By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Yamaha FZ1 (MY2006)
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 vs Yamaha FZ1: which one's easier to live with every day.
Halfway through a long sweeper with the throttle rolling open, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 doesn't push or wander off your line. An early Yamaha FZ1's throttle snaps on and off.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Triple 1050 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: Speed Triple 1050
Through rush hour, the Speed Triple 1050 is a little easier to live with. Only a little.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Speed Triple 1050
The Speed Triple 1050 nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Put it down to a sportier chassis and stronger brakes. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
The FZ1 has the edge if…
Riding two-up with a passenger
Narrow edge: FZ1
Carrying a passenger, the FZ1 noses ahead. Credit a better reliability record. The person on the back may well disagree.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
A single nudge on the Speed Triple 1050's bar tips it into the bend, since the saddle sits close enough to the bar to make quick work of every change of direction. Bar jabs won't make it pivot. At the brake lever, there's just the right effort and modulation, and the fork stays planted as you haul the bike down from track pace. The triple's exhaust snarls away from every green light.
FZ1
Up near the redline, the FZ1's inline-four breaks into a frantic rush that's worth every rev you give it. With the budget rear unit swapped out, the front steers in precisely and the chassis stays settled once it's leaned over. The upright bar keeps you sitting tall for miles.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Speed Triple 1050 has the lower wet weight: 472 lb (214 kg) vs 489 lb (222 kg).
- The FZ1 makes more peak power: 150 hp (110 kW) vs 128 hp (96 kW).
- ABS: option (from 2011) on the FZ1, not offered on the Speed Triple 1050.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Traveling with luggage
Look elsewhere
Neither of these was built to haul bags. A tail bag and a credit card is the realistic plan.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Speed Triple 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Tips In With One Input
- Brakes You Can Trust
- Planted When You're On The Gas
- Clean, Honest Fueling
- A Big Naked Anyone Can Ride
Trade-offs
- No Savage Top-End Hit
- Rewards Smooth, Not Sharp
- Tight For Bigger Riders
- Gearbox Still Feels Vague
FZ1
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile, stable handling (with upgraded suspension)
Trade-offs
- Snatchy throttle response (early models)
Known problems to check before you buy
Speed Triple 1050
- Sprag clutch/starter gear failure The starter sprag clutch and starter idler gear can fail, producing a loud grinding noise during engine startup and leading to starter slipping or failure to crank.
FZ1
- Stick coil failure The ignition stick coils can fail, often starting on the left side, causing a misfire or rough running.
- Snatchy throttle response (pre-2010) The ECU cuts fuel aggressively on closed throttle, causing a sudden jerk when the throttle is reopened. Yamaha released an improved map for 2010+ models; earlier bikes benefit from a Power Commander or ECU reflash.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.1 in (815 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.8 US gal (18 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | FZ1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 472 lb (214 kg) | 489 lb (222 kg) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | FZ1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 998 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | Inline-four |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 150 hp (110 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) | 160 mph (257 km/h) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | FZ1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) / 7.06 L/100 km | 34 mpg (US) / 6.89 L/100 km |
| Speed Triple 1050 | FZ1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Speed Triple 1050 | FZ1 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option (from 2011) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
