The Triumph Speed Triple is a series of motorcycles produced by Triumph
Motorcycles. In 1994 the reborn Triumph became one of the earliest adopters of
the new streetfighter style. This was essentially a modern sport bike or race
replica motorcycle but without the aerodynamic plastic fairing.
Origins = Early bikes=
The new bike was first released to the public in 1994, and in a nod to the 1938
Speed Twin, was dubbed the "Speed Triple". The original Speed Twin was
powered by a 498 cc vertical twin cylinder engine, and was considered a
high performance machine in its day. The new Speed Triple was based on the new
Triumph Triple series of modular engines, which also powered the standard
Trident, Daytona sport bike, and the Thunderbird retro bike. This engine came
in two displacements as a triple: 750 cc for some European markets, and 885 cc
for all other markets. The Speed Triple originally was equipped only with the
885 cc engine, but just before significant changes to the bike were
made in 1997 a very few 750 machines were produced using leftover Euro
specification engines. Early Speed Triples were all carbureted,
and were designated T300 series bikes. 1994/1995 models came with the standard
885 cc water-cooled engine and a rugged five-speed transmission. Subsequent
Speed Triples all had the same engine with six speed transmissions, except for
the brief run of 750 cc bikes. As with all the modular Triumphs, the T309
series Speed Triple had a very large single steel tube backbone frame, and
used the engine as a stressed member. Forks were 43mm multi-adjustable Kayaba
units and the same Japanese firm's shock could be set for preload and rebound
damping. Kayaba had had a special relationship with Hinckley Triumph from
its earliest days. At the rear was a single monoshock with a progressive
linkage, and at the front were standard hydraulic forks fitted with dual disk
brakes. = Racing=
In 1994 Triumph Motorcycles sponsored a racing series with the intention of
spotlighting its new image. Dubbed "The Speed Triple Challenge", it was similar
to IROC in that all the competitors rode identical Speed Triple motorcycles. This
made up for the fact that in factory trim the Speed Triple wasn't a
competitive machine in normal racing circles. On the other hand, a few
privateers had some success on highly modified bikes based on the Triumph
Triple engine, often using Spondon chassis. Some modified Speed Triples
also were observed racing in B.E.A.R.S.. = Legacy=
The final T309 Speed Triple was built in 1996. The newly introduced T595 Daytona
was supplied with fuel injection, and the 955 cc engine. The 1997 T509
received the frame, brakes and design of the new Daytona 595, but came with an
885 cc injected engine for '97 and '98. The remainder of the range including the
Tbird, Legend, the Adventurer, the Thunderbird Sport, the Tiger, and the
900 trophy retained the carbureted 885 cc engine.
Generations = T509=
Following the end of the T309 run of Speed Triples, Triumph released the
first of its new generation of fuel injected sportbikes, the T509 Speed
Triple. The new bike was a total redesign. While the all new engine still
displaced 885 cc, it now produced a claimed 108 hp and was fitted with an
engine management system by SAGEM, a French company that built systems for
automobiles. The T509 had new aluminium perimeter chassis, a single-sided
swingarm, and upgraded suspension components.
The restyling by designers John Mockett and Rod Scivyer saw the introduction of
the twin "bug eye" headlamps which are a Triumph trademark to this day. When
introduced in 1997 the T509 had a polished frame. It also had low mount
clip-ons. To improve rider comfort and low speed handling, a regular handlebar
was fitted from 1998. When the 1997 T509 Speed Triple received
the 885 cc fuel injected engine, the Daytona received an upgraded 955 cc
engine producing 130 hp at the crankshaft. For 1999 the new Speed
Triple was officially upgraded to T595 status, also receiving the bigger
engine. Due to tuning differences it did not make as much power as its fully
faired contemporary, but it did have a substantially broader torque curve than
its T509 predecessor. Cosmetically, the T509 and the 1999
Speed Triples were nearly identical, and they shared many of the same components
including the dual headlamps and single sided swing arm. Minor differences
include the removal of the "T509" decal on the rear quarter panel and the
addition of a header cross-over pipe. Small fairings referred to as "Bikini
Fairings" were popular on these bikes, as well as other aftermarket accessories
that wouldn't normally be of use to a fully faired sport bike.
= 955i= For the years 2000 and 2001 the Speed
Triple changed little other than cosmetically. The engine control unit
was updated to the Sagem MC2000. Both the Speed Triple and the Daytona came to
be referred to as 955i bikes, which ended some confusion from the earlier
T500 series designations. Other notable differences were silver wheels instead
of black wheels, and the Speed Triple logo on the rear quarter panel was in
print rather than cursive. In 2002, Gareth Davies redesigned the
plastics. The 432 lb was reduced by a change to the engine casings of the 955i
engine that decreased weight by roughly 17 pounds. The power was slightly
increased thanks to a new cylinder head design. The MC2000 control unit
remained, but was adapted for an O2 sensor.
In late 2004, a small number of Special Edition Speed Triples were produced,
with only cosmetic differences. = 1050 and beyond=
In 2005, Triumph released its fourth generation Speed Triple. While this was
not a redesign of the scale of the T509, there were many changes to the bike. The
engine was still the venerable and reliable fuel-injected engine used since
1997, but it had been increased in capacity to 1,050 cc. This was
accomplished by lengthening the stroke. Also fitted was an all new fuel
injection and engine management system made by the Japanese company Keihin.
Other engine modifications resulted in a claimed 129 hp and a broader, flatter
torque curve. Other improvements included inverted
forks, radial disc brake calipers and a redesigned electronic gauge cluster
which included a trip computer. Handling was once again improved.
Late in 2007, a few changes appeared in the Speed Triple, consisting of an
updated engine management system and a revised exhaust containing a catalytic
converter in a different location. The revised Electronic Control Unit had more
memory and provided a solution for some starting and low speed fueling issues. A
revised metal tank also replaced the plastic unit that had been fitted. For
the 2008 model year several changes were made to the bodywork and Italian made
Brembo front brakes were supplied as standard.
The new Speed Triple shared its engine with the new Sprint ST and later the
2007 Triumph Tiger 1050, but 2006 was to be the last year of the 955i Daytona. In
its place was a new bike, the Daytona 675 . The new Daytona 675 had an all new
smaller displacement engine and a completely new modern chassis. It
garnered excellent reviews. In November 2007 the same platform was used for the
new "Street Triple," which has received excellent reviews such as TWO magazine's
choice as Bike of the Year. The two bikes share many of the same styling
cues as well as the three cylinder engine configuration and fuel injection.
Performance numbers are not too dissimilar, with the Street Triple only
falling short in the shape and height of its torque curve.
Triumph celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Speed Triple in 2010 with a
limited edition model that features black paint with red trim and a number
of optional accessories that were added as standard equipment. The bike also is
the first production Triumph to feature the signature of company owner John
Bloor, who rescued Triumph from bankruptcy in 1983. According to
Triumph, more than 35,000 Speed Triples have been sold since the model was
introduced in 1993. = 2011 model=
In October 2010, Motor Cycle News published details and a test-ride of a
new Speed Triple for 2011. The engine is a tweaked 1050 motor, now yielding 133
bhp and 82 pound force-feet of torque. The frame is a new alloy tubular design,
and the trademark "bug-eyed" headlamps have been reshaped. Kerb weight is 214
kg. With a slightly lower seat and less bulk than before, the agile new bike is
said to feel "faster, classier, more refined, more comfortable, more modern
and ... far easier to use"). References
External links Triumph Web Site
T509 review 2005 Speed Triple 1050 review
Triumph 2008 Speed Triple 1050 review Road test of the Triumph Speed Triple
1050