as a six foot tall interested rider, your comments about height are so good. also, you are the only video i've found on youtube about the comparison. you were on the right path here making this stype of comparison video. your delivery is straight forward and all up and downs of the bike are so clear, no B.S. thanks.
I would love to love a Triumph motorcycle. I have owned one, a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport (2007). I've owned 13 different bikes over the last 35 years and I can say with no doubt that the Tiger was the least dependable most frustrating bike I've owned! In three years of ownership the bike went through 3 stators and 2 regulators. I owned a 2007 Ducati GT 1000 that I rode over 96,000 km, a 1984 BMW GS with 72,000 km and several Yamaha's, Honda's and Suzuki's an all were extremely dependable. I would love to own another Triumph, I just don't want to have a long term relationship with U-Haul once again. Paul
@@RodRidesWrenches HI Rod, The GT feels heavier when the top box is installed and you also notice the longer wheelbase , but it also feels more stable and has a smoother power delivery that doesn't feel as agressive as the ST when accelarating , this again is due to the longer wheelbase keeping the front down, the luggage system on the GT is a great improvement.
A really balanced review there Rod. I've just stepped off my 2014 GT (that I bought new in 2014) after fanging around 400k of very curly mountain roads, which confirms to me, yet again, why I have no reason to even consider changing to another bike. The GT seems to do everything well, and, I would argue, tour *really* well. Mind you, I've made a few changes to make it a better tourer including cruise control, lower footpegs, raised handlebars and a bigger screen for winter riding. I'm surprised at your assessment about the brakes as I've always thought they were more than adequate, even when riding two up with luggage. I was interested to see you couldn't fit your helmet in both panniers as my wife and I always leave our hemets locked in the pannier when stopped for lunch or whatever while on an outing. Maybe your cranium is required to accomodate far more grey matter than my wife and I. But I do agree with you about the gearbox... 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd are a bit notchy under full power, though I can't complain about the higher gears as they're as smooth as silk. And yeah, the fork seals are an issue... mine just started weeping after 50k so I'll rebuild them with new bushes and seals. All up though, this is one really underated machine, which still looks better than a large number of modern bikes that have panels apparently designed by a bored oragami expert.
Hello Paul, thanks for the feedback and input about your bike. I also compare my GT to my Honda ST1300 in another video on the channel and I have just secured another liter plus spot tour to throw into the mix. Thanks for Liking & Subscribing, new video out next Friday! 🤞
Very informative, thank you. I rode an ST 1050 along the Great Dividing Range in Australia (the antipodean equivalent of the Rockies) and love every minute of it. I think it is a great shame Triumph don't do a sports tourer these days. I hate 'adventure' bikes with a vengeance - much too big and heavy. For local trips in the UK, I ride a KTM duke but I am seriously thinking about getting a used Sprint as a companion bike for long distance trips. Choosing between an ST and a GT is the question and your video was helpful in setting out the pros and cons. I have now subscribed and am looking forward to reviewing your other videos. I am sure they will be useful when I make my purchase.
The ST doesn't have storage under the seat because it has an undertail exhaust. There's a keyed cubby in the right inner fairing for your ODB-II connector and your toolkit.
6 foot 4 GT rider here, with freakishly long legs. The GT is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden and I will endeavour to always own one for the rest of my days. Freaks rest assured, the peg position is totally fine.
Thank you I appreciate the feedback! Curious, what is your inseam length? Had a fellow rider sit on the GT last week, he has a 34" inseam and found it crowded...
@@RodRidesWrenches I honestly don't know 😅 we don't typically check all our measurements in the UK, all I know is I'm SUUUUPER lanky, and I mean 100kg and still looking skinny kind of lanky. I nearly got a VFR800 a few weeks back, after watching your review, but had to get a Sprint. I had 2 GTs over the years but they both got stolen, so funny thing with the boxes is I now have 6 panniers and 2 top boxes 🤣 Super happy to be back on one again though, even happier I got one of the limited editions.
I'm on my 3rd Sprint ST....what a fantastic motorcycle !!! Long road touring. cornering, overall touring....lovely. Why would I want a longer bike(GT) affecting the handling detrimentally.
have a nice day guys. thanks for this video. in the Russian-speaking segment there is no information about Triumph similar to the one you told in the video. I am eager to buy a 1050. Unfortunately, there is no GT version on our market, but this is understandable, if Triumph did not find success in America, then these bikes were brought to us at your own peril and risk. thanks again for the details about the footrests, fork and box. this is very valuable information! apparently you will have to look towards the suzuki gsx because with spare parts it is obviously not the best state of affairs now. from Russia with love!
I just bought mine two weeks ago from a dealer, was very impressed with the bike, comfortable, well planted on the road and seemed to go where pointed. Despite the mileage the bodywork was absolutely minted condition. Had all panniers etc and was just what I was looking for ( touring & rallies). It had sat in a showroom for 6 months and my ride home of 90 miles killed the chain (warranty and not covered). My first ride out a week later,the battery died outside the bike accessory shop ( again not covered). Fortunately I managed to get a jump start to a hot battery and the bike started straight away. Both have been replaced and hopefully its just sitting about for a while gremlins. But I like it so far, nice bike.
About front brake, mushy fell was my problem, , So I swapped the lines from one long and a bypass to 2 longs line from a Tiger model and a little sanding of the rotors inside and outside . .Stoppies were achievable
Thanks for the great reviews and comments. I've been riding since 1976 at 10 got my 1st bike a 1972 Yamaha Mini-enduro 60 and obviously rode-raced MX since 78' and continue to race mx plus Supermoto. Ive had over 30+ bikes, dual sports, cruisers, sport bikes, sport touring bikes and on an impulse just 1.5 yrs after my 1st ever divorce after a 15 yr 1st marriage, not my choice plus i have 4 kids i woke up one morning in may of 2021 and said WTF, lets buy a bike. Well after looking for 1.5 hrs i found my silver 2011 Triumph S]rint GT 1050 and bought it that evening within 20 mins of seeing it at my local dealer. It had 1 owner and it was immaculate and looked like it had only 500 miles. Ive got say i still look like the koolaide guy when i ride it. It is the most comfortable smooth but funnest bikes that my 56 yr old butt has ever swing a leg over. Any recommendations on a good slip on for the exhaust?
So happy to have discovered your channel today (a bit late to the party), Rod! I was viewing one of your videos on the Honda VFR Gen 5 versus Gen 6. I'm 66 yo and stopped riding dirt bikes in 2019 and bought a friend's '99 BMW K1200LT for a great price just to see if riding street again was something I'd be interested in. The bike was a great tourer, albeit heavy. Trouble is, I don't tour. More like day and overnight trips in Western Colorado. So, I swung hard in the other direction, a 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R. I had the bike for two seasons and about 10K miles. The bike is as advertised, a beast. I knew I would eventually lose my license or be thrown in jail. There's no tracks near me and I really wanted a bike somewhere between these two outliers. So, I sold the bike to a younger guy on the Front Range who could enjoy track days. In the mean time, my wife wants to ride again and she likes cruisers for their low seat height and she previously rode a '94 HD Heritage. She finds herself a '14 HD Heritage that she likes and we start reintroducing her to street bikes again. BTW, she's 69yo, don't tell anybody! I found a '04 HD Road King for a great price to ride with her. we're having a good time and she loves her bike. However. I'm looking at bikes like the Triumph Sprint ST/GT, Honda VFR800, Suzuki SV1000, etc. At 6-2, I'm hoping the aftermarket makes some lowered pegs thanks to your revelations. I enjoy your channel and look forward to viewing more of your offerings and learning as much as I can. P.S.-Loved the rant/diatribe regarding Triumph corporate. In the vein of "future behavior can be predicted by past behavior", the CEO and COO continued their careers in ship-sinking. Cheers!
