Decision time: Superduke or Speed triple(?)

[Teddy]

SuperDuke.

 

[Lunch Box]

Superduke! I bought my '07 in Feb and have loved every minute of the 5000+ miles I've logged thus far. That said, the S3 is a nice little piece of kit as well. Can't go wrong with either, I figure. The S3 is a bit more polished/refined, but the SD is simply the most grin-inducing bike I've ridden in my 28 years of riding.

 

[NolaNomad]

Superduke! I bought my '07 in Feb and have loved every minute of the 5000+ miles I've logged thus far. That said, the S3 is a nice little piece of kit as well. Can't go wrong with either, I figure. The S3 is a bit more polished/refined, but the SD is simply the most grin-inducing bike I've ridden in my 28 years of riding.

Nice

5000+mi...
What kind of miles has your SD seen? How is it on the long haul, all geared up?

Q: For everyone who has a SD or S3-
What kind of rig were you coming from? How was the adjustment to the power, handling and ergos for you?

I'm coming from a Triumph Speed 4 and a SV650. Two very different bikes
The S4 being more aggro and a bit more hyper. Smooth and steady is the SV.
I have for sure gotten used to both but 1050 cc's may be a bit much.
And the SD is a beast as well. How will suspention play into this? Brakes?

Is power really nothing without control?

 

[NolaNomad]

Both the Speed Triples above are '08s. Here is an '07 (with aftermarket exhaust) for comparison.

Tight!
I found one for sale at a bit less $$ than the SD.
But no test rides without all the cash upfront. Understandable, but still waiting on insurance to total the S4.

 

[Lunch Box]

Nice

5000+mi...
What kind of miles has your SD seen? How is it on the long haul, all geared up?

Q: For everyone who has a SD or S3-
What kind of rig were you coming from? How was the adjustment to the power, handling and ergos for you?

I'm coming from a Triumph Speed 4 and a SV650. Two very different bikes
The S4 being more aggro and a bit more hyper. Smooth and steady is the SV.
I have for sure gotten used to both but 1050 cc's may be a bit much.
And the SD is a beast as well. How will suspention play into this? Brakes?

Is power really nothing without control?

Being unemployed, most of the miles have been logged in the twisties. I took an overnight trip down to SLO/Morro Bay, spending MANY hours in the saddle and had no complaints at all.

Regarding which bikes I came from prior to arriving at the SD, the list is very long. Most recently I have had a Ducati Multistrada, DRZ400SM, KTM 690SM. When I was a bit younger I rode a number of sportbikes (GSXR 750, Duc 851, etc). The only bike I have ever owned that was even close to as fun as the SD was my Cagiva Elefant 650 (old school Paris-Dakar type enduro).

My personal likes/dislikes list for the SD:

Likes:

Handling - This bike is GREAT on all types of roads. Tight, twisty, goaty? bring it on! Wide open sweepers? No problem! The suspension is fully adjustable (complete with preload adjustment on the forks and high and low speed rebound adjustment on the rear, in addition to all of the standard adjustment dials. It is undersprung for me (I'm a fatty) and it still handles great. Can't wait until I can justify spending some cash to re-spring it.

Brakes - AMAZING. The brakes are very strong, while still providing very good feedback.

Power Delivery - Love it! I'm a sucker for the big twins, but I love the fact that there is incredible torque and plenty of power over a very wide range of RPMs.

Comfort - Comfortable riding position, making it a breeze to ride roads like Stage, etc. that are filled with bumps and undulations.

Styling - Love it. This thing just looks mean! I think it's a bit polarizing, but I am definitely on the "love it" side of the fence.

Build Quality - Very good. This bike is built well. Great suspension and brake components, along with very good Brembo/Marchesini wheels (not forged, but still quite good).

Dislikes:

Fuel economy - I am a very big fellow, and my SD has a full exhaust, PC III, etc so it definitely isn't representative of a stock machine. I also tend to flog it A LOT. Still, the fact that I get around 30 MPG is a bit annoying. The 4.9 gallon tank makes it sufficient for most rides, though.

