A fair review, watched by someone with an eye to ownership. My but that is some beautiful countryside you ride through. Cheers from South Carolina, USA!
Had mine for 8 years, had to change reg/rec and stator a couple of years in to ownership, common issue apparently, I replaced them myself for less than the price of two new tyres. Other than that just tyres and servicing. It puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. it has over 33k on the clock now so going to treat it to a new chain and sprocket set in the next couple of weeks. It feels as strong and as tight as it did when I bought it. It is shod with Michelin road Vs and they really inspire confidence. I have considered changing it but can't find anything that is better at being a sporty sport tourer without spending lots of money. That triple engine is a real gem. I agree with your points re the seat and the lights but neither are deal breakers for me. I love the bike,
I purchased one of these recently a 2010 model it's the best sports touring motorcycle I have ever had the handling in particular is excellent and far better than the Honda VFR's that I have owned previously and also it's more powerful the only thing that lets the package down is the headlights they are surprisingly average , overall I am very impressed with this machine and I intend to hold onto it for several years .
I have a 2001 ST, really neglected it, but every spring push the starter and off for another season. Its been in the shop for a very very long time getting a super make over. Can't hardly wait.
Thank You Andy. Appreciate you taking the time to make this. I want a new street bike with abs, fully cowled, and agressive. But still comfortable & close to $5k USD. And I need a bike that can hold a wheelie easily. Steady, even power through the rpm's with No surges. Would you say this bike fits?
A great review. Have you had any problems with the front sprocket? I found mine was loose. On searching on the internet it seems that it's a common issue with some Triumphs. The only way the nut can be loose is for it not to be tightened in the first place, which some straight from the factory haven't been. I only found out when I investigated an annoying rattle. I know what you mean about those allen-key bolts at the back of the seat. I'm thinking of removing the rear subframe and welding on some nuts for the bolts to screw in to. One thing I've done for a short term fix is make sure the clips are squidged with some pliers so that they fit nice and tight. It's the flexing and bending of them that causes the issues.
+RevvedUpBiker Cheers buddy! No I had no such issues, I did remove the plastic protector and cleaned all the gunk out but had no problems. Prior to selling I noticed a slight oil leak on the R/handside (Clutch housing?), nothing major and think it was down to a knackered o-ring.
Andy171 Mine leaks oil a tiny bit. I think it comes from where the wire for the stator comes out from the housing. A bit of gasket sealant in there should prevent it.
What did you replace the std headlight bulbs with? Have you done the HiD conversion? Apparently the actual lights are HiD projector lenses but Triumph fitted crappy halogen bulbs in them ............................... Yeah the two bolts securing the seat are a bit fiddly. Agree with you that riding it, it is pretty safe, lots of low down talk, not the nimbleness of a 600 sports bike but then it is aimed at the sports tourer market. The sound of the triple is a little addictive. I do find the seat a little high though although I am short at 5'8". Thanks for the review.
+Alex Morgan Hi Alex, thanks for your comments. I went and bought some new bulbs from Halfords, something similar to this: www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-super-brilliance-hbu477sb-h7-car-bulb-x-1 I didn't want to throw the money at a HiD system as I didn't think I would get my monies worth out of it. The sound of the triple burble popping and crackling on a closed throttle and the rasp of the triple engine I do miss. I didn't have an issue with the seat height myself but I did find it warm in the summer though! I've got another Sprint vid in the pipeline actually, hoping to get finished and uploaded in the next week. Ride Safe - Andy
+Andy171 I am considering getting a HID kit £80 for the dip beams and have an 80W halogen bulb for the central main beam. What bike have you got now and why did you get rid of your Triumph? You did sell your Sprint ST1050? Mine just flew through another MOT today. Shall look forward to your next vid. Thanks, A.
+Alex Morgan Hey Alex, I've got a GSX-R750 now.... I part ex'd the Triumph. I wanted something a little sharper, with a bit more power. In hindsight the fork oil could have been changed (I bet it had never been done before) and maybe uprated fork springs for my weight. If you're in need of a service you can do much worse than get +muddysump to do it!
