Triumphrat

welshrob · 02-15-2008, 10:54 PM

After weeks of searching I finally bought one. A metallic red and silver 6 speed T-bird. It must have been one of the last made because it was complianced (all imported vehicles receive a compliance plate when they arrive in Australia) in February 04 and was first registered for the road in June 04. The side covers are the same colour as the bike, so I suspect that they may have been painted, I`ve only ever seen black ones.

It`s a bit 'doughy' between 2-4000rpm, but the standard pipes have been opened up so I suspect it needs re-jetting.

It has some Triumph leather panniers which are falling apart, a centrestand and a cissy bar/backrest thingy. Also, one fork leg seems a bit pitted, whilst the other one seems perfect, so it`s possibly had a ding and had one of them replaced.

It also seems to have a lot more chrome than usual on the engine. Rocker box covers, etc. Aftermarket, perhaps?

It has a Triumph King and Queen seat but no standard seat. Wouldn`t mind getting my hands on one just to try.

I`ll post some pics later in the week when I pick it up. What would be REALLY good is if there was a sticky thread on here with a list of outlets selling accessories and parts for them.

I paid $9000 Aus, for it including on road costs, which makes it one of the best value examples I could find. Even 95-96 versions are asking between $7,000 and $8000.

Wombat · 02-15-2008, 11:39 PM

Good onya Rob.

After riding the S3 the Tbird will seem a bit asthmatic, but that can be solved.
Check the 'Proven Setups' thread for some hints.

As for the stock seat, try sitting on a few 4x2s and you will get the idea, otherwise stick with the K&Q.

denny · 02-16-2008, 02:10 AM

re: stock seat You are not missing anything.

sidecovers, Color matched sidecovers was an add on option in early (95-96) years, some colors combinations came with color matched sidecovers in later years. Starting in 2000 The TBirds got the chrome on the engine as standard, instead of the polished aluminum.

WoodsieIII · 02-16-2008, 05:40 AM

Good on ya Rob. If Ya like I can swap seats with you for a week or so, then you can find out why the K&Q is so popular. Theres a bloke at Capalaba by the name of John Moorehouse who does the best seat job in Australia, perhaps he could modify your K&Q into something decent looking. Or you could give me the K&Q, and get my seat done up to your taste, that I get the K&Q and you get the seat you want.
I have a manual if you would like a lend of it, and I know quite a few little tricks of these great bikes. Old mate Skip just rejetted mine again. The blokes who did it the first time didnt get it right. He knows about these things now. Not a whole lot of accesories to be had, it's a matter of keeping an eye on ebay.

Mine came factory standard with Red sidecovers. The '02 and '03 models had that. Sounds like stock chrome for that model too.

welshrob · 02-16-2008, 07:45 AM

[QUOTE=WoodsieIII;945487
I have a manual if you would like a lend of it, and I know quite a few little tricks of these great bikes.
.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Jim, a lend of the Manual would be good. Just to let you know, I most definately do not have a high speed scanner at work, so I`m most definately not going to scan it and turn it into a pdf file which I`ll covertly pass around to other T-bird owners. Nosirrreeebob!
I`m running the next RATBAGS ride on Feb 4th so if you are coming can you bring it? Greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I`ll speak to Skip but I was going to have a crack at re-jetting it myself. Once upon a time, a long long time ago, I used to be fairly handy at fixing bikes. It will do me a power of good to spend a few evenings at home in the garage with a cup of tea, instead of getting hammered in the pub!

WoodsieIII · 02-16-2008, 08:31 AM

Dont think I'll be on the next Ratbags ride Rob, I should be going bush again after this friday.
You are on the coast I believe, I can get the manual down that way one day next week. Not sure which day yet but I have to get to Palm Beach sometime before I return to the bush. I will PM my phone number

welshrob · 02-21-2008, 04:06 AM

Here it is, a real enigma! A genuine 2004 T-bird when they stopped making them in 2003!

I`ll move these to the pics thread when this thread gets stale!

Rumour has it, that in early 2004 they dusted off all the moulds and machinery at Hinckley and decided to make just 1 more T-bird, which was shipped to Australia as a special order for movie star Hugh Jackman. He`s the wolf bloke off that X men film. He was intending to use the bike in the x-men film to chase the bad guys but he couldn`t operate the clutch with those big wolf claw things on, so they canned the idea and the bike was sold privately....

I think this might be the actual bike....

cpallen · 02-21-2008, 07:39 PM

They made a few hundred TBSes for the 2004 model year out of left over parts - why not a standard t-bird or two!

Being the very last t-bird ever made has got to make that bike very valuable.

Wombat · 02-21-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpallen

Being the very last t-bird ever made has got to make that bike very valuable.

That sounds like a good excuse to offer to the wife.

Just FYI, my 04 TBS was built 10/03 and I believe that the last of the '04s left the factory 12/03.

WoodsieIII · 02-21-2008, 11:01 PM

Mate because it was complianced in 2004 doesn't necessarily mean it arrived here then. They are usually complianced when the importer sees fit. Theres a stack of Toyotas over at Cleveland with no compliance plates on them. Sometimes vehicles are left in "Bond" for up to nine months.
I have a Nissan Navara that was manufactured in june 2006, which wasnt complianced until april 2007