2007 Triumph Speed Triple 

Perhaps one of the most redefined, successful naked, streetfighter series ever made. This is one of my favorite motorcycle that I have owned to this day. After years and thousands of miles of ownership, I am confident I can give a real perceptive of owning one of these machines!

Probably the definition of 'Perfect' for an everyday motorcycle

Pushing 90,000 miles on the original motor, this motorcycle has been one of my absolute favorites. With literally adding blood, sweat and tears, we have been through so many adventures, crashes, wheelies, modifications speeding tickets, group rides, motovlogs, smiles, sunsets, sunrises, cities, track days and other excellent explorations!  I bought this machine with 22k miles on the tact and pushing over 12 years of ownership and over 90k miles, some quick bits on it:

Due to the current day and age; Triumph has released countless new models of this motorcycle and you can easily find the ‘05-’07/’08-’10 models around on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace for dirt cheap in comparison to the new models! This is an easy entry to ownership on these bikes. They were built terrifically, have a huge following, and as long as you do the proper preventative maintenance and modifications during your ownership, you will have a bike that will last you a great amount of time!

In today’s market (2023+), the later Speed Triples have shred a tremendous of weight off the ‘10s and prior years, as well as increased the bore stroke and engine components entirely. Do they compete well against the old Speed Triples? Oh you bet. The 1200 Speed Triple model almost feels like a street triple in weight alone, but over 40 extra horsepower on top of that? Now you’re talking bonkers levels. However, the ‘10s and below models do not have the electronic sensor overload like the newer vehicles do, and most of the bike is very mechanical. So mechanical, to the point you can figure most things out without needing a service manual for the intermediate mechanic. There are quirks and things that need to be addressed when owning this motorcycle, but once you figure out the bad sides to the bike and dial it in, it is a SUPERB commuter, everyday, hooligan streetfighter that will put a smile on your face!

Moonie Review:

Reliability 3/5:

Not too shabby for a European Motorbike to utilize as a daily machine. The motor on mine (2007) finally grenaded at about 90000 miles in 2024. And that’s from over 12 years of ownership, that was HARD. From riding daily commuting, learning how to wheelie, crashes, snow weather, through sand, through dirt, through flooded motorways, etc. Once everything is upgraded to address the weak links of the machine, it is quite capable of being that reliable daily driver.

The most notable weak link in the Speed Triple department that needs addressing is the electronics. Slap in a new stator and a new RR (Regulator/Rectifier) and you will address the majority of the upcoming electrical gremlins owning this generation of motorbike (2005 to 2010 are the most notable versions with the needed upgrade). Pair a GOOD battery with this (and keep an eye on it) and you will not have too many issues with this bike’s known electrical issues. The California Airbox tends to load up with gunk, so an easy fix is to remove and have your bike run more direct and happily.

The suspension is another well known area that needs help. Not necessarily a mod needed for reliability by any means, but it almost feels on pair with the MT07 series suspension being super soft/not responsive for rough roads. On these lines, there is notable issues with the rear wheel swingarm holding water if you are actively riding through rough weather conditions; so keep an eye on that rear wheel rear and the hub.

Otherwise, fill it up with gas, have fun modding the bike, and learning the wh00lies on this fun torque machine!

Fun Factor 4/5:

For a British brand motorcycle, holy cow this thing is fun! Once those wheels are turning, the weight disappears in a straight line and that front wheel wants to loft in the lower gears. You can commute to work on this bike (larger windshield recommended!), rip through the twisties, pop a wheelie here or there.. This bike is quite capable while having a soul of that triple cylinder. It sounds so good whether you’re on the bike or not, that whistle is so satisfying to hear!

The only ding I will give the bike is the weight. Everything on the heavy side, so trying to keep up with your 600/1000cc sportbike friends might be a little difficult if they are flying from the excessive weight, but on the freeway, that weight is handy to have to stay upright in some wind. For weekend shenanigans, I definitely reach for other keys for the vehicles in my stable, but on the daily ride to/from work or to the store, this bike is so rewarding and satisfying to rip around!

