Triumph Speed Four
Triumph also means racing, not the kind of MotoGP where Rossi rules, but the real old style when racing was still on the roads. Well, you've probably heard of the craziest of them all, the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man? There, on the winding road through the villages and among the green grassy hills, Triumph made a name for himself.
Fortunately, the British are back on their feet after the devastating fire that raged here about two and a half years ago. They have the monstrous Rocket III that outperforms the Yamaha R2294 with a massive 0cc engine from 100 to 1 km / h, and of course the iconic Speed Triple, which has a reputation as a living legend among naked motorcycles. Thanks to the great success of the latter, the Speed Four's little brother was well received, which is powered not by a three-cylinder engine (a feature and tradition of Triumph), but by a direct four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 600 cubic meters. -cylinder.
It can be said that this motorcycle, which also has a very special appearance, is a kind of "mini" Speed Triple, which can also be ridden by a less experienced rider. Compared to the old Triple they are very similar, only a look at the tubular frame shows the real difference. As such, the Speed Four has a tough and sturdy aluminum box frame that already gives an idea of what the entire bike is capable of.
This is not some cheap copy of Big Brother, but a real ragged machine with plastic armor. From the first contact with him, when we grabbed the racing M-shaped handlebars and the body leaned forward into the racing position, it became clear to us that we would be dealing with an athlete. Elbows and knees are pressed tightly together in an athletic bent pose.
The engine responds immediately to the addition of gas, without hesitation and waiting for some hole in the power curve to pass. It surprised us with its great sporty sound due to the abundance of torque already in the low rpm range, but the real joy really only starts at speeds above 5.000 rpm when the Speed Four pulls even harder.
With its short wheelbase and sporty frame, it is an excellent sports car on twisty roads. It is true that he, like a real nudist, also belongs to the city, but, unfortunately, due to traffic jams, it is impossible to take advantage of everything the beast is capable of. It would be wrong and a shame not to go through the most popular corners at least once a week. Both the motorcycle and the driver can rest here.
During the ride, we were surprised by the stability of the motorcycle and the precise control it allows, while remaining light in the hands, as befits a XNUMX.
The brakes are sporty and never fail on the road, and the suspension is also commendable as it complements the overall look of the compact bike.
The most encouraging fact is that the Slovenian representative has agreed to a promotional price of only 1.740.000 SIT. This is a very good deal for Triumph, which is otherwise one of the manufacturers in the higher price range.
After testing this Triumph, a thought arises, not to mention what the new Speed Triple is offering. If this is a real firecracker, they will be real dynamite! You will very soon be able to read how much adrenaline the newspaper can withstand.
Petr Kavčič, photo: Aleš Pavletič