Ive considered changing to the sprint from my vfr800 5th generation so many times I've lost count. Im on my third Vfr in 6 years now (all pre vtech) and though i really fancy a change, i cant find any reason to buy anything else after test riding the usual crop of sports tourers again and again. My latest cost me a piddling £760, is in near mint condition and with 50,000 miles up, still rides like new. The only thing i needed to do was to tease free the starter motor bushes which the previous owner didn't realise made it an erratic starter- hence the price. The v4 engine is a dream, the gear driven cams sing as you're riding and the handling is really planted. So can you try and convince me why my next bike should be a Sprint and not another Vfr!
Hi Warren, thanks for watching and your comments! What a question to answer, which is fairly difficult as I've never ridden any derivative of the VFR so I can't compare :) If you're current steed rides like new then what's the point changing, especially if you're happy with it and cost you very little £££'s. What you will get with a Sprint is a great exhaust note on and off the throttle, especially on the overrun even with standard pipes. Handling is planted and predictable, it's economical with a 21L tank and will easily do 200 miles. Mine had luggage too which was great though have a look at the videos of our France trip (Day1) to see what happened there. The Engine is by far the standout part of the bike, lots of torque and smooth too. The Gelseat fitted to my Sprint was great, without ever sitting on the standard seat I can't say whether its a must have or not. Single sided swingarm looks the business and tyres held up well for the mileage that I covered (about 6,000). Finally, things to bear in mind, dash is dated by modern standards, headlight if standard is weak, mirrors might vibrate a little (I didn't find a problem with them), underseat pipes mean there is no underseat storage and legs might get a cooking in the summer. That I said I liked the bike, after all it's a Triumph and I liked the fact I was owning something British :) Hope this helps, Andy
Thanks for the detailed reply mate. Very useful. I owned a 1050 speed triple for 2 weeks before it was stolen a while back. I loved the triple engine so I know that's a winner. Thanks again. Ride safe.
I`ve had 2 VFR`s and 4 Sprints over the last decade or two. Both VFR`s were 750`s not 800, 2 of the Sprints were 955`s and 2 were 1050`s including the bike I ride now. On the road they are suprisingly similiar, riding position is almost identical and just as comfortable. The only real differences I`ve noticed it the VFR felt lighter, a lower centre of gravity and seemed more nimble. The ST feels like what it is, a VFR with an extra 25bhp and a bit more torque. No shortage of torque on VFR`s and in truth the difference is not huge. One final thought, other than eating its own regulator from time to time the VFR`s that I`ve had were pretty much without fault. My last one, a VFR FJ finally died at 289.000 and only then after trying to cut a volvo in half. The St`s on the other hand have had regular, often minor but always irritating little faults and gremlins.
warren goldstein buy the new model vfr 800 if anything.I own a 2001 800 fi and its the only bike id cosider upgrading to everything else is a compromise in my opinion.
Oh my! Didnt know Sprinty does not have underseat storage =\ I'm still hasitating about switching my Speedy for Sprinty, not sure I want a second expensive bike wich will stay in garage most of the time, since I ride in city most of the time. Those leaking problems seems to be common for all Speedy and Sprinty. I bielive its all about rubber gascets compound. Have a bit of a swet on the side of camshaft cover. Going to solve that problem while dealing with valve clearance job soon. Strange thing, even with that oil leakage its seems that oil level remains the same and I didnt add any last season =\
Hi thanks for the message. The sprint is great for touring but yes surprising that it has no underseat storage. That said, the glovebox is a reasonable size for a few bits and pieces. The slight oil leak was nothing major, as guess as with your speed, a little oil can look much worse than reality :)
The 2008-later Strumpets come with sidecases, which are more than sufficient for tools/raingear. The lockable glovebox is also where the ODB connector lives, which if you have a code reader or other ODB-compatible gizmo, makes things easy to get to (no pulling bodywork to get to the ODB!) The other nice thing about the 2008 is the steel tank, which means you can use a magnetic tankbag. That solves minor storage issues pretty handily. I do a lot of commuting with mine - she's... OK... in parking lots, doesn't have the greatest turning radius so I do a lot of backing into parking spaces. She is a joy on the highway, especially something with bends in it (mmm... Colorado mountain roads.) And of course, there's the "talk"; the low purr at idle, up to the banshee scream at redline, and then the popping and burbling you get when you let the throttle off from about midway up the revs. I get anywhere from 120-200 miles per tank on midgrade (89 octane) gas, the former is city riding, the latter is long-distance touring. And yes, mine seems to be consuming oil - she's not marking territory that I can tell, so perhaps it's getting burnt.
