Speed Triple vs Street Triple, which one would you pick

[obsolete]

I like having more torque. Do I need it, nope but it makes for a more enjoyable ride.

[rsw81]

Like I said, I'm biased towards horsepower! What I "need" for power in a motorcycle is irrelevant since I don't actually need a motorcycle. My motorcycles will likely always be a secondary vehicle and are mostly for my entertainment. When you are my size, the 600-750cc class bikes just aren't as exciting as their bigger alternatives.

Fair enough. My bike is my primary vehicle. My wife drives the cage. I have no idea how big you are, but I still feel that 100+hp out of today's 600-750cc class is plenty powerful for most people. If you feel that need for more, that's your decision and right to feel that way. I just personally don't see the need.

[nhbubba]

When you are my size, the 600-750cc class bikes just aren't as exciting as their bigger alternatives.

Mostly just to keep poking the bear here...
I am your size.. pretty close anyway. I do not agree.

As I say, I only really miss my ol' 1200 when trying to pass. I sometimes think I miss it when cruising on the super-slab. But then I look down and remind myself I'm barely half way to redline and already breaking the law.

[e30addict]

No one NEEDS a bike bigger than a modern 600 for street. WANT is a different story. Power definitely corrupts and I can certainly see the appeal.

[SVRACER01]

"i wish i bought a car/bike with less HP" said no one ever

[soofle616]

Fair enough. My bike is my primary vehicle. My wife drives the cage. I have no idea how big you are, but I still feel that 100+hp out of today's 600-750cc class is plenty powerful for most people. If you feel that need for more, that's your decision and right to feel that way. I just personally don't see the need.

Read back on the post you quoted. He straight up says he doesn't need the power. Frankly, you're right, no one needs it. That doesn't mean it isn't nice to have. At 250 lbs I've done 60+ on my 9 hp RS50. Technically that's all I need. Reality is I would never ride a bike with 9 hp on the road. And really, hp isn't everything, for me it's all about torque. Knowing that I can make a pass on a windy road with short and sporadic passing zones versus debating or hesitating because I'm not sure I can get around someone quickly enough to be safe is reason enough to want a bigger bike. My experience with Milk's street was that it had a good chassis but when it came time to make it GO it just didn't. And by that I mean accelerate not top speed.

[whynot]

I chose the Street Triple R, it does everything well. I've had plenty of "big" bikes and got tired of lugging the extra weight around.

[nhbubba]

"i wish i bought a car/bike with less HP" said no one ever

I did. Every time I went to get the 1200 inspected and failed because my rear was trashed.. again.. already.

Given my Bandit 1200 was no model of modern, light-weight sport-bikeage. But I was also quite ready to be done with the extra weight.

[SVRACER01]

I did. Every time I went to get the 1200 inspected and failed because my rear was trashed.. again.. already.

Given my Bandit 1200 was no model of modern, light-weight sport-bikeage. But I was also quite ready to be done with the extra weight.

i put a new set of tires on my 65hp KTM this summer. the rear didnt last the season.

[ZX-12R]

I did. Every time I went to get the 1200 inspected and failed because my rear was trashed.. again.. already

Be thankful you got a year out of your rear tire. My first year with the 12R, I finished the season on my 3rd rear tire and 2nd front.

[SRTie4k]

"i wish i bought a car/bike with less HP" said no one ever

...except for the guy who crashes and totals said car/bike.

[Kenn157]

I chose the Street Triple R, it does everything well. I've had plenty of "big" bikes and got tired of lugging the extra weight around.

Unless you're pushing the bike around in the garage, the extra just helps the Speed keep planted.


Motorcyclist January 2013 has a nice little write up on the the Speed Triple R v Brutale...

Street Triple R's and the way you have your's set up Kurt are great!

[reks95]

People with long commutes and big gas bills sometimes wish they hadn't bought so much hp.

[nhbubba]

That's true. My 650 gets 50-55 MPG commuting at 80 MPH all day.

[e30addict]

People with long commutes and big gas bills sometimes wish they hadn't bought so much hp.

