Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! 
Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to 
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2003
- Messages
- 4,676
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Houston
- First Name
- Paul
- Last Name
- Massie
My pictures SUCK!!!
- but my new bike rocks!
Skiphunt’s National Geographic–quality shots make me feel hopelessly inadequate as a photographer, but I think in this case, the subject helps to make up for a lack of skills.
Here’s my baby –
(You can click on any of these thumbnails to see a bigger image)
It’s an ’04 Speed Triple Special Edition, which means that the frame is black whereas it would normally be silver. There may be a few other details specific to this model, but I’ve got to confess that I'm really not up on that sort of thing. The list of mods includes:
- Triumph carbon-fibre high level slip-on
- Triumph performance tune for the ECU
- Triumph carbon-fibre tank protector
- Napoleon bar end mirrors
- Laminar Lip fly screen
- Beaded seat cover - YES, THAT'S A BEADED SEAT COVER!
I get a lot of ribbing about the beaded seat cover, but it does a terrific job of improving the comfort on this bike. Those Pakistani taxi drivers are on to a good thing there.
Everything except that and the fly screen were installed by the bike’s previous owner, Rob Spruell. I think the rear wheel axle nut cover with the Triumph logo is also an accessory item, but Rob would know more about that. About the only other thing I want to get for it is a Motech center stand.
Ergonomically, the Speed Triple compares very favorably to my dear departed Sprint RS. The seat-to-footpeg distance actually seems a bit roomier on the new bike, and the handlebars are (obviously) higher and closer, making the Triple a more comfortable daily rider at speeds up to 70 – 75 mph. At higher velocities, the bigger fairing and windscreen on the RS provides much better wind protection, but I never go that fast anyway.
Hey! What’s so funny?
Did I say something? 
Anyway, from a comfort standpoint the Speed Triple works very well for the type of riding I do, which consists mostly of short day trips and it works well enough for the longer trips too, as I found out when I went to Big Bend recently.
Compared to the RS, the suspension on the Triple is a bit stiffer, but is also more supple and controlled. I still need to set the sag and play around with the settings to find the best compromise. With the higher, wider handlebar, the bike feels lighter and easier to control and also allows the rider to sit up and move around a bit more. I like to take off down gravel roads occasionally and this bike feels much more stable and controllable on loose surfaces than the does the RS, and that’s mostly a result of the upright ergos. This is no DS bike by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a little more versatile than the typical sport-bike in that regard. I won’t wax poetic about the delicious motor since I’ve done that elsewhere already.
From a maintenance standpoint, the Speed Triple has a lot going for it – no fairings to remove, and the single-sided swing arm makes rear tire changes and chain adjustments a breeze. The black wheels are also easy to clean.
In short, this is a terrific all-around bike and one that I hope to keep for many years to come.
- but my new bike rocks!
Skiphunt’s National Geographic–quality shots make me feel hopelessly inadequate as a photographer, but I think in this case, the subject helps to make up for a lack of skills.
Here’s my baby –
(You can click on any of these thumbnails to see a bigger image)
It’s an ’04 Speed Triple Special Edition, which means that the frame is black whereas it would normally be silver. There may be a few other details specific to this model, but I’ve got to confess that I'm really not up on that sort of thing. The list of mods includes:
- Triumph carbon-fibre high level slip-on
- Triumph performance tune for the ECU
- Triumph carbon-fibre tank protector
- Napoleon bar end mirrors
- Laminar Lip fly screen
- Beaded seat cover - YES, THAT'S A BEADED SEAT COVER!
I get a lot of ribbing about the beaded seat cover, but it does a terrific job of improving the comfort on this bike. Those Pakistani taxi drivers are on to a good thing there.
Everything except that and the fly screen were installed by the bike’s previous owner, Rob Spruell. I think the rear wheel axle nut cover with the Triumph logo is also an accessory item, but Rob would know more about that. About the only other thing I want to get for it is a Motech center stand.Ergonomically, the Speed Triple compares very favorably to my dear departed Sprint RS. The seat-to-footpeg distance actually seems a bit roomier on the new bike, and the handlebars are (obviously) higher and closer, making the Triple a more comfortable daily rider at speeds up to 70 – 75 mph. At higher velocities, the bigger fairing and windscreen on the RS provides much better wind protection, but I never go that fast anyway.
Hey! What’s so funny?
Did I say something? Anyway, from a comfort standpoint the Speed Triple works very well for the type of riding I do, which consists mostly of short day trips and it works well enough for the longer trips too, as I found out when I went to Big Bend recently.
Compared to the RS, the suspension on the Triple is a bit stiffer, but is also more supple and controlled. I still need to set the sag and play around with the settings to find the best compromise. With the higher, wider handlebar, the bike feels lighter and easier to control and also allows the rider to sit up and move around a bit more. I like to take off down gravel roads occasionally and this bike feels much more stable and controllable on loose surfaces than the does the RS, and that’s mostly a result of the upright ergos. This is no DS bike by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a little more versatile than the typical sport-bike in that regard. I won’t wax poetic about the delicious motor since I’ve done that elsewhere already.
From a maintenance standpoint, the Speed Triple has a lot going for it – no fairings to remove, and the single-sided swing arm makes rear tire changes and chain adjustments a breeze. The black wheels are also easy to clean.
In short, this is a terrific all-around bike and one that I hope to keep for many years to come.
Last edited:
See above
Next time, dude!