Hi Jeff, thanks for the story and feedback! Having owned all those bikes, including the SV1000, the SV was the tallest but I cannot recall if it had more leg length than the VFR. The SV is one of those bike Suzuki could have done so much more with but like their MotoGP team, chose not to. It had a great engine! I had sportsters, softails, electra glides and even a road glide when I was in my twenties and thirties (kinda did things backwards). The roads we have here in the GVA just beckon for lean and I nearly killed myself on a new Indian Chieftain a few years ago. I will never cruiser again... If you like your 99' K1200 you really need to try a 2005 and later. The BMW engine in the later 1200 and 1300 is night and day compared to the horizontal four cylinder or the early ones and they don't smoke/leak after being on their side stand. 😄Thanks for joining the channel!
Correction the 1200cc modern classics eg Bobber are a parallel twin which doesn't have a particularly high output. The Tiger and Speed triple utilise the larger triple power unit with more power. Good video and yes the ST/GT are great to ride, I've not heard a bad word from owners especially ones who have sold them with regret. Shame Triumph don't make them anymore.
Just got back from touring holiday in Scotland. Just to add to the panniers not been able to get your helmet in them. I have a viper xl helmet and gose in with plenty of room left.
Hi Rod, I am 6’4 and considering one of these, either the ST or the GT, because I want a second bike for touring, next to my Kawasaki Z900RS which is a beautiful but very naked bike. I like these sport-tourers more than the real tourers like the RT’s, Pan’s etc. Your video however makes me worried a bit about the seating position, so I’ll try to sit on one soon! O yeah, and I’ll turn 57 next week, so maybe not as flexible anymore as I was 30 years ago 😊 Nice video, keep up the good work.
Great video thanks! I found and bought my Sprint GT SE (2015 year) last year and agree 100% I love it! I'm 6ft with longer legs so yes the high footpegs make it a bit cramped. But overall the build quality and value are excellent and the engine is such a peach! I'm disappointed with the direction Triumph have taken since discontinuing it concentrating almost entirely on retro. Very interesting to have your inside dealer perspective on this thanks!
Awesome video. You did this like you did the VFR gen 5 & 6 videos which I also loved. Very few UA-camrs do that. How s USA parts availability and reliability though?
Thanks, parts from inside NA for triumps can be hit and miss. I bought almost all my parts from Fowlers Spares in the UK they had everything including NOS painted parts. If you liked this you may also like the history I dug up on this Kawasaki ua-cam.com/video/W0MTZbtMgOw/v-deo.html
I’ve just purchased a 2008 model st and love it ! Click in like Lego on the bike , yes the box is let’s say “authoritative “ in shifting and yes it loves the blip in down shift ❤
Thanks for the background on the Triumph business side of things. I've listened to a few (former) dealers in my area complain about their stocking policies. It's really unfortunate and I hope they've made some changes. IMO, they've been coming out with some excellent bikes: the Scrambler, the new Speed Triple RS and RR, the Thruxton. If I had the means I'd own one of each. BTW, I currently ride an '02 Sprint RS and it's a another great bike (along with the ST) that has gotten overlooked. That means you can find them for little $$. They're pretty powerful (118bhp), not too heavy (about 440lbs), and look ... unique. :-)
The biggest difference I have found in making the breaks better was to install a quality set of aftermarket levers. The stock levers to not allow the piston to move through a full stroke, just changing the levers made a night and day difference.
AWESOME CONTENT! Somehow stumbled across your site this morning with your video on the sprint gt and st1100. Being a life long triumph owner, 1998 thundebird sport 57,000mi on it, a 2003 sprint st 81,000 on it an the gt I purchased about 1.5yr ago. I really enjoyed the background info about the dealership/ corporate relationship I've heard about over the years working with my local dealers in s.w. Idaho and others in the p.n.w. keep up the great work 👍 I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of your content in the future.
funny stuff, i just bought a st1300 has a tour bike for me and wifey.. and own also a ST1050... guess we get some taste alike .. looking forward for more video :P
I bought a 1050 ST ABS in June 2005, which out shone & VFR'd the venerable VFR ! I ran the ST for 6 years & 36k miles truly loved it, whilst also owning other bikes, only swapping to a 1050 Tiger SE after a knee injury. I also run a later 94R 1050 Speed Triple as I love those smooth 120 degree 1050 triple motors but truly hate the latest horrible vibey Ttriumph T plane crank engines. The 1200RS Speed Triple is impressive in its 120 degree triple form but has very poor luggage carrying capacity. What is currently missing from Triumph is an updated 1200RS 120 degree Speed Triple engined Sprint 1200 ST ! We don't all want to ride off-road or pretend to be Charley McGregorman, come on Triumph give us an updated 1200RS engined Sprint 1200ST ! Before this happens, the Sprint 1050ST will be the most overlooked underrated used bike bargain ever !!!
@@RodRidesWrenches Btw decent channel Rod 👍👍 Who needs an extra 30kg of shaft drive when you can run a chain oiler & look after it, much easier than having to repair bmw bevel box, bearing & seal failures 😂😂
Great video and explanation! I’m considering one of these right now. I currently have a Meriden T-140 and a T-120 Black. The info on US marketing was interesting. Thanks for taking the time to put this excellent and helpful video together!
I really enjoyed that. I never really understood why they took the sprint GT and the St of the market moreover the Daytona 955 is also a sad loss for triumph. My first motorbike was a triumph 955 2004 and I've made a hybrid using a 2009 sprint St 1050. I changed over the engine the instruments and the ECU to make my 2004 sprint a hybrid of the two. I even put the 6th gear from the GT for longer legs on the highway and put the exhaust headers from the 2009 onto my 2004 and managed to keep the low exhaust four extra flow and keeping the centre of gravity low. One advantage of got by upgrading the engine of the sprint St is that the later model of 2007 onwards had forged pistons instead of cast pistons. Now my sprint s t is only an inch longer than the 1050 that it got it's running gear from add naturally it doesn't have the weight penalty of the GT so I think I've got the best of all three in the one bike. I noticed that while the pannier system of the 1050 St is much easier to take off and put on and is non sided it also has trouble fitting a full-size helmet in those panniers and I find that the low exhaust makes the touring capacity of the bike much better particularly for the pillion. I find the brakes are fairly good, coming with standard braided lines and 320 ml discs, but the real reason they're sticking with the non upside down forks is for weight saving as much as for money saving. I like what you had to say about the restrictions placed on dealers because as a customer I think you're totally right that Triumph lost it's way in regards to why we buy bikes and I think some decisions were made without the customer and looking at prophets alone but that too will lower profits because the customer must come first because that's where your income comes from. I've been disappointed by the range of triumphs on offer if there was a sports tourer made then I would be interested to hear more about it. Anyway thanks for listening and I really did enjoy your program I will definitely subscribe I'm in Melbourne Australia by the way.
