Naked Motorcycles

1997Triumph Speed Triple T509

25 fields on record

The 1997 Triumph Speed Triple T509 is a nimble naked bike powered by an 885cc triple-cylinder engine producing 108 horsepower. Designed for riders seeking agile handling and characterful performance, it's renowned for its responsive middleweight dynamics and distinctive engine character. The T509 became a modern classic, establishing the Speed Triple as Triumph's iconic naked bike platform.

Capacity: 885.0 ccm
Engine: In-line three-cylinder, four-stroke
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 196.0 kg
Seat height: 800 mm
Power: 108.0 HP (79.4 kW)

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years ⚠ Recalls listed (1)

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail15%

Cornering88%

City riding80%

Daily riding65%

Touring40%

Two-up40%

Track65%

Best for: Built as a streetfighter-style naked bike, it excels at aggressive urban riding and twisty backroads rather than long-distance cruising.
Built for: It has a raw, muscular personality defined by the growl of its three-cylinder engine and a torquey mid-range that rewards confident, assertive riding.
Not ideal for: It is not the right choice for riders seeking long-haul touring comfort, wind protection, or off-road capability.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 800mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 1997 Triumph Speed Triple T509, with a moderate knee angle of around 105 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 751-820 mm — Middle Ground →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Safety recalls

⚠ 1 recall may apply

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSSep 1997 · 97V164000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT IMPACT, WELD FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE MAIN FRAME IN THE HEAD STOCK AREA.

Risk: THIS MAIN FRAME SHOULD NOT FRACTURE BUT BEND AFTER AN IMPACT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE FRAMES WITH NEWLY MANUFACTURED FRAMES.

These recalls cover some 1997 bikes of this model. Whether one applies to a specific bike, and whether the repair has already been done, depends on its VIN — check your VIN with NHTSA, use gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall in the UK, or ask a dealer.

Source: NHTSA. View all Triumph recalls →

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Average

The 1997 Triumph Speed Triple T509 passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 82.7% of the time, 2.4 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 58% of models.

All years of this model: 41 / 100 (average) from 631 tests.

82.7%Passed first time

7.7%Failed outright

9.6%Fixed during test

25,000Typical miles

104Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

76.7%

10-20k

79.7%

20-30k

80.1%

30-40k

78.3%

All years of this model.

Score by year first registered

19971999

Against its rivals · ranks 6 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	BMW R 850 R	84 Excellent	6,171
2	Triumph Speed Triple	62 Good	87,400
3	Triumph Adventurer	59 Average	5,945
4	Triumph Trident 900	55 Average	12,958
5	Ducati Monster 900	44 Average	680
6	Triumph Speed Triple T509	41 Average	631

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.