Take Triumph’s superb Sprint ST (Sport Touring) and make it more adept at touring and also pillion friendly and what do you end up with? A Triumph Sprint GT (Grand Touring), that’s what. Sounds easy enough but in practice Triumph had to revise the Sprint’s chassis in a major way. So with a longer swingarm and steel subframe the GT becomes uber-stable when decked out with 117 litres of luggage, a pillion and 20 litres of juice. It goes further than that, though. Lower seat height, a wider, more comfortable pillion seat, built in grab rails on the topbox mounts and revised footpeg positions… and more. Does it all work, though? Yes, it does. It is comfy for pillion and rider – good enough for Triumph’s claimed 200 miles between fuel stops – the engine is flexible and grunty, steering is agile but stable and it can carry a week’s worth of clothing/toiletries with ease.
Engine
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By knocking back the claimed peak torque of the Sprint ST derived 1050cc engine by 1200rpm to 6300rpm, and upping top gear ratio by 7%, the GT is so, so relaxed at cruising speed the pillion could well fall asleep. New fuel injection and ignition settings also make the bike very tractable and manageable when fully loaded. The extra claimed 5bhp from the new side-mounted exhaust isn’t noticeable as such.
Ride and Handling
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Comfort is up there with any major touring machine and this is with handlebars that aren’t exactly upright or sports bike drop-down-style. The pillion gets the same deal. The front forks are similar to the ST units but come with stiffer damping rates to cope with the bike’s extra weight. The rear shock isn’t the normal sorted suspension unit Triumph delivers. It is very softly damped and with a heavy rider onboard upsets the bike’s stance. It’s easy to dial in additional preload via a handwheel and this helps no end.
Equipment
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The pannier system is pure class. Lockable, sturdy, waterproof and easy to detach – you couldn’t want better. The ABS works perfectly when called upon – it doesn’t intrude at the slightest hint of dampness or fluttering leaf. While the revised cockpit is functional and modern, the analogue speedo is positioned off to the left and crammed with too many numbers to take in your actual speed in one glance. No fancy power mode settings. No traction control, either.
Quality and Reliability
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Based on the proven Sprint ST, the GT should prove to be equally as good as the world paints them.
Value
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A bike that is capable of all-day riding comfort and taking on the twisties is something to be admired. Now give that same bike a set of decent-sized panniers and provision to mount a huge topbox with sub £10k price and admiration becomes lust.
Insurance
Insurance group: 15
Model History
2010 – Sprint GT launched
Other Versions
Sprint ST – the bike the GT is based on. Now comes without ABS and panniers as standard to further push it into the sportier corner of motorcycling.
Specifications
| Top speed | 160mph |
|---|---|
| 1/4-mile acceleration | secs |
| Power | 128bhp |
| Torque | 80ftlb |
| Weight | 268kg |
| Seat height | 815mm |
| Fuel capacity | 20 litres |
| Average fuel consumption | mpg |
| Tank range | miles |
| Insurance group | 15 |
| Engine size | 1050cc |
|---|---|
| Engine specification | Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12v four-stroke triple. Six gears |
| Frame | Aluminium dual beam frame. Cast ally single-sided swingarm with chain drive |
| Front suspension adjustment | Preload only |
| Rear suspension adjustment | Preload and rebound |
| Front brakes | 2 x 320mm discs with 4-piston calipers. ABS |
| Rear brake | 255mm disc with 2-piston caliper. ABS |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
| Rear tyre size | 180/55 x 17 |
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