Bought a Triumph ST 1050

[China Greg]

Thanks, Goose. Wish you many Safe and Thrilling rides on the new 'ride.

Yes, please keep us in tune on your experiences with the ST. 
It's definitely on my list.

[pmackie]

As for the suspension and brake upgrades...yeah, those are needed

4) Had the proper suspension and front brake up-grades that everyone keeps clamoring for

It's still early days for me (only 300 kms over two days), but a couple of comments:

The front brakes on my '08 ABS model are pretty decent. Not a ton of initial bite, but good, progressive action and good power with 2 fingers. Certainly a step up from my modified B6 two-pots and better than any STOCK B12 I have ridden. Definately NOT up to Busa or most sport bike standards, but pretty good non-the-less.

The front forks, like above, I would rate above the 2nd Gen Bandit stuff, comparable to a Honda VFR, but still a pretty good performing fork.

I guess it all depends on your previous experience, and expectations. I expect at some point I will upgrade the pads and lines and see a slight improvement in the brakes and I haven't played with any oil/oil level/preload adjustments yet on the forks.

My initial impressions are pretty positive  (but human nature is always that way...I just spend a ton of $ on it, and I'd better like it!!)

[PitterB4]

From what I hear from my bud with a Daytona 955, +1 on the Tuneboy.  He's real happy with his. Sweet bike.  Good luck, Paul.  I still think the Speed Trip will be my next ride....

[97af]

From what I hear from my bud with a Daytona 955, +1 on the Tuneboy.  I still think the Speed Trip will be my next ride....

Having any other tuner besides the Tuneboy is like trying to work on your bike with only a pliers and a flatblade screw driver.
If your looking for a naked bike,the Triple is going to be hard to beat......

[H2RICK]

Says the guy with TWO triples in his collection.

OK, Paul, I had that coming, I guess....
However, in my narrow-minded world, it seems acceptable for a two stroke to be a 3 cylinder but, somehow, a 4 stroke triple is just too
unusual. I've had short spins on a later model Tiger 955 triple (the boss's modern ride) and it seems a pleasant bike....but I won't be trading in my B12 on one any time soon....

[PitterB4]

LOL!  I just got back from a short spin on my bud's Daytona 955i...  Holy-power-everywhere Batman!  Fun bike.  It has a far more aggressive body position than my ZX. 

[Bandit1250]

How do you like that state of the art seat attachment?? 

I wanted to shoot the designer that designed that when I had my 2006 Sprint, luckily you really don't have to take the seat off for anything very often! The prior design Sprint had a key latch seat, don't know why they changed it!

I had qite a few issues with my Sprint so I sold it, I understand the 2007 and up models are more "bug" free.

Congrats on the new bike......Triumph didn't have the Bright Red color in 2006 so I got the Blue.......

[China Greg]

Please... WHAT BUGS on the 2006 ST?
I am consideing one in my future.. please let us know what problems you encountered... and which may have casued you to sellit.

[Bandit1250]

Please... WHAT BUGS on the 2006 ST?
I am consideing one in my future.. please let us know what problems you encountered... and which may have casued you to sellit.

If you're gonna' get one get a 2007 or newer.

There was a suspension bolt recall. The rear suspension bolt by the swingarm cracked on some models causing the suspension to fall in the back.....make sure the recall was done if you by a 2005 or 2006, you wouldn't want to be leaned over in the middle of a turm and the rear half of the bike fall.

I had a hot "no start" problem that was fixed with a new clutch. I'd stop for a break and the bike didn't want to start.

The plastic gas tank was "bubbleing" up from under the paint, Triumph changed to metal tanks for 2008......they say it was becasue people wanted a metal tank to hold a tank bag....hmmmm.......

Many rubber pieces rotting away/wearing after only 1 year of ownership, the footpegs, the battery hold down strap, the rubber wire loom holders under the bottom fairing.

Long cold cranking time when first starting.........Triumph changed the CPU for 2007 providing faster starts but wouldn't warranty the slow start previous models, I didn't like that.

The front tire would wear almost identicle to the rear.......this isn't really a defect but on every other bike I had I could go 2 rear tires to one front....just made it more expensive when changing tires.

Not a defect but I didn't like the suspension, sprung way to soft for me....when I'd push it in the twisties it would "wallow" too much compared to other bikes I've had.

Other than that I loved the motor......very smooth and almost vibe free....125hp was nice also.

[PitterB4]

My bud with the 06 Daytona, that he bought new, just got a call from his shop (independent).  They had ordered front pads for it....  went to put them on...  they didn't fit.  They determined that it had calipers that were supposed to be OEM on late-90s bikes.  Weird and makes me question Triumphs a bit. 

[pmackie]

Hey China

Maybe check out the guys over at triumphrat.net forums. Lots of activity, and a pretty good site.

Many rubber pieces rotting away/wearing after only 1 year of ownership, the footpegs, the battery hold down strap, the rubber wire loom holders under the bottom fairing.

Long cold cranking time when first starting.........Triumph changed the CPU for 2007 providing faster starts but wouldn't warranty the slow start previous models, I didn't like that.

Both of these issues get covered a lot on the 05 & 06 ST's. Can't speak for the rubbers on my '08 ST yet, as it's still new.

As for cold cranking, there seems to be a couple of cures. (My '08 starts up within 5 seconds, even at freezing, so it seems to be fixed on the newer models.)

1. Even though the manual says leave the throttle closed, some owners say opening the throttle about 1/8 turns improves the cold start significantly, and

2. There have been a LOT of new ECU "tunes", both Triumph and private that can change the characteristics, that are easy to upload.

I've only put about 850 kms on the new bike so far, so still breaking it in. I have left it on the coast with my sons, since it's still snowing here, and all the passes are still pretty sandy. Anyway, still a great bike to ride. Shifting was NOT as smooth as a Bandit when new (not much is), but it is improving as it gets some miles on it. I can hardly wait to get it out on a longer ride, see how it is on the highway, but it feels pretty great so far. My only gripe so far is that my leathers ARE leaving some rub marks on the paint of the new steel tank. It will need a better and more frequent coat of wax. I also ordered the full paint protection kit from thetankslapper.biz  which seems to be highly rated. I'll let you know.

[China Greg]

Hey, thanks, boys... great feedback.

I'm still very interested in the ST; it may well be my next bike, but right now of course, no money. Like many; Need Job.

Anyone want a Chinese-speaking Quality Control Manager?

Ah. So....

[Red01]

Anyone want a Chinese-speaking Quality Control Manager?

Ah. So....

Isn't that Japanese? 

Don't know that they need a Chinese speaker, but last I looked (a month or two ago), Honda was looking for Quality folks for their new airplane factory in North Carolina... and may be looking for folks in their new aircraft engine factory (also in NC), soon, too.  Just don't tell them you ride a Suzuki.

At my company, they say you can't control quality, you can only assure it. 

[H2RICK]

At my company, they say you can't control quality, you can only assure it.

I'll be turning that one over in what passes for my mind for awhile.
Somebody worked on that motto for quite awhile, I'd say.