Potential Triumph Newbie

Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by Biker Jock, Nov 16, 2014.

  1. Biker Jock

    Biker Jock Senior Member

    Nov 16, 2014
    626
    243
    Hi All,

    Three years ago I decided to swap my Aprilia Falco (9 years ownership) for a Triumph, so went along to my local Triumph dealers...

    ... And came away with a BMW R1200S!

    Bit of a failure there, but the Beemer has been a brilliant bike. Now I am looking again for a Triumph. This time, I am sure of what I want - a Sprint ST 1050. I lean towards the sporty side but want a practical touring bike as well, and the Sprint ST seems to fit the bill nicely.

    My question is, anything I should look out for when buying a Sprint ST? Reports seem to rate it highly, except for the panniers. Are they as flimsy and leaky as I've read? (OK, two questions).

    Cheers
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. PJT

    PJT Active Member

    Oct 20, 2014
    116
    43
    Leicestershire. UK.
    Hello and welcome to the forum. I've not heard of any problems with the panniers. However Give do excellent panniers.
     
  3. Richard H

    Richard H Noble Member

    Oct 26, 2012
    1,132
    300
    Swadlincote Derbyshire England
    Hi and welcome, Sprint ST 1050 is a great bike and I've not heard anything that would stop me buying one. That 1050cc Triple will seem so smooth, powerful and torquey after riding Beemer.
     
  4. SteveJ

    SteveJ Super Moderator

    Aug 12, 2013
    524
    113
    North Hampshire
    Hi and welcome to the forum.

    The Sprint 1050 is a great bike with a very usable engine and you could always opt for aftermarket luggage if not happy with the original.

    Cheers

    Steve
     
  5. stevethegoolie

    stevethegoolie Elite Member

    Oct 16, 2014
    2,454
    800
    East Riding of Yorkshire
    Had test rides on both the ST and the GT in the dim and distant past, so cannot say anything too definitive except that the 1050 engine is superb and they were both comfy enough for a 6ft/18st fat bastid i.e. me!! As for luggage, many say the Triumph stuff is overpriced and not of the best quality - I couldn't possibly comment! - and also at 31ltrs (I think) the panniers are too small. I use 3x36 litre Givi boxes on my Trident plus a magnetic tank bag which between them hold enough for two weeks away for me and SWMBO. I'm sure Givi do luggage for Sprints and that is the way I'd go, but with possibly a 42/46ltr top box. Just put light stuff in the top box as too much weight may upset the handling - so I'm lead to believe!
     
  6. Biker Jock

    Biker Jock Senior Member

    Nov 16, 2014
    626
    243
    Thanks for the welcome and feedback. I'm hoping to get a decent used Sprint with panniers, so I'll give them and the rest of the bike a good check over before parting with any hard-earned. I'll also blag a test ride too, to make sure it really is the bike for me.

    Watch this space...
     
  7. folkbloke

    folkbloke Well-Known Member

    Jul 20, 2013
    310
    63
    Sussex
    Hi and welcome :smile:

    The Sprint is a brilliant bike, my son-in-law had one and loved it.

    If you're thinking sporty and touring I'd also consider the Tiger 1050 or Tiger Sport. I had a 1050 and it was easily fast enough for me, handled really well and was easily capable of 500 mile days. Luggage was shite though. Double skinned panniers and top box were incredibly strong but also very small!
     
  8. Biker Jock

    Biker Jock Senior Member

    Nov 16, 2014
    626
    243
    Thanks Folkbloke, the problem I have with the more upright position of the Tiger and other adventure / touring bikes, is I get severe backache after a couple of hours. I'm sure there are exercises I could do to strengthen my posture, but I'm just more comfortable with a sportier position. I've covered 450+ miles in a day on the BMW R1200S without any problem, so I think the Sprint would be the better choice for me.

    Cheers again...
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. folkbloke

    folkbloke Well-Known Member

    Jul 20, 2013
    310
    63
    Sussex
    That's interesting. I found the Tiger was too sporty for me and went to an America :wink:

    What got me was the weight on the wrists which gave me numb hands. A pity as other than that the bike was a very capable machine.

    Best of luck with the new bike when it arrives :smile:
     
  10. SteveJ

    SteveJ Super Moderator

    Aug 12, 2013
    524
    113
    North Hampshire
    By the way how did you get on with the Falco? I had a 2004 RSV but had all sorts of electrical issues with mine but always thought that the Falco was the best bike in the range that they did and still see a few about down this way.
     
  11. Biker Jock

    Biker Jock Senior Member

    Nov 16, 2014
    626
    243
    I loved the Falco. I'm a big fan of V-twins and the engine was a beaut. The finish was brilliant and it looked as good the day I sold it as when I got it 9 years before. No electrical problems although it did eat batteries, although I think I got that sorted by the last battery I fitted (it might have been a faulty trickle charger lead).

    Handling was good enough for the road, but on a track day, I couldn't get it round the hairpin - it kept drifting wide and I was always getting left behind coming out of the hairpin. That may have been 20% bike and 80% rider to blame though. I find the BMW R1200S handles better, and on my first day with it, my biking buddy (now emigrated to NZ - was it something I said?) commented that I was holding a better line and carrying more speed on the Beemer than on the Falco.
     
  12. ColLamb

    ColLamb Active Member

    Jun 29, 2014
    134
    43
    Preston, Lancashire
    Hi

    I had a 1050 ST for six years and still regret selling it.

    Engine is superb, torquey, cruised at 130+ on her in Germany, rock solid. A Touring screen is a worthwhile add on. Averaged 55+ mpg, comfort is great and later STs had riser bars which were 1 inch up and 1 inch back compared to early STs

    Panniers leaked until a mod in 2006/7 so make sure they are the modded version.

    With the bike the trailing arm bearing is a known problem.

    Check out the wiring loom at the front left under the front faring when sitting on the bike, mine developed a fault due to an over tight tie wrap that had been fitted when the heated grips were added.

    The absolute worst thing is the headlights, they are dire.

    Superb bike
     
  13. SteveJ

    SteveJ Super Moderator

    Aug 12, 2013
    524
    113
    North Hampshire
    I think that emigrating to New Zealand may have had more to do with there being roads like this over there :wink:

    025.jpg 053.jpg 059-1.jpg 039.jpg

    053.jpg

    025.jpg

    059-1.jpg

    039.jpg
     
  14. Clarkey

    Clarkey Well-Known Member

    Sep 28, 2014
    236
    93
    Bit late but welcome to the forum
     
  15. Dodge74

    Dodge74 Active Member

    Oct 16, 2014
    151
    43
    Lincoln
    Hi, welcome to the forum , I like the 1050 sprint , took a ride on one the other week , a mate's got one . It was very nice , preferable to the vfr800 , my personal choice though would be the Tiger 1050 , they are the business , or the adventurer , but if you have back problems in that riding position then maybe not , either way you won't regret buying a Triumph , they're ace
     
  16. chrispy

    chrispy Well-Known Member

    May 1, 2013
    331
    83
    Salisbury,wiltshire
    Welcome to the forum :upyeah:
     
  17. Eternal Noob

    Eternal Noob Member

    Dec 12, 2014
    28
    8
    Oxfordshire, England
    Hello
    I have just bought one with full Triumph luggage. Will keep you updated on both but first impressions the bike very smooth compared to 600 fazer that I did my test on and the luggage (not having any experience with these) remove and open easily but very much smaller than I was expecting I can get my helmet in the top box but only if positioned in a certain way.
    Ride safe
     

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