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T100 --> Street Cup ?

10K views 31 replies 10 participants last post by  Quarterwit 
#1 ·
Hi all

I'm seriously looking at trading in the trusty 2005 T100 for a new Street Cup. Has anyone made the move and got comment on how they found the move - good or bad. I went to my local dealer today and had a feel of the entire new range of bikes, but I love the SC. One of my main questions is around the feel of the bike in regards weight and size. I haven't looked at the exact specs but the SC feels quite a bit 'less bike' than my T100, possibly bought about by the obvious difference in tank size. Dry weight is only 5kg less than the Trumpy but it sure feels a whole light lighter!

Cheers
 
#3 ·
It's very well balanced and carries its weight down low, so it feels much lighter than it is, and thus very forgiving. It really feels like you could throw it around sometimes lol. It is very easy to maneuver at low speed, and a joy in the twisties if you push it. I prefer smaller lighter bikes, so it is perfect for me.
 
#6 ·
The wheels alone would account for most of the 5 kgs...the old spoked steelies are the heaviest stock wheels sold on our machines. Between reduced rotating mass and more aggressive overall geometry, the bike will be hugely more responsive/feel much lighter on its feet than the weight difference would imply. The only real way to know is to test ride some of the new machines...
 
#7 ·
Went by my dealers today to see a Street Cup (still a weird name) in black/gray. If I didn't already have two Bonnies in the garage, I would have taken it out for a ride and probably bought it. Riding position is a good blend of T120 upright and Thruxton forward lean. And it feels very light. I wasn't originally a fan, but I think I've come over....
 
#8 ·
I have a friend who owned his new Street Cup for all of a week before returning it to the dealer in trade for a new Street Triple. The SC just didn't fit him. He otherwise loved the bike, but the pegs were too far forward for him. The dealer took good care of him on the trade because he didn't have the opportunity to test ride the bike, and he's a great customer.

I didn't get the chance to ride his SC, but I looked it over closely and it's beautiful.
 
#9 ·
I rode the Street Cup around on the Australian launch for two days. A few years ago I owned a Bonnie.

It's really hard to understate how different they are. They're both twins but they behave quite differently.

The Street Cup will turn in a lot quicker and feel more stable through turns. The brakes are slightly better, but not by much. It does, however have ABS and electronic stability control.

It will feel like it runs out of breath quicker than your bike. Anything past 5000RPM's is mostly noise, moreso than the old air cooled engine. It's not the torque monster that Triumph claim it is, but I prefer it over the old donk.

While some parts of the fit and finish are better, I think that the Street Cup is a little unfinished. Some cabling is visible in a gap between the seat and the frame, there's some annoying alignment marks on the side of the headlight as well.

If you're running stock suspension on your old T100 the Street Cup's suspension, even stock, will **** all over it.

The main different you'd find is how much lighter and more lithe it is. There isn't too much in the weight difference, but it's really really really noticeable. It carries all it's weight down low now.

But you'll also be wading right into a bike that doesn't have much aftermarket support as yet. It's weird going from the world of air cooled Bonnevilles into the new range powered by the 'd class' engine and finding bugger all out there. Certainly when it comes to engine and exhaust modifications anyway.

There's also a dearth of information around at the moment about servicing the Street Cup. The service intervals are much longer so if you're paying someone it'll be cheaper but there's still no guide on how to do the valves, for example. Although they are exceptionally easy to do.

For what it's worth I did a write up of the press launch in Australia and a review of the Street Cup.

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2017/01/18/review-2017-triumph-t100-street-cup.html

Hope this helps mate!
 
#13 ·
I rode the Street Cup around on the Australian launch for two days. A few years ago I owned a Bonnie.




http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2017/01/18/review-2017-triumph-t100-street-cup.html

Hope this helps mate!
So you were the only one who didn't prefer the T-120 over the smaller 900cc Twins among the x numbers of bike journalists trying the T-100, Street Cup & T-120?

If yes, that means, depending of no of test riders off-course that the T-120 is the bike to get for 90% of us if money is not a problem and not new to bike riding?

The reason I am asking is because I am having a hard time deciding for myself and test rides are hard/impossible to get where I live.
 
#20 ·
Funny you should mention the maggie - I'm wandering backwards and forwards between the SC and just "upgrading" the T100 to something along the lines of a 2013/2014 Bonnie or SE. I want a SC/Thruxton look without the slightly harsh (for me) riding position of the Thruxton. The SC would be great but I figure that I can have the pleasure of customizing a newer machine to my liking and save a few thousand (NZD) in the process. I still have this affinity to the air-cooled machines that I can't quite shake yet. Maybe I'll grab a SC in a year or so when the bugs are ironed out and there are some low mileage second hand ones about
 
#22 ·
Have not yet had the pleasure of riding the new T100 but I can report that the handling is superb on my T120. It's very capable and its handling inspires great confidence. All around, it's the best bike I've ever owned.

