Triumph Street Triple S - Owner's Manual > Safety First

The Motorcycle

Warning: This motorcycle is designed for on-road use only. It is not suitable for off-road use.

Off-road operation could lead to loss of control of the motorcycle resulting in an accident causing injury or loss of life.

Warning: This motorcycle is not designed to tow a trailer or be equipped with a sidecar.

Installing a sidecar and/or a trailer may result in loss of control and an accident.

Warning: Street Triple - Low Ride Height (LRH) Models

The Street Triple R - LRH motorcycles is equipped with lowered suspension and has reduced ground clearance.

As a result, the cornering banking angles that can be achieved by the Street Triple R - LRH are reduced, when compared with the standard ride height Street Triple R model.

When riding, bear in mind that your motorcycle's ground clearance is limited. Operate your motorcycle in an area free from traffic to gain familiarity with the motorcycle's ground clearance and bank angle limitations.

Banking to an unsafe angle or unexpected contact with the ground may cause instability, loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

Warning: This motorcycle is designed for use as a two-wheeled vehicle capable of carrying a rider on their own, or a rider and one passenger (subject to a passenger seat and footrests being installed).

The total weight of the rider, and any passenger, accessories and luggage must not exceed the maximum load limit stated in the Specifications section.

Warning: This motorcycle is equipped with a catalytic converter below the engine, which along with the exhaust system reaches a very high temperature during engine operation.

Flammable materials such as grass, hay/straw, leaves, clothing and luggage etc. could ignite if allowed to come into contact with any part of the exhaust system and catalytic converter.

Always make sure that flammable materials are not allowed to contact the exhaust system or catalytic converter.

Fuel and Exhaust Fumes

Warning:

GASOLINE IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE:

Always turn off the engine when refueling.

Do not refuel or open the fuel filler cap while smoking or in the vicinity of any open (naked) flame.

Take care not to spill any gasoline on the engine, exhaust pipes or mufflers when refueling.

If gasoline is swallowed, inhaled or allowed to get into the eyes, seek immediate medical attention.

Spillage on the skin should be immediately washed off with soap and water and clothing contaminated with gasoline should immediately be removed.

Burns and other serious skin conditions may result from contact with gasoline.

Warning: Never start the engine or run the engine in a confined area.

Exhaust fumes are poisonous and can cause loss of consciousness and death within a short period of time.

Always operate the motorcycle in the open air or in an area with adequate ventilation.

Helmet and Clothing

Warning: When riding the motorcycle, both rider and passenger (on models where carrying a passenger is permitted) must always wear appropriate clothing including a motorcycle helmet, eye protection, gloves, boots, trousers (close fitting around the knee and ankle) and a brightly colored jacket.

During off-road use (on models suitable for off-road use), the rider must always wear appropriate clothing including trousers and boots.

Brightly colored clothing will considerably increase a rider's (or passenger's) visibility to other operators of road vehicles.

Although full protection is not possible, wearing correct protective clothing can reduce the risk of injury when riding.

Warning: A helmet is one of the most important pieces of riding gear as it offers protection against head injuries. You and your passenger's helmet should be carefully chosen and should fit you or your passenger's head comfortably and securely. A brightly colored helmet will increase a rider's (or passenger's) visibility to other operators of road vehicles.

An open face helmet offers some protection in an accident though a full face helmet will offer more.

Always wear a visor or approved goggles to help vision and to protect your eyes.

When choosing a helmet, always look for a DOT (Department of Transport) sticker indicating that the helmet has DOT approval. Do not buy a helmet without DOT approval.

Parking

Warning: Always switch off the engine and remove the ignition key before leaving the motorcycle unattended. By removing the key, the risk of use of the motorcycle by unauthorized or untrained persons is reduced.

When parking the motorcycle, always remember the following:

• Engage first gear to help prevent the motorcycle from rolling off the stand.
• The engine and exhaust system will be hot after riding. DO NOT park where pedestrians, animals and/or children are likely to touch the motorcycle.
• Do not park on soft ground or on a steeply inclined surface. Parking under these conditions may cause the motorcycle to fall over.

For further details, please refer to the 'How to Ride the Motorcycle' section of this Owner's Handbook.

Parts and Accessories

Warning: Owners should be aware that the only approved parts, accessories and conversions for any Triumph motorcycle are those which carry official Triumph approval and are installed to the motorcycle by an authorized dealer.

In particular, it is extremely hazardous to install or replace parts or accessories whose installation requires the dismantling of, or addition to, either the electrical or fuel systems and any such modification could cause a safety hazard.

