Hello from Seattle! I've recently gotten into riding in the last two years. Now I've grown up and gone through the phases and matured quite quickly and am now in the older gentlemen frame of mind (even though I'm 29 lol) when it comes to riding. I really just want a relaxed ride with enough power to commute in rush hour traffic. I have been drooling over triumph bikes over the past couple months trying to figure out what model to get. A little backstory on my personality, I'm completely crazy. Ive spent much of my life incarcerated, Injecting hard drugs, fighting, crashing my motorcycles at 100 mph and racing around like a dickhead. I'm telling myself now that I just want something to ride low-key. The only problem is there is a shit ton of traffic here and people drive like maniacs. I really need something with passing power at 70 mph and more because this is my main mode of transportation. I've ridden the street twin (2016), t120, and speed twin. The street seems like it's lacking in power, the T120 handles like a trailer, and the speed twin seems perfect. The problem is... I'm trying to kill my old personality. I don't have good impulse control. Even test riding I had that speed twin at 140 mph till my vision Was a blur. I guess the question is, is the NEW street twin considerably faster with the 20 percent increase in horsepower? Can it pass most cars on the freeway? Should I go with the speed twin and try to learn impulse control? I think driving a fast bike slow all the time is gonna be really hard. I guess the last question is, can I learn to drive the Bonneville in the Twisties? It doesn't want to lean over but maybe with practice it will do a little better. I almost have the money to throw down on a bike and I just can't makeup my mind over which one to get. I don't want to end up dissapointed with the street twin, but they didn't have a new model to test out. I'm hoping that the horsepower increase is adequate? Any feedback and help is appreciated!
More treatment, riding a slow bike fast is totally fun and you will learn alot more about riding and can keep you out of trouble.
Welcome aboard Phred, I can't help you in regards to the new Street twin, are there any reviews online to give an indication to how much difference the power increase makes, hope you find the bike just right for you and fall in love with it
If you are on your bike a lot I can attest that the Tiger 800 is comfy and great for long journeys, commuting and filtering. It’s got enough poke to overtake and have fun - it does >60mpg (well, mine does - but then It doesn’t get thrashed). Downside is that it doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as the classic styled bikes you have been looking at. It’s actually a bit ugly (to paraphrase Peter Cook and Dudley Moore)... I’d not swap it though - it’s been brilliant! I couldn’t imagine putting the same number of miles on a Bonnie etc...
Welcome from sunny California. I have a 2018 Street Twin. Have had it for 18 months now and 5,000+ miles. It has been flawless. I love the bike. It has plenty of power as far as I am concerned. The 2019 has a bit more. One other reason I bought the Street Twin vs a T100 was the cast wheels and tubeless tires. I can fix a roadside flat. Can't to that with a T100 or T120. And unless you redline the new 2019 Street Twin the additional power is not really all that usable. But to each his own. I believe the peak power for the 2019 Street Twin is 65 HP, and 96 HP for the 2019 Speed Twin, and the bikes weigh close the same amount at around 450 lbs. My ST
Speed Twin every time. I commute on mine, take the Mrs out 2 up, and when the mood feels ride like a lunatic. Taking it down through France soon. It's a great bike and brings smiles and thrills every time I get on it. Welcome to the forum....go on, take the plunge, Speed Twin, V&H exhaust. Cheers