Triumphrat

retrograde · 11-11-2005

A while back I stumbled across a front end from a '95 Speed Triple (forks, yokes, calipers, rotors, m/c, wheel, tire, fender) for cheap and on impulse I bought it. Gotta love Craigslist.

Now that my find is perched in the corner of my garage, I'm wondering what I might do with it (it was after all, an impulse purchase). I know I can slide the forks into the TBS triple trees and I'm halfway to having mag wheels on my bike, but I am curious about other possibilities.

For instance, can I fit the springs (and perhaps other internal bits) from the S3 fork to my current fork to solve the front end dive I currently experience when braking? Are the suspension qualities of the S3 forks much better than those of the TBS forks?

Could I fit the S3 forks and calipers and still use my current wheel to take advantage of the improved brakes? From my reading here it sounds like the TBS wheel should be a direct fit. But is there any problem using the fixed rotors on the TBS wheel with the 4 pot calipers on the S3 forks (S3 wheel has floating disks)?

Other ideas, suggestions, are welcome.

In terms of fitting a three spoke mag wheel to the back of the bike, my reading here suggests that I need an early T3 wheel and either a Trophy 900 caliper/perch or custom rotor. Are there other issues to consider for the rear wheel?

Thanks.

Saigon5 · 11-12-2005

Quote:

For instance, can I fit the springs (and perhaps other internal bits) from the S3 fork to my current fork to solve the front end dive I currently experience when braking? Are the suspension qualities of the S3 forks much better than those of the TBS forks?

Plan A) Put the front end and find a rear mag. you can order a custom made disk or go to other way. The advantage of the disk is that you can revert to the spoke wheel in no time.

To improve the front end diving, a pair of spring will do. I am tempted to believe that the forks of a Triple 95 are in the same family as the one you have on your TBS.

Better braking in my case was done simply by changing the brake pads to EBC HH.

Plan B) Change all kinds of part from the front end to get to about the same place without the mag wheel. To my knowledge, they are not much difference between the TBS forks and the 95 Triple forks, if they are the same size I would think that the internal are the same. They are both damping rod forks, not cartidge forks.

cafetbird · 11-12-2005

Quote:

On 2005-11-12 15:15, Saigon5 wrote:
Plan B) Change all kinds of part from the front end to get to about the same place without the mag wheel. To my knowledge, they are not much difference between the TBS forks and the 95 Triple forks, if they are the same size I would think that the internal are the same. They are both damping rod forks, not cartidge forks.

Uh, I believe this is incorrect Saigon. Have you ever disassembled your forks? I am no fork expert, but when I had mine apart, they looked like cartridge forks, and the specs say that TBS has 43mm cartridge forks. Not sure on the '95 S3 - I know the Trident has dampning forks, but not sure on the peppier models. I thought that all fully adjustable front ends were of the cartridge type - but maybe I am wrong?

To respond to the original questions, it should be O.K. to use a floating caliper with a floating disk, but not a fixed caliper with a fixed rotor. Good luck.

TBSstunta · 11-13-2005

Why on earth would you go through the hassle of putting S3 internals in your TBS forks? I doubt its even possible. Just bolt the whole thing on.

I guarantee you will get a small fortune if you choose to sell your TBS front end.

As far as front end dive with your TBS forks, have you even tried to set them up correctly for your weight and riding style? The TBS forks are actually really good.

[ This message was edited by: TBSstunta on 2005-11-13 10:39 ]

retrograde · 11-14-2005

For the TBS forks, I was thinking that it might be worthwhile to look into swapping in springs from the S3. I figured that the springs in the S3 forks might be wound with a higher initial spring rate, with a more 'aggressive' rider in mind, than those in the TBS. Considering the intended audience of the two bikes, that makes a certain amount of sense to me. I've looked around but haven't been able to dig up the spring rates for the two sets for springs.

I have set up the suspension, going by the book and tweaking from there. I've found I've had to rachet things down in front and ease them off in back (front: one and a half rings showing, one click for compression, two for rebound. rear: compression and rebound both backed off six clicks). Handling is by no means bad, but I think it could be better.

The conversion to mag wheels will likely happen in a few months when winter rains washes mud over the So Cal canyon roads. Till then I'm keeping my eyes open for parts and trying to figure things out.

[ This message was edited by: retrograde on 2005-11-14 01:41 ]

TBSstunta · 11-14-2005

The S3 was actually sprung really softly. Honestly you'd do better putting new springs and heavier oil in your TBS forks.

From motorcycle.com's comparo:

For a sporty motorcycle, the Triumph sure has a lousy suspension setup. Both ends of the bike are underdamped and undersprung. The frame, (the same type used for all Triumph models), is a tubular steel spine type, and means the bike is high (too high for some short-legged riders: One of the reasons Triumph's Thunderbird is popular is that shorter riders can get their feet on the ground). Combine the height with the mushy, wallowy suspension and uncertain handling and you have a recipe for rider distrust. These criticisms have been leveled at Triumph for several years now, and we're beginning to wonder why they don't fix up the suspension to suit the sporty image they've adopted. True, very few Triumph owners will push their bikes to the limit, but the competition (even the big, wallowy Honda) is just so much better around the bends. Heck, even the V-max wasn't that much worse.

[ This message was edited by: TBSstunta on 2005-11-14 08:22 ]

retrograde · 11-14-2005

All right, I'll consider the forks identical. That makes things easy.

MickMaguire · 11-14-2005

900 speed triple spring rate .572 kg/mm
TBS spring rate .550 kg/mm

HTH

With either forks (and yes they ARE both cartridge), you woudl get a world of difference by installing Race Tech springs and gold valves and setting them up for your weight / riding style.

The only real reason for swapping the forks would be to upgrade the brakes from those lousy 2 pot items. the Speed triple forks could get you to Tokicos, brembos etc. there are even conversion brackets to let you fit radial calipers. Floating rotors that will fir the stock TBS wheels are available from several sources, EBC, Beringer and Mecatwin to name 3 of them. Persoanlly I would keep the stock spoked wheels and fit the S3 forks with the brakes outlined above to be "a little different" from those of us who have gone the mag route.

[ This message was edited by: MickMaguire on 2005-11-14 14:00 ]

retrograde · 11-15-2005

Thanks Mick. I checked out the Race Tech web site (saw the stock spring rates listed there, and a lot other good info too). For my weight, 175 lbs., their online calculator comes up with a spring rate of 0.95 kg/mm.

Are the four pot Triumph-stamped brakes on the S3 forks much better than the two pot TBS brakes?

TBSstunta · 11-15-2005

Its not that the S3 brakes are good as much as you can bolt on a set of 6-piston Tokicos. And they are really good. The Toks should be 50-100 on ebay.

[ This message was edited by: TBSstunta on 2005-11-15 06:37 ]