Chris is back in the garage, this time he's taking a closer look at the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple RS, see how far it's come from the 1994 1st generation. www.bikedevil.co.uk #triumph #speedtriple #naked
Totally agree! Chris is awesome!! He gets to the soul of the bikes and what they can give to us. And he gives a shit on the marketing speeches and pure spec values. Love him for this style 👍
Great video idea. I am sick of the embargoed Triumph media releases like the flood of Trident reviews that just came out. A nice comparison of old and new is great content, thanks!
Had two of them. A 2009 and a 2010 anniversary. Street fightered them both with Arrow 3/1, loved them and they howled along roads in Singapore and Malaysia. Happy days 😎😎
I’ve stopped watching a lot of bike channels that, for one reason or another, predictably gush over every new model released. Triumph has been very clever to establish a network of bloggers who relay their “independent” messages straight from the corporate hymn sheet. This video is the reason Bike World is still at the top of my subscription list. Thanks for thinking.
Those first carb'd Speed Triples have now become cult classics, and are fetching top dollar for nice ones. An engineer friend of mine was looking for ages for the right one, in the end he bought a Japan import.
Well depends where you live. I am trying to sell a mint one for about a year. Only request i get are what is your last price? And this without even having come to see the bike. Guess the non ABS is the killer.
I had one of these for about 6 months when I lived in New York back in 97 (same colour, but no damper!). Thinking back now, I'm still aghast how a 25 year old 'foreigner' got finance over there to buy one (God Bless America!!! 🤣🤪) but I soooo adored it, I loved that bike with every cell of my being back then! I sold it for not much less than I paid for it (they were incredibly popular/desirable over there at the time), and even taking in to account the finance costs when repaying it, cost me very little to own over that period, especially when it was from around March to early October (permanent good weather!) that I ran it. Only sold it because I was returning back to the UK (after nearly 3 years away!), but this video LITERALLY has me on the classifieds looking at them right now! Funnily enough, after being back in the UK less than a year, 26 year old me managed to get finance on a brand new VTR1000 Firestorm in around September 98..... and I STILL have it!!! Granted, it hasn't been ridden in donkeys and is sat forlornly in the back of one of the sheds at the minute, having long been superseded by newer and shinier things, but I'll get it back on the road again some day....... right after I've added back in an original black Speed Triple in to the 'collection' again! 😉
Your willingness to give a balanced review is very refreshing. I own a current Triple, that I love, but even I get a bit worn out by the "cheerleading" of some of the publications when they review Triumph models.
Outgoing model has up and down shift assist as well. Enjoyed the look back at all the evolution of the Speed Triple without all the marketing buzz words.
Proof that a good example of an early Hinckley triple can still provide smiles for miles. A bargain. A4067 Cray reservoir is a beautiful road too 😉. Thank you for posting.
Thanks Chris for this review!!! It put me back into 1994 when I've got this first Speed Triple. Yes, the riding position was challenging, in particular in the twisty alps. It was long and heavy with a high gravity point, but it was (relatively) nimble and stable in the corners. And I loved the sound of it. As always, great review!
First time watching a video of yours.When you said "more than that, I think it depends on how the power is delivered" that's when you got me, because I feel like that's where the Speed changed the most. You clearly know what you're talking about, has a clear vision, and took in consideration everything, things the general public wouldn't have seen or considered themselves. Really satisfying to watch and hear. Also, so cool that the Speed Triple always had pops and bangs, so characteristic from them
I loved this vid, such a great idea. I traded in an early 05 for a 16 Speed and really noticed how far Triumph had progressed with the breed. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for that , having ridden a gen one on the road and still owning and riding an 03 example I agree wholeheartedly in you description of the entire visceral experience! Ohh that noise.
Had a 96 Speed Triple myself and rebuilt it almost completely. The brakes can work well once they are fully overhauled but even then they are nowhere near as good as more modern stuff. The suspension also will work nicely after getting overhauled but also is nothing like more modern equipment. The thing you have to understand with them is that they are long, heavy and 20 something years old, nothing you do to them will change that. However, that doesn't mean they aren't up for fun whatsoever, it is just a bit more sedated than the current generations.
These old things are so satisfying to ride. On the road it’s as fast as you want and astonishingly nimble. Mine is a Daytona, same bike but with a fairing and the most enjoyable machine I have owned. Toured Wales this summer, ride it to work and scratch at weekends. Love it, all the bike I will ever need.
Great video! I can't wait for you guys to test it. I have a deposit on a 21, but just hope it's worth it. All we have to go on is the unveiling they did a month ago.
Interesting to compare old & new. I have a 2015 model, the last model before modes and electrickery took over. I’ve held on to mine because I prefer the rawness of having only ABS, without traction et al. Maybe I’m just an old hooligan fart. Mr Arthur Itis hasn’t struck yet, so all my modes are alive and kicking in my right wrist!