Great review i purchased my Sprint ST new in 2009 in the UK i just fell in love with it but with only having a 29" inseam i struggled at traffic lights so i got a custom lower gel seat that helped but after 4 years and dropping it twice putting my foot down on a pot hole or uneven road surface i had to get a lower bike and wanting to stay with Triumph i got a new 2013 Bonneville America,what a mistake that was i hardly rode it in 5 years, then i got what was always my Dream Bike in 2019 a 2016 Thunderbird 1700 LT and i still have it but it saddens me when i look at the Triumph web site and see the Same Old Same Old re-invented re-regurgitated bikes that i can not ride as they are all to tall for me and the only 2 that i could fit on the Bobber and the Speed master with their 12 Liter Tanks would not get me very far before having to fill up i could go for 200 miles on my Sprint and Thunderbird before i had to look for a petrol/gas station
Thanks for the feedback. Only having a 30" inseam I understand your issues. It has taken decades of riding different motorcycles to appreciate riding taller, heavier bikes. I have a few tips that I will be putting in an upcoming video. Stay Tuned!
Great review and background info about the Triumph’ (bad) relationship with the dealers and misguided senior leadership vision. I bought a brand new 2017 Triumph Trophy SE mainly because they were selling a discount as the line was being discontinued. (At the time was 50% of the BMW 1200 RT that I was considering) I am not really sure why the TTSE didn’t catch on but it is a great bike.
Just got my 09 Sprint ST yesterday. Went on my first ride today. Very impressed with acceleration and handling. I did notice the weak braking aspect. Maybe I got spoiled by the ABS on my BMW R1150RT. The BMW brakes better and has a more comfortable ride and riding position. (3 seat adjustments) But the ST will smoke the BMW on acceleration and twisty roads. Was getting ready to order new brake pads, but perhaps I need to check them first.
I had a 1050 Sprint ST (2nd gen ABS model) ,a great bike ,pulled well and stopped well ,even compared to some pure Sports bikes (not sure if I had different brake pad compounds from OEM). If you were aware of its weight you could do some twisty stuff with surprising speed to some , a remap of the ECU was easy and Triumph have several good maps available for free. It is/was one of the best sports tourers to heel about Europe on. I do agree that the front end losses any traction when "you give it some" ,especially when carrying a pillion , I may have to look at a low mileage GT , from what you say this characteristic has been tamed All in all good presentation of the two
Ride position is completely different but I enjoy the handling of the Sprint GT, see this video of a recent trip, it's just raw footage but it gives you a perspective on what the Sprint can do. ua-cam.com/video/_DanA_DA7X8/v-deo.html
@@RodRidesWrenches thanks for the reply. It Just so happened I had to visit my local dealer today who had one in stock, he put it on the centre stand so I could get a feel for it without taking it out, it's not for me. It felt more support than my Daytona 955 so a lot more cramped than my tiger 1050 and BMW F800GT, shame as I really fancied one.
very complete and interesting information. Now you mention it, the suspensions are definitely cheaper than the Speed Triple - or the Street Triple for that matter, and so are the brakes. After all Honda did the same on the VFR that's definitely not as well equipped than the CBR 600. Something you have to keep in mind when you hesitate between those bikes. I know I do, they're all great
Just watched this video and really great review. Which risers do you use as I am feeling a little to sporty while touring the back roads of Vancouver Island. I can confirm the clunky transmission and glad its not just my bike. Recognized the sea-to-sky highway (world class) and only thing I miss about the north shore. Looking forward to more videos. Cheers from the island.
The first T300 Hinckley sold in '92 was a Trophy as a 3 x 885 @ 100 BHP and 4 x 1180 125 BHP which was considered a sport tourer although the catalogue of the period referred to it as an "All Rounder", the Trident was available as 750 / 885 and considered a naked, in '94 a bikini fairing version was available as the Trident / Sprint where the lineage began. The ST type panniers were used on the Sprint ST and Tiger Sport only. Liked the comparison with the Honda Pan ST, interesting as is your insight into the dealership manipulating in North America.
Hey so looking for some advice from some triumph owners here on my next ride. I am looking at either a sprint st 1050 or a 955i. I am not a touring guy) but I am a naked/street fighter kind. I think the sprint would make a really unique platform to rip all the fairings off and street fighterify. Where as the 955i i would prefer to leave as is. I understand 955is are leader bikes of yester years which would be a hell of a lot of fun! But My fear is that being a race bike I would quickly get tired of the uncomfortably factor. The question for me comes to ergos and regular use. In your opinion which bike would provide the most longevity and fun in regular use?
Hey Isaac, Obviously the seating ergos will probably be more comfortable for you on the Sprint for city traffic and longer runs. I am curious, if you want a naked bike why would you not look at a Speed Trip? Same sort ergo's better suspension no fairing to remove.
@@RodRidesWrenches I mean I just want something you don't see to often on the road. I am aware the Speed Trip checks all those boxes but for a bike in with relatively similar stuff comes in at a much higher price point on the used market. If I go down that route than there are other bikes that appeal to me more in that bracket.
Hey Isaac, from what you've written I assume you mean a 955i Daytona? Having owned both I'd go with the 1050. The 955i is a great bike, especially with a race can fitted, but it's only brilliant some of the time (ie on twisty roads with good surfaces). The 1050 is great whatever you're riding along, you'll be much more comfortable on the 1050, get better fuel economy and cheaper insurance. Yes the 955i is faster on a track, but not by much and besides in the real world the midrange torque of the 1050 makes it the more user-friendly choice.
In Australia the gt first came out with a plasic tank but people in the market to buy that class of bike wanted a metal tank so triumph changed to a metal tank but didn't realise australian law states a metal tank has to be tested for 1 year full of fuel before the bike can be sold in Australia. so the gt went off the market for one year and then back on the market . After that the gt was a bit of a flop, that's why in Australia you see way more st's on the road then gt's.
Nice review and some good insight. I have a 32" inseam and find the bike folds my legs a bit more than I'd like but my 64 year old knees are OK up to about 400 miles per day. As for the seat......it is the dumbest design I've seen but the simple fix is to just leave the two bolts out. When you're stopped the seat isn't going anywhere and when you're riding then obviously you are sitting on it so it's not going anywhere. I left those bolts out on my 2005 in 2006 and haven't had any issue. Seat comes off and goes back on in seconds.
Thanks for this interesting and in-depth comparison Rod! You've got a great channel here, I'm amazed you haven't got more subs. I'm very tempted by a Sprint as I fell in love with the Triumph triple engine after owning a Street Triple 675 I've never ridden anything more powerful than a 765 Stripple, (apart from maybe the 900cc Street Twin which while having bags of torque doesn't pull quite like a triple) so I think making the leap from my current bike (CB500) to a 1050cc continent crusher may be a bit of a stretch, so I'm thinking of getting a 5th gen VFR800 to bridge the gap while I wait for the used price of the Sprint GT to drop a little further. I've got the advantage of having THREE Triumph dealerships within 40 miles, so lack of dealer support isn't really a problem here in the UK. Any advice greatly appreciated.
I had a Sprint S/T 1050. . .3 cylinders 😃 A sound 🤣 high low rev torque and a shitty seat. . back hache after 40 minutes riding. . And nasty turbulences at 100 km/h. .I fixed with a few oval holes in the wind screen. . No more helmet bumping with passager. .
