Triumph Scores a Hat trick With The Speed Triple.

Bikes

The three things you want from a bike, performance, handling and looks. Jeremy Webb finds all these when testing the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 S on the bikers’ road between Petersfield and Haywards Heath.

Dave from Triumph UK delivered the Speed Triple and said: “ You’ll have a lot of fun on this.”

I smiled a knowing smile. The day was beautiful, crisp, sunny and clear blue skies. A biking day, and I knew exactly where I would head with the Triumph. The A272 spans Hampshire with West Sussex, travelling through some beautiful towns and villages along the course. I joined the A272 near Petersfield in Hampshire and headed East towards Haywards Heath.

The distance between towns is 43 miles and is mainly single carriage with a couple of passing dual sections. The road has lovely winding sections with changes of elevation too. Also for bikers, it has the all-important straights.

Back to the bike.

Triumph’s au naturale Speed Triple 1050 S is a back to basics bike stripped down to allow raw, pure riding pleasure. It has all the modern technology you need but nothing superfluous which would change its character.

No fairing, no handguards, no luggage racks, no need to worry; it delivers plenty of fun and, on this style of bike, you don’t need them. A Streetbike/part Cafe Racer it would not be out of place on a race track and I am sure many owners will take theirs to circuits every chance they have.

The 1050 engine delivers a major evolution in performance with 117 NM of torque. Peak torque is up by 4% with a smooth curve across the range up to 150 PS of power. The 10PS greater power means the engine spins up faster and revs harder for longer.

The Speed Triple S has four riding modes where you can choose from Rain, Road, Sport, and Rider-Configurable modes. These speak for themselves, with Rain cutting the amount of power to the wheel hopefully preventing spinning on greasy surfaces.

To access these modes you use the new generation of motorcycle connectivity for 2019, the Triumph TFT, which is designed to deliver an enhanced rider experience with a host of class-defining connectivity features. It measures 5″ and has three screen styles which are all adjustable to light for full optimum visibility.

The bike is great value for what you get in terms of specifications and performance, the model starts at £11,600.00.

Handling is superb with the suspension comprised of front Showa 43mm upside down forks with adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping, and boasting 120 mm of travel. The rear Showa monoshock with adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping, has 130 mm rear wheel travel, allowing it to soak up the harshest of surfaces. I actually took the bike off-road to get some images, where it behaved really well and I was very impressed.

I could not have wished for a better bike for riding along the A272, which mirrors the South Downs Way stretching along the hills of Hampshire and Sussex. The road is in the sight of the beautiful hills which are lovely to walk. But, being a biker, the road is much more a source of enjoyment with its challenging twists and turns.

From Petersfield heading East, you come across Midhurst which is an ancient market town and major crossways of roads. Head South and you travel towards Chichester, the County town of West Sussex with its beautiful Cathedral. North takes you to Guildford and Horsham and on to London. Continuing East from Midhurst you come across many splendid little towns each with their own character.

Midhurst is home to Cowdry park which is world famous for the polo grounds right near the estate. During summer, polo is played regularly and attracts large crowds, so if you are riding the A272 you have to be aware of congestion.

From Midhurst continuing East you get to Petworth which is an old town formed around the large Petworth estate. This is a vast walled estate enclosing deer and various other livestock which you can see from the A272 as you ride along. The town has many antique shops and coffee stops.

The Speed Triple handles the twists and turns of the A272 with ease and it makes for a pleasurable ride.

The final leg of the A272 takes you into Haywards Heath which has lovely gardens, hosting a miniature gauge railway running in Spring and Summer. Nearby is the famous BlueBell Railway which is a preserved line for Steam Locomotives. It is a great place to stop and watch the trains go by.

I mentioned that I had found the three things owners want in a bike. Triumph has achieved these and scored many goals. If you are looking for a naked bike you could do no better than choosing a Speed Triple S.

 

 

 

 

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