The installation of any non-approved parts, accessories or conversions may adversely affect the handling, stability or other aspect of the motorcycle operation that may result in an accident causing injury or death.

Triumph does not accept any liability whatsoever for defects caused by the installation of non-approved parts, accessories or conversions or the installation of any approved parts, accessories or conversions by non-approved personnel.

Triumph does not accept any liability whatsoever for defects caused by the installation of non-approved parts, accessories or conversions or the installation of any approved parts, accessories or conversions by non-approved personnel.

Maintenance and Equipment

Warning: Consult your authorized Triumph dealer whenever there is doubt as to the correct or safe operation of this Triumph motorcycle.

Remember that continued operation of an incorrectly performing motorcycle may aggravate a fault and may also compromise safety.

Warning: Make sure all equipment that is required by law is installed and functioning correctly.

The removal or alteration of the motorcycle's lights, mufflers, emission or noise control systems can violate the law.

Incorrect or improper modification may adversely affect the handling, stability or other aspect of the motorcycle operation, which may result in an accident causing injury or death.

Warning: If the motorcycle is involved in an accident, collision or fall, it must be taken to an authorized Triumph dealer for inspection and repair.

Any accident can cause damage to the motorcycle that, if not correctly repaired, may cause a second accident that may result in injury or death.

Riding

Warning: Never ride the motorcycle when fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Riding when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is illegal.

Riding when fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs reduces the rider's ability to maintain control of the motorcycle and may lead to loss of control and an accident.

Warning: All riders must be licensed to operate the motorcycle.

Operation of the motorcycle without a license is illegal and could lead to prosecution.

Operation of the motorcycle without formal training in the correct riding techniques that are necessary to become licensed is dangerous and may lead to loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

Warning: Always ride defensively and wear the protective equipment mentioned elsewhere in this foreword.

Remember, in an accident, a motorcycle does not give the same impact protection as a car.

Warning: This Triumph motorcycle should be operated within the legal speed limits for the particular road traveled.

Operating a motorcycle at high speeds can be potentially dangerous since the time available to react to given traffic situations is greatly reduced as road speed increases.

Always reduce speed in potentially hazardous driving conditions such as bad weather or heavy traffic.

Warning: Continually observe and react to changes in road surface, traffic and wind conditions. All two-wheeled vehicles are subject to external forces which may cause an accident. These forces include but are not limited to:

• Wind draft from passing vehicles
• Potholes, uneven or damaged road surfaces
• Bad weather
• Rider error.

Always operate the motorcycle at moderate speed and away from heavy traffic until you have become thoroughly familiar with its handling and operating characteristics. Never exceed the legal speed limit.

Wobble/Weave

A weave is a relatively slow oscillation of the rear of the motorcycle, while a wobble is a rapid, possibly strong shaking of the handlebar. These are related but distinct stability problems usually caused by excessive weight in the wrong place, or by a mechanical problem such as worn or loose bearings or under-inflated or unevenly worn tires.

Your solution to both situations is the same. Keep a firm hold on the handlebars without locking arms or fighting the steering. Smoothly ease off the throttle to slow gradually. Do not apply the brakes, and do not accelerate to try to stop the wobble or weave. In some cases, it helps to shift your body weight forward by leaning over the tank.

Copyright 2005 Motorcycle Safety Foundation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Handlebars and Footrests

Warning: The rider must maintain control of the motorcycle by keeping hands on the handlebars at all times.

The handling and stability of a motorcycle will be adversely affected if the rider removes their hands from the handlebars, resulting in loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

Warning: The rider and passenger (if applicable) must always use the footrests provided, during operation of the motorcycle.

By using the footrests, both rider and passenger will reduce the risk of inadvertent contact with any motorcycle components and will also reduce the risk of injury from entrapment of clothing.

Warning: Use of a motorcycle with bank angle indicators worn beyond the maximum limit will allow the motorcycle to be banked to an unsafe angle. Therefore, always replace the bank angle indicators before they are worn to their maximum limit.

Banking to an unsafe angle may cause instability, loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

Details of the bank angle wear limits can be found in the Maintenance and Adjustment section.

Warning: The bank angle indicators must not be used as a guide to how far the motorcycle may be safely banked.

This depends on many various conditions including, but not limited to, road surface, tire condition and weather. Banking to an unsafe angle may cause instability, loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

Warning: When banking and the bank angle indicator, attached to the rider's footrest, makes contact with the ground, the motorcycle is nearing its bank angle limit.

A further increase of the banking angle is unsafe.

Banking to an unsafe angle may cause instability, loss of motorcycle control and an accident.

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