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It’s fairly easy. If I discover a classic Velocity Triple story, I’m going to republish it. Now, 20 years later – 20 years! – we deliver again to you MO’s First Journey aboard the 2002 Triumph Velocity Triple. So many individuals have reminiscences with this bike. Loads of them are good, however these early years of the Velocity Triple additionally introduced with it just a few reliability issues. Let’s not focus an excessive amount of on that for now and as an alternative respect Triumph’s beloved three-cylinder bare bike that principally ushered within the class of bare sportbike.
All the game with out the plastic
Torrance, California, March 4, 2003 — The final time we rode a Velocity Triple was for our 1997 Open Bikini Shootout the place we in contrast it (then generally known as the T509) to the likes of the Ducati Monster 900 and the Buell S1 White Lightning. Sadly for Triumph, their triple completed third. (Nothing might higher again up my principle that the web was manned by yahoos–Ed.)
Fortunately for Triumph, rather a lot has modified since then. Buell’s S1 is now not in manufacturing and each the Monster and the Velocity Triple have grown up since that final check. However we’re not right here to debate the Ducati and the Buell. Oh no, we’re right here to speak concerning the bike that was seen gracing final 12 months’s motion flick, Mission Unattainable II.
Solely it actually wasn’t a Velocity Triple. Properly, it was. Then it had knobby tires. Then they used a Velocity Triple, er, Velocity Single that used a 2-stroke motocross engine with a look-a-like engine manufactured from plastic. Anyway, would the true Velocity Triple please arise?
There it’s. However taking a look at it and using it are two various things, for the 2002 iteration of the bike is additional refined into an much more aggressive machine.
“For starters, the engine is a redesigned unit shared between the 955i Daytona and the opposite triples within the Triumph lineup.
Noteworthy modifications embrace a repositioned alternator and starter, revised oiling and cooling passageways, in addition to lightened inner bits and raised compression. Showcasing the motor is identical oval-tube aluminum perimeter body from the earlier iteration of the Velocity Triple, however with modifications together with a wheelbase that’s been shortened to 1423 mm,steeper rake–23.5 levels–and a barely raised rear finish, all of which provides as much as faster steering. Figuring within the bike’s claimed dry weight of 416 kilos (properly above 450 in operating trim) (Somebdoy make observe to get a dang scale in right here–Ed.), and you start to appreciate that these broad bars are there for a purpose. The look stays distinctively aggressive although the plastic, what little there may be of it, has been subtly redesigned, and firing up the rasty triple within the store completes the rider transmogrification from harmless motojournalist/internet genius to lane-splitting site visitors slayer. One thing about this bike inisists its pilot undertake an aggressive using fashion, although perhaps not aboard the pink model (Nuclear Crimson, Triumph calls it)– and the place’s my Beretta?
Twin four-piston entrance calipers ship what you need the way you need it. Path braking the entrance tire into corners is simple and, due to a responsive and communicative entrance finish sporting 45mm right-side-up Showa legs, you should use all of the brakes within the financial institution with out bouncing any checks or physique components. After the third move of a 13-mile stretch of highway, a bit fade in some hard-braking downhill zones started to filer in. No worries,the rear brake and engine braking slowed issues down properly and also you get to hearken to the triple howl on the overrun. (Hackfu, king of the late-braking avenue squids… what have I gotten myself into?–Ed.)
On swervy roads, the Velocity Triple makes you’re feeling invincible, such as you’re answerable for an enormous dust bike with actually good traction.
Strongish brakes are good issues to have on this bike, as the brand new 955cc triple produces a bunch extra energy than final 12 months’s bike: 68.5 foot-pounds of torque at 7600 rpm, and 114.3 horsepower at 9500 rpm strikes the entire equipment alongside fairly properly, and offers the Velocity Triple a superior power-to-weight ratio in comparison with the opposite bikes in its class (if you happen to consider the ZRX1200 Kawasaki, Yamaha FZ1, and Ducati Monster S4 as being in its class, that’s).
On the Triumph you’re sort of a troublesome man, see? It’s so James Bond. It so, properly, it’s simply plain cool.
For many who’ve by no means skilled one among Triumph’s menage a trois triples, it’s form of like the facility beneath three-thousand revs is inline-fourish, the mid-range is undeniably twinlike.