Maybe. I'm lucky if I get 40mpg on a Tiger 800. Kenn gets almost 48 on the 1200.

[ZX-12R]

People with long commutes and big gas bills sometimes wish they hadn't bought so much hp.

Yeah, not so much... I can't think of a single person who has purchased a performance oriented motorcycle and then regretted it because it consumes too much fuel.

[sveesix]

Maybe. I'm lucky if I get 40mpg on a Tiger 800. Kenn gets almost 48 on the 1200.

I get between 46 and 50, so I don't know what you're doing. Aren't you running 91 octane?

I am running 87, FWIW.

[e30addict]

I get between 46 and 50, so I don't know what you're doing. Aren't you running 91 octane?

I am running 87, FWIW.

Octane barely makes a difference. I tried a few tanks of 87.

The Arrow tune is supposedly very rich. I'm sure that's the big difference. I'd consider tweaking it, but I'm not doing blind. Going to pile the miles on it first too.

Even with your better mileage though, a heavier bike with 45 more HP is matching it.

[rsw81]

I'm actually shocked how bad the gas mileage is on the Street Triple. I get 42-44 mixed, but really don't get over 44-45 all highway. My old FZ6 used to pull 55-60 all day, regardless of the type of riding I was doing.

[obsolete]

I have not idea what my Speed gets mainly cause I don't care.

[reks95]

Yeah, not so much... I can't think of a single person who has purchased a performance oriented motorcycle and then regretted it because it consumes too much fuel.

Everything's a trade off. I specifically didn't look for something bigger than the Street because I didn't want to get worse gas mileage.
I use my bike as my primary transportation and I had 40mpg in mind (which is what I ended up with).
If it had been 30, I'd have regretted it - there are plenty of bikes that can give similar performance AND give good economy.

I know some people worship Tuonos or Streetfighters as the best nakeds, but it's my experience that Italian motorcycles only burn hydrocarbons which are convenient and let the rest go by.

[01xj]

I'm actually shocked how bad the gas mileage is on the Street Triple. I get 42-44 mixed, but really don't get over 44-45 all highway. My old FZ6 used to pull 55-60 all day, regardless of the type of riding I was doing.

Mileage was one thing I am having a hard time adjusting to on my Street. My FZ6 I could push 200 miles before a fill up. My street I need to start looking for gas at 100 miles. Kind of cramps my style since it's not uncommon for me to do 100 miles without stopping.

I have not idea what my Speed gets mainly cause I don't care.

I told myself this before purchasing. But it is a bit irritating to have to stop all the fucking time. Especially 4 times in one day. Then again, I only have my right hand to blame for this.

[drinkingmymilk]

Yeah, not so much... I can't think of a single person who has purchased a performance oriented motorcycle and then regretted it because it consumes too much fuel.

Have you ever been on a 300-500 mile day with a Ducati owner.

Mileage was one thing I am having a hard time adjusting to on my Street. My FZ6 I could push 200 miles before a fill up. My street I need to start looking for gas at 100 miles. Kind of cramps my style since it's not uncommon for me to do 100 miles without stopping.

Are you even letting the light come on at 100? My light comes on at 120ish fill up at 140ish. And we both know my right hand is worse then yours.

[Kenn157]

When I got my 2011 Speed Triple I had the Arrow slip-ons and was getting between 41-43 mpg. Earlier this year I swapped out them out for the 3 into 1 Arrow lowboy. What a difference in power and brute torque. Mileage is now 38 if I'm lucky. Yes I'm getting on it much more and can't enough! I sold my slip-ons to Obsolete Talus here on NESR has the Street Triple with Arrow lowboy and Ohlins, I've let him ride my Speed a lot and now he wants a liter bike. A Speed Triple or a Tuono
if you look at my profile avatar pic it says "Go Fast" the new Speed Triple!

[nhbubba]

If you buy a middle-weight with good range, you find yourself faced with a challenge of trying to find an out of the way place to park every-other 150 mile gas stop while everyone else fills up.