Kawasaki W650 And Triumph Legend TT - Retro-Activity
Kawasaki W650 And Triumph Legend TT: One Recalls History, The Other Refuses To Be Held Captive By It
By Marc Cook, Photography by Kevin Wing
Triumph Legend TT
| ENGINE |
| Type | liquid-cooled, inline-three |
| Valve arrangement | dohc, 12v |
| Bore x stroke | 76.8 x 65.0mm |
| Displacement | 885cc |
| Compression ratio | 10.0:1 |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
| Final drive | chain |
| CHASSIS |
| Weight | 522 lb. (wet) |
| 489 lb. (tank empty) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal. |
| Rake/trail | 27.0 deg./4.2 in. (107mm) |
| Wheelbase | 62.2 in. (1580mm) |
| Seat height | 28.5 in. (724mm) |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | 43mm fork, |
| | nonadjustable |
| Rear | single shock, adjustable |
| | for spring preload |
| Tire, front | 120/70-17 |
| Bridgestone BT-57 |
| Tire, rear | 160/60-17 |
| Bridgestone BT-57 |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Corrected 1/4-mile* | 13.32 sec. @ 96.70 mph |
| 0–60 mph | 5.06 sec. |
| Top-gear roll-on, |
| 60–80 mph | 5.87 sec. |
| Fuel mileage |
| (low/high/average) | 30/37/33 |
| Cruising range | |
| Cheers & Jeers |
| TRIUMPH LEGEND TT |
| Engine | 9 | Excellent torque and good manners |
| Drivetrain | 7 | Notchy gearbox and heavy clutch |
| Handling | 7 | Feels modern but limited ground clearance |
| Braking | 9 | Very good; becoming a Triumph trait |
| Ride | 7 | Softly sprung and adequately damped |
| Ergonomics | 7 | Not as strange as a cruiser’s; no standard |
| Features | 6 | Cupboard’s bare to pay for the crossing |
| Refinement | 7 | Engine hampered by inconsistent carburetion |
| Value | 8 | By Euro standards, it’s a steal |
| Fun Factor | 7 | Torque of the town, but not a thoroughbred |
| Verdict: Understated British cruiser puts on no airs but packs solid performance. |
By Marc Cook
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