New Possible owner....but heard about suspensions issues !!!???

[Brumintx]

Hi everyone, I am looking to get back into motorcycle ownership again after a 15 year hiatus and I'm looking at a few different bikes, the 2011 or 2012 Speed Triple being one of them. However, before I make my final decision on exactly which bike I choose, I have some important questions and issues I need to have info on. I have seen online on different general bike forum posts and a few youtube videos where owners complain that the rear shock is too soft if you weigh more than 150 lbs soaking wet ! I am 250 lbs without gear and will be carrying some gear plus the wife on a few occasional day trips. Can anyone put my fears to rest about the soggy rear shock and also advise on the Speed Triple's 2-up ability. I would like to add a small carrier rack/hand rail for my wife to give her something to make her feel more secure. Can anyone help ?

[doug]

if you love your wife, buy something else.

[crashmasterd]

Bollox. There's a lot of room for improvement with the Speed Triple's suspension, but it's no worse that its primary rivals (FZ1 etc.) Most of the complaints are from guys who are racing the thing, or are trying to ride it to its extremes. If you're the average sedate rider who likes to crack the whip now and again I wouldn't worry about it. If you're out carving canyons and dragging a knee then you'll probably want to upgrade the suspenders in the future.

I've read several different places that the suspension on my Street Triple is dangerous for anyone over 150 pounds. Ridiculous. I'm 200 pounds in the altogether and I can out ride a lot of young turks on their liter class yamahondakawazukis with a little effort. Could it be improved? Absolutely. Is it dangerous the way it is? Absolutely not.

That said, if you plan on riding 2-up much you probably will want to upgrade the rear shock or at least the spring, but that would be true of most naked sportbikes. It isn't a touring bike that assumes you'll have a passenger much of the time. There's plenty of fat fücks around here riding Speed Triples and none of them have killed themselves yet. (No matter how much we keep hoping.)

[harleyxlc]

+1 2 up? Eeek....

There ain't a lot of bikes out there meant for 250+ when they are stock. I am not 250 (and not 100 by any means)...but rode it stock for years just fine. Adjust stock for you, as much as you can and ride. I spent $$ to upgrade suspension and never thought it was worth the money.

[rnexussix]

Buy speed triple if you want to spend sometime away from your wife. Suspension will be fine.

[teemstah]

Put a seat cowl on the speedy and tell the wife to go get her nails done.

[peter67]

too right !!!..the Speed Triple is a top-notch motorsickle....the suspension is fine for the road...excellent, in fact..the bike overall is just not so good for heading out with the missus.....its not made for that....too small....especially if you aren't 165lbs and cage-fighting for a living....not that I am either, but the missus don't come ridin' no more .....better off with an FJ1300 or GSX 1400 or similar...IMHO.....

[antisocial]

I'm about 150-160 lbs, and the lady is about 130. We can ride 2 up no problem, but I can't imagine having someone much bigger than her on the back. not enough room. For riding around by yourself, Speedy is one of the best all around bikes out there. For tootling around 2 up, you may be better off with a different bike.