersport to a very good Naked Bike. No corners cut.

With Honda on the contrary you can have the CBR600F or the Hornet which are basically the same bike, just faired and naked. At a very decent price though, but with little inspiration.


Biggles, the scariest thing about the Rocket is the 220NM of Torque. You can spin the rear at full riding speed with a simple flick of the wrist...

Colonel, Hondas would be a lot more attractive to me if they had more of a unique "spirit." I was a little surprised when I learned that the bike in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (American version) was a customized Honda. It had a good look to it . . . and sound, if that was the bike's real sound we heard in the film.

Thats a recent(ish) change to the Bonnie then if it is now discs front and back, my friend has had two triumphs, one the Tiger 1050 and the second the Tiger 800.. when he took in his 1050 a few years back for its first service he ended up under some protest with a Bonnie as a courtesy bike... he thought he was going to die on it! that one had drum brakes, and he said he pulled the lever and it would have been better to stick both feet on the floor to slow down!
Triumph have gotten much much better over the past few years, they are constantly updating their range and producing bikes that people actually want to buy, but RSColonel hit the nail on the head earlier, they stick braded hoses on the majority of their bikes from new, this makes a huge difference to braking on a bike, and its something that you dont have to replace a few years down the line, rubber brake hoses eventually get spongy from expansion under pressure, so you end up having to change hoses to get brakes back to full working order... was impressed with my mates Tiger 1050 when he had that first, as it looks like it is built to last !
The 800 on the other hand is built more to a budget, but still has some very nice finishing touches that other manufacturers skip on their line of bikes.

Calling BubbaZanetti. Come in, BubbaZanetti.

I think he's owned a Sprint.

My buddy had a Daytona 675 and that was a great track bike. The speed triple is also a great bike.

The Triumph classic bikes look the part but are glacially slow by modern motorcycle standards, if you're okay with that they're good stuff.

[img:left]http://www.triumphrat.net/photogallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=72632[/img]

http://www.triumphrat.net/photogallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=72632


I have a 2005 bonneville thruxton.
She is a sexy biach, imho, but if i were to do it again, i'd get a T100.
Cafe style is too rough on the back and wrists for any extended ride.
The t100 and thruxton are basically the same, besides handlebars and footpegs.
Great fun bike
More than enough power
Good fun powerband
My bike has been reliable, but i still miss the lack of kickstart on modern bikes.
(before i was a honda guy 650,cb750)
Im very happy with mine.

I have had the pleasure of working on many Triumph motorcycles.
We had a Triumph dealership for quite a while.

The last ones we were working on before going 100% Japanese would have been the TT600 so I'm not sure what year that was.

In the early days I was not too impressed with them,although they were built very well.The re-call list for the original carburettor 3 and 4 cylinder bikes was lengthy.

I still get my hands on the more newer models,especially if we take one in part-ex.
I would rate them very highly in both quality and finish.They certainly give the big 4 a damn good run for their money,and in some cases have the class leader.

The 675 is in my opinion the best looking,however I am way too big (fat?) to appreciate one.

Once had a Triumph T150 triple that was a lot of fun. Now I ride (and constantly fix) a 850cc Norton. Love British bikes!
Remember, ride'm don't hide'm and stay verticle.

I reckon the most appropriate time for a noob like me to get one is when I hit 40 (mid life crisis zone); I'm going to buy the most ridiculously over powered one I can find....dye what remains of my hair bright orange, then die in a blaze of glory on the M1 on the run from the Cops, after avoiding payment for a bacon buttie at an all night garage. The Rocket III sounds like a good "Insta-kill-DeathWish V" contender, Colonel. Better to burn out, than fade away.

How are they on reliability? Maintenace schedule?

Interested in tradin the Ninja 250 for a Bonneville. Would love a fuel injected air-cooled twin if maintenace is minimal. Hate adjusting valves, carbs, etc...

@valleyboy, going to steel brakelines was the first thing I did on my used and abused bike after getting to run properly. Now I haven't had to do anything but inspect my brakes in the past 4 years. Highly reccomended.