Hey guys, this weekend we decided to take our two favorite bikes out on the open road for another good old fashion shootout. As you will recall, we have pit these two motorcycles against each other in the past. So, what’s different this time? Well, each time we take these two Triumphs out, they have been in different stages of tune.

Currently, the Daytona is running the Beringer calipers, and a pair of Helibar clip ons. The Street Triple now has the stock Daytona front calipers, and has gone back to handlebars by the way of Rizoma. For a full spec sheet, please check out their respective sections under Staff Bikes.

We believe that there truly are too many factors when comparing motorcycles. Try as they may, many magazines still attempt to use technical jargon to confuse the readers in an attempt to justify one choice over another.

We say the hell with it. We will pit any bike against another, and honestly, it really boils down to personal preference. Making these shoot out videos and articles are fun for us. Hope some of you enjoy them. We will improve each time we do it. Promise!

Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check out Triumph Boards for more information.

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Hi everyone, Paul here today, and I’m going to tell you about the exciting adventures we had with pitting the 2009 Aprilia Shiver with our 2008 Triumph Street Triple.

After picking up the motorcycle at, Scuderia West, we headed out on the highway for some open road action on our way to the sweepers in the nearby hills.

Check out my video, as well as the video by Andrew, for some interesting high-speed footage and our initial thoughts and opinions on how the two motorcycles compare.

Looks like we almost killed Michelle there as she was strying to get some shots of the two bikes. As you saw, I chose the Shiver over the Street Triple.

Also, keep a look out for our full opinions and some revealing insights in a future print edition of Inline Performance Magazine. There, I will defend my choice of the Aprilia Shiver over the highly modified Triumph Street Triple.

Stay tuned.

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The 2009 Aprilia SL Shiver has been earning some glowing reviews since its 2007 debut (the guys at Motorcycle News have been particularly lovey-dovey) so we decided it was high time for a test ride of our own. As with so many of our weekends, we wound up down at Scuderia West, proof-of-insurance in hand. And then we hit the road.

Right away, the Aprilia Shiver makes herself known with a big frame that suits a taller rider very comfortably. For a naked sportbike, she is noticeably jaunty, baring her 750cc V-twin and angular 2-in-1 exhaust for all the world to see.

The Shiver does perform very, very nicely, though her ride-by-wire throttle introduces a few idiosyncrasies in the controls, which can take getting used to. However, it was fun toggling between the bike’s Touring, Rain and Sport modes, which deliver markedly different acceleration profiles and adapt the Shiver’s overall personality to a wider range of riding conditions than the single-purposed Triumph Street Triple which we pitted her against. Apparently, the Shiver’s electronic throttle control also adjusts valve aperture based on your gear selection, engine speed, throttle grip position and movement speed, temperature and (mountain climbers take note) atmospheric pressure… if the Shiver played Blackjack, I’m pretty sure she’d count cards, too.

As one road tester described, “The Shiver’s V-twin delivers a wonderfully raspy and very Italianate song….” Well, unfortunately I couldn’t quite hear that song over the Street Triple’s trademark triple burble, and the roar of the twin Remus exhausts, but I’m assuming the writer was referring to the Shiver’s nonetheless throaty purr.

Because of her jaunty measurements – more trail, more rake than the Street Triple – the Shiver handles more smoothly, even despite a 750cc V2 setup that ought to have her leaping out of the gate. Instead, it’s the Street Triple and its 675cc 3-cylinder inline that’s rearin’ to go. Is it because the Shiver is a full 50lbs heavier? Or does that ride-by-wire throttle actually read your mind?

In the end, my vote goes to the Triumph Street Triple as the better naked sportbike, despite its aggressive, hypersensitive throttle and unfortunate lack of concern for rider comfort. Adds to the streetfighter allure, I say.

The Shiver, meanwhile, is plainly too competent for its own good.

Be sure to look for the full article in one of our future print issues. In the meantime, for more Triumph and Aprilia fun be sure to check out, Triumph Boards and Aprilia Boards.

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What’s going on guys? I’ve been swamped here lately with getting the annual issue on schedule, riding little Matt like Sea Biscuit. So, Dave will step in today to make the video on the completion of the front HEL brake lines, Rizoma reservoir, and Street Triple R master cylinder. Check it out.

Yeah, that was a bit short, but it shows that the little triple is back in action for our Speed vs. Street shoot out this weekend. Look for the full article in the annual issue! Ride safe!

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Hey, what’s going on guys? Here is another goody that Super Moto Engineering, or SME, sent us this week. It’s a front axle slider kit for most of the current popular Triumphs. This particular model fits the Speed Triple, Street Triple, as well as the Daytona 675. Since we already had the rear axle sliders installed on the Street Triple, we thought it would look nice to install the front kit to match. Here’s Dave with the video.

As their name states, SME makes cool stuff for super motos, but have crossed over to the sport and standard bike markets. Be sure to click on their name and check out their site!

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