Part Support 3/5:

For a typical European machine, there is some support out there, and most items for this bike will be hex head metric bolts. When in doubt, make your own if you cant; otherwise, hop on eBay and buy some used part bundles to have on hand. The core components are rather easy to come by through your local auto part store and the internet. The only things that will be difficult for this particular gen (2005 to 2007) is that specific items (seat, fairings, rims, suspension, airbox mods, electrical components, engine items, etc)., will be rather difficult to find aftermarket support for. There are sources yes, but not competitive; as in, you will have only one or two options to compare against for specific components. I purchased a tossed rod engine just for the parts to accumulate for the long term for the bike. Fortunately, the used components on line are next to nothing; but there are some shiny titanium options out there too…

Home Improvement 3/5:

As a naked streetfighter style motorcycle, most of the components on this motorcycle are directly exposed to make them quite easy to service. There are some areas where it gets rather challenging, or that you need specific tools to do work on this machine that are bike specific. You will need a single side swingarm, with the axle size to loft the rear wheel off the ground. Or you can get a Bursig or a frame support stand to get both wheels off. The clutch basket requires a specific tool to remove safely, the rear axle will require a c spanner to tighten the chain with, the forks require size specific tools, etc. etc. Most of the work on this bike is rather trivial, but you will be scratching your head a fair amount for either making your own tools to use for the task, or spending a few bucks on a shiny new tool to dedicate to the bike maintenance.

Adaptability 4/5 (Optional):

Like most naked style motorcycles, the older Speed Triple holds its own. It can be your next roadworthy friend to travel across the world with, or be your weekend warrior, while also being a great track weapon to learn how to buzz around the track with. The aftermarket support is not as keen as others, so it might be a little challenging to get parts for on your next big adventure; but if you stockpile your spare parts, you should have everything you need onhand and should be able to pick up the larger items on the way.

Due to the weight and fact it’s a street bike, I doubt you can really tackle some of the offroad to the competition out there. You could throw knobbies on it and tackle some light trails potentially, but there are far superior options out there to explore on.

Buy Again?

This is a difficult question. For what is available nowadays compared to the early 2010’s, there are TONS of options to assess for a daily commuter and/or this streetfighter. The bike holds a very near and dear spot in my heart for being such an amazing entry to the European Motorbikes for me. But if I had to rethink about buying this bike again in today’s world? I would probably be looking elsewhere if there were other contenders in my list. Unless you come across a deal that is hard to walk away from with the right aftermarket goodies already installed, there are far superior options in suspension, weight, power, electronics, and reliability available now. Even the newer Speed Triples come with some pretty impressive technology and have more power to weight ratio(s) than the older generations. So as sentimental as mine was, I would consider other bikes before resorting to the older Speed Triples personally.

Owning this bike:

Triumph has done a kickass job with this motorcycle. Owning it has been similar to most of the Japanese motorcycles I've owned.  Things are unique to the Triumph/British bike world, but parts are still regularly available, and easy to acquire.  There have been several issues I have experienced while owning this motorcycle, but once these issues have been dealt with, I have yet (knock on wood) to experience the same issues again. 

All in all, things that have failed or I have noticed over time:

• Sprag Clutch Gear Fail (started on a weak battery)

• Stator/RR Failure (OEM are way underpowered, replace these)

• Spark Plug #3 is directly under the frame

• Valve cover is an absolute PIA to remove

• Rear Tires tend to wear quickly

• Fork Seals do not last long (stick to OEM seals!!)

• Water damaged buttons on Dash (silicone helps)

• Stock Headlight bulbs are terrible (upgrade bulbs to LED)

• Rear Brake Caliper Bolts almost impossible to break loose on location (replace with stainless steel)

• Motor tends to be loud (cam chain wise)

• Internal screws and bolts are cast material (replace with stainless steel)

• DO NOT try to start this bike on a weak/low voltage battery

• Stock Suspension is absolute garbage

• Be weary about blasting water under tank, spark plug wells are prone to holding water

• OEM cooling fan will not trigger if the coolant grommet comes in contact with it

• Bike does not like to have anything more than ‘minimal’ amounts of coolant

• Gas efficiency seems to have diminished over time

• Gas Light loves to come on super early (?)

Some Random Pictures of the Triumph over the years from bearing replacements, to internal component replacements, to failures of mechanical pieces, etc.

Eye Candy Competition:

• Aprilia Tuono

• Aprilia Shiver

• BMW S1000R / M1000R

• BMW K1200R

• BMW F800ST / GT

• Honda Hornet 599/919/CB1000

• Kawasaki Verseys

• Kawasaki Ninja 650 / 1000

• KTM Superduke 990 / 1290 / 1390

• Triumph Street Triple / Speed Triple

• Yamaha MT07 / MT09 Series