Triumphrat

mattjanes · 03-05-2009, 03:36 AM

Hi, I'm new to this game and wondered if anyone has experience of the Street Triple and Street Triple R, who can advise on the relative riding position of the two bikes.

I'm going to buy one of the two once I've passed my test. I haven't ridden either yet, which will obviously be the best test but I am interested to hear what your views are.

I had a lower back operation a few years ago which does give me problems from time to time and I'm interested to know if there's a real difference in the riding position on the two bikes. I don't want to be too hunched over the front wheel, due to pressure on my lower spine.

The specs suggest that the R has a more aggressive riding position but I'd like to know from you, real people!!

Thanks for any help you can offer. By the way, I'm in the UK, on the south coast.

Cheers
Matt

SMF77 · 03-05-2009, 09:28 AM

Hello,
I have sat on both the Street Triple and Triple R. I had read that about the R as well. I had a chance to choose which one I wanted and I went with the less expensive Triple. To me the riding position is very normal, I don't feel like i am leaned forward at all, and I feel quite tall in the saddle. I previously have only ridden cruisers and the only difference in riding position that I can really tell is that my legs seem tucked back a lil. It took a little bit of time to get used to for me, but the bike was worth it and I have been quite comfortable on it. I have about 150 miles on my bike and have owned it just over a week. The weather here in Iowa is iffy at best, but once it hits 50 or so I am out there! THe R to me might be a lil more leaned forward, but am not sure how much of a noticible difference there is. I'm sure you could prob look at the geometry through cycle world or motorcyclist somehow. Hope that helps!

mattjanes · 03-05-2009, 09:32 AM

Thanks very much for your reply, that's really helpful. Out of interest, why did you go for the non-R version? I have the same decision to make!

alphamang · 03-05-2009, 09:43 AM

Take a stroll through the forums a bit more.

I believe there have been threads regarding this very question of riding position.

Also, as far as I can remember, it was pointed out that the riding positions are identical (although the bike itself is leaned forward more, not riding position).

thegazzyb · 03-05-2009, 10:29 AM

Hi,

I have the R and to me the riding position seems pretty upright and relaxed. I think the difference between the two bikes must be pretty minimal since my brief sit on a non-R at the dealers didn't leave me thinking that it felt all that different.

As it is a health issue in your case, you really need to try out both bikes before deciding. I'm finding my R to be the most comfortable bike I have ever owned, for what it's worth. I'm finding the supspension to be too stiff ( which does cause bumps to go right through me ) but I am planning on softening the settings as soon as the weather gets better ( still on standard settings and am a lightweight rider ).

Like I said, since you have a medical problem the best advice is to try before you buy, though generally the R riding position is not what I would call extreme.

MacBandit · 03-05-2009, 10:38 AM

Yes the seat is approx. 5mm taller but the bar risers are also approx. 5mm taller thus correcting for additional lean.

mattjanes · 03-05-2009, 10:39 AM

Thanks gazzyb, that's very helpful. I'd love to go for the R, it's not much extra cash for some great part upgrades. I do need to be careful though so will check them both out thoroughly before I buy. Adjustable suspension appeals since I'll be able to get it just right to optimise the ride for my back.

Cheers and happy (safe!) riding.
Matt

SMF77 · 03-05-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattjanes

Thanks very much for your reply, that's really helpful. Out of interest, why did you go for the non-R version? I have the same decision to make!

Well, to be honest I am a cheap sob... lol. I debated alot between the two to be honest, but I wasn't all that convinced the R was better for the money. It is a great bike and looking back now, I might have done it but I love my bike. I had never ridden my own sport bike before, and i wasn't 100 percent sure if i would like it or not. Before I used my bikes as tools for getting back and forth and this purchase was more for fun. Reguardless of which bike you choose do it cause it's the one you want, you'll get alot more enjoyment out of the bike. I got mine cause I thought it was cheaper, and i thought eventually i'd prob move up to the speed. Now looking back I think the street is bike enough and will prob end up keeping it for some time.

thegazzyb · 03-09-2009, 08:24 AM

Hi,
just wanted to let you know that the weather was good this weekend and I was able to tinker with the suspension settings on my R to try to improve the ride quality. I set all settings to the recommended "soft" settings in the R supplement to the manual ( no preload changes, all just compression and rebound damping - so you just need a screwdriver ! ) and went for a five hour ride yesterday. The ride is totally transformed, the bike reacts to surfaces like I would expect a bike to react whereas before it just felt rigid. So for everyday riding on dodgy roads the soft settings seem to be the way to go. I could imagine the bike might get a bit wallowy under hard riding now, especially when the suspension units start getting hot, but if I ever do a trackday it only requires a couple of clicks all round to get back to sportier settings.
So don't worry about the ride quality hurting your back either. The ride is fine now and if you needed to you could set the bike up even softer ( I still have 3-4 clicks to go even softer ).
I would imagine the stock settings on the R would be too hard for smaller riders ( < 70 kg ), certainly in my experience on everyday roads with potholes they made the ride very uncomfortable initially.

mattjanes · 03-09-2009, 09:07 AM

Thanks so much Gazzy, that's so helpful.

I understand that the suspension of the regular Street can't be altered so this is a really important factor for me. Really kind of you to let me know about the ride quality, very comforting to know.

I'll keep you updated once my decision and purchase is made.

Thanks again
Matt