Menus
- Test over 5 days and 1,000 km.
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- In the city
- Departmental
- National
- Highway
- Night road
- Braking
- Comfort
- Duo
- Tires
- Consumption
- Convenient
- Revisions
- Conclusion
Test over 5 days and 1,000 km.
Discovery
The Sprint ST has been completely revised for its edition
2005, both in terms of aesthetics and chassis and engine,
from 955 to 1050 cm3. It is really a
brand new model, hardly keeping its edition
previous than the spirit of the model: Sport GT.
We immediately notice a triple frontal optic at
both smiling and aggressive, with integrated indicators
in the mirrors. A line of chrome scars the fairing.
The saddle is long, and the passenger seat appears high. We admire the
superb triple exhaust placed under the saddle.
The Sprint ST is based on the traditional 3 legs of the English brand,
developing for the occasion 106 horsepower at 9,250 rpm
(125 hp normally) and 10 mkg of torque at 5,000 rpm.
In the saddle
The Sprint ST is thin and the legs perfectly enclose the tank.
The 1.70m pilot just touches the ground with the tips of both feet; this
had to a higher saddle height than the old model
(825 mmn). The saddle appears soft. The handlebars-bracelets offer
a forward position, lightly resting on the wrists,
more marked than the old vintage,
without being as marked as on a VFR.
The pilot then discovers a large central tachometer with a
red zone at 10,000 rpm, a graduated speedometer
up to 290 km / h on the left and an information screen
from the on-board computer on the right: fuel gauge,
oil temperature, totalizer, partial double trip, clock,
hourly average, instantaneous consumption, forward kilometers
the gas station, travel time, maximum speed reached…
Everything is adjusted using 3 buttons on the meter
of speed.
There is a key compartment, placed on the right.
The frame turns out to be rather narrow and allows
to perfectly position the legs around the tank, including
for very large sizes.
Contact
The Sprint ST wakes up with the distinctive sound of the turbine
three-cylinder: racy, deep and melodious … in one
word: bewitching. We never tire of this inimitable sound. The counter
resets, and the headlight turns on automatically. First….
very long … seconds, the speeds
happen easily. The motorbike rolls over the torque, smoothly,
from 1,500 rpm.
Only the neutral point is difficult to find
at the start, forcing you to keep your hand on the clutch
in town (weight training guaranteed in traffic jams).
But this initial difficulty disappears after a few
hundreds of kilometers of experience, just by lifting
gently the foot, avoiding a too frank lifting.
As much as the old model was almost heavy to
low speed, this new vintage is light,
manoeuvrable and lively from the first turns of the wheel. I have to say that
the vintage has lost 25 kilos compared to its predecessor.
This less weight, combined with a shorter wheelbase (from
2160 to 1457 mm) and a reduced caster angle (25 ° to
24 °), now offer real maneuverability,
unrelated to the old model and even exceptional
compared to the competition.
In the city
With a long first and a second almost as long, the
Sprint ST tends to stay on these two speeds. But like
she willingly agrees to set off again on a trickle of gas at 1.500
rpm, it can also wind quietly in 3rd. With
or without suitcases, the motorbike slips everywhere, and much more easily than
do not let him suggest his size, especially when the suitcases
are mounted. Handlebars and wrist rests
is felt in traffic jams. Its only flaw is a
excessive heat that rises to the knees, especially in traffic jams.
On the other hand, without traffic jams (provincial town in particular and
fortori on the road), this heat disappears completely (the vintage
2007 normally corrected this defect with a fairing
modified no longer channeling heat to the pilot’s legs).
With excellent handling for its type (GT), it remains
a GT, with a fairing and a high saddle: the maneuvers
at very low speed will therefore still be more
delicate than with a roadster (like the Speed for example)
especially since the turning radius is limited. But for
a GT is a bike.
Departmental
The Sprint ST winds up on departmental, playing between 3rd and 4th,
linking turn after turn with disconcerting ease.
The engine really lives, with torque and excellent
times. If the accelerations are clear, the decelerations
are accompanied by magical blasts. ST lives and
let know at all times. Maneuverability is at the rendezvous
and there is no need to force as with the vintage
previous to register the bike in a curve: on the contrary,
a slight pressure is enough for the ST to enter the bend, almost
too quickly sometimes. We could almost take a turn at the
last moment without anticipation. We just note a slight jerk
when gas resumes.
