Triumph Sprint ST

A clear winner – I've owned almost every brand there is at one time or another. A Harley, a couple of BMWs, a Ducati, a Moto Guzzi all the Japanesse brands, an Ossa, and more. Still my Sprint ST is easily my favorite sport-tourer. Great power, I love this bike's engine, have never found it to be harsh. Great dependability, and I have never felt a single… Read more

shudder from my brakes, and too often I'm riding more sport than tourer with it. I can take this bike out and go drag my knees all afternoon. Ending with nothing but a big smile on my face. The only problem I have is the lack of respect it gets from parts companies, including OEM parts "showcases." They all make the same big word claims about having all Triumph parts. Then you do a little research and find they have only the Sprint RS!! It seems they all forgot that the ST existed also!! But thankfully, I really have not required many OEM parts, it's just that such lack of respect for such a great bike seems unfair. Regardless, I still have this Triumph because I can't find an equivalent that does the same job as well. Not from BMW, or ANY of the Asian manufacturers. Call me crazy, you wouldn't be the first, but my Sprint ST is great.

Nice quick bike, but a bit rough around the edges – A nice bike but I'd forgotten that a low revs the old 955 triple could be a bit harsh. Otherwise it is a lovely engine with loads of controllable power. The bike feels slightly heavy, but not bad for a sports tourer. It goes round corners and stops well, enough to cope with the power. An improvement in quality over the early models, but still not quite up to (Japanese) Honda levels. A decent bike, but not for me. You may love it.  Show details

My slice of freedom – 06 Trumpie Sprint ST 1050 Great ride. Same issues as most here. Brakes stop you but have a shudder. Access is annoying, seat, etc. Have an external charge adapter for mine. Thankfully no panniers. Gets hot quickly doesn't like the lights on a warm day... Can be an uncomfortable ride on a really warm day... But it's great on the cooler days.… Read more

She's top heavy and slow speed tight turns are thought provoking.

Bit tetchy in the wind, like a sail, good gust and we learned to dance or with truck buffering.. can test your skills if your mind is wondering....

At 50k plus on her clock, it's sound and got plenty of power and life left yet.

I still preferred my previous bike an 03 Trumpie Daytona 955i. It was just a much smoother ride.

Great bike with some minor issues – I bought this bike 2nd hand when living in London to beat the traffic. It was the best value bike going at the time. I rode mine for about 20,000km and sold it for about the same as I bought it. Overall a great bike with a couple of minor quality issues. Pros Fantastic 955i engine. Plenty of smooth power. Well geared - though I did change the… Read more

ratios to 19t front and 42 back to drop the rpm on the motorway.

Best mirrors of any bike I have had - if bumped they folded out of the way whilst remembering their possition when flicked back into place - brilliant for commuting through tight traffic.

Fairing did a reasonable job of keeping the rain off me

Brakes were decent

Fuel consumption was less than 5l/100km - great given it is about a 1litre bike.

handles well, especially after I put on the Road pilot 4 tyres.

Panniers are reasonable size for weekend getaways with the other half and also fairly resistant to water ingress (unless the hinge straps were shut outside).

Easy to service.

Cons.

Charge system has an inadequate regulator rectifier - this needs to be changed to a quality series style regulator rectifier like the compufire otherwise the original one breaks and damages the stator. I was lucky and did this before my stator was damaged.

The original plastic quick connectors break easily - I recommend replacing these with stainless steel versions.

Fairing design causes a lot of wind buffeting. I put an MRA vario windcreen on it which certainly helped.

The Fairing has a lot of bolts so takes a while to remove

Overall I recommend it. I liked it enough to buy a Tiger 955 as a replacement. Love that engine.

Very Good – Own a 2005 Sprint St which has 48000klms on the clock. Have previously owned Kawasaki and Honda motorcycles but decided to go with the Triumph this time. It has a very linear power delivery and is able to lean into corners without fuss although slightly slower in this respect given it's weight and size compared to previous bikes I have owned. It… Read more

is a stylish, comfortable machine which can travel long distances without too much fuss and has around 300 to 340k in the tank before refuelling. Keep a strict service regime and this machine will last a lifetime.

The only small gripe is hot days in traffic where heat from the exhaust and engine can be uncomfortable.

