Triumph Sprint ST
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| Triumph Sprint ST | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Triumph |
| Production | 1998- |
| Predecessor | Sprint 900 |
| Class | Sport touring bike |
| Engine | 1050cc Triple 125 bhp |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Wheelbase | 1457mm |
| Seat Height | 805mm |
| Fuel Capacity | 5.2 Gallons |
| Similar | Ducati ST3, Honda VFR800 |
The Triumph Sprint ST is a sport-touring motorcycle similar in design and function to the Honda VFR800, BMW K1200S and Yamaha FJR1300. These bikes are characterized by a fully-faired sport-bike look with a longer wheel base, more upright riding position and a higher capacity fuel tank. Sport-touring bikes also tend to possess certain amenities useful to long distance trips, but eschewed in pure sport bikes (typically because they add weight, instrument clutter or increased drag); these include panniers, center stands, anti-lock or linked brakes, complex instrument clusters and heated hand-grips.
Contents |
[edit] Generations
[edit] 955cc
The Sprint ST was first introduced in 1998 as a complete redesign of the earlier Sprint 900 (1993-1997). It made use of the same 955cc inline-3 engine found in the contemporaneous Speed Triple and Daytona models, only slightly retuned for smoother power delivery. With a claimed 105hp, a very forgiving 6-speed transmission, and excellent brakes. the ST inserted itself firmly into the sporting end of the sport-tour spectrum.
The model remained mostly unchanged from its introduction in 1998 until it was replaced in 2005, garnered mostly positive reviews, and gained a niche for itself as a suitible (if never stellar) substitute for the de-facto king of sport touring motorcycles, the Honda VFR.
[edit] 1050cc
In 2005, Triumph introduced a redesigned Sprint ST based around the same inline triple, increased in stroke to yield 1050cc's of displacement and with a new fuel injection system. The redesigned chassis found its wheel base shortened, the instrument cluster was modernized with miles-per-gallon and miles-to-empty displays (a true rarity in motorcycles), exhaust pipes were tucked under the seat, the headlights were completely rethought and LED tail-lights added, and a host of modern options (including pannier mounts and anti-lock brakes) became available. One problem, the under-seat exhaust pipes leaked too much heat into the seat and the area near the right foot-peg, plagued the early models, but was corrected in 2007 with the addition of more heat-shielding.
Also in 2007, to make the Sprint ST more appetizing in an increasingly crowded market being actively courted by euro-bike rival BMW, three features that were options in previous models became standard features: color-matched panniers, handlebar risers and an improved wind-screen.
