(Bike number 1) The Triumph Sprint 1050 ST.

So me and my mate Chris will be riding from here, Oakland California to there, Juneau, Alaska. We will be riding two bikes, obviously, and switching between the two. The first of these bikes is the much loved Triumph Sprint ST.

Listen, I’m not a motorcycle journalist and I haven’t owned and ridden as many bikes as say, my mate Chris, but there is a good reason for that. The reason is simple. The Triumph Sprint is bloody marvelous!

I bought this 2005 Sprint in 2009, it had about 5,000 miles on it. I got it because I had learned the Joy’s of moto-camping in the Sierra and Shasta mountain roads in Northern California. I had learned these Joy’s on a Triumph Bonneville America, a cruiser, and when it was time for a new bike, I knew two things:

1) I wanted a fairing so I didn’t get quite so beaten up from wind on the freeway.

2) I wanted more clearance from road to peg as I had bashed my heels several times while cornering the Bonny.

3) I wanted to go faster!

I know I said two things but my mother might read this blog and I know she worries about me, so hopefully she wont read point three?

I got all those things and more with the Sprint.

If I have to explain to the infidels what a Triumph Sprint is, I say this: It is a sportbike for a gentleman and a touring bike for a head banger. Truly more sport than tourer but certainly more relaxed and utilitarian than a true racer.

It has 3 fuel injected little cylinders all in a row and when they get to singing they sound Amazing, particularly coupled with the rocket launcher exhaust tucked under the seat that crackles and farts like an angry old troll on deceleration.

I once heard a speach from a Fighter Pilot who talked about how every time he saw his jet, even just walking in to the hanger and smelling the fuel gave him a shtonker. He said he would look at its lines and see how everything thing about it spoke of power and speed and energy. That’s exactly how I feel about the Sprint.

There is not much I dont like but here it is:

The numbers on the speedometer are too small.

Everything in the top box will slowly cook from the heat of the under seat rocket launcher.

It is not really that comfortable after a few hours in the saddle. Knees, back, wrists will ache and by the end of the day, I am needing a rest after as little as 45 minutes. All bikes are somewhat uncomfortable, it’s a stupid way to get around, but for a tourer, the riding position is a little aggressive.

This is why, ultimately, I decided to get a different bike for my epic moto adventure, but as discussed in the previous post, by keeping the Sprint not only can my mate Chris come along, but it gives me an excuse not to sell it (which is a very, very good thing).