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Reveling in Rebirth
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2006 Triumph Speed Triple
Basem Wasef
01/01/2006
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Photography by Kevin Wing
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In 1969 Triumph introduced the revolutionary T150 Trident,
its first sporting three-cylinder motorcycle. But the British manufacturer had
little time to enjoy its success: Only a few months later the Honda CB750
trumped the Trident’s alluring styling and performance with a 4-cylinder engine
and superior reliability. Sophisticated Hondas eventually stole the limelight
from the British company, and even the Trident could not save Triumph. A
downward financial spiral eventually resulted in the company’s liquidation in
1983.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Arai RX-7 Corsair
Suit: Kushitani 2-piece
Gloves: Kushitani GPR
Boots: Sidi Vertigo Corsa. (Click image to enlarge)
Eight years later Triumph emerged from the ashes. And though its
initial bikes sold well in England, it took the 1994 debut of the Speed Triple
for the brand to recapture the nostalgia of its Sixties heyday. The 885cc Speed
Triple’s modern package was compelling and dynamic enough to compete with
Japanese models. Stripped down and aggressively styled, its main attraction was
a visceral quality that delivered a soul-stirring connection between bike and
rider. The Speed Triple didn’t make excuses for itself, offering instead a spare
and muscular visual presence backed up with an intensely entertaining
ride.
Eleven years after the Speed Triple’s debut, Japanese, Italian, and
even American offerings have crowded the naked bike market and further
challenged the underdogs from Great Britain. But constant improvement since 1994
has made the 2006 model the company’s finest naked bike yet, offering the double
threats of formidable power and agile handling. Its 1,050cc engine produces gobs
of low-end torque, fantastic throttle response, and plenty of smooth power that
peaks with 128 hp at 9,100 rpm; the combination of fat low-end torque and
rev-happy, high-end power is bridged with a seamless silkiness spread lavishly
through the powerband.
 Containing that power is an aluminum frame that
provides an impressively tight chassis. Precise steering comes courtesy of a
steeply raked fork. Though its ease of steering action is inviting at lower
speeds, the lack of resistance can sometimes feel loose at higher speeds; some
degree of dampening might eliminate this characteristic, which is amplified by
the bike’s aggressive geometry. The dynamics also seem to facilitate front-wheel
lifts during hard acceleration, a sensation that is either thrilling or
terrifying, depending on the rider’s constitution. (Click image to enlarge)
The Speed Triple’s
maneuverability is heightened by its relatively squat wheelbase of 56.2 inches,
a tall seating position, and handlebar ergonomics that allow effective
leveraging of the bike around turns. The grips are swept somewhat forward, but
are not so dropped as to cause wrist strain. Flinging the Speed Triple across
switchbacks is simple: it changes direction with such ease that turns are
stalked and traversed with the thrill of a hunt. Thanks to an engine that
combines a triple’s fierce personality and sound with smooth, free-revving
refinement, the Triumph also inspires high-speed, straight-line blasts. In fact,
choosing between seductively winding roads and expansive open spaces is tough.
The Speed Triple’s razor-sharp responsiveness inspires both hardcore speed and
finessed, spirited flicking around turns.
The physical proportions of the
Speed Triple are consistent with the definitively British sensibility of a
high-performance powerplant in a relatively lightweight package. Though its dry
weight of 416 pounds is not quite superbike material, the sensation of tossing
that mass around inspires feelings of kinesthetic abandon.
Stellar braking
power comes courtesy of radial 4-piston calipers, which produce strong, easily
modulated stops. Linking the bike to the road are elegant 5-spoke wheels,
connected up front via the steeply raked forks and coupled with dual-rate
springs and adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping. A single-sided
swingarm offers even more mechanical peek-a-boo, lending the bike a clean look
rounded out by twin, round headlights.
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