Best Sounding Motorcycle Exhaust

A Touring Motorcycle Review Of The 2009 Triumph Sprint ST

Triumph has never been a motorcycle company who follows the crowd. Unlike some manufacturers, they tend to be more the trailblazers than others are. Looking at the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST, the casual observer might be tempted to think that this luxury-sport tourer does little more than follow along- as if the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST's engineers were less interested in thinking forward as they were creating another cookie-cutter sportbike. In motorcycles, as in much of life, looks can be deceiving. While the untrained eye might mistake the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST for another typical bike, the sinuous bodywork belies a far different animal.

Triumph's long-range sport tourer boasts Triumph's 1050cc triple, a distinctive-sounding powerhouse that puts out an eye-watering 127 horsepower and 77 lb/ft of torque at the rider's command. The 2009 Triumph Sprint ST features liquid cooling, Dual overhead camshafts, and Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection, as well as a six-speed transmission with multiplate wet clutch and chain drive. Exhaust is vented out of the back via an underseat exhaust system, leaving the crisply contoured lines of the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST unbroken.

The 2009 Triumph Sprint ST features an aluminum beam perimeter frame with a single-sided aluminum alloy swingarm and eccentric chain adjuster. Suspension is handled by a monoshock rear suspension with adjustable preload, rebound, and compression, while the front is 43mm cartridge forks with dual rate springs and adjustable preload. This gives the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST a strong road going presence while allowing for an extremely comfortable, non-sportbike ride capable of carrying a rider for as long as they would wish to ride. The front brakes are twin 320mm floating discs with four piston calipers and a single rear brake which consists of a 255mm disc with twin piston calipers. ABS is an available option for the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST, as you would expect. The long-range touring aspect of the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST is reinforced with the 5.2 gallon fuel tank, giving an unprecedented range to the 474 pound tourer, as does the color-matched hardbags, ergonomically designed saddle, and windscreen.

The 2009 Triumph Sprint ST has a starting price of $11, 599, with the ABS model slightly more at $12, 399. For the price, this motorcycle is highly competitive with such top-end touring bikes as are made by BMW, Honda, and Yamaha, while giving you the singularly unmistakable power and sound of a British three cylinder motorcycle. Available in Graphite, Pacific Blue, or Phantom Black, the 2009 Triumph Sprint ST is one of the nicest riding, handling, and looking bikes to make it to American shores in a long, long time.