Then, the place a twin may begin gasping for breath, the triple goes forward pulling all the way in which to redline (lengthy as you pay no thoughts to the truth that fashionable twins pull previous 9500–Ed.).
We discovered the motor to be most pleasing anyplace from five-thousand revs on as much as redline. In first or second gear, wheelies are however a clutch slip or manly twist of the throttle away.
The structure of the devices is straight-foward, however with a little bit of a British twist peering down onto the massive imply bug-looking entrance finish.
The brand new engine doesn’t appear to have fairly as a lot poke off-idle and as much as 2500 rpm as different ’02 Velocity Triples we’ve ridden, which you both study to disregard by slipping the clutch a bit, or finally repair by, like many different Triumphs, taking it again to the vendor till the proper FI program seems from the manufacturing unit. Both means, it’s no massive.
That steeper geometry does lead to a motorbike that steers mild, fast, and precisely, and actually with that broad handlebar we don’t recall ever whining about needing a quicker-steering Velocity Triple, however no complaints with this one both. On swervy roads, that handlebar makes you’re feeling invincible such as you’re answerable for an enormous dust bike with actually good traction. There’s sufficient adjustability within the suspension to overdo it with rebound within the rear (like Hackfu–Ed.) and trigger all types of wonky chassis conduct.
Fortunately, the great new Editor, Mr. Burns, we love him, was in a position to straighten issues out and now we just like the chassis very a lot. Agency, principally compliant, and well-damped.
City bike, city hangout, the odor of city herb wafting from the shoddy van parked throughout the road. The Velocity Triple calls this house.
As a lot enjoyable because the Velocity Triple is within the mountains, commuting with the Triple leaves a bit to be desired. Whereas some might say the dearth of wind safety is one among its character traits, if you happen to plan on utilizing this as a every day rider, we advocate one thing to maintain all of the nasty issues from scratching and pitting your shiny new helmet and costly, tinted visor. Triumph’s accent flyscreen, for a mere $120 or so final time we checked, deflects much more air than you’d suspect from taking a look at it, and completes the massive imply bug look properly.
Apart from the dearth of wind safety, bikes just like the Velocity Triple make glorious city assault autos. The identical new seat that rubs thighs the fallacious means due to its slight square-edgedness on the Daytona, feels completely positive on the sit-up-straight Triple. And although the suspension’s on the agency facet–correctly on a motorbike this highly effective–the trip is usually very good 99 % of the time. Sharp freeway slabs will give your butt the occasional smack, however you may take it ’trigger on the Triumph, you’re sort of a troublesome man, see? Sit-up ergonomics additionally make passengers completely happy, and when passengers are completely happy, you could have a shot at being completely happy too, perhaps. It’s British, so’s James Bond, some savoir-faire might rub off on the rider. Very candy if barely expensive.
Specs:
PRICE: $10,599
Engine: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder
Capability: 955cc
Bore/Stroke: 79 x 65mm
Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
Gasoline System: Multipoint sequential EFI
Ignition Digital: inductive sort – digital engine administration system
Main Drive: Gear
Closing Drive: X-ring chain
Clutch: Moist, multi-plate
Gearbox: 6-speed
Body: Tubular, aluminum alloy perimeter
Swingarm: Single-sided, aluminum alloy w/ eccentric chain adjuster
Entrance Wheel: Alloy 3 spoke, 17 x 3.5in
Rear Wheel: Alloy 3 spoke, 17 x 6.0in
Entrance Tire: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear Tire: 190/50 ZR 17
Entrance Susp: 45mm forks w/dual-rate springs, regulate pre-load,
comp. and rebound damping
Rear Susp: Monoshock w/ regulate preload, comp. and rebound damping
Entrance Brakes: Twin 320mm floating discs, 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes: Single 220mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Size: 2115mm (83.3in)
Width: 780mm (30.7in)
Top: 1250mm (49.2in)
Seat Top: 815mm (32.1in)
Wheelbase: 1429mm (56.2in)
Rake/Path: 23.5º / 84mm
Weight (Dry): 189kg (416lb)
Gasoline Capability: 21 liters (5.5 gal US)
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