Gotta Keep It – Well, getting back on a bike after 20yr away I had my mindset on a fast bike, but not TOO fast, and racy, but not TOO racy, and… Harking back to my youth, memories in mind, I found and purchased an '82 Honda CB 900F and let me tell you, quite frankly it scared outta me! It sure wasn't what I recalled from all those years ago when my tight trim… Read more

body and decent muscle power, coupled with the fearlessness of youth, enabled me to yank that thing around bends.

Six months later it was gone. With the obligatory 'mid life crisis" remarks ringing in my ears (along with some not too subtle hints about ageing from my partner) I opted for a Jarley… the sedate japanese cruiser… 800cc but oh so comfy…

Fast forward a year, and with improved confidence I looked to beef up the horses. Suffice to say that the Universe had a different outcome lined up and the Bike Shop I had agreed to buy from kept stuffing me around…to the point where when my son said "hey Dad, heres an awesome bike I KNOW you will enjoy" I was ready to take a look.

Drove 30km, saw the red beast…eyes bulged… got onboard (albeit with trepidation) once around the block and I couldn't pay the guy quickly enough!

Home with the new(ish) Sprint ST '02…the last of the curvaceous models (before Triumph went stick figured and sharp edged).

What a machine… wanted to sleep on the seat overnight.

Smoothest take-off of ANY machine I've ridden, powering down then back up with that gorgeous throaty sound of restrained power.

Now, as some have pointed it she has her faults..and I guess there isn't a bike around that doesn't.

Yeah, sure…she aint a cruiser, and she aint a racer… but find me a better version with the same seating position, the same zen-like ability, the same smooth cornering abilities and I might listen to you.

On goes she-who-must-be-obeyed for our maiden trip… full marks and no sore butt (although I have beefed the seat up recently at the Trimmers).

Up and down gears effortlessly. Braking with ease (not like the CB which needed half a runway to stop!) and a shape that draws attention wherever we go.

Just replaced the Stator and Rectifier (NOT from Triumph who wanted a small child for the parts)… and I see a few things starting to wear.

Had to replace the factory screen which was utterly USELESS and put enormous wind pressure on my neck (bought a tinted Eagle Screen from Western Australia…wow!)

Spoke to my mechanic and asked him if it was time to think about upgrading. He said it was running fine, wasn't worth a lot of money AND would give me plenty of years more of motoring. Yes, he said it would eventually go west, but its value to ME was worth much more than any amounts of cash…keep it he said… I will…probably forever, even if I get another bike.

Triumph Sprint GT – Bought my new GT November 2010 From Team Moto Blacktown. Mine is the silver colour as the blue was a bit dark for me, I picked her up on a Friday after work and was so excited. Got on her and took the long way home 300k trip. This bike is very comfortable. Likes its predecessor " Sprint ST" this bike is equally as capable. The follow day… Read more

I took off for a nice long ride some 800 Ks return from my place.

Same as the sprint as far as controls go, I could see how much fuel I had and how for I could go on the remaining fuel so I could pin point my fuel stops without guessing.

The GT is about 30 or so kg heavier but it not a problem due to it low centre of gravity, the bike is well setup with very good suspension dent and rear.

The GT has ABS and stopping her is excellent with still enough feel right up to lock up so you know how far you can push it to stop.

Handling is as you would expect " phenomenal " and that beautiful 1050cc motor just wants more every time.

During this ride I ended up on a mountain road as the rain set in.

One thing that all Triumphs share in common is its ability to be sure footed in the rain. Riding in the rain was no problem and the bike handled it really well with no dramas around corners in fact, I still did double posted corner speeds and she powered through as though it were dry.

The GT is for those people that want a good all rounder but still want to be able to ride to work or take that ride to Tasmania in style.

Pros,

Well set out controls, brakes, ergonomics.

Good power delivery.

Slightly longer than the ST giving it a bit more stability and reducing the lift on the front under hard throttling. Two up is a breeze and storage space is fantastic.

Cons.

Choice of colours, slightly detained compared to the St Sprint.

Large catilistic converter fused into the tail pipe making it big and chunky.

Overall I loved every minute of every ride and enjoyed powering through the corners like there is no tomorrow's.

I recommend this bike to any age group wanting a bike that can do it all.

Cheers !