Seems like any choice made within the new water cooled Bonneville line is going to be a good one.
 
#23 ·
Yes interesting that 2 people says that the T100 is more nippy/better handling that the T-120. That last guy in the vid said that he has a Street Triple, so not a beginner biker too.

Anyway 2 reviews of the Street Cup have surfaced recently, interestingly that the tester from Motorcycle.com said that he felt the bike was cruising well at 90mph and will go quickly up to 110 with a bit more left, which will be enough for me, not many places in Thailand you can cruise long stretches at that speed or you will kill yourself:

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2017-triumph-street-cup-first-ride-motorcycle-review

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/triumph/2017-triumph-street-cup-review.html
 
#24 ·
having not tested any water cooled bonnie but setting on several IMO the 1200 bonnie feels a bit top heavy, the T-100 just feels better + of course the cup like my air cooled maggie feels best with it being lower. ride comfort will vary per individual + being older have been enjoying the cruiser position on my hammer. the maggie + cup being similar riding comfort is prolly similar with slightly rear set pegs that may not suit the knees of some riders on longer rides, but handling of the lower mag wheeled bikes is surely superior. as for air or water a leftover or preowned air cooled maggie is a good value if you can find one. they are simpler with lots of aftermarket parts for less than the newer models, either way bonnies are great bikes + the water cooled models were very well done keeping the fins to help cooling + looks + a smallish radiator that looks more like a bigger oil cooler!!! for about 1G you can get Bitubo shocks + cartridges + another $500 for a killer pretech caliper with required different brake line, giving a great braking bike with suspension tailored for your weight!!!
 
#25 ·
Everything in design involves compromise. Weight was compromised, slightly, in the design of the T120 v. the T100. We're talking 11 kg or about 24 lbs here. If I were to unbolt the T120's center stand and grab rail, weight would be identical, but the T120 would still have 1/3 again more displacement and six gears. I wouldn't do this, though, because these features are just too useful. I'm also very much enjoying the T120's heated grips and cruise control.

I've been riding a very long time and I can tell you that the T120's handling was not compromised. It's just about perfect, as is. If you want a smaller bike, get the smaller bike, but know that it's, well, smaller, and less capable.

Will great respect, guys, it's not valid to even try to compare the newer water cooled Triumph twins to the older air cooled ones. I've owned both and for me, there's no going back. On the older bikes, performance and handling at best approach the adequate, and the bike's best feature is often its styling.

My T120 is the best thing I've done for myself in a long time.
 
#27 ·
I've been riding a very long time and I can tell you that the T120's handling was not compromised. It's just about perfect, as is. If you want a smaller bike, get the smaller bike, but know that it's, well, smaller, and less capable.
Handling is kind of a vague word. I'm sure the T120 is capable of doing anything the T100 is, probably just requires a little more effort. It really doesn't take much weight to make a difference. I could feel a significant difference in the lightness of the steering in my 800lb Victory Cross Roads just by removing the 10lb windscreen. And that extra disc on the T120 is unsprung and spinning mass.
Like you say, it's all compromise. T120 will brake better, T100 turn in a little easier. The Cross Roads was big fun to ride around the backroads at 50 mph without the windshield. I could barely take a mile of it on the interstate like that. Even doing everything I could with my core to take the weight off my hands, my arthritic knuckles would still hurt like hell trying to hang on at highway speed.
 
#28 ·
I think the end result is that it's not as straightforward a choice as picking the T120 over the T100 as it's more upspec. It is, but it's got some nuances that aren't present in the smaller model.

Both seem to be exceptional bikes really. The whole new retro classic range is bloody fantastic.

The head of tech for Triumph told me that the extra mass of the flywheel in the T120 makes a noticeable difference with turn in ability as well.

Either way though, both are great bikes. I didn't think there'd be so much of a difference between the two.
 
#30 ·
No it's a very hard choice for me and the price difference between T120/100 is about 3000US$ too in Thailand.

But then again with all the crazy drivers here, really really good brakes is a must, but an agile bike can also get you out of trouble by counter steering, hmm.

I am always riding solo, so in that regard, T-100 is okay.

You guys from the US will likely prefer the T-120 as you are generally used to high cc capacity bikes/cars and I admit there is no substitute for cc.

Decisions-decisions, well at least they are nice ones and I will try hard to get some test rides and get my own impressions but as mentioned a short test ride will not give you the full picture.
 
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