About to buy a 1998 S3 - question

[Snow]

Hi all,
I've searched the forums and will continue to do so, but I haven't found an answer to my question yet so here goes-

I'm looking at this 1998 Speed Triple in town that is for sale on consignment at the local Triumph shop, the dealer will only tell me that it is owned by a professor at the University here. The thing is I heard about a Speed Triple about a year or two ago that got nailed on campus at the University while parked - and when I pulled up a VIN history, the vehicle listed was a 1998 Triumph Trophy. Should I be worried or is this an obvious clerical error? There are no records of anything found on the report, this is the only thing worrying me about the report.

Basically what I am asking is the frame from a 1998 Trophy interchangeable with a 1998 Speed Triple?

Thanks,
A Triumph n00b

[mbeebe900]

No, the frame of a 1998 Trophy is totally different from the '98 Speed Triple. In 1997, the Speed Triple and Daytona both got new frames which were separate from the rest of the triumph line. The trophy as far as I know, always had the same frame, being the first generation spine frame. The Speed Triple had that frame for the first three years of it's existence, 94-97. It was like this

frame:

Trophy '91------------'97----------2003_discontinued
Speedt '91.... '94----'97**************present

[Snow]

Thanks mbeebe,
I feel much more secure in buying the bike now - This will be the first bike I've owned that won't be about the same age as I am!

I've got two other questions, but I'm goint to see if I can find the answers by searching - basically are triumphs really supposed to be that chattery up front and do these bikes have a tendency to spit a little rich smoke when revved while warming up. Unfortunately I couldn't take this thing for a test ride to fully warm it up and see if the smoke stopped. I wasn't too worried about the chatter after hearing two other used triumphs run until I read about some guy's S3 clutch retention springs going south and blowing out costing mucho dinero.

Off to search again

:???: I LIVED IN TALLAHASSEE FOR A BIT, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A TRUMPET DEALER. BY THE SOUNDS OF THAT ONE I WOULD GET FAR AWAY AS POSS.S3 ARE NORMALLY NO PR OBS. NO SMOKE AT ALL OR RATTLES. THE ONLY THING YOU WILL GET WITH IT IS BAGS OF FUN. BUT CHECK THE HEAD STOCK COS THE FRONT WHEEL COMES UP SO EASY. SERVICE IS A MUST AT 16000? THEY HAVE A REAL EXPENSIVE SERVICE EVERY PART GETS STRIPPED OFF. :wink:

[Snow]

Perhaps I should keep looking then... or try to save up so I can afford a down payment on a new S3 or S4?

I feel somewhat silly that I haven't already mentioned this part, but the dealer also says that the owner managed to do something to the bike to make it lose compression - his techs found that he didn't properly attach the airbox so their theory is that debris got in through the airbox and into the cylinders. So, he had the shop hone the cylinders and put new pistons in at a cost of something like $1500...or so the story goes.

You know...as I type out what the guy has told me, the more fishy it all sounds :/

[mbeebe900]

Yeah that deal sounds a bit off, depending on what he's asking and what you want out of the bike. Newer models are going for really short money these days... I would shop around some.

[Fairchild]

Aye, Snow...have to agree with the general consensus on this one as well...while I have only swapped my buddies S3 a few times (99), it was tight as a swiss watch, smoother then my Dyna, and didn't smoke any more then any others in our groups. I think there may be some mechanical issues with that particular one.

Sides...any bike that has "lost compression" is having a major bad hair day...even re-ringing/honing, when done properly does not cause a noticable compression loss...fact my wife's 83 Yammy 750 gained about 4 pounds when I re-built it, mostly do the huge amount of wear it had sustained in 51k...(she rides more then me, it's SO embarrassing...)

in general loss of compression post-rebuild is caused by some type of damage, or poor re-building - ie. over honing/poor piston/ring choices for seating etc...damage could include - Cyl Head pitting (from foreign object or just from burndown it caused) valve seat or valve damage from same...ack the list goes on...generally if it sounds/runs wrong - it IS wrong...and the S3 is considered (by our group at least) to be the most bulletproof of the line...

At the very least I would ask if you could have it checked out by an experienced mechanic (third party).
hope this helps

[Snow]

They say the compression is good now - it was low before they did the top-end work.

Basically what I am looking for in a bike is something that I can rely on to get me to work and school with no troubles for the next several years, have low insurance rates, and not be afraid to take day trips out of town on occasionally.

My '79 XS11 is a great bike, but it constantly needs attention and I find myself dumping on average $100 a month in parts and she still isn't perfectly safe and reliable. Yesterday morning it took 10 minutes to start her as the sprag clutch just wouldn't stay engaged... as usual when it's under 60 degrees F.

I've wanted a naked bike for quite some time and I fell in love with the S3 the moment I first saw it back around 1997 - I just thought I wouldn't be able to afford the insurance until I actually checked the other day as I've been only checking Japanese bike insurance rates.

[ This message was edited by: Snow on 2004-03-23 13:46 ]

snow just keep walking on or even get a mate to drive you as far away as poss.look for a nice 955i. with real history.

[Snow]

Thanks for all the input guys - I ended up taking the full plunge and ordering up a brand new roulette green 2003 S4.

I figure, if I'm going to plunk down that type of change, I might as well make sure I don't have another bike I need to keep fixing!

Now all I have to do is wait until next week when she arrives....and then I have to break her in properly...arrghh!