Hmmm...can't really think of any other dislikes.

Having ridden an S3, I can say that they are very nice as well. I prefer the grunt of the big twin, but that triple is a VERY nice engine as well. As I said before, I don't think that you can go wrong with either one.

 

[enzeine]

Here's mine:

I have this and an '07 CBR1000rr.

Two different rides, no doubt. As expected, the CBR is more tightly wound and with more power and speed. You definitely feel the difference riding the S3 one day, and the CBR the next.

The S3 serves a few purposes. I commute 100 miles a day on it and it is very comfortable. It has the power and speed of a sport bike, and is nimble (through the city as well) as a supermoto. I think its a great all around bike that I can't get enough of. I can't wait to put my Arrow slip-ons on this weekend! It is also great in the twisties.

Between the two bikes, the girls pay more attention to the S3!

 

[NolaNomad]

consider an Aprilia Tuono too.

Bike magazine recently did a comparison between the RSVR (same motor as Tuono) and the RSV4, and up to 8,000 RPM the twin was slightly ahead in power.

I think the KTM is cooler than the Triumph but they are both cool.

Tuono is the tits I hear.

But alas, far out of my budget..

Q: For SD devotees-
I see many SD's "marked down" from the original price of like $14k
Sure some are demo models. But even on KBB the trade in is like under $6k

Average price is around $8500.
Why the lowered price? Why on paper does the SD retail for $3-4K more than S3? Components?

What of resale value for like 4-5 years from now?

 

[Lunch Box]

Bikes are simply not selling well right now. You can get damned near any bike for a VERY good price these days. As for the SD, I know that Scuderia has been working hard to pick up every factory demo bike they can get their hands on, and they are moving them out at VERY good prices. Sounds like there are no more available for them to buy, but they have quite a few right now. I would imagine that you can find similar deals on the Triumphs, but I don't know for sure.

 

[FickleBiker]

I have never enjoyed an engine so much as the 955cc Triumph triple in my Sprint RS! It's power delivery is as seductive as the mechanical sounds coming from it's three cylinder engine....! I had to put lotsa $$$ into an LSL handlebar conversion to make it work for me, but I LOVED that engine!

- and -

I have never enjoyed a test ride so much as the time Tri Valley insisted that I climb up onto a curb, and he held the bike for me while I climbed on, told to bring it back in a half hour...... and unlike any other time I've tested bikes, I kept it the ENTIRE 30 minutes for the test ride!!! Aside from not being able to reach the ground (I'm 5' 1"), the ergos were natural feeling, the bike felt really neutral and rider friendly, and the torque linear.

Could I choose between the two bikes? I don't think so........
Though I would LOVE to be able to buy a Street Triple 674 'R' ! ! !
-instead-
I've written you a PM about your SV650 for sale......

 

[NolaNomad]

No doubt about the Triple powerplant.
Love the powerband love the smooth delivery of all that sweet torque.

But-
there is something about the Superduke.
I think it's the suspention and brakes.
Just felt so planted. Of course I have not
tested in normal conditions.
I rode that thing like it was made of glass!
Still need to ride the S3
I was not feeling the ST-3 somuch.
Ergos were all wrong-
sitting on the S3 was much better
a bit top heavy. But certainly no pig!

Got your PM
will reply tomorrow with details in the am!

 

[NolaNomad]

I just saw this post on the OC C-list:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/1797968833.html

Hot stuff this...
Matte Black, very unique, I've never seen one of these on the streets before.
How about you, any thoughts? Compared to the SD?
Problem is he is still waiting for the title from DMV...
Q: does Triumph make the bikini fairing in matte black?

 

[slowblood]

You have a good problem to have

Both bikes look great in my opinion.
Since you had a Triumph, maybe it's time to try a KTM.
I say that even though, I love my Triumph Daytona I got a little while ago.

