Took the Tiger 800 for a service and MoT last week, and on the phone I had heard, "we'll let you try a Street Triple while it's in". So imagine my initial disappointment when they wheeled out a Street Twin. "Ah OK", I said not really filled with enthusiasm. I imagined going to the nearest cafe and trying to make a coffee last four hours until the "it's ready" call. After the Tiger, it felt like sitting on a child's bicycle at first, and the tiny mirrors didn't seem like they'd be much use. As I bounded out of the car park, surprised by its eagerness and proper bike sound (i.e. Parallel big twin from the sixties), the low speed handling felt odd. So a gentle pootle to the nearest cafe became a little more energetic as I discovered the joy of winding it on hard (it is relative) out of corners, listening to the sixties sound track, and relishing the way it pulled really quite well. The cafe stop became quite short, and I took a photo and headed off for the countryside. This is a basic bike with basic suspension, which I thought at first was going to upset the ride, but actually didn't. But enjoy riding the torque out of bends, keeping at (mostly) legal speeds, and find the right gear (only 5 to choose from) for the next corner and it is a huge amount of fun. The four hours went very quickly, I used up a tank of petrol, and didn't want to take it back. I am absolutely certain I wouldn't have enjoyed the Street Triple as much. This was a real motorbike experience that I remember from my youth (BSA and Matchless 650). Proper sound and proper grunt, but no oil leak, and brakes that work, though I didn't need to touch them very often with the strong engine braking. I want one (to go with the BMW scrambler and the F800R that I also want from previous test rides). It's great when a prejudice is proven wrong.
Nice write up but I have to say, go back and try the Street Triple, I loved it, gotta say that again... I loved it, what a fantastic little engine that is, for a 675 it wanted to play with the big boys lol. I was given the RS to take out as one of the four test ride bikes I booked. My god it was awesome, it was light enough to throw around in the bends and very quick to come out of them. I would say by far it was a much better bike than my GSXR1000 and way more fun, Go back Jock, you wont be sorry. I hear you ask why didn't I buy one, ahhh there is a story of bad back, surgery on my spine etc etc etc and its a younger mans bike, hence why I bought a Bonneville.
Cheers Andy. I will try a Street Triple if I can blag a go on one, but I should add 'again' in there. My preference is for twins (I have a BMW R1200S and before, an Aprilia Falco), but I did fancy the idea of a Street Triple before I went for the R12S. I found it a bit fizzy after the Aprilia. But, I since added a Tiger 800 to my fleet (of 2), after also initially rejecting it as an option. I now really like the Tiger and understand how to use the engine, so I may well get on a whole lot better with the Street Triple now. But I do love twins - I just hadn't anticipated the grunt the little T100 would deliver, hence my initial prejudice.
I have a Tiger 800XRx and a Street Twin. Love them both. And I guarantee you'll love the new Street Triple if you try it. Better power/weight ratio than the 1050 Speed Triple. Agile and bloody quick.
Yesterday I had a brief ride on a street twin. I will echo all that Jack has to say. Even the basic looking clocks can actually give a good amount of information. Felt tiny for a 900 against my trident but a very very pleasant ride.
Have a Speed Triple and a Bonneville (2014) and 1st choice for an afternoon ride is always the Bonnie. Try the T120 - more grunt than the Speed - if I can ever decide 'no more track days' I can see me trading in the Speed and the Bonnie for one.
The beauty of the twins is that they're so detuned. Uncork the exhaust and pop off the AI & snorkel and zoom. I'm a Yank so perhaps you blokes in the UK have a different tune.
