Hello. First of all, I don't ride a Triumph. They've never done much for me for some reason. I mean I know they're good, if reviews are anything to go by, but I have a bit of a block on British bikes, probably because I can go far enough back to remember some of the real hounds that came out of Meridan towards the end of that era. I'm BMW through and through. Have been for years. I have been watering at the mouth at the prospect of getting a ride on the new R NINE T, and yesterday I did it. It is superb. It get's great reviews and BMW have sold out. I understand why. I was all ready to put a deposit down, but while I was chilling in the BMW dealers café after my ride, I got talking to a guy who said, "before you do anything get a ride on a Triumph" Hmmm. OK why not. So today off I trundled to the trumpet shop, where I was greeted by a very eager young salesman, incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about his Triumphs. I got to grips with the spec sheets on what I would consider to be direct competition for the Beemer, which was the Street Triple, and Speed Triple. I thought I'd start with the street, so off I went on a stunning new black one. Oh dear. I do wish I hadn't because this bike has turned my whole world on it's head. If it had've been as good as the BMW R NINE T, I would have been impressed but it isn't. It's better and not by a small margin either. OK in a straight line the BMW might just edge ahead by a nose, but the Triumphs superior agility would mean it would leave it for dust when the roads started to get interesting, certainly with two of me on the bikes. And this is the baby triple. FFS what must the 1050 be like, Dunno Didn't bother riding it because frankly, I'd be spending money on extra performance I neither need, or have the talent to fully exploit, Nope. The Street is a little gem, and to top it all, it's 5 grand cheaper the BMW. Of course you know all this. I'm preaching to the converted I know, and no way do I want to get into bashing another brand, or encourage anyone else too. I just wanted to praise a great bike, as well as become a member here, as it looks like I'll be a Triumpheteer soon. Wow, I never thought I'd say that. :upyeah:
Hi and welcome to the forum. Nice write up by the way, the BMW R Nine T does look a nice stylish bike but for the cash I don't think anything beats the Street Triple. My wife owns one and loves it, I had a Speed Triple and in some ways I preferred riding the Street; it handles great and is simply great fun to ride.
If it was me I would go back and ride the Speed next to the Street to make sure. I am generously proportioned, and found the Speed a better fit and ride, and the strength of that motor has to be tried. It's a pity my old leathers would have preferred the Street though.....
Welcome to the forum and you really should try the Speed Triple its a great bike to ride, I do like the Street but just felt like they were a bit small for me.
Welcome to the fold :smile: An interesting write up! Not a lot beats the Triumph triple motor. I'd like them to put a 1050 engine in a cruiser :wink: I'd never heard of the R Nine T (that's how much I keep my eye on the non-Triumph world these days) so had to look it up. Over 12k with the luxury of a pillion seat This review seems to think the Thruxton is a competitor which I don't quite understand. Each to their own I guess.
Nice review. I like the look of the R nine but it did seem expensive. Spec sheet said it was no better than my Speed. Hello and welcome as well.
Welcome to the forum, the R nine T does look like a great bike, but costs too much for me, I'll stick with my Bonnie :wink:
I sat on an R Nine T a few weeks ago and was seriously impressed (never owned a Beemer before), but absolutely love my new Tiger Sport. The 1050 triple lump is a gorgeous motor. This'll do me for now.
Just have had a look at the BMW, looks like a case of Style over substance the bike is nice enough but look at the difference in price between that and the Thurxton or even the Speed Triple for that matter. You could also get a couple of really nice Cafe racers made for that sort of money :wink:
I had a good two hours on the R nine T, and it really is a very good bike. I too thought it was a case of style over substance, and I wanted to be underwhelmed by it, but I wasn't. It isn't great value though. The Street Triple is as good in most ways, and better in some, and it's 4/5 grand less. When I got back to the Triumph dealer, my hands were shaking out of the sheer pleasure and excitement of riding the Street and I don't know why. I mean it's nothing remarkable on paper, but yet it had me smiling every minute I was out on it, I didn't get that with the Beemer, and in fact haven't had that sort of reaction to a bike in a very long time. As I said, I'm BMW to the core so I have no axe to grind. Funnily enough, the BMW I bought my current R1200S from, has a mint 2013 Street Triple R in stock. :biggrin:
Andy I have been one of those a few years ago who had to have the newest and best sportsbike around at the time Fireblades, Ninjas and Aprilia's and the only thing you end up with is sore wrists and back and a very big hole in your bank account when you change over to the next latest and greatest bike. I traded my 09 blade a few years ago for a 2011 ex demo Speed Triple with everything on it that I wanted (in fact I took the crash bungs off as they kept getting in the way) and The Speed Triple is the only one out of the lot of them that I wish I could have kept. but from the money I got from the Speed Triple I brought a 97 Trident 750 that had only done 8000 miles and was in almost as new condition, a 93 Daytona 1000 that has done 9000 mile (and are very rare) and a 91 Honda CB 750 that is currently in the process of being turned into a Cafe Racer. I know that if I look after these bikes that I will not lose money on them and although they may not break any track records they have loads of character and sometimes get a great deal more attention at the bike cafes than my new bikes ever did. I also like working on the bikes and try to get them to as good as condition as possible. I still like the new bikes I just find the old ones a lot more fun and there is nothing like showing some idiot on a 13 Plate GSXR up on a 21 year old sports bike. :wink: The one thing that I will say is that I am hooked on the Triumphs they just seem to have more character than other bikes I have ridden :biggrin: Cheers Steve
Welcome to the forum..nice write up, great choice. The street is one of the best all round bikes I have owned. I moved up to the speed and apart from the stunning looks it did nothing for me over and above the street. (which is far lighter and more flickable) I have gone the other way and am moving to BMW. Have owned most of the makes can afford to swap and change. Still trying to get the street triple feel with a bit more power. Hoping I may have found it but I know it's not going to have the character of the triumph. But you can't have it all.. well not yet anyway... i suppose there is always the new MV triples if only they had more dealers and better support.. I mean even Yamaha have moved to triple engines to get the character.. Best of luck. When you getting your new Bike?