 

[Xof711]

I just saw this post on the OC C-list:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/1797968833.html

Hot stuff this...
Matte Black, very unique, I've never seen one of these on the streets before.
How about you, any thoughts? Compared to the SD?
Problem is he is still waiting for the title from DMV...
Q: does Triumph make the bikini fairing in matte black?

AAhhh is I had the $$$ I'd def. get a Triple!! Such a sick bike!

 

[NolaNomad]

So out of the KTM Sd or this S3 in matte black,
you would hands down go Triumph....
Agreed, sick bike but why so decidedly over he Superduke.
These two are about the same price,barring a roadtrip and overnight
stay to retrieve the rig.....
And the Triumph has warranty until next November.
The SD does have a slipper clutch which did feel super silky
????????

 

[Triple Threat]

Triple, Aprilia Dorosduro or Shiver, but I'm biased. The Duro is the most fun bike I've had to day, that's 19 and counting....

 

[NolaNomad]

Triple, Aprilia Dorosduro or Shiver, but I'm biased. The Duro is the most fun bike I've had to day, that's 19 and counting....

It seems the reviews on the S3 are a bit biased.
Has anyone noticed how goo-goo the reviews are about the Triumph.
No doubt it's a bitchin' ride but if it was the tops wouldn't
we see more of them over gixxers and Other nekkids(?)
what's the achillies heel on the S3?

 

[Xof711]

So out of the KTM Sd or this S3 in matte black,
you would hands down go Triumph....
Agreed, sick bike but why so decidedly over he Superduke.
These two are about the same price,barring a roadtrip and overnight
stay to retrieve the rig.....
And the Triumph has warranty until next November.
The SD does have a slipper clutch which did feel super silky
????????

Both great bikes, go with the heart on that one bro!

 

[Triple Threat]

It seems the reviews on the S3 are a bit biased.
Has anyone noticed how goo-goo the reviews are about the Triumph.
No doubt it's a bitchin' ride but if it was the tops wouldn't
we see more of them over gixxers and Other nekkids(?)
what's the achillies heel on the S3?

One would think....

We already know that every kid that see's an R1, Gisxer or whatever won at the track last week wants one.....And that is what most look for in their first or second (actually, the second bike is more of the same, but with more cc's).

The S3 doesn't speak to that, it talks to your heart and soul. It's not a traffic-light show of force or fame, it's not a bike with full fairings that cuts though the wind to give the extra speed needed to make the late breaking pass in turn 2, it's not any of that. It's just two wheeled fun, day in and day out, a bike you can live with, not one you need to sell as soon as the yours is out dated because the latest models have 5 more horse power and 6 pounds lighter, I'm getting tingling inside.

I belief that the triple motor is bar none the best power plant for the street, closely followed by a V-twin, unfortunately, racers boys (and girls) want TV winners....guess what? The S3's isn't a race bikes, it a street bike, with that a street bike becomes a learned or actually and un-learned experience before most purchase one, once you get it (that's "if" you get it) then most will never look back, ergo, Ducati, Aprilia, Triumph, BMW, KTM, etc. Nothing wrong with the I-4's, those bikes do what they are supposed to do, just with little to no soul. I know, I know, "what is soul" it will all make sense one day.....

You'll get it when you start to look for that something "different" maybe something with soul?

Party on Garf artyl

 

[Kestrel]

I belief that the triple motor is bar none the best power plant for the street,

Tell ya what... I'll let you buy all the triples you want, and in exchange you can sell your RVF to me. Those V4s are awful engines anyway, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands and make passionate love.. molest.. flog.. store it in a hidden warehouse so it'll never offend another motorcyclist ever again...

 

[Triple Threat]

Tell ya what... I'll let you buy all the triples you want, and in exchange you can sell your RVF to me. Those V4s are awful engines anyway, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands and make passionate love.. molest.. flog.. store it in a hidden warehouse so it'll never offend another motorcyclist ever again...

Another sentence or two of that sexy talk and I may of said yes, but then again, I'm easy...

TT