Thank you 🙏 Seriously underated bike, seriously underated especially when, as you say, you factor in price. These bikes still compete well against the latest offerings, (I know the traction control and some electronics are missing but they are of a former "era"). Have a look at horse power and torque for modern litre (approx) bikes, take a look at good bike, another triple, the Yamaha MT09 for example 🤗
Hey Rod... I'm seriously thinking of trading my VFR for a Sprint GT. In your opinion would I look back with regret or pleasure. No chance to test ride a sprint where I live. Thanks
I have owned a VFR800 ( pre-v-tec) and The VFR1200( hated that bike) The GT, in my opinion is a better all round bike, especially the engine. I always thought the 800 VFR to be underpowered especially carrying two people.
The Sprint GT is heavier and not as nimble at low speeds at the VFR, IMO. It does have one significant advantage, that being power but the average brakes means that you need to apply that power in situations that only warrant it. No more shifting down two gears to pass the semi train, just gas and go! If you want a liter bike that you can aggressively tour on, the Sprint GT will work. If you are an around the metro commuter, you may find yourself thinking about your old VFR. Unlike Stoic Student I really, really like my VFR1200F but it is a completely different bike than either the VFR800 or the Sprint. Good Luck!
@@RodRidesWrenches Thanks for the response Rod. Well... I'm part time commuter to the metro area but I'm also a day tripper. Looking forward to expanding that to from a couple, to a few more days at a time. I mean ..with the Sprint I COULD take of the bags for those rips into town. I'd lose some weight and width
Very thorough review. I own a Sprint GT since 2011, it's a fantastic bike and I drive bikes for..40+ yrs now. I agree that from Triumph's current line-up it is missing a GT model, but this is the trend with most motorcycle manufacturers, they focus on copying BMW's GS "dream market". Before Sprint GT I owned a Speed Triple. I would never give for a naked bike more than 12K, dollars, pounds, euro whatever; Speed Triple is overpriced with limited audience..Yet, all motorcycles are currently overpriced..look at Ducati or BMWs. Any way.. One question, which came up out of your review, IS THERE A FRONT BREMBO KIT FOR SPRINT GT? IS SPEED TRIPLE BREMBO KIT COMPATIBLE?? Thanks for the fantastic review!
Hello Panos - Thanks for the view & feedback. No the forks are completely different between these bikes. I did find changing out the stock levers made a BIG difference to the way the brakes felt in both my GT and ST (it really was astonishing). I attempted to look at the brembo site to see if they sold a kit for the GT (I am sure they do) but the configurator page gave me a 404 error! Weird. I guess they are all watching MotoGP.
Agree with all the comments. Traded my ST on a GSX1000-GT. The Suzi is faster but buzzier (with way better brakes) but I long for a centrestand. Love the Suzi but wish I had kept the ST. Don't ever sell yours.sell one
Great video, I agree they are unbeatable value as a second hand buy. I have a 2006 sprint st 1050 and absolutely love it! Gotta say though I find the front wheel only lifts slightly at around 8200-9200rpm in 1st gear with full throttle then second gear doesn't lift at all. Did you have the stock gearing when you did the acceleration test? Stock is a 19 tooth front and 42 tooth rear 👍
Not really, there was a lot of change to the 05, frame suspension, fuel injection and of course the engine. I once had a 900 triple, carbureted, could not get rid of it fast enough.
Your historical timeline is a little incorrect. Triumph Hinckley began production in 1991 and the first model was the Trophy, a fully-faired sports tourer in 1200cc/4 cyl and 900cc 3cyl. The naked Trident came soon after but was never intended to fill the sports tourer role, which the Trophy and later Sprint were marketed as. The Sprint was introduced in 1993/4.
I live in the UK & I find the the looks of th speed triple Ugly & if it was thrown together with odd bits. The whole motorcycle industry seems to think, people want to have an Adventure bike or a Classic. Bring back the sports tourer they were the good alrounder.
So out of the two bikes the GT is a better bike. One thing to mention is the GT is considerably a lot heavier and the top box is like a bag of cement heavy
I enjoyed your video! Triumph has spent a lot of money on advertising and frankly sort of BS'ing the public about their new bikes. For example, the new Trident makes less HP than their old Speed Triple S. I haven't seen anything comparing the old S to the new Trident but I doubt its that much better. In addition, it has computers and electronics that lock you out of doing your own maintenance or ECU flashing. This is surely to drive people to spend money at the dealer. And your right, their new 1200 motor isn't that much better than the old 1050. Seems like their bikes are being treated like phones. You go out and buy a new phone that hasn't really improved much compared to your last one except for the fact that its shiny and new! So you fork out another $800 just so you can say you have the latest model.
Maybe you have to take into account that many manufacturers are upping the cc but not the power per se in order that they get more flexibility to comply with Euro 5.
Your video is great. I do own a Sprint St (with a Daytona and street triple 675 among other bikes). I do use the Daytona only on track and tested many sport bikes and race for many years with classic bikes (Norton, Velocette, Honda). So i do know what braking hard means and so i do completely disagree with you about the brakes of the Sprint St. It works very well, nothing to complain about it.
as a six foot tall interested rider, your comments about height are so good. also, you are the only video i've found on youtube about the comparison. you were on the right path here making this stype of comparison video. your delivery is straight forward and all up and downs of the bike are so clear, no B.S. thanks.
Thanks for the feedback. Hope you subscribe! See the 1050GT comparison with my ST1300 Honda as well. ua-cam.com/video/T-dD5gfh56Q/v-deo.html
OMG. Never seen a detailed and to the point review of any bike. Excellent review. Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it! New Sprint GT Video coming soon. Thanks for liking & subscribing!
I would love to love a Triumph motorcycle. I have owned one, a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport (2007). I've owned 13 different bikes over the last 35 years and I can say with no doubt that the Tiger was the least dependable most frustrating bike I've owned! In three years of ownership the bike went through 3 stators and 2 regulators. I owned a 2007 Ducati GT 1000 that I rode over 96,000 km, a 1984 BMW GS with 72,000 km and several Yamaha's, Honda's and Suzuki's an all were extremely dependable. I would love to own another Triumph, I just don't want to have a long term relationship with U-Haul once again.
Paul
Thanks for the feedback!
40,000 miles on my ST and my GT arrives on Friday,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I don't think there's anything wrong in having two.
Please comment back on your impressions of the differences between them.
@@RodRidesWrenches HI Rod, The GT feels heavier when the top box is installed and you also notice the longer wheelbase , but it also feels more stable and has a smoother power delivery that doesn't feel as agressive as the ST when accelarating , this again is due to the longer wheelbase keeping the front down, the luggage system on the GT is a great improvement.
I'm trying to decide between the two. For years I was riding sport bikes, so which one is more "sporty"?
Thank you
@EEEBA1 the ST is more sporty, the GT is a more comfortable motorbike.
A really balanced review there Rod. I've just stepped off my 2014 GT (that I bought new in 2014) after fanging around 400k of very curly mountain roads, which confirms to me, yet again, why I have no reason to even consider changing to another bike. The GT seems to do everything well, and, I would argue, tour *really* well. Mind you, I've made a few changes to make it a better tourer including cruise control, lower footpegs, raised handlebars and a bigger screen for winter riding. I'm surprised at your assessment about the brakes as I've always thought they were more than adequate, even when riding two up with luggage. I was interested to see you couldn't fit your helmet in both panniers as my wife and I always leave our hemets locked in the pannier when stopped for lunch or whatever while on an outing. Maybe your cranium is required to accomodate far more grey matter than my wife and I. But I do agree with you about the gearbox... 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd are a bit notchy under full power, though I can't complain about the higher gears as they're as smooth as silk. And yeah, the fork seals are an issue... mine just started weeping after 50k so I'll rebuild them with new bushes and seals. All up though, this is one really underated machine, which still looks better than a large number of modern bikes that have panels apparently designed by a bored oragami expert.
