Last August Carol and I did 2100 miles on a trip from the north of England to the French Pyreness. Nothing was booked apart from the ferries. We just stopped where and when we fancied and found a B&B or a hotel.
There isn't a rear carrier available for the Speed Triple so I made my own from an old Renntec. A grinder and a mate's welder and hey presto!
The only other mod was to replace the standard ironing board with a custom gel seat.
No bike or comfort problems.
Having had a Honda Blackbird for 8 years, the Speed Triple has been a revelation and put the fun back into biking. It is so light and agile. Far better than the Bird when the countryside gets lumpy.
Would thoroughly recommend the new Speed Triple as a two up tourer.

Take care all.

Col De Tourmalet, Pyrenees




Massive Central

Lourdes

Normandy

Rear carrier and gel seat

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Seems like a no-brainer...a great European bike to tour through Europe--Perfect!! Nice photos, too!!

I do like those Speed Triples. But as a two-up tourer? The pillion "seat" looks like torture even if it is an aftermarket gell item. What did your missus make of it? (I know you said no comfort issues but...) I understand though that this "Mark 2" "Mark 3" Speed Triple does have a bigger pillion seat than the Mark 1 Mark 3.

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15 countries in 40 days. Tanks, crashes, minefields and Kalashnikovs

Roxxo, see you at Ripley, then!

Having been cossested by the Honda Blackbird seat, well the custom gel seat we had on that, we were naturally concerned about the Speed Triple.
We took one out from my local Triumph dealer in Lincoln and they explained that the seat was longer than the previous model. Well it may be but there is certainly no free space. Carol was a lot closer to me but she said that it wasn't a problem. She is an experienced pillion and didn't miss a grab rail.

We had a couple of days out with the original seat and there was no way that Carol could have done 300 miles every day the bike without divorce papers being served. We bought a Triumph gel seat but to be honest it was a waste of money. Couldn't tell any difference apart from it looked better.

We had had a gel seat made by Melvin Hunter and his son before on the Bird so after contacting him I sent off the original seat and it came back within a week, reshaped, deeper, gel inserts and recovered. Not cheap but an excellent job and Melvin is a true gentleman.

Here's the website.

Welcome to Custom Motorcycle Seats

The bike was transformed. All day comfort. Honestly.
At 52 years old Carol and I have 35 years motorbiking experience and in the last 10 years, since our 2 boys became adults, we have had the freedom to explore Europe by bike every year.

Carol and I have no comfort issues re the Triumph apart from the siff joints but you would have that in a car.
We are averaged sized folk, I think, see the photo. Not small, but not big. 5'10" and 5'5" and a bit of middle aged spread. We fit the Triumph OK.

Looking back on some of the 37 motorbikes that I have owned, some were really not suitable for two up work but we did it.

Riding a bike isn't the same as lounging in your favourite armchair and while I am not saying that pain is all in the mind, getting your head right along with your bum is important.

As has been said many times on this forum you can "tour" on any bike.

We both really like the Triumph though.
I like the looks and the fact that cruising is limited to 90mph tops as being naked you get the full motorbiking experience.
Getting wet isn't the problem that we had grown into thinking it was while riding faired bikes.

We really feel like teenagers again on the bike. It is so much fun.

Int motorbiking great?















Home

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That would be nice.

I have had longings to meet up with like minded, gnarly bearded wanderers :-) but I would come away wanting to sell the house, buy an XT/BM and live on the road for a few years.

Year before last I had the pleasure of talking to Sam Manicom at the NEC. He autographed a couple of his books for me. What a very nice man. It took me months to stop day dreaming about RTW trips.
He is a hero of mine

I am camping the weekend before Ripley at a rally in Germany. Leaving Carol at home this time.
She doesn't do camping anymore!

I work a fixed shift pattern so I cannot always attend rallies and meetings that I would like to, but with a shift swap or two Ripley could be on the cards.

So long

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Hi Roxxo...just a thought....HU is not only about RTW - far from it; there are thousands of places to ride to which are not RTW. Most trips I think are not RTW, so you'd be with the majority who do trips something like that which you've done. IMO, size (of trip) doesn't matter!

You got the beard, (have you?) you've got the bike, the tent.....

Buen viaje

Don't do beards anymore since it turned white :-)

Take your point about HU and not RTW.
Having only ventured into Europe on tarmac with big bikes and only used my XR250 and XT600 for UK green laning (when I had them) I have tended to have a bit of an inferiority complex and maybe got the wrong impression about HU.
I have Grant and Susan's CD and I have read nearly every adventure motorbiking book there is.
Perhaps I had set my sights and daydreams too high.

Many thanks Caminando for the reassurance re HU and meetings.

It's good to talk!
Hopefully we shall meet up one day.

p.s.
Our holidays on the Speed Triple this August will be in Ireland. Doing the ring of Kerry.

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Well, that's me sold. If I ever add a Speed Triple to my stable, and go two-up touring on it, I'll go and see Messrs Hunter. Though, I think I'd be inclined to keep the Speed Triple as a solo bike, and use the Aprilia Futura (now there's a comfy seat and a half) or whatever replaces it one day, for two-up touring.

Oh yes!

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15 countries in 40 days. Tanks, crashes, minefields and Kalashnikovs

Awesome! Just reinforced my determination to get me a used ST3! Not too many of those around, unfortunately. Thanks for posting that.

Great pics and information, thanks!

I have had a Speed triple for the past 2 1/2 years and loved it dearly. Up in BC riding it a couple weeks ago, though, and it was probably totaled in a rock fall.

When I replace it, it'll almost certainly be with another Speed Triple, as I find it to be the most enjoyable bike to ride. Carrying capacity has been an issue but a local Triumph dealer showed me his Speed3, outfitted with a rear carrying rack. This could be significant: Motorcycle luggage, hard soft motorcycle luggage, racks, touring luggage | Ventura

Cheers, Don

Hi Don
Just remember that nobody including Ventura does a rear carrieryet for the Speed Triple 2 i.e. 2008 onwards

Carol and I did the Ring of Kerry in Ireland this August on the Triumph with the same gear.




All the best

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I got one S3 just like yours, and it definitely encouraged me to put my Speed Triple to fight, not only as a street fighter.

cheers.

Guto

Enjoy!

All the best
Roxxo

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