THE Sprint ST has never made compromises - it's defied them. It's a sports bike that covers distance, a touring bike that carves corners.

It possesses a truly usable mix of poise, power and all-round practicality. And this sheer competence is no mere chance - Triumph, over the years, has arrived at the winning formula for creating well-balanced motorcycles and the Sprint ST has proved an immensely satisfying machine for the army of riders that enjoy its abilities.

For 2005 the Sprint ST has been redesigned from the wheels up. It's been through a major evolutionary process, every part examined, improved and refined. Its 1,050cc fuel-injected three-cylinder engine has more of everything that makes it so usable - more torque, for effortless drive in any gear and more horsepower for when it's needed. Peak power is an impressive 125PS at 9,250rpm while peak torque of 104Nm arrives at 5,000rpm.

Further enhancing the engine is a revised six-speed gearbox - with remote gear change linkage - and clutch fitted with an anti-backlash gear. The character of the three-cylinder layout remains unfettered but the engine has a seamless polish that provides a perfect counterpoint to the lusty power delivery. The Sprint ST has an engine to revel in, to explore and, most of all, to use to the full.

Matching the Sprint ST's sublime engine is a superb chassis. A redesigned beam frame, featuring a shorter wheelbase of 1,454mm, makes for a fabulously composed yet fast-steering motorcycle, with an even greater scope of ability.

High quality 43mm cartridge-style telescopic forks, adjustable for spring preload, are used for fine control while the rear shock is remotely adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping.

At the front a pair of powerful, four-piston brake calipers mated to 320mm floating discs provide superb stopping power, a two-piston caliper and 255mm disc slow the rear wheel.

The Sprint ST's sleek look is both functional and stunning and everywhere neat touches, like the chrome infill bars and front indicators set in the mirrors, add class.

Styling cues, such as the triple front headlights and triple exit exhausts and LED rear light, complement each other fluidly and the Sprint ST has a cohesive air of a machine that mixes function and form perfectly.

New instrumentation includes an LCD trip computer with average mpg and speed functions, among others. Fuel capacity is a useful 21 litres.

Further expanding the Sprint ST's role is the colour-matched factory-designed hard luggage available as an optional extra. A host of other accessories are also available.

The Sprint ST remains the shrewd choice of any rider looking for a versatile, all-round motorcycle in 2005. And tailoring an almost perfect package to suit that little bit better couldn't be simpler.

TRIUMPH SPRINT ST:

Specification changes for 2005: Refined, larger capacity (1050cc) engine; New chassis including revised suspension, redesigned swingarm, five-spoke wheels, underseat exhausts and new instruments; Caspian Blue and Aluminium Silver paint schemes.

PRICE: £7,699