Comfortable Sports Tourer with a sweet motor – Replaced my 2010 modified Bandit 1250 (130 HP) which I really enjoyed with a 2009 ST 1050. I enjoy 500 klm a day rides and found the ST is a more competent tourer than the Bandit. Less fatiguing with a better suspension that soaks up country roads well. The Bandit did have more torque down low but the Triple is a far more charismatic motor with… Read more

a great note. I ride with some fast late model Jap bikes and find I am not embarrassed when the speeds pick up. The 350 klm fuel range is perfect (when my bum gives out).

It is still a very nice looking bike despite its age. I have the original Triumph panniers and top box which handle sufficient gear for 5 day trips, I haven't noticed them causing any handling issues loaded up at fast touring speeds.

The gearbox is not as slick as the Jap bikes and requires a more positive action.

The headlights are adequate but have a very sharp cut off when cornering.

Excellent – Love my bike. It is the perfect balance between sportiness and comfortable touring. Would like to get the latest with ABS and better heat management, but will have to wait until I can afford it. Only real competition is the VFR800 (I have owned a 98 model before), but that doesn't come with hard panniers (which are standard on the Sprint ST) so a… Read more

new VFR800 is quite a bit more expensive if you add those in. If you are one of the "more experienced" riders like myself, but don't want a cruser or full on tourer just yet, then the Sprint ST is just about perfect. I have the 2006 red Sprint ST which is by far the best colour. The latest colours (black, grey, different red) don't appeal. I have a hugger fitted which saves a lot of muck flicking up into hard to clean places ... a must have I would suggest. Sounds great, goes great, looks great. The front brakes shudder (also reported by another user previously). Have been told the discs are warped, but now I'm not so sure. Will cost a bomb to replace the discs so I'm sitting on the fence for the time being.

Can be a bit warm to ride in Summer, but conversely is great in Winter.

Reinstalling the seat is an absolute nightmare ... someone at Triumph should be shot for comming up with such a rediculous design.

Excellent – In the end a bike is a compromise more so than a car. So I think that you need more than one. The Sprint is my day to day rider it commutes well and can tour reasonably well. It can hold its own when out with the crotch rockets and isn't left behind. Whereas I might have, and get some more bikes none will replace the Sprint any time soon she's got… Read more ·  1

plenty of life in her and I enjoy riding her. I have an 07 sprint with a 3 box kit, K&N filter, heated grips and a throttle lock. Have done 31000 km on it now some long days and affair bit of commuting. We picked the bike because it had the 2 panniers and we got a top box to go with them. There not as good as the BMW or probably the Honda St 1300 set up but they are good enough for the two of us to do some light touring. A weekender down south to a B&B. I like the triple and the triple theme from the headlights to the tail pipe. For me the brakes have been good the front is a little vague but with the appropriate pressure pulls the bike up easily. I get 320 to 350 km out of a tank and it’s pretty consistent weather it’s just me burning around town or two up on a long haul. I can easily do 200km before the leg’s get a bit sore but the next 2 are a different story so I have a brake about every 100 then. But it’s not a tourer as such it’s a sporty tourer. Not as quick as a CBR but not too far off and still fun in the twisty’s but a god bit comfier than a sports bike. Well for me any way. What I dislike Hmm not much it’s a well thought out package and dose what it dose quite well. The rear end looks great accept for the “mud guard” needs to be slim lined a tail tidy or something and could use the rear hugger from the speed triple to keep the shock clean. The hard luggage needs to be tidied up there’s not enough room can’t fit a full-face helmet in the top box.

Good – This was my first bike and has been great for it's intended purpose of cruising through the countryside and having as bit of fun in the twisties. Sure, there's a couple of aspects of the bike that leave you wanting a bit more but the pro's far outweigh the cons. Got to add that the motor didn't reach it's full potential until it went up to the… Read more ·  1

fully synthetic oil stage of it's life. I got it's 10K service done a bit early and it came back a different bike :-) More power, less engine braking and that wonderful crackeling personality when decending from high revs. Get rid of the bridgestone BT021 rubber that comes standard from the showroom and move up to a high end set of road pilot 2's or similar and it became the bike it was always supposed to be.