Kashaye Parker Thats for the info! I'll take your notes in consideration. But for now I decided to keep my Speedy and mount hand made luggage rack for traveling in Russia. Since I'm planning to move to Europe - I'm not really into buying new bike right now. Even though I really really like Sprint ST, I might get Sprint GT as a sport tourer, since I'm planning to travel via my girlfriend untill she gets her license and her own bike ;)
Hi, no in the end I didn't. Changing the pads to sintered would obviously help and braided hoses. Sold the bike less than six months after filming the vid I think!
his was a 2006 VFR800. He's let me ride both of them and to be honest, I'm not sold on the Triumph either. I'm a huge triumph fan so i was quite disappointed. The VFR rode like a dream, felt stable as hell, had power all day and was comfortable.
I had my ST1050 for like 6 months... and immediately went back to a VFR800. Handling wise I loved it over the VFR800.. I plan on upgrading both my 1200/800 suspension though. Yet, the 1050ST powerband felt so gutless and boring.
I have a Daytona 675. I'm 50 and have ridden to Belgium on it with luggage. 3000 miles in 4 months. I'm 14 stone and have a squashed disk in my lower spine. The trouble with these types of bikes is they are dull, heavy and are the car equivalent of the Mondeo car of biking. They do nothing great. Biking should be exciting!! If you want all out comfort take the CAR.
![[RAW] A Roads Best Roads | Triumph Sprint ST 1050 | TOR](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VTblfFp2Lvc/mqdefault.jpg)
A fair review, watched by someone with an eye to ownership. My but that is some beautiful countryside you ride through. Cheers from South Carolina, USA!
Had mine for 8 years, had to change reg/rec and stator a couple of years in to ownership, common issue apparently, I replaced them myself for less than the price of two new tyres. Other than that just tyres and servicing. It puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. it has over 33k on the clock now so going to treat it to a new chain and sprocket set in the next couple of weeks. It feels as strong and as tight as it did when I bought it. It is shod with Michelin road Vs and they really inspire confidence. I have considered changing it but can't find anything that is better at being a sporty sport tourer without spending lots of money. That triple engine is a real gem. I agree with your points re the seat and the lights but neither are deal breakers for me. I love the bike,
I purchased one of these recently a 2010 model it's the best sports touring motorcycle I have ever had the handling in particular is excellent and far better than the Honda VFR's that I have owned previously and also it's more powerful the only thing that lets the package down is the headlights they are surprisingly average , overall I am very impressed with this machine and I intend to hold onto it for several years .
I have a 2001 ST, really neglected it, but every spring push the starter and off for another season. Its been in the shop for a very very long time getting a super make over. Can't hardly wait.
I'm currently looking to get a sprint st 1050 & this is a very helpful & informative review.
Many thanks & well done fellow biker.
Safe biking mate
The handle bar looks a bit too low and short, are there aftermarket ones available?
Thanks for the review man, I appreciate it! :)
No problem
Awesome bikes, I cant fault my 06.
Thank You Andy. Appreciate you taking the time to make this. I want a new street bike with abs, fully cowled, and agressive. But still comfortable & close to $5k USD. And I need a bike that can hold a wheelie easily. Steady, even power through the rpm's with No surges. Would you say this bike fits?
A great review. Have you had any problems with the front sprocket? I found mine was loose. On searching on the internet it seems that it's a common issue with some Triumphs. The only way the nut can be loose is for it not to be tightened in the first place, which some straight from the factory haven't been. I only found out when I investigated an annoying rattle.
I know what you mean about those allen-key bolts at the back of the seat. I'm thinking of removing the rear subframe and welding on some nuts for the bolts to screw in to. One thing I've done for a short term fix is make sure the clips are squidged with some pliers so that they fit nice and tight. It's the flexing and bending of them that causes the issues.
+RevvedUpBiker Cheers buddy! No I had no such issues, I did remove the plastic protector and cleaned all the gunk out but had no problems. Prior to selling I noticed a slight oil leak on the R/handside (Clutch housing?), nothing major and think it was down to a knackered o-ring.
Andy171
Mine leaks oil a tiny bit. I think it comes from where the wire for the stator comes out from the housing. A bit of gasket sealant in there should prevent it.
