About to purchase / need advice

Greetings!

Well, I finally got to compare several bikes, including three Triumphs back to back and logged almost 250 miles in demo rides. When all was said and done, I found the '04 Speed Triple to be the bike I kept coming back to. Heck, it was more comfortable than my Sprint ST and a better combination of comfort and handling than the Tiger or T-Bird Sport.

Don't get me wrong, the stock seat isn't great, but I can ride the S3 longer than my ST. Which brings me to my need to seek your advice.

If the numbers work out with the dealer, I will be purchasing an '04 Special Edition black S3. I have asked the dealer to figure the price with the CF high pipe, replacement metal quick disconnects installed in place of the plastic ones (which have broken TWICE on my ST), panel protectors for use with the soft-sided bags I already own, and a shop manual.

Is there anything particular to the new gen S3's that I need to be aware of? (ie. on the ST, the fuel senders, plastic quick disconnects, and front suspension were areas that almost every owner had to deal with.)

Are there any S3 riders who regularly tour on their bikes? If so, are there any other modifications or accessories I should pick up while I can still get a discount? Is there any consensus on who or what company to enlist to either buy a replacement seat or rebuild the stock one?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Manuel

[teacherkeith]

On the seat question check out a post I had called "gel seat worth it?" I got some good info.

[Klugman]

Hey I was just wondering...are those metal replacement quick disconnects Triumph parts, or aftermarket?

The metal quick disconnects I was referring to come from Team Triumph of Wisconsin. I know plenty of people who have them on Sprint ST's and a couple who have put them on Tigers. They report no problems with them. Thank God, a fix that actually works.