National
The ST allows quiet winding on the torque, offering
a 100 km / h cruising at 3,600 rpm. She shows here
another of its qualities: perfect stability. Engine
takes its turns, varying its tone from low to high
as you climb the towers.
Highway
The ST enters the motorway with vigor and energy. TO
130 km / h, it is still only 4,000 rpm, then chain 20
additional km / h every 1,000 rpm. This vigor allows him
to exceed 200 km / h on the motorway without any difficulty
(German). The comfort of the saddle, both for the rider and
the passenger, does not move over the miles, and
allows very, very long motorway journeys without
no stopping. The bubble protects well, without generating
swirl, but also allows constant pressure on the shoulders,
working the trapezoids.
Night road
The ST illuminates the road well at night with headlights. The full lighthouse
brings a slight surplus of power. But even without full
headlight, lighting allows driving at authorized speeds
by law without taking any risk. For the record, the ST appears
with a glowing halo for other road users.
Braking
Braking is faithful to the make and model.
The rear brake turns out to be an honest retarder,
while the front brakes effectively, no surprises.
ABS is available as an option.
Comfort
The saddle is very soft, and this, as well for the pilot
or the passenger. This softness does not change over the miles,
including stopovers of several hundred kilometers
in a row. The thickness of the foam is there, well
there, for maximum comfort, associated with a shock absorber
rear ideally eliminating coating defects.
The suspensions are adjustable.
Duo
The passenger has a high position, placed well above
of the pilot with a clear view. Counterpart, it is not
not protected; but on the other hand, passenger opinion,
the view is exceptional! The footrests are perfectly positioned.
The saddle is as soft as the rider, offering
thus a real possibility of making long trips.
The original bib protects the passenger well, in the event of
rains … so do not remove (the flap) because the shock absorber
he is not protected.
Tires
The original BT 20s turn out to be perfect and unsurprising.
Consumption
A well-regulated injection associated with a tank
of 21 liters, offer a range of 320 kilometers before reserve…
and nearly 400 km going to the last centiliters
of gasoline. Average consumption is around 6 liters, but
drops below 5 liters at a steady speed. It’s necessary
really hit it to climb up to 8 liters, but
never beyond. It is therefore possible to do a Paris-Nancy without
stop! The gasoline gauge with xx sticks is particularly revealing
precise ; associated with the on-board computer which
indicates at the ready kilometer the number of kilometers
possible up to the pump … taking into account the modifications
driving. The 70 km reserve in quiet mode leaves a
good wide safety margin.
Convenient
The Sprint ST offers optional cases (2005 and 2006, included in 2007).
The side stand is completed with a
central stand with easy central setting. Just
to get on the lug and the bike goes up, without even needing
to pull back.
We will regret the disappearance of any place under the saddle, in particular
due to the exhaust under the saddle. The whole thing makes it difficult
the landing of a U. Solution? Either an SRA chain in the
storage compartment, either after dismantling the hull, a tab
and a U-type France Antitheft support placed on the plate with
2 screws located near the pot with a straight leg. The U is
then placed along the hull.
The suitcases turn out to be perfectly waterproof even
after several hundred kilometers under floods
of water. They are well designed, open, close
and come off easily. Their 40 liter capacity is essential
on any trip.
Revisions
Revisions are made every 10,000 km.
Conclusion
The Sprint ST version 2005-2006 is a real rebirth for the GT Triumph
: easy to handle, lively, handy, coupler, thrifty,
comfortable it is a real GT with a single engine and provisions
sport. It will offer pleasure to both long-haired travelers
course having to make long routes in duo and to the solitary ones seeking
day to day sensations. Only urban bikers could be
disappointed; for them, the Speed Triple would be the alternative.
In short, it combines superlatives, and small flaws appear
almost in the detail.
Strong points
- motor (character, sound, autonomy)
- cycle part
- maneuverability
- price
- dashboard
Weak points
- No coded key / immobilizer
- Place under the saddle
- No warning
available in blue, gray
Competition: Ducati ST3, Honda VFR 800
Biker reviews on the
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