What did you replace the std headlight bulbs with? Have you done the HiD conversion? Apparently the actual lights are HiD projector lenses but Triumph fitted crappy halogen bulbs in them ............................... Yeah the two bolts securing the seat are a bit fiddly. Agree with you that riding it, it is pretty safe, lots of low down talk, not the nimbleness of a 600 sports bike but then it is aimed at the sports tourer market. The sound of the triple is a little addictive. I do find the seat a little high though although I am short at 5'8". Thanks for the review.
+Alex Morgan Hi Alex, thanks for your comments. I went and bought some new bulbs from Halfords, something similar to this: www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-super-brilliance-hbu477sb-h7-car-bulb-x-1
I didn't want to throw the money at a HiD system as I didn't think I would get my monies worth out of it. The sound of the triple burble popping and crackling on a closed throttle and the rasp of the triple engine I do miss.
I didn't have an issue with the seat height myself but I did find it warm in the summer though! I've got another Sprint vid in the pipeline actually, hoping to get finished and uploaded in the next week. Ride Safe - Andy
+Andy171 I am considering getting a HID kit £80 for the dip beams and have an 80W halogen bulb for the central main beam. What bike have you got now and why did you get rid of your Triumph? You did sell your Sprint ST1050? Mine just flew through another MOT today. Shall look forward to your next vid. Thanks, A.
+Alex Morgan Hey Alex, I've got a GSX-R750 now.... I part ex'd the Triumph. I wanted something a little sharper, with a bit more power. In hindsight the fork oil could have been changed (I bet it had never been done before) and maybe uprated fork springs for my weight.
If you're in need of a service you can do much worse than get +muddysump to do it!
Ive considered changing to the sprint from my vfr800 5th generation so many times I've lost count. Im on my third Vfr in 6 years now (all pre vtech) and though i really fancy a change, i cant find any reason to buy anything else after test riding the usual crop of sports tourers again and again.
My latest cost me a piddling £760, is in near mint condition and with 50,000 miles up, still rides like new. The only thing i needed to do was to tease free the starter motor bushes which the previous owner didn't realise made it an erratic starter- hence the price. The v4 engine is a dream, the gear driven cams sing as you're riding and the handling is really planted.
So can you try and convince me why my next bike should be a Sprint and not another Vfr!
Hi Warren, thanks for watching and your comments! What a question to answer, which is fairly difficult as I've never ridden any derivative of the VFR so I can't compare :) If you're current steed rides like new then what's the point changing, especially if you're happy with it and cost you very little £££'s.
What you will get with a Sprint is a great exhaust note on and off the throttle, especially on the overrun even with standard pipes. Handling is planted and predictable, it's economical with a 21L tank and will easily do 200 miles. Mine had luggage too which was great though have a look at the videos of our France trip (Day1) to see what happened there. The Engine is by far the standout part of the bike, lots of torque and smooth too. The Gelseat fitted to my Sprint was great, without ever sitting on the standard seat I can't say whether its a must have or not. Single sided swingarm looks the business and tyres held up well for the mileage that I covered (about 6,000).
Finally, things to bear in mind, dash is dated by modern standards, headlight if standard is weak, mirrors might vibrate a little (I didn't find a problem with them), underseat pipes mean there is no underseat storage and legs might get a cooking in the summer. That I said I liked the bike, after all it's a Triumph and I liked the fact I was owning something British :) Hope this helps, Andy
Thanks for the detailed reply mate. Very useful. I owned a 1050 speed triple for 2 weeks before it was stolen a while back. I loved the triple engine so I know that's a winner. Thanks again. Ride safe.
I`ve had 2 VFR`s and 4 Sprints over the last decade or two. Both VFR`s were 750`s not 800, 2 of the Sprints were 955`s and 2 were 1050`s including the bike I ride now. On the road they are suprisingly similiar, riding position is almost identical and just as comfortable. The only real differences I`ve noticed it the VFR felt lighter, a lower centre of gravity and seemed more nimble. The ST feels like what it is, a VFR with an extra 25bhp and a bit more torque. No shortage of torque on VFR`s and in truth the difference is not huge. One final thought, other than eating its own regulator from time to time the VFR`s that I`ve had were pretty much without fault. My last one, a VFR FJ finally died at 289.000 and only then after trying to cut a volvo in half. The St`s on the other hand have had regular, often minor but always irritating little faults and gremlins.
warren goldstein buy the new model vfr 800 if anything.I own a 2001 800 fi and its the only bike id cosider upgrading to everything else is a compromise in my opinion.
