2005–2010 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Triple Soul, Touring Miles
The Sprint ST is built around one thing: Triumph's 1050 cc inline-three. It makes 124 hp at 9,250 rpm and 77 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, and torque arriving that low in the rev range tells you how this bike wants to be ridden. Around the engine sits an aluminum twin-spar frame, adjustable suspension at both ends and 17-inch wheels in proper sport sizes. Electronics? ABS was an option, and that's the whole list. No traction control, no ride modes, no cruise control. For a sport tourer weighing 525 lb (238 kg), the power is comfortably above what the class demands. It's an honest, analog machine.
On the road it finds a balance that's harder to hit than it looks: sporty enough that you go into a set of corners with confidence, plush and stable enough that a long highway stint doesn't wear you down. It suits you if you want one bike for big days and still expect real character from the engine. The caveat is age. These bikes carry a short list of known weak points: a coolant hose recall (NHTSA 05V-276), a rear suspension drag link that corrodes, a regulator/rectifier prone to failure and early composite tanks that swell with ethanol fuel. Check all four before you buy. Then ride it!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 124 hp (93 kW) @ 9,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) @ 5,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1050 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) |
| Wet weight | 525 lb (238 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
I've been listening to Sprint ST owners for years: in paddocks, at club nights, and in the messages that land in my inbox. The pattern is clear. Riders love the engine and the way the bike covers distance, and they grumble about the gearbox.
Ask owners what makes this bike and you'll get the same answer: the engine. They call it the heart and soul of the machine, with a top-end rush that reminds them of a racing engine. Behind it come the chassis, which riders describe as agile and stable in equal measure, and the weather protection that turns it into an all-day companion. Every ride feels special, they say.
The recurring complaint is the gearbox. Owners describe notchy shifts and a loud clunk between gears, and they call the feel agricultural next to Japanese rivals. Nobody says it breaks: it's considered durable. Some owners also mention headlights that leave them wanting more on unlit roads. A few who ride hard find the soft suspension turns vague in aggressive cornering, costing precision and ground clearance. Supple for touring, less so at full attack.
Coolant hose leak (Recall: NHTSA 05V-276)
The coolant bypass hose on the left side can leak, causing engine overheating and potential serious damage. A recall was issued to replace the hose and add a securing clip to the rear brake hose.
Rear suspension drag link corrosion
The drag link (dog bone) in the rear suspension is susceptible to corrosion, especially in wet climates, which can lead to failure if unchecked.
Charging system failure
The regulator/rectifier is prone to failure, potentially leaving the rider stranded with a dead battery. Symptoms include dimming lights or no-start.
Composite fuel tank swelling
Ethanol in fuel can cause early composite tanks to swell, leading to paint cracking and fitment issues. Later steel tanks resolve this.
Where this Triumph Sprint ST pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Sprint ST is actually built for.
This is your bike. Days of 200 to 400 miles are what the Sprint ST is made for: comfortable enough for the long stretches, sharp enough that the twisty part is still the highlight.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
It works if you value flow over flickability. The handling is friendly and there's lean angle to spare, but 525 lb (238 kg) means you work on smooth lines, not quick direction changes.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
It'll do the big trip, with limits. Comfort and stability are there, but there's no cruise control, the screen is fixed and luggage was an option, so check what the bike you're looking at carries.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2010–2016
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