Hi.... looks like an ex Speed Triple Challenge bike ? If that's yours try the Mk1 Speed Triple Owners Club on face book 😁 And if you would like to ride a more box fresh vintage Speed Triple to make the comparison give me a shout...cheers Mark
I have a jack lileys modded 2009 speedy and I love it! I prefer the old big eye head lights,for me it's the best looking and I will not be selling my 09 for a new one! I have a H2 for all out power! (Purchase was influenced by your H2 video!) great vid buddy
Great review- loved seeing the original Speed Triple that I lusted after back in the day… still an amazing looking bike with so much character and presence! And that sound!!! How would you go about improving/upgrading the brakes without messing up the vintage/original looks too much? (No hideous “wavy” brake rotors that look like cheap serrated bread knives or circular saw blades, please!!!) If I remember, I think you could transplant the calipers & rotors from the larger Sprint or Trophy from the late 90’s/early 2000s that were still part of this “generation” of Triumph- they were almost “modular” back then, with a lot of shared frames, engines, suspension, wheels, etc. (actually they still are, but not to the same extent) across most of the range that enabled creative bodgers to swap out, replace, or upgrade many parts- I think there was a magazine article of a fella that swapped in one of the larger, more powerful triples with almost no mods (!), but that was so long ago I can’t remember which magazine it might have been, or what size it was… Engine swaps seemed to be a popular trend in the 90s- early 2000s- sticking a bigger engine in a smaller bike- does anyone remember the ZX-7/ZX-9 swaps, the FZR-750/FZR-1000s, and many others that Performance Bike, Super Bike, and other magazines used to do stories on all the time back then? Seemed like there was a different “reader’s special” every month, with varying levels of success & attention to detail! I guess with more modern electrics, E.F.I., etc. it’s not so simple anymore… Anybody care to weigh in with tales of strange/outrageous engine swaps, or practical knowledge of what will fit easily between that generation of Triumphs? Thanks for the memories, hope you’re all enjoying riding your bikes again!
Great bike! I've made cafe racer out of one. The engine sound is pure orgasm. Love it and it's as much fun as my tiger 1050 sport. Breaks are ok, but suspension not so much...
My brother in law had a yellow t309 and I do regret not buying it when I had the chance. I’m rocking a 2015 s3 in red now though and had a 955i in black before that :).
I mainly ride older bikes and what they lack in adrenaline they make up for in enjoyment. You get all the adrenaline you need when you try and stop. The first time I tried radial brakes I couldn't believe how much power they had. I'd say its the biggest difference between old and new bikes!
I have a 98 Sprint Sport I converted to a naked bike, so basically the same as the original Speed Triple except the tail section is a bit more rounded off. The engine is the star with these bikes. Not the fastest, doesn't turn the quickest, but loads of torque and fun. Still one of the funnest street bikes out there, even 25 years later.
Excellent eye for detail there! I thought some something was amiss too and got the tape measure out - rear preload was wound off so far that the spring was loose and the forks were pulled 10mm further through the clamps than stock! Set it back to standard and it now looks right and steered considerably better!
I LOVE Speedies, I've got my 13 S3R and I still love the s**t out of it after 8 years. That 96 looks a legit 10 years older than the Japanese scoots of the same era. I did have an 03 and an 05 Speed and I did really liked the 03. It had a bit-o Mad Max attitude that was pretty intoxicating, and I'm sure the literal fire breathing single low aftermarket can helped. I've got a good feeling about the new one, even though its hard to imagine a S3 with crazy Tuono power. Gonna be interesting, wish I could afford one bc the black one gots my name all over it, just wish that silver sub frame was decked in red
I hope they haven’t ruined the new one chasing power. Speed triple is my favorite bike... suits every mood, fantastic built quality and timeless style. I’ve had 02 955, 07 1050 currently 2011 1050....in the words of hot chocolate “everyone’s a winner”
@@robertmaitland09 I've got a 96 trident in beautiful condition, they are all practically the same bike. Just a few cosmetics and a name change! And my mistake, the top yoke says Datatool not Daytona.
Imho, the pinnacle of the Speed Triple was the last of round headlights. 2008-2010. Steel tank, Brembos, old style chassis, cable throttle. No TC, no rider modes Followed by the various 97-04 955i's. After that they list their way chasing the pack
Is the original not so much better looking? The lights on the new one put me off. I regret so much not buying a 900 Trident in BRG back in the 90’s when I passed my test.
David I know this is a year old but there was a plug and play bolt on single light conversion. I did 2 of them a few years back. Good luck Sir. T. S. RACING
Maybe I've turned into an old fart but I really dislike the current transformer, preying mantis, plastic fantastic style of bikes. The old school 1995 bike for me thanks. But the T160V, there's a bike!
The best speed triple? Sorry you guys are wrong. The 1994 was that. Arrrgg, look at this unbelievable ugly exhaust pipe. All this horsepower for what? I am very sorry to tell you my thoughts. This is...... (imagine any non friendly words here) Sorry fanbase
