|
As
soon as you release the clutch on the new Speed Triple, it is clear
that every outing could end with jail time. The old 955cc version with
its big power and ready-for-action upright riding position held a
special place in the dark confines of the hooligan's heart, but this
new one with a stouter chassis and more displacement will displace it.
The changes don't seem so dramatic-just 95cc here, a flipped fork
there and a styling nip and tuck. But the sum of these tweaks has led
to a much-improved motorcycle.
Even with the limited mileage offered by the snow-shortened press
introduction in the South of France (see sidebar), it was clear the
Speed Triple had elevated the thug's game. After this
brief-but-enticing taste, we immediately arranged for a day-ride on a
stateside loaner and had our initial impressions confirmed: The new
1050cc Speed Triple kicks ass, while also being much more refined than
the previous model.
See, as much as we loved the old "Trip," it was always a little
rough around the edges. Throttle response could be abrupt and the shock
harsh, while below-the-waistline "styling" left some unattractive fluid
plumbing and front turnsignal mounts that were, if you'll excuse the
invented word, "affrontational."
New styling cleans up the signal mounts and engine, while giving the
bike a new twist on the old punk theme. It clearly remains a Speed
Triple (twin headlights, of course!), even with its new docked tail,
five-spoke rims and twin, upswept exhausts with stainless silencers.
"We wanted to give the impression of riding an engine with wheels,"
said Product Manager Ross Clifford about the new 1050cc Tripper.
 |
| This thug is livin' clean: Exhaust catalyzers in the
stainless exhaust system reduce emissions from the 128-horsepower,
1050cc inline-Triple. |
Mission accomplished. For not only is the engine the visual anchor,
it is the magic center of the Speed Triple's goodness. The dohc
inline-Three's sound is throaty, delicious, deep and full of power and
gruff soul like Pavarotti after, say, 1050 non-filtered ciggies.
Response is immediate and hearty. From 2000 rpm in the lower gears, the
Speed Triple jumps forward. Despite the 6.4mm-longer stroke,
the bigger engine is smoother than the previous version. In fact, it's
really easy to smack into the 10,000-rpm rev-limiter.
"Everything is new," said Clifford about the liquid-cooled engine. A
redone cylinder head features altered port shapes, while recast cases
contain the new stroker crank. Outer covers now have crisp edges, while
some of the formerly exposed coolant lines have been rerouted to the
back of the engine or up under the 4.7-gallon fuel tank. The oil-cooler
is now located under the radiator rather than hung off the engine's
right side. The major coolant hoses on the left remain, but ya gotta
have coolant and ya gotta have a radiator if you want to make a claimed
128 horsepower and 78 foot-pounds of torque reliably from a liter-class
engine.
|