Oh my! Didnt know Sprinty does not have underseat storage =\
I'm still hasitating about switching my Speedy for Sprinty, not sure I want a second expensive bike wich will stay in garage most of the time, since I ride in city most of the time.
Those leaking problems seems to be common for all Speedy and Sprinty. I bielive its all about rubber gascets compound. Have a bit of a swet on the side of camshaft cover. Going to solve that problem while dealing with valve clearance job soon.
Strange thing, even with that oil leakage its seems that oil level remains the same and I didnt add any last season =\
Hi thanks for the message. The sprint is great for touring but yes surprising that it has no underseat storage. That said, the glovebox is a reasonable size for a few bits and pieces. The slight oil leak was nothing major, as guess as with your speed, a little oil can look much worse than reality :)
The 2008-later Strumpets come with sidecases, which are more than sufficient for tools/raingear. The lockable glovebox is also where the ODB connector lives, which if you have a code reader or other ODB-compatible gizmo, makes things easy to get to (no pulling bodywork to get to the ODB!)
The other nice thing about the 2008 is the steel tank, which means you can use a magnetic tankbag. That solves minor storage issues pretty handily.
I do a lot of commuting with mine - she's... OK... in parking lots, doesn't have the greatest turning radius so I do a lot of backing into parking spaces. She is a joy on the highway, especially something with bends in it (mmm... Colorado mountain roads.) And of course, there's the "talk"; the low purr at idle, up to the banshee scream at redline, and then the popping and burbling you get when you let the throttle off from about midway up the revs. I get anywhere from 120-200 miles per tank on midgrade (89 octane) gas, the former is city riding, the latter is long-distance touring.
And yes, mine seems to be consuming oil - she's not marking territory that I can tell, so perhaps it's getting burnt.
Kashaye Parker Thats for the info! I'll take your notes in consideration. But for now I decided to keep my Speedy and mount hand made luggage rack for traveling in Russia. Since I'm planning to move to Europe - I'm not really into buying new bike right now. Even though I really really like Sprint ST, I might get Sprint GT as a sport tourer, since I'm planning to travel via my girlfriend untill she gets her license and her own bike ;)
Did you ever do anything with your brakes?
Hi, no in the end I didn't. Changing the pads to sintered would obviously help and braided hoses. Sold the bike less than six months after filming the vid I think!
Cheers! I've just had to replace the oil cooler on mine, something got past the guard :(
Basically if you want to buy a Sprint ST, don't watch this!! I lasted until 2:05 min! Good luck viewers!!
You sound like Andy from Andy's Range air rifle channel.
Olly, I have no idea who you're talking about but I will check it out now :)
My mate swapped his VFR800 for one of these.
Totally regrets it....
+One3rdNinja would love to ride one, one from the same era as mine was. Not struck on the new model!
his was a 2006 VFR800. He's let me ride both of them and to be honest, I'm not sold on the Triumph either. I'm a huge triumph fan so i was quite disappointed. The VFR rode like a dream, felt stable as hell, had power all day and was comfortable.
I had my ST1050 for like 6 months... and immediately went back to a VFR800. Handling wise I loved it over the VFR800.. I plan on upgrading both my 1200/800 suspension though. Yet, the 1050ST powerband felt so gutless and boring.
My suspension i set RIGHT....bring om a Superbike !!!!
Fantastic bike I've done 189,000 kms on mine that's 112,000 miles no problems
I have a Daytona 675. I'm 50 and have ridden to Belgium on it with luggage. 3000 miles in 4 months. I'm 14 stone and have a squashed disk in my lower spine.
The trouble with these types of bikes is they are dull, heavy and are the car equivalent of the Mondeo car of biking. They do nothing great. Biking should be exciting!! If you want all out comfort take the CAR.
Yeah, cus being sore and completely exhausted after riding 20 miles are soooo much fun and exciting
Headlights piss poor.
Had to change out the bulbs for superwhites on mine, and still can't see anything with the high beam on.
+Kashaye Parker hehe, there's a conversion kit you can put on I think. Might be worth looking into. Andy
You're not very inspiring with your review and I'm left wishing I'd not listened to your video!