Thinking about upgrading from DM620 to Triumph Street Triple R

[ab]

I am starting to consider upgrading to Triumph Street Triple R.  Anyone got experience with it ?  What's your opinion?

My bike is 620M Matt Dark 2004.   Bore Kit, DP pipes, CRG levers, CF belt covers, Seat Cowl, Power CommanderIII, Oil cooler, Sargent seat, CRG Mirrors , Rizma signals, and Peneske suspension.  Always maintained and serviced for valve and belts.

At 42K miles (all me   ), I am so attached to this bike that I am having a hard time even considering to let it go.  I would not even know what it would be worth.  

[junior varsity]

I have not been on a 620, so I have no experience there. I have ridden the speed triple and was able to compare it to my M900. The "short" of it, was that I was not overly impressed. It felt a little numb, and while there was power, I was not "wowed" enough to win me over. I was left with a somewhat bland experience, and rode my bike the next day, and had got the 'fun-factor' i had been looking for.

With the bike you have, what interests you about the triumph? Is it simply more power? Why not replace some of the upgraded bits you've put on your M620, sell the bike, and put those parts on a M800, M900, M1000, M1100 if you seek more power? The seat would change over, as would the signals and mirrors. If its looks moreso than power, then that's more subjective and only you can decide.

[Travman]

What is a "Bored Kit"? 

It sounds like you need to ride a larger displacement Monster before you make any decisions.  I had a 620 with aftermarket pipes and a PCIII for a while.  It was a lot of fun, but it wasn't the kind of bike you can keep forever.   

[ab]

Corrected - bore kit.

Interesting opinion that i should consider larger displacement monster.  I realize this is a DM forum, but I do not have anything against other bike makes and especially Triumph   

What is a "Bored Kit"? 

It sounds like you need to ride a larger displacement Monster before you make any decisions.  I had a 620 with aftermarket pipes and a PCIII for a while.  It was a lot of fun, but it wasn't the kind of bike you can keep forever.   

[junior varsity]

i like the way some of their rides look, i just was really, really underwhelmed when i rode one.

its too bad, i really like the way the bonneville/thruxton looks...just wasn't doing much.

[justinrhenry]

i'm a big triumph fan too.  i've owned a Sprint St and a Rocket.  The Sprint shares the same engine as the Speed Triple and I liked it a lot.  I'm considering the Speed Triple for my next bike, but the interchangebility of parts between monsters makes another monster appealing. 

[Fergus]

I've got a 620 too and the Street Triple R looks pretty enticing. You're going from ~60 bhp to 105, and you're getting "supersport specification suspension and brakes." The seating position looks a little more comfy too. It might be a pretty cool all-around bike.

An English colleague of mine had some serious grief with the local Triumph/BMW dealer when he had some tranny problems on his brand new Tiger, but going over their head to the UK, he was able to get it worked out. It looks like Triumph Customer Support may be OK, even if you have to go around a dick-head dealer.

Take the street triple for a test ride and may be higher displacement Monster and report back. I'd love to see the results... 

[Travman]

Corrected - bore kit.

Interesting opinion that i should consider larger displacement monster.  I realize this is a DM forum, but I do not have anything against other bike makes and especially Triumph   

You should definitely try to test ride the Street Triple (and the Speed Triple for that matter) to see what you think.  However, if you have enjoyed your 620 then you owe it to yourself to try any larger displacement Monster you can get a ride on.  I haven't any experience with the Street Triple, but I have had a couple of rides on a Speed Triple 1050.  It was a fun bike, but didn't have the character of a Ducati v-twin. 

Can I assume the bore kit was to 750 cc?  What was the difference?  Could you feel a noticeable difference?

[ab]

You should definitely try to test ride the Street Triple (and the Speed Triple for that matter) to see what you think.  However, if you have enjoyed your 620 then you owe it to yourself to try any larger displacement Monster you can get a ride on.  I haven't any experience with the Street Triple, but I have had a couple of rides on a Speed Triple 1050.  It was a fun bike, but didn't have the character of a Ducati v-twin.  

