I think the fueling is an issue with all modern bikes - when you first apply throttle, unless you feather the clutch there is a slight "snatch" or "jerk" when the engine goes from zero throttle input to a positive amount. My Fireblade suffers from this but not as much, neither did the Hornet.
That would maybe make it a less easier bike to ride smoothly in town, but to be honest it is a stunning bike and in many ways more fun that the blade!
A Power Commander should help by smoothing out the throttle inputs if required (friends CBR600RR has that and the difference is stuning!).
One thing I would say is that the fly screen and front cowl do let you go a little faster than the Hornet, making a good difference in wind reduction for me - 5'11" tall guy that is...
The thing I liked about the demo was the colour - roulette green and stunning that was! I didnt like the gel seat - would rather have standard and in Kevlar jeans it wasn't all that comfy, but no worse than the Honda. I would have the bellypan but would also think about a stainless steel exhaust as the demo was already showing signs of corrosion from a bike with 1400 miles.
Best thing about the Street Triple was the noise and torque. Shifted up to fifth at one point when the reserve came on and the petrol station was a good 10 miles away on twisties - bike overtook and got round perfectly.
In summary, the Hornet was like a M&S suit, does the job but nothing special, the Triumph was like a bespoke Saville Row jobby and made you feel special from the moment you turned the key and fired up that amazing engine. It does has its shortcomings: build quality seems ok but not great, look inside the petrol cap and you'll see the paint finish looks less than great - although who really cares about that.
For me a naked bike should be about the engine. The Honda has a great unit but it's wrapped in a scooter like fairing and frame, not my cup of tea at all. I have a plastic-fantastic Fireblade for the smooth torque and frightening speed moments, but the Street Triple - a bike for all occasions, not just smooth A-roads and one I could live with, even with the throttle action and lesser apparent build quality than the Honda... But like my Fireblade testride and subsequent purchase, I find myself recalling my brief time with the Timorous Green Beastie the next day, the only decision is which colour!
I thought they were stainless steel !
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