Verdict: Built to a price with the suspension and brakes. does many things very well but not a master at anything specific. Bit sporty for long-haul tours, bit heavy and toury for reefton spur twisties. But recomend it all the same. I love my Strumpet and would keep it and buy a second, more specific bike if I wanted to narrow my motorcycling focus. 08 model. Red. Australia. 15,000Km. The motor. Strong torque pulls the bike on flat ground straight off idle just with a gentle ease out of the clutch and there's even a top end rush as the revs climb. Nice, friendly and predictable power delivery, even for a first time motorcyclist. But it's no slouch. Crackle and burble on over-run makes me smile. Very comfortable to ride for long haul and spirited touring albeit I'm 5'6" so stopping at the lights in leathers and boots is a tippy-toe affair. Most comfortable factory seat my butt has spent many hours in. Also got to comment on the styling - I'm a fan! With a good squeeze, the front brakes pull you up in time but have a mushy, vague feel. Braided lines or larger callipers could remedy this. There's nowhere to lock your helmet onto the bike or underseat storage to carry a lock for that matter (something I wasn't paying attention to in the showroom). The factory panniers give the impression of been a bit flimsy (with a speed rating of 130KPH) hence makes me a bit nervous hitting the higher speeds and wind buffet of overtaking large vehicles on the open road. Ideally, would also like to see a bit more suspension adjustment in the form of compression and rebound dampening. Mine only has preload adjust which is fine to start off, but leaves you wanting more. Also a little top heavy when manouvering at low speeds (u-turns etc).

Good – I have experianced a range of bikes and I love this one dearly. If you seek a true sports tourer you cannot go past this bike for its looks, performance, price and bang for your dollar. Triumph got it right with this machine and its why they have not changed it much over the years. My next bike will be the Triumph Sprint GT. 05 Model - Great power… Read more ·  1

delivery with a very torquey,sweet sounding 1050cc engine that comes to life from very low revs and can pop the front wheel up in first gear. This is a ride you can treat like sports bike on the weekend and then take it on a long touring ride with comfort and ease, especially with a gel seat. Nice styling that is appealling without the bulky touring bike look. Tank range of around 350 kms is nice with clear fuel indicator on a comprehensive dash. Bike can be a handful at slow speeds due to its weight (245Kg)but is managable. Gear changes can sound clunky compared to other but has not caused me any concern in 40,000 kms. Brakes are good but feel spongy although will stop you when needed. Panniers have been improved over the years but on the 05 model they leak badly and require me to carry everything in plastic bags.

Bad – I have never got over the disappointment that the motorcycle was detuned. I have given the dealer 2 more chances to correct it but it is still a slug. I am really angry that they loaded an update into the ECM without my knowledge or consent. They say Triumph says it has to be done and that is that. Well to me it most certainly is not "that". The… Read more

bike belongs to me, not Triumph. Triumph got my money that time and I am stuck with the piece of s#it but they wont sell me another. I am so disappointed that it just sits in the shed now and I ride my 1981 CB400N. My Sprint is a 2001 955. When brand new after run in period, it was an amazing bike. I ride 2 up mostly and it just devours the road. The fact that on it's first major service the dealer downloaded an updated version of software that detuned the engine and it has been no fun since. It lags on hills and is always at least one gear change lower now. Corrosion resistance is not even close to the "salt water tested" standard they used to promote. My is corroding badly and is garaged all of the time.

Bad – Triumph may produce a good bike but as the braks are inadequate, I would not recommend a Triumph to anyone. Happy to tell anyone of my problems Brian 0407 249 253 Australia It is a reasonably bike. Triumph Sprint front brakes. I have a Trumpie Sprint ST ABS. The front breaks have always shuddered when applied. Have had the disks replaced once… Read more

and the dealer tells me it was warped disks. Second set also vibrated and was told they were also warped. Not so, have had the disks checked by an independent.

Do not know what the problem is at present, nobody can tell me the problem. What I do know is that the breaks are still shuddering. Regardless of the shuddering, they work brilliantly.

Triumph, I have heard of others having this problem. What are you doing to fix the the problem?

Will I consider another triumph? Well, I am getting near to wanting a new bike. I think the trumpie is a brillant bike but concerned, do not want a similar problem. Dealer will need to guarantee will not have similar characteristic.

Bad – My Triumph Sprint St 1999 had a problem today(16th March 2007) Both factory fitted panniers came off. I was travelling overrough bitument roads and the left hand one come off, it was locked , the catch opened up and the box came free of upper rails. The right hand one did the same thing about forty kilometers further on. I taped and securted… Read more

them with andystraps which got me home, a distance of 80 k's.

Any one else heard of this happening please tellme. I rate them as only 2 stars.