Can I assume the bore kit was to 750 cc?  What was the difference?  Could you feel a noticeable difference?

Point taken.  It's winter up here and there is no way to test ride the bike.  I've been looking at some used Street Triple and hopefully if the finance works out then pick one up for the summer.

Yes that's the kit.  Frankly, I do not see noticeable difference.   A bit peppier than before and a few HP raise.  No change in top end.  I can PM the dyno if interested showing before and after the kit.  I think that the suspension change is more noticeable than any of the upgrades.

[arai_speed]

For the last few months I've had a buddies Street Triple in my garage.  As far as the engine goes the Striple is just pure perfection...super smooth linear power curve.  You give the bike gas...in any gear or RPM...and the thing just goes and goes and goes.  Super fun bike to ride..light and nimble and just a blast.  The seating position is a bit forward and the stock seat is a notch up from a wooden board - but that can be fixed w/an aftermarket seat.

Definitely a bike to consider if your looking for a new bike.

GL!
I

[beethoven]

I have the Triumph 1050 Sprint and a M900. When I bought the Sprint it was on the understanding the M900 didnt go. They are totally different experiences. For out of the gate kick in the backside and around town the Monster wins hands down. For the longer trips to keep up with the likes of a Z12R and others and to minimise fuel stops ( I am always first to put up my hand for fuel on the Monster) the Trumpy has the edge.

I would hesitate to buy the Street Triple without testing as one earlier member said  you may be "underwhelmed". You may love it but be prepared for a different ride.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Weren't you the guy who had like 5 tickets in a short amount of time?


Why on earth would you get a faster bike? It'd just be cheaper to cut up your license now.

[ab]

Weren't you the guy who had like 5 tickets in a short amount of time?


Why on earth would you get a faster bike? It'd just be cheaper to cut up your license now.

[Travman]

Yes that's the kit.  Frankly, I do not see noticeable difference.   A bit peppier than before and a few HP raise.  No change in top end.  I can PM the dyno if interested showing before and after the kit.  I think that the suspension change is more noticeable than any of the upgrades.

If it isn't too much trouble I would like to see the dyno before and after with the 750 kit.  Thank you. 

I wonder if head porting would have made more of a difference.  I'm currently having my 1000 DS bored out to 1123 cc along with some head porting and a multi angle valve job.  I'm hoping I won't be disappointed in the effort.  Time will tell. 

[wheezer]

My girlfriend made the move from a 620 to a base Street Triple when they first came out and hasn't looked back since. Her only regret is that the "R" version wasn't available when she got her bike. She loved the Monster -and never felt that it was lacking in any way- but someone convinced her that she deserved something newer, and kept leaving Street Triple info around the house .

She was very impressed with the Triumph after her first ride, but noticed the biggest difference after riding it for a couple of weeks and then riding the Ducati again. While both bikes are similar in weight, the additional power of the triple definitely pumps up the fun-meter. However, what impressed us both the most was that, while both bikes had similar brakes and suspension, the Street Triple felt more agile and composed. The Striple riding position is more upright and comfortable, though its seat is thinly padded and definitely less comfortable than even the stock Monster seat. I believe the R's seat has even less padding and the riding position is slightly more aggressive.

As for looking at a larger displacement Monster before leaving the 'family', I agree. I have an S2R1K and prefer a v-twin - to me the triple sounds a bit like a sewing machine at low rpm - but I have to admit that the sound of that same triple howling like a banshee above 8000rpm is music to my ears. On the whole, I do prefer lighter bikes and the Striple wins hands down compared to my S2R1K in this respect - though an 1100S would be a closer match . At the end of the day, if I had to choose, I would keep my bike. Luckily I don't have to, and I borrow the the Triumph about 25% of the time.

While Triumph had some fit and finish issues in the past, they have definitely stepped up their game in recent years [asbestos underwear firmly on] and seem to be on par with, or better than, Ducati.

I don't think you could go wrong with either upgrade path. Ride anything you are considering, and have fun making your decision!