▲ The 2012 Triumph Speed Triple R. The same, but different. But how long before Triumph needs to start afresh?

 

Triumph Speed Triple

1050cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled triple  

 

 

1994 Triumph Speed Triple T300/309

 

▲ 1994 Speed Triple T300/309 series bikes.
Plenty of these around still at low prices and giving

great service. Solid engineering. Very tough engine.
Find a good one, cherish it, garage it, and cash in when you retire. First-of-type bikes almost always carry a premium. This is one to watch. Numbers are falling.

 

 

1999 Triumph Speed Triple T509

 

▲ 1999 Speed Triple T595. Third generation. Consolidating its position with a 955cc engine. Bit by bit, this bike was nudging aside contenders and increasing its grip on its sector. No great leap forward, however. Triumph was playing a long, cautious game.

 

 

 

 

▲ 2011 Speed Triple. Fifth generation, and the 500,000th Triumph built by Hinckley. Some milestone, huh. Engine shifted forward slightly and angled down a little. New chassis including swinging arm. Battery moved behind headstock. Slightly lower and narrower seat. New bug-eyed headlamps. Triumph claims another 5hp and a wider torque spread around the mid range. Over 60,000 built so far.

 

 

 

1997 Triumph Speed Triple T509

 

▲ 1997 Speed Triple T509. Second generation and beginning to come out of its shell. Aluminium perimeter frame. Louder colours. First showing of the bug-eye headlamps. Up-rated forks. Looking very cool now.
Carburettors are dead. Fuel injection is the norm.

 

 

 

 

▲ 2005 Speed Triple. Fourth generation (in Scorched Yellow). New 1050cc engine. Most power  (130PS @ 9,100rpm). More torque (105Nm @ 5,100rpm). New inverted forks and tweaks all around. As with all Speed Triples, plenty of accessories and options. But even the basic model rings the right notes. Still a very good value bike. Lots around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triumph 1050:
Set yourself three
T-shirt

 

Triumph 1050 T-shirt

 

£19.99 plus P&P

 

 

 

 

Speed Triple timeline

 

1994: First generation Speed Triple. T300/T309 series bikes. 885cc and (later) 750cc engine. Carburettors. Steel backbone frame. Conventional swinging arm. Said to be "over-engineered". Durable bike. Much loved by most owners. But tall and slabbish.

5-speed gearbox became 6-speed in 1995.

 

1996: First 750cc Speed Triple variant. Same weight. Less power. Not a popular machine. Final T309s built.

 

1997: T509. Second generation Speed Triple. Aluminium perimeter chassis. Single-sided swinging arm. Now fuel-injected. Bug-eye headlights.

 

1999: T595. Third Generation Speed Triple. 955cc engine. Significant leap forward.

 

2000: 955i engine introduced.

 

2005: Fourth generation Speed Triple. 1050cc engine. New fuel management system from Keihin. Inverted forks.

 

2010: New tubular alloy frame. Revised bug-eye headlights.

 

2011: 5th generation Speed Triple launched. New chassis. New swinging arm. Same basic engine with slightly more power and wider torque spread. New bug eyed headlights.

 

triumph speed triple review/profile

2012 Speed Triple R buyers guide

 

 

 

 

More Sump buyers guides

 

 

 

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