Hello Paul, thanks for the feedback and input about your bike. I also compare my GT to my Honda ST1300 in another video on the channel and I have just secured another liter plus spot tour to throw into the mix. Thanks for Liking & Subscribing, new video out next Friday! 🤞
Very informative, thank you. I rode an ST 1050 along the Great Dividing Range in Australia (the antipodean equivalent of the Rockies) and love every minute of it. I think it is a great shame Triumph don't do a sports tourer these days. I hate 'adventure' bikes with a vengeance - much too big and heavy. For local trips in the UK, I ride a KTM duke but I am seriously thinking about getting a used Sprint as a companion bike for long distance trips. Choosing between an ST and a GT is the question and your video was helpful in setting out the pros and cons. I have now subscribed and am looking forward to reviewing your other videos. I am sure they will be useful when I make my purchase.
Thanks for the feedback & View!
The ST doesn't have storage under the seat because it has an undertail exhaust. There's a keyed cubby in the right inner fairing for your ODB-II connector and your toolkit.
Thanks for Liking & Subscribing, New Video this Friday!
6 foot 4 GT rider here, with freakishly long legs. The GT is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden and I will endeavour to always own one for the rest of my days. Freaks rest assured, the peg position is totally fine.
Thank you I appreciate the feedback! Curious, what is your inseam length? Had a fellow rider sit on the GT last week, he has a 34" inseam and found it crowded...
@@RodRidesWrenches I honestly don't know 😅 we don't typically check all our measurements in the UK, all I know is I'm SUUUUPER lanky, and I mean 100kg and still looking skinny kind of lanky.
I nearly got a VFR800 a few weeks back, after watching your review, but had to get a Sprint. I had 2 GTs over the years but they both got stolen, so funny thing with the boxes is I now have 6 panniers and 2 top boxes 🤣
Super happy to be back on one again though, even happier I got one of the limited editions.
@@slipperyfish Get a tracker this time!! Lol
I'm on my 3rd Sprint ST....what a fantastic motorcycle !!! Long road touring. cornering, overall touring....lovely. Why would I want a longer bike(GT) affecting the handling detrimentally.
Just got a GT. Such a good bike.
have a nice day guys. thanks for this video. in the Russian-speaking segment there is no information about Triumph similar to the one you told in the video. I am eager to buy a 1050. Unfortunately, there is no GT version on our market, but this is understandable, if Triumph did not find success in America, then these bikes were brought to us at your own peril and risk. thanks again for the details about the footrests, fork and box. this is very valuable information! apparently you will have to look towards the suzuki gsx because with spare parts it is obviously not the best state of affairs now. from Russia with love!
Спасибо за отзыв и просмотр!
Great review and great views. I always enjoy my 2006 Sprint ST on the Sea to Sky. 65,000 kms and counting.
Thanks for the feedback & View!
I just bought mine two weeks ago from a dealer, was very impressed with the bike, comfortable, well planted on the road and seemed to go where pointed. Despite the mileage the bodywork was absolutely minted condition. Had all panniers etc and was just what I was looking for ( touring & rallies). It had sat in a showroom for 6 months and my ride home of 90 miles killed the chain (warranty and not covered). My first ride out a week later,the battery died outside the bike accessory shop ( again not covered). Fortunately I managed to get a jump start to a hot battery and the bike started straight away. Both have been replaced and hopefully its just sitting about for a while gremlins. But I like it so far, nice bike.
About front brake, mushy fell was my problem, , So I swapped the lines from one long and a bypass to 2 longs line from a Tiger model and a little sanding of the rotors inside and outside . .Stoppies were achievable
Thanks for the great reviews and comments. I've been riding since 1976 at 10 got my 1st bike a 1972 Yamaha Mini-enduro 60 and obviously rode-raced MX since 78' and continue to race mx plus Supermoto. Ive had over 30+ bikes, dual sports, cruisers, sport bikes, sport touring bikes and on an impulse just 1.5 yrs after my 1st ever divorce after a 15 yr 1st marriage, not my choice plus i have 4 kids i woke up one morning in may of 2021 and said WTF, lets buy a bike. Well after looking for 1.5 hrs i found my silver 2011 Triumph S]rint GT 1050 and bought it that evening within 20 mins of seeing it at my local dealer. It had 1 owner and it was immaculate and looked like it had only 500 miles. Ive got say i still look like the koolaide guy when i ride it. It is the most comfortable smooth but funnest bikes that my 56 yr old butt has ever swing a leg over. Any recommendations on a good slip on for the exhaust?
So happy to have discovered your channel today (a bit late to the party), Rod! I was viewing one of your videos on the Honda VFR Gen 5 versus Gen 6. I'm 66 yo and stopped riding dirt bikes in 2019 and bought a friend's '99 BMW K1200LT for a great price just to see if riding street again was something I'd be interested in. The bike was a great tourer, albeit heavy. Trouble is, I don't tour. More like day and overnight trips in Western Colorado. So, I swung hard in the other direction, a 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R. I had the bike for two seasons and about 10K miles. The bike is as advertised, a beast. I knew I would eventually lose my license or be thrown in jail. There's no tracks near me and I really wanted a bike somewhere between these two outliers. So, I sold the bike to a younger guy on the Front Range who could enjoy track days. In the mean time, my wife wants to ride again and she likes cruisers for their low seat height and she previously rode a '94 HD Heritage. She finds herself a '14 HD Heritage that she likes and we start reintroducing her to street bikes again. BTW, she's 69yo, don't tell anybody! I found a '04 HD Road King for a great price to ride with her. we're having a good time and she loves her bike. However. I'm looking at bikes like the Triumph Sprint ST/GT, Honda VFR800, Suzuki SV1000, etc. At 6-2, I'm hoping the aftermarket makes some lowered pegs thanks to your revelations. I enjoy your channel and look forward to viewing more of your offerings and learning as much as I can.
P.S.-Loved the rant/diatribe regarding Triumph corporate. In the vein of "future behavior can be predicted by past behavior", the CEO and COO continued their careers in ship-sinking. Cheers!
Hi Jeff, thanks for the story and feedback! Having owned all those bikes, including the SV1000, the SV was the tallest but I cannot recall if it had more leg length than the VFR. The SV is one of those bike Suzuki could have done so much more with but like their MotoGP team, chose not to. It had a great engine! I had sportsters, softails, electra glides and even a road glide when I was in my twenties and thirties (kinda did things backwards). The roads we have here in the GVA just beckon for lean and I nearly killed myself on a new Indian Chieftain a few years ago. I will never cruiser again... If you like your 99' K1200 you really need to try a 2005 and later. The BMW engine in the later 1200 and 1300 is night and day compared to the horizontal four cylinder or the early ones and they don't smoke/leak after being on their side stand. 😄Thanks for joining the channel!
Correction the 1200cc modern classics eg Bobber are a parallel twin which doesn't have a particularly high output.
The Tiger and Speed triple utilise the larger triple power unit with more power.
Good video and yes the ST/GT are great to ride, I've not heard a bad word from owners especially ones who have sold them with regret. Shame Triumph don't make them anymore.
Warming up brakes and stuff can realy help
Few other bikes can compare with the comfort of the paniers
Thanks for the feedback & the view! I found changing the stock levers was huge difference and made the bike ridable.
