Triumphrat

BobbyB · 08-28-2007, 01:33 PM

I am very interested in buying a new Speed Triple, but everyone and everything I read keeps telling me that it it wheelie crazy. I'm 38 years old and not interested in popping wheelies every time I twist the throttle. Is this bike really that hard to keep the front wheel on the ground? I want a fun bike to ride the twisties with and commute to work. A fun bike, but not a bike that I can't keep the front wheel on the ground.

XavyBaby13 · 08-28-2007, 01:38 PM

I guess I ride like a complete puss puss because I have never lifted the wheel . Came pretty close, however theres been plenty of times on other smaller bikes when I saw stars followed by pavement hitting the back of my head .

but I wish I could pull it up like everyone else

Max_NYC · 08-28-2007, 01:52 PM

Man, believe me, you won't pop wheelies every time you twist the throttle. I wish! But it takes a little more work than that to lift the front wheel on a Speed Triple. To answer your question, yes it's easy to keep the front wheel on the ground.

BobbyB · 08-28-2007, 02:03 PM

I appreciate the info. guys. I ride a Harley Low Rider now, it is pumped up some, but there is not very much danger of popping wheelies on it. I just didn't want to get in over my head.

Diego · 08-28-2007, 02:07 PM

> Is this bike really that hard to keep the front wheel on the ground?

No. It will certainly lift up when you want it to, but unless you're just naturally heavy-handed on the throttle, it's a remarkably controllable machine.

An instance from my own experience: During break-in, I was approaching the 500 mile service, and realized I hadn't taken the engine near the applicable r.p.m. limit very often yet. So, leaving a stop sign on a quiet rural road, I decided to accelerate a bit more aggressively than I had been doing... gave it a little extra throttle to reach the limit just before shifting into third, and felt the forks reach the limit of their travel. Just for the heck of it I went ahead let it rise a few inches before reaching the r.p.m. limit, then eased off slightly and settled back down, all under thorough control. But the moral is, you'll feel when it's about to rise, and if you haven't just cranked the throttle wide open, you'll have time to able to react appropriately.

DGA · 08-28-2007, 02:49 PM

This is a very smooth, predictable bike, that does wheelies when you want it to, but yet again it will not if you don't want it.

J_DOGG · 08-28-2007, 03:08 PM

I'm 36 years young and come from a Dyna Low Rider myself, in fact I was on my second Dyna before I decided to get a city bike.

Speedy will be as smooth or violent as you want it to be... simple as that....

Mesoam · 08-28-2007, 03:41 PM

GEARING! one tooth on the front sprocket will keep the bike planted always

T-bone · 08-28-2007, 06:02 PM

I Switched from a VTX1800 to my speedy in april, and for the type of riding your talking about (I do about the same with some light touring this summer) I think you will love it... Coming from a big twin to the speedy I found that I tended to short shift it a little (especially in town) and by doing so I have no problem keeping it planted... It's pretty easy to find the sweet spot in the twisties and throttle control on my 07 is great... Go get one you won't regret it...

simonp · 08-29-2007, 02:50 PM

Its all about your wrist. You have the power to decide. If you totally nail it in first or second from low speed it will rise up but not like some evil bucking bronco, but predictably. If you wind on smoothly it will never happen. If in doubt, keep the clutch covered and back off.

What these guys are saying is true, if you are not in psycho mood the bike is not going to assassinate you. Can't guarantee it won't bring out the devil in you though, but that's between you and your conscience I guess. Either way you will be laughing your cock off every time you ride it once you adapt to the different style of bike