Triumphrat

Tri-Bonn · 09-05-2010, 10:38 AM

hey guys, i'm thinking about an ST purchase while the good deals on leftovers are still available, i got to ride a GT at the Indy Triumph demo ride last weekend and was quite taken by it. it was comfortable, stable, with great grunt. twas my first time on the 1050 triple motor and i'm quite impressed, (i currently ride a bonneville) though after much online research and review reading it sounds like the GT isn't quite the handler that the ST is, which is no big surprise considering the nearly 4 inch longer swingarm and the 50 pound weight increase.. so, though i've yet to ride one, i'm thinking ST for reasons of sport and price, but my question to y'all is regarding pillion comfort on the ST? i've read it can be a task for the passenger to get on and off the thing, (my wife is quite short, but slim and agile). her approval is crucial to the purchase as my reasoning to her is that we could finally take long bike trips together, and with this bike I would not be so inclined to pine away for a 675 daytona...
anyway, can you guys give me some opinions or some idea about comfort? good for a day? a weekend? an hour? i realize that this is all very subjective but any input would be very greatly appreciated! thank you very much, Andy Dxon

roxynoodle · 09-05-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tri-Bonn

hey guys, i'm thinking about an ST purchase while the good deals on leftovers are still available, i got to ride a GT at the Indy Triumph demo ride last weekend and was quite taken by it. it was comfortable, stable, with great grunt. twas my first time on the 1050 triple motor and i'm quite impressed, (i currently ride a bonneville) though after much online research and review reading it sounds like the GT isn't quite the handler that the ST is, which is no big surprise considering the nearly 4 inch longer swingarm and the 50 pound weight increase.. so, though i've yet to ride one, i'm thinking ST for reasons of sport and price, but my question to y'all is regarding pillion comfort on the ST? i've read it can be a task for the passenger to get on and off the thing, (my wife is quite short, but slim and agile). her approval is crucial to the purchase as my reasoning to her is that we could finally take long bike trips together, and with this bike I would not be so inclined to pine away for a 675 daytona...
anyway, can you guys give me some opinions or some idea about comfort? good for a day? a weekend? an hour? i realize that this is all very subjective but any input would be very greatly appreciated! thank you very much, Andy Dxon

I have a 2003 ST and my understanding is the seating on the 99-04 models is much more comfortable for a pillion. I did ride on the back of my bike when I first looked at it and before I took it on my own test ride. I wasn't on the back very long, but I did find it quite nice.

OldAtHeart · 09-05-2010, 01:10 PM

I'm the new guy here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

While my wife hasn't actually ridden anywhere on the back of my '08 ST (she prefers to pilot her own bike), she has hopped on the pillion to try it out. With panniers mounted, it's a clumsy but manageable mount. With bags off, it's a piece of cake. She's about 5'7" with a 30-ish inch inseam.

Her first comment was on how high she was above me. A quick glance at the bike's profile reveals that issue plainly. She didn't care for that except that it provided a good view. I actually tried it out myself with her in the driver's seat and I didn't find it that intimidating a height. My guess is that it would be fine for short rides, but tiring for longer trips.

Someone with far more experience than I will chime in soon, I'm sure. But I hope that helps for now.

M.G.Vig · 09-05-2010, 01:47 PM

My mate has a 2010 ST, and with the panniers fitted, his wife really struggles to get on and off. It's so bad that he's testing a GT this week.

kubbie · 09-05-2010, 02:21 PM

My daughter has a hard time getting on the bike w/ the "hips" on, but they don't bother her after getting on.

steelerider · 09-05-2010, 11:33 PM

My wife and I just got back from a 2 hour ride tonight. She finds the seat to be very comfortable. Its easy to get on and off the bike without the panniers, just make sure that you have the kickstand down before she climbs on from the left side. In case you lose your balance the stand will catch the bike. With the panniers on, its definitley a little harder to get on and off. Then again, we rode a BMW K1200GT recently that was really hard to climb onto with the panniers. Before you ride, its advisable to tighten the rear shock up to about 5-10 clicks from 0, as the rear end does sag a bit more with the added weight - I never ridden a bike that doesnt sag a little with a passenger on the rear. The 1050 has plenty of power to pull 2 people around. Overall, the sprint handles quit well with a passenger, I do find myself more tired after a ride with my wife - she has the tendency to slide forward and slowly add al of her weight to my back and hips putting pressure on my wrists, so I have to remind her to sit up straight now and then. The seat does put her quite high above me.

TripleTreat · 09-06-2010, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tri-Bonn

her approval is crucial to the purchase as my reasoning to her is that we could finally take long bike trips together

If this is the criteria, go the GT.

The ST is fine and my wife has done quite a few km on the back relatively comfortably but there are a few provisos (assuming you will be using panniers and topbox):
1: Getting on and off the pillion seat is difficult.
2: The pillion ergos are comfortable but restrictive, the pillion is locked into position because of the small seat area.
3: The pillion's head is way in the clouds. Some like it, some don't. My wife doesn't. It also seems to create a weird turbulence/buffeting when travelling on multilane highways with traffic. Thankfully I tend to avoid highways like the plague.

The GT seems to be the 1050 version of the 955i ST, which I have also owned, and in my opinion the 955i ST was a superior two-up tourer to the 1050 ST. And the three areas that made the 955i ST the better two-up tourer are the three areas that Triumph have altered to create the 1050 GT from the 1050 ST: lights, pillion seating and access, and luggage.

Handling-wise on the 955i ST, I'd pushed the forks through the triple trees and stiffened them up, and put a heavy spring on the rear shock, and it was pretty nimble even with full luggage and pillion. Do the same on the 1050 GT and have the best of both worlds and a happy wife.

Tri-Bonn · 09-07-2010, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the great replies/input gentlemen! very helpful indeed, I continue to marvel at the helpful and good natured advice that this forum provides! i feel better armed to make the right long term decision based on the short test rides that we will surely be taking soon, (GT should be in dealers by October they tell me). be it ST or GT i'm quite excited by the prospect of Sprint ownership! thanks again very much, Andy Dixon