Really interesting vid. Digging beneath the surface, of this great bike which is next on my list! You've got yourself another subscriber in the UK.
Welcome to the channel Gary, thanks for the feedback & the View!
Just got back from touring holiday in Scotland. Just to add to the panniers not been able to get your helmet in them. I have a viper xl helmet and gose in with plenty of room left.
Hi Rod, I am 6’4 and considering one of these, either the ST or the GT, because I want a second bike for touring, next to my Kawasaki Z900RS which is a beautiful but very naked bike. I like these sport-tourers more than the real tourers like the RT’s, Pan’s etc. Your video however makes me worried a bit about the seating position, so I’ll try to sit on one soon! O yeah, and I’ll turn 57 next week, so maybe not as flexible anymore as I was 30 years ago 😊
Nice video, keep up the good work.
Thanks for the feedback & view. If your legs are more than 32" inseem I would go straight to the GT
@@RodRidesWrenches good advice; my legs are close to 36” so I’ll go find a GT
Great video thanks! I found and bought my Sprint GT SE (2015 year) last year and agree 100% I love it! I'm 6ft with longer legs so yes the high footpegs make it a bit cramped. But overall the build quality and value are excellent and the engine is such a peach! I'm disappointed with the direction Triumph have taken since discontinuing it concentrating almost entirely on retro. Very interesting to have your inside dealer perspective on this thanks!
Thanks for the feedback, your likes & subscription!
Awesome video. You did this like you did the VFR gen 5 & 6 videos which I also loved. Very few UA-camrs do that. How s USA parts availability and reliability though?
Thanks, parts from inside NA for triumps can be hit and miss. I bought almost all my parts from Fowlers Spares in the UK they had everything including NOS painted parts. If you liked this you may also like the history I dug up on this Kawasaki ua-cam.com/video/W0MTZbtMgOw/v-deo.html
I also owned an VFR and the GT blows it away.
I’ve just purchased a 2008 model st and love it ! Click in like Lego on the bike , yes the box is let’s say “authoritative “ in shifting and yes it loves the blip in down shift ❤
Thanks for the background on the Triumph business side of things. I've listened to a few (former) dealers in my area complain about their stocking policies. It's really unfortunate and I hope they've made some changes. IMO, they've been coming out with some excellent bikes: the Scrambler, the new Speed Triple RS and RR, the Thruxton. If I had the means I'd own one of each. BTW, I currently ride an '02 Sprint RS and it's a another great bike (along with the ST) that has gotten overlooked. That means you can find them for little $$. They're pretty powerful (118bhp), not too heavy (about 440lbs), and look ... unique. :-)
Nice video, what upgrade on the front breaks is possible? What will fit, calipers and do you need to change master cilinder?
The biggest difference I have found in making the breaks better was to install a quality set of aftermarket levers. The stock levers to not allow the piston to move through a full stroke, just changing the levers made a night and day difference.
@@RodRidesWrenches thx! do you have a brand or link to such a lever
Wbr michiel
@@michiel1362 I just bought a cheap set on Ebay, some Pazzo knockoffs ebay.us/3feVjD
AWESOME CONTENT! Somehow stumbled across your site this morning with your video on the sprint gt and st1100. Being a life long triumph owner, 1998 thundebird sport 57,000mi on it, a 2003 sprint st 81,000 on it an the gt I purchased about 1.5yr ago. I really enjoyed the background info about the dealership/ corporate relationship I've heard about over the years working with my local dealers in s.w. Idaho and others in the p.n.w. keep up the great work 👍 I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of your content in the future.
Hi Steve welcome to the channel, thanks for liking & subscribing!
funny stuff, i just bought a st1300 has a tour bike for me and wifey.. and own also a ST1050... guess we get some taste alike .. looking forward for more video :P
Thanks for Liking & subscribing!
Nice review. Very informative considering I'm in the market for a sports tourer.
With the release of Suzuki GSX-S 1000GT, hoping that Triumph will revive this one. Sport Tourer bikes are becoming popular once again.
Thanks for liking & subscribing! New Sprint GT Video coming in October...
Thanks for this great review on these two bikes.
Thanks for Liking & subscribing!
I bought a 1050 ST ABS in June 2005, which out shone & VFR'd the venerable VFR ! I ran the ST for 6 years & 36k miles truly loved it, whilst also owning other bikes, only swapping to a 1050 Tiger SE after a knee injury. I also run a later 94R 1050 Speed Triple as I love those smooth 120 degree 1050 triple motors but truly hate the latest horrible vibey Ttriumph T plane crank engines. The 1200RS Speed Triple is impressive in its 120 degree triple form but has very poor luggage carrying capacity. What is currently missing from Triumph is an updated 1200RS 120 degree Speed Triple engined Sprint 1200 ST ! We don't all want to ride off-road or pretend to be Charley McGregorman, come on Triumph give us an updated 1200RS engined Sprint 1200ST ! Before this happens, the Sprint 1050ST will be the most overlooked underrated used bike bargain ever !!!
Thanks for the feedback & view!
@@RodRidesWrenches Btw decent channel Rod 👍👍 Who needs an extra 30kg of shaft drive when you can run a chain oiler & look after it, much easier than having to repair bmw bevel box, bearing & seal failures 😂😂
Great video and explanation! I’m considering one of these right now. I currently have a Meriden T-140 and a T-120 Black. The info on US marketing was interesting. Thanks for taking the time to put this excellent and helpful video together!
I have a 2011 Sprint GT and love it....great video.I have a 2020 Scrambler 1200XC as well and always enjoy getting on the Sprint GT!
Right on! Thanks for your feedback, liking & subscribing!
I really enjoyed that.
I never really understood why they took the sprint GT and the St of the market moreover the Daytona 955 is also a sad loss for triumph.
My first motorbike was a triumph 955 2004 and I've made a hybrid using a 2009 sprint St 1050.
I changed over the engine the instruments and the ECU to make my 2004 sprint a hybrid of the two.
I even put the 6th gear from the GT for longer legs on the highway and put the exhaust headers from the 2009 onto my 2004 and managed to keep the low exhaust four extra flow and keeping the centre of gravity low.
One advantage of got by upgrading the engine of the sprint St is that the later model of 2007 onwards had forged pistons instead of cast pistons.
Now my sprint s t is only an inch longer than the 1050 that it got it's running gear from add naturally it doesn't have the weight penalty of the GT so I think I've got the best of all three in the one bike.
I noticed that while the pannier system of the 1050 St is much easier to take off and put on and is non sided it also has trouble fitting a full-size helmet in those panniers and I find that the low exhaust makes the touring capacity of the bike much better particularly for the pillion.
I find the brakes are fairly good, coming with standard braided lines and 320 ml discs, but the real reason they're sticking with the non upside down forks is for weight saving as much as for money saving.
I like what you had to say about the restrictions placed on dealers because as a customer I think you're totally right that Triumph lost it's way in regards to why we buy bikes and I think some decisions were made without the customer and looking at prophets alone but that too will lower profits because the customer must come first because that's where your income comes from.
I've been disappointed by the range of triumphs on offer if there was a sports tourer made then I would be interested to hear more about it.
Anyway thanks for listening and I really did enjoy your program I will definitely subscribe I'm in Melbourne Australia by the way.
