Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

eN goes on tour Triurn rint ST Compared to most of the other bikes in this story, the Triumph Sprint ST appears, welL __ just normal. Even though there's a unique three-cylinder-configured motor hidden under the hood, so to speak, and the rear suspension and drive system operate via a single-sided swingarm - the armless side unfortunately covered up by the muffler - the Sprint S1's ordinary looks, which borders on plain - are deceiving. This bike is pure excitement. One of the ST's strongest attributes is its overall smoothness. Everything about this bike is smooth: the powerband, the ride, the transmission, the clutch, the brakes, you name it. Top it all off with a near vibration-free purr, comfortable ergonomics and seat, stable chassis and a powerful motor with spot-on throttle response, and you have a bike that is super fun and enjoyable to ride for short or long hauls. Also, helping to increase tolerance during a long day in the saddle is a modest windscreen that noticeably takes the edge off wind blast, while not making you pay for it with turbulence and a resulting headache. Although the Triumph feels a little on the heavy side at slow speeds and while SPRINT 51 SPECS maneuvering it around the garage. it sure List price N/A doesn't feel that way while flicking it Displacement. . . . .. 955cc Engine type Uquid·cooled. through the turns, as the ST asks little in in·line three-cylinder the way of muscle from its operator. Bore "stroke 79 x 65mm Everyone commented on how they liked Compression ratio 11.2: 1 Carburetion.. . Electronic fuel injeclJOn the simple operation of the Triumph's hard saddlebags and how they blended in nicely with the rest of the bike and didn't stick out too far. But this made packing for an ovemight trip somewhat challenging. There really wasn't anything. we didn't like about the Triumph, except for the fact that the fuel gauge on our bike did not work correctly - sometimes showing less than half-full despite having just topped off the 5.6-gallon tank. Otherwise, we simply enjoyed everything about this bike, even if does look a little simple. 16 JANUARY 26, 2000' CUll: I e Ignition _ Digital inductive Transmission 6·speed Starting system . . . Electric Fuel capacity 5.6 gal. Wheelbase. . . . . 57.9 In. Rake/trail. . . 25'/g2mm Seat height ........•....... 31.5 in. Front tire. . . . . 120170·17 Rear tire. . . . . 180/55·17 Front-wheel travel , .. N/A Rear-wheel travel. ., , .. N/A Front brake, , Dual disc Rear brake. . . . . . Disc Final drive , Chain Claimed dry weight 456 Ibs n e vv s fie jam and. lnr c.l tev. :T1lnutes. the GIVE ME A BRAKE Sometimes what redll\ mdkes rIde d fU:l are t~E' L~:le\pec:t ,j t:llnq~ lh<..lt .. most hated and cussed out person in all :01 Vegas I woulch .. classified thiS happen" r:le out on Ih.· r:"d. U',ldll, as d !;,le-' adventure. wh!ch e\er y' riCe hds some sort cf unplcJnnf'd probabl\' would'vE' tL:rned Into a great udventure sometimes good (Jnes -.,cHTl,:,times bud ono:-'s but, for nIe, this ride \I,'as rather unt'\"\.'ntful "40W, that doesn't mean I didn't hel'" d ~J()od time. Instead, it pr(·tt) niuc:h means that evervthinq v..'(·nt pldnr'led: the weather VodS good didn't get lost, and no nne got d et. These are all good Ihlngs dS ,,\e tick· il not riJre things all ir. onf' rielf'. P:us. hew. con) au not have fun::.:m bikes such as these. blaZing across the desert, breathing c!e

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