2003 Triumph Speed Triple

Opinions sought.

Was thinking about a Bindit 12 but I do like the look of the Speed Trip.
My main concern is reliability and the cost of parts.

Is Triumph's reputation of not being as bulletproof as Jap bikes
undeserved or is is best to steer clear if you want a bike for the road
and not the garage?

 

I've had 2 "modern" Triumphs: a Daytona and Sprint RS. Both were
totally reliable and never needed anything more than routine
servicing. I rode the bikes in all weathers, apart from Swedish
winters, and the finish on them held up well with regular cleaning.
I've not ridden a Bindit, but the Triumph triple engine has so much
more character compared to a Jap 4. Get the Trumpet you'll love it!

HTH

Andy

ps are you the Stoneskin from [AGB]?
--
Andy Cunningham
Stockholm, Sweden
R1150GS
UKRMMA#17
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmfaq1.html

 

Stoneskin left a note on my windscreen which said:

Header corrected.

 

Andy Cunningham left a note on my windscreen which said:

Funny you should say that. 'Character' is what I'm after. I've had a
B6 before and it was a nice inexpensive beast but felt very flat and
uninspiring. One for the trumpet then, eh?

That would be me Have we met over Battlefield before?

 

I take it that this triple is not the huge (2.3ltr) monster I saw in the
papers recently.

I think it was destined for the merkin market, to compete with HD's

 

no, that's the "Rocket 3" - the speed-triple is a fairly
normal-looking, if exceedingly ugly "Naked"/"Retro" bike.

I'd love a go on a Rocket 3.

 

My Srint ST had a catalogue of minor problems including a seized chain
adjustment (internal to the hub), a leaking radiator, premature wear
of front wheel bearings, dodgy fuel guage/light, failed ignition coil,
big end bearing (at 20000 miles) and internal damage in the gearbox
(might have been related to a drop, but done under warranty), and in
Timo's ownership a series of problems with fuel pipe connections.

The finish on mine didn't even last the first UK winter. Of course, it
was used every day and never cleaned (well, I did it once when it was
about a month old) so it's not _that_ surprising. But I was
disappointed that all the powder coated parts (the footguard hangers
first) started to peel off.

I used to think that when I had the ST. Then I rode a gixxer...

 

Ugly? Well, I suppose it's not 'pretty', but in many people's opinion
it's one of the best-lloking bikes around.

Me too. Maybe I should pop round to the dealer and have a look see...

 

oh come on - it's ugly as ****. I'm not saying ugliness is a big
problem in certain bikes, mind.

AOL.

 

I'm well known for adoration of the B12 hereabouts - however the Speed
Triple has a place in my heart too - especially the SE black one I
looked at a few weeks ago. I do have a concern about the Trip - the
placement of the oil cooler, hanging out in the breeze forward and
below the rider's right foot. This exposes the delicate cooler to all
the stones flung off the front tyre, not to mention touching down
early if dropped. We looked but couldn't see an alternative mounting
place that would be better, even if the hoses were extended, which did
put me off, rather.

I'd go and ride them both, if I were you. Even better, buy one of
each ;-)

 

darsy left a note on my windscreen which said:

Are there any naked/retro bikes you don't consider ugly?

 

Stoneskin wrote

They have their detractors but in general folks seem only to have good
things to say about them. Worth mentioning though that Sucksuzi seem to
have got themselves a very bad reputation for poor finish and severe
corrosion issues in recent years. As have BMW, which I found
disquieting.

 

yeah, all of them except the Speed Triple.

Bandit 1200 "Just looks like a bike", which is good.[1]
Yamaha XJR1300 looks lovely, but they're a bit shit.
Kawasaki Z1000 looks great, except for the silly exhausts.
Kawasaki ZRX1200 looks good too[1]

[1] in both cases I'm talking about the unfaired/microfaired ones, not
the horrible 1/2 faired versions.

 

Ace left a note on my windscreen which said:

How would you rate Triumph at getting these problems sorted for you?

 

You mean Christofire needed head bearings I take it. As mentioned
I've had two trumpets in recent years and have had head bearing
trouble on neither of them. I used both bikes as everyday bikes and
they stood up to it well.

Andy
--
Andy Cunningham
Stockholm, Sweden
R1150GS
UKRMMA#17
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmfaq1.html

 

Doesnotcompute bored us all completely to death with wittery prose
along the lines of:

I had a race against one of those this morning. Great fun it was.

--
Cab :^) - almost as fast as G.i.n.g.e.
GSX 1400 - 'Tarts Handbag' (tm) Bike, dead 550/4 Rat
UKRMMA#10 (KoTL), IbW#015, Bob#4, POTM#3

email addy : cab_at_ukrm_dot_org

 

They were pretty crap at the first one - they were constantly trying
to say the chain adjustment seizure was due to lack of maintenance -
bad communication had meant that the people responsible hadn't
realised it was an _internal_ mechanism. They didn't want to pay for
new bearings either (both these occurred at ~7000 miles, IIRC), but I
think that once I'd finally sorted their warranty dept. out about the
other stuff, they'd forgotten that so it got paid for as well.

But, after that everything else was dealt with sans problem. The last
problem was a broken flange in the gearbox, which I suspect might have
been caused whent the bike was dropped onto the gear change, some two
years earlier, but they didn't question it, even though it meant
replacing the crankcase half. Only trouble was that it took about two
weeks for the parts to arrive. In the middle of summer. With a load of
peeps visiting en-route to Mugello.

So, in general they were always good at fixing stuff under warranty -
perhaps slightly better, in terms of service, in Germany than in the
UK, but that's probably true with anything.

 

My ZX6R needed a good greasing at 1st service (I was told they were supplied
with too little lube) and the Fireblade was suggesting some attention at its
next service (8000). I think it's quite common.

 

Toast, never, ever, needs Marmite.

 

Ben wrote

It does if you have garlic and basil baked beans on it. Just a hint
mind, nothing excessive.