Great review i purchased my Sprint ST new in 2009 in the UK i just fell in love with it but with only having a 29" inseam i struggled at traffic lights so i got a custom lower gel seat that helped but after 4 years and dropping it twice putting my foot down on a pot hole or uneven road surface i had to get a lower bike and wanting to stay with Triumph i got a new 2013 Bonneville America,what a mistake that was i hardly rode it in 5 years, then i got what was always my Dream Bike in 2019 a 2016 Thunderbird 1700 LT and i still have it but it saddens me when i look at the Triumph web site and see the Same Old Same Old re-invented re-regurgitated bikes that i can not ride as they are all to tall for me and the only 2 that i could fit on the Bobber and the Speed master with their 12 Liter Tanks would not get me very far before having to fill up i could go for 200 miles on my Sprint and Thunderbird before i had to look for a petrol/gas station
Thanks for the feedback. Only having a 30" inseam I understand your issues. It has taken decades of riding different motorcycles to appreciate riding taller, heavier bikes. I have a few tips that I will be putting in an upcoming video. Stay Tuned!
Great review and background info about the Triumph’ (bad) relationship with the dealers and misguided senior leadership vision. I bought a brand new 2017 Triumph Trophy SE mainly because they were selling a discount as the line was being discontinued. (At the time was 50% of the BMW 1200 RT that I was considering) I am not really sure why the TTSE didn’t catch on but it is a great bike.
Thanks for Liking & subscribing!
I have a blue GT and love it.
Thanks for Commenting, Ride Safe!
Just got my 09 Sprint ST yesterday. Went on my first ride today. Very impressed with acceleration and handling. I did notice the weak braking aspect. Maybe I got spoiled by the ABS on my BMW R1150RT. The BMW brakes better and has a more comfortable ride and riding position. (3 seat adjustments) But the ST will smoke the BMW on acceleration and twisty roads. Was getting ready to order new brake pads, but perhaps I need to check them first.
I had a 1050 Sprint ST (2nd gen ABS model) ,a great bike ,pulled well and stopped well ,even compared to some pure Sports bikes (not sure if I had different brake pad compounds from OEM). If you were aware of its weight you could do some twisty stuff with surprising speed to some , a remap of the ECU was easy and Triumph have several good maps available for free.
It is/was one of the best sports tourers to heel about Europe on.
I do agree that the front end losses any traction when "you give it some" ,especially when carrying a pillion ,
I may have to look at a low mileage GT , from what you say this characteristic has been tamed
All in all good presentation of the two
Thanks!
Triple engine is my favourite,best of al worlds!
6"3 rider and find the ST the most comfortable bike on a long ride, absolutely love it and will NEVER part with it.
Thanks for Liking & subscribing!
How does a GT compare to a Tiger 1050 with the additional bar risers? I've always fancied one but daren't replace my Tiger with one. Thanks.
Ride position is completely different but I enjoy the handling of the Sprint GT, see this video of a recent trip, it's just raw footage but it gives you a perspective on what the Sprint can do. ua-cam.com/video/_DanA_DA7X8/v-deo.html
@@RodRidesWrenches thanks for the reply. It Just so happened I had to visit my local dealer today who had one in stock, he put it on the centre stand so I could get a feel for it without taking it out, it's not for me. It felt more support than my Daytona 955 so a lot more cramped than my tiger 1050 and BMW F800GT, shame as I really fancied one.
I have a triumph sprint RS and it's very very cool!!
very complete and interesting information. Now you mention it, the suspensions are definitely cheaper than the Speed Triple - or the Street Triple for that matter, and so are the brakes. After all Honda did the same on the VFR that's definitely not as well equipped than the CBR 600. Something you have to keep in mind when you hesitate between those bikes. I know I do, they're all great
Thanks for the feedback! New VFR video out Sunday!
Great video! Lots of interesting information, and i don't even have a Triumph!
Thanks for liking and subscribing!
Just watched this video and really great review. Which risers do you use as I am feeling a little to sporty while touring the back roads of Vancouver Island. I can confirm the clunky transmission and glad its not just my bike. Recognized the sea-to-sky highway (world class) and only thing I miss about the north shore. Looking forward to more videos. Cheers from the island.
Thanks for the feedback!
@@RodRidesWrenches Do you have a suggested manufacturer of handlebar risers that won't require modifications to cables? Thanks
I use Moto CNC risers on my Triumphs and Honda VFR's moto-cnc.com/triumph-bar-risers New Video out Sunday!
The first T300 Hinckley sold in '92 was a Trophy as a 3 x 885 @ 100 BHP and 4 x 1180 125 BHP which was considered a sport tourer although the catalogue of the period referred to it as an "All Rounder", the Trident was available as 750 / 885 and considered a naked, in '94 a bikini fairing version was available as the Trident / Sprint where the lineage began. The ST type panniers were used on the Sprint ST and Tiger Sport only. Liked the comparison with the Honda Pan ST, interesting as is your insight into the dealership manipulating in North America.
Appreciate your comments, likes and subscription!
At 0:25 you forget the Trophy 3 "T336" released in 1990 at the same time as the first Trident and Daytona
Hey so looking for some advice from some triumph owners here on my next ride. I am looking at either a sprint st 1050 or a 955i. I am not a touring guy) but I am a naked/street fighter kind. I think the sprint would make a really unique platform to rip all the fairings off and street fighterify. Where as the 955i i would prefer to leave as is. I understand 955is are leader bikes of yester years which would be a hell of a lot of fun! But My fear is that being a race bike I would quickly get tired of the uncomfortably factor. The question for me comes to ergos and regular use. In your opinion which bike would provide the most longevity and fun in regular use?
Hey Isaac, Obviously the seating ergos will probably be more comfortable for you on the Sprint for city traffic and longer runs. I am curious, if you want a naked bike why would you not look at a Speed Trip? Same sort ergo's better suspension no fairing to remove.
@@RodRidesWrenches I mean I just want something you don't see to often on the road. I am aware the Speed Trip checks all those boxes but for a bike in with relatively similar stuff comes in at a much higher price point on the used market. If I go down that route than there are other bikes that appeal to me more in that bracket.
Hey Isaac, from what you've written I assume you mean a 955i Daytona? Having owned both I'd go with the 1050. The 955i is a great bike, especially with a race can fitted, but it's only brilliant some of the time (ie on twisty roads with good surfaces). The 1050 is great whatever you're riding along, you'll be much more comfortable on the 1050, get better fuel economy and cheaper insurance. Yes the 955i is faster on a track, but not by much and besides in the real world the midrange torque of the 1050 makes it the more user-friendly choice.
In Australia the gt first came out with a plasic tank but people in the market to buy that class of bike wanted a metal tank so triumph changed to a metal tank but didn't realise australian law states a metal tank has to be tested for 1 year full of fuel before the bike can be sold in Australia. so the gt went off the market for one year and then back on the market . After that the gt was a bit of a flop, that's why in Australia you see way more st's on the road then gt's.
Is the ptc at 4min 40 ADR'd? nice job if so! sounds awful. but the sync is really good.
Nice review and some good insight. I have a 32" inseam and find the bike folds my legs a bit more than I'd like but my 64 year old knees are OK up to about 400 miles per day. As for the seat......it is the dumbest design I've seen but the simple fix is to just leave the two bolts out. When you're stopped the seat isn't going anywhere and when you're riding then obviously you are sitting on it so it's not going anywhere. I left those bolts out on my 2005 in 2006 and haven't had any issue. Seat comes off and goes back on in seconds.
New Triumph GT video is out today! Thanks for liking & subscribing!
Thanks for this interesting and in-depth comparison Rod!
You've got a great channel here, I'm amazed you haven't got more subs.
I'm very tempted by a Sprint as I fell in love with the Triumph triple engine after owning a Street Triple 675
I've never ridden anything more powerful than a 765 Stripple, (apart from maybe the 900cc Street Twin which while having bags of torque doesn't pull quite like a triple) so I think making the leap from my current bike (CB500) to a 1050cc continent crusher may be a bit of a stretch, so I'm thinking of getting a 5th gen VFR800 to bridge the gap while I wait for the used price of the Sprint GT to drop a little further.
I've got the advantage of having THREE Triumph dealerships within 40 miles, so lack of dealer support isn't really a problem here in the UK.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks for liking & subscribing!
Great video, t595 rider looking for a more comfortable ride.
Thanks for the View & the feedback!
I had a Sprint S/T 1050. . .3 cylinders 😃 A sound 🤣 high low rev torque and a shitty seat. . back hache after 40 minutes riding. . And nasty turbulences at 100 km/h. .I fixed with a few oval holes in the wind screen. . No more helmet bumping with passager. .
Yhe daytona gearbox was audible as well, 955i fun tho
Thank you 🙏 Seriously underated bike, seriously underated especially when, as you say, you factor in price. These bikes still compete well against the latest offerings, (I know the traction control and some electronics are missing but they are of a former "era"). Have a look at horse power and torque for modern litre (approx) bikes, take a look at good bike, another triple, the Yamaha MT09 for example 🤗
Thanks for Liking & Subscribing, New Video this Friday!
Amen, I bought mine on impulse, and after owning over 30 bikes over almost 50 yrs, best bike ever my 2011 gt.
Hey Rod... I'm seriously thinking of trading my VFR for a Sprint GT. In your opinion would I look back with regret or pleasure. No chance to test ride a sprint where I live. Thanks
I have owned a VFR800 ( pre-v-tec) and The VFR1200( hated that bike) The GT, in my opinion is a better all round bike, especially the engine. I always thought the 800 VFR to be underpowered especially carrying two people.
The Sprint GT is heavier and not as nimble at low speeds at the VFR, IMO. It does have one significant advantage, that being power but the average brakes means that you need to apply that power in situations that only warrant it. No more shifting down two gears to pass the semi train, just gas and go! If you want a liter bike that you can aggressively tour on, the Sprint GT will work. If you are an around the metro commuter, you may find yourself thinking about your old VFR. Unlike Stoic Student I really, really like my VFR1200F but it is a completely different bike than either the VFR800 or the Sprint. Good Luck!
@@RodRidesWrenches Thanks for the response Rod. Well... I'm part time commuter to the metro area but I'm also a day tripper. Looking forward to expanding that to from a couple, to a few more days at a time. I mean ..with the Sprint I COULD take of the bags for those rips into town. I'd lose some weight and width
Very educational, thank you.
Very thorough review. I own a Sprint GT since 2011, it's a fantastic bike and I drive bikes for..40+ yrs now. I agree that from Triumph's current line-up it is missing a GT model, but this is the trend with most motorcycle manufacturers, they focus on copying BMW's GS "dream market". Before Sprint GT I owned a Speed Triple. I would never give for a naked bike more than 12K, dollars, pounds, euro whatever; Speed Triple is overpriced with limited audience..Yet, all motorcycles are currently overpriced..look at Ducati or BMWs. Any way.. One question, which came up out of your review, IS THERE A FRONT BREMBO KIT FOR SPRINT GT? IS SPEED TRIPLE BREMBO KIT COMPATIBLE?? Thanks for the fantastic review!
Hello Panos - Thanks for the view & feedback. No the forks are completely different between these bikes. I did find changing out the stock levers made a BIG difference to the way the brakes felt in both my GT and ST (it really was astonishing). I attempted to look at the brembo site to see if they sold a kit for the GT (I am sure they do) but the configurator page gave me a 404 error! Weird. I guess they are all watching MotoGP.
What about the Sprint 955i st and rs? this vid is old news! They have done this before!
Would the st be a good first bike , I’m 5’7 and 220 pounds
Thanks for Liking & Subscribing, New Video this Friday!
Agree with all the comments. Traded my ST on a GSX1000-GT. The Suzi is faster but buzzier (with way better brakes) but I long for a centrestand. Love the Suzi but wish I had kept the ST. Don't ever sell yours.sell one
Loved my 2006 ST but build quality was terrible as the heat in traffic
Great video, I agree they are unbeatable value as a second hand buy. I have a 2006 sprint st 1050 and absolutely love it! Gotta say though I find the front wheel only lifts slightly at around 8200-9200rpm in 1st gear with full throttle then second gear doesn't lift at all. Did you have the stock gearing when you did the acceleration test? Stock is a 19 tooth front and 42 tooth rear 👍
Any thoughts on the earlier 955 st:s????
Not really, there was a lot of change to the 05, frame suspension, fuel injection and of course the engine. I once had a 900 triple, carbureted, could not get rid of it fast enough.
@@RodRidesWrenches thanks Rod. Hope all is well with you 🙂
The 955i was outstanding but not built as nicely
Thanks!
I'll buy one 😃
have 2008 ST no ABS one of the best bike i own
Awesome video thanks
Your historical timeline is a little incorrect. Triumph Hinckley began production in 1991 and the first model was the Trophy, a fully-faired sports tourer in 1200cc/4 cyl and 900cc 3cyl. The naked Trident came soon after but was never intended to fill the sports tourer role, which the Trophy and later Sprint were marketed as. The Sprint was introduced in 1993/4.
I live in the UK & I find the the looks of th speed triple Ugly & if it was thrown together with odd bits.
The whole motorcycle industry seems to think, people want to have an Adventure bike or a Classic.
Bring back the sports tourer they were the good alrounder.
I have the ST, and almost never lift the front wheel up on accident.
Ohh. The sprints do have heated grips..
So out of the two bikes the GT is a better bike. One thing to mention is the GT is considerably a lot heavier and the top box is like a bag of cement heavy
just curious how tall are you ? 😅
5.5'
I enjoyed your video! Triumph has spent a lot of money on advertising and frankly sort of BS'ing the public about their new bikes. For example, the new Trident makes less HP than their old Speed Triple S. I haven't seen anything comparing the old S to the new Trident but I doubt its that much better. In addition, it has computers and electronics that lock you out of doing your own maintenance or ECU flashing. This is surely to drive people to spend money at the dealer.
And your right, their new 1200 motor isn't that much better than the old 1050. Seems like their bikes are being treated like phones. You go out and buy a new phone that hasn't really improved much compared to your last one except for the fact that its shiny and new! So you fork out another $800 just so you can say you have the latest model.
Thanks for Commenting & Riding! The 1050 IMO is the best Triumph motor for the $ with the 675 and Rocket III motors close seconds.
Maybe you have to take into account that many manufacturers are upping the cc but not the power per se in order that they get more flexibility to comply with Euro 5.
Your video is great.
I do own a Sprint St (with a Daytona and street triple 675 among other bikes).
I do use the Daytona only on track and tested many sport bikes and race for many years with classic bikes (Norton, Velocette, Honda).
So i do know what braking hard means and so i do completely disagree with you about the brakes of the Sprint St.
It works very well, nothing to complain about it.
Nice video, many thanks
Thanks for watching!
...Americans, who have the luxury of long, straight roads... LOL!
I will not buy a Sprint , I am looking at Suzuki SV 650 with high bars. . way beter on fuel. . .