Triumphrat

TommyV · 11-30-2005

1st post, I'm a vintage dirt guy wanting to get back onto the street after a long absence. I rode an 05 Honda Interceptor in San Francisco in July with my nephew and had a blast. Really liked the Honda and was down at the local BMW shop today to look at one they took on trade and they had an 01 Speed Triple with 13,xxx miles. Blue, looked awesome! I've read several articles about them, but didn't want a naked bike. I took a test ride on it and the Honda and they both drive out nice, but that ST3 keeps popping up in my head. I loved the sound and midrange snap! A high school buddy had a Kaw 2 stroke 500 triple in 1975 and I rode that bike a lot, the ST3 keeps making me think of that bike and the good times. A couple questions:

Any issues with the 01?
What did they change on the 02-04 bikes?
Are there bigger windscreens available that look decent?
He's asking $4300, does that sound in the ballpark for a nice clean example?
The nearest Triumph dealer is 110 miles away, will this be an issue or are they pretty low maintenance?

Thanks for any help you can give,

Tommy

kuhlka · 11-30-2005

Make sure the 12,000 mile maintenance has been done before buying that bike, just in case any shims are off. Other than that, as long as the previous owner(s) took care of it, that bike with those miles would be a great ride. Get a shop manual and as long as you know the basics of how to turn a wrench, you shouldn't have too much trouble.

T595.net is an excellent resource for T595 daytona/speed triple home workshop advice and resources.

For 02-04 they changed the fuel tank, tail section (subframe, plastics, undertail, relay layout), seats. I think the radiator is different and I know the oil cooler is different. Flyscreen is different as well as the 01 should have analog guages whereas the 02+ got the new digital speedo. The speedometer on the 01 is also cable driven whereas the 02+ is digital. I think the rest of the motor, frame, swingarm, and other stuff is the same.

You can get a few different screens from Jack Lilley in the UK for a little better wind deflection. I personally like the way the Roadracing screen looks, but brand new it is around $550 and made to order from Italy.

Other than that, there are a lot of really cool parts out there for the 98-04 with a lot of interchangeability, but you'll have to search a bit to find the places that have the parts. Triumphrat.net and T595.net are the best places to get started.

Speed3 · 12-01-2005

I have a Blue '01 Speed Triple. I've got 22,000 mikes on it, and have had no problems except for the clutch cable breaking. A great bike, and the price sounds good, especially if they do the 12,000 mile service for you. Kuhlka's right about t595.net. A lot of info can be found there. Good luck!

[ This message was edited by: Speed3 on 2005-12-01 06:11 ]

TommyV · 12-01-2005

I looked on the Jack Lilley site and couldn't find the roadracing screen. They had several screens listed, but only a couple had pics.

Tommy

kuhlka · 12-01-2005

http://www.roadracing.it/catalog04/cat_triumph.asp

I'm not sure whats up with Jack Lilley not listing the alien fairing or the roadracing screen. Send them an email and they should still be able to order them for you.

dml955i · 12-01-2005

Aside from the differences in plastics/body work, the '02-'04s have a slightly redesigned engine for more snap and better reliability... Triumph sorted out (most) of the electrical/fuel injection bugs and the engine block & head is a better cast so it would be less leak prone.

The head lights are slightly closer together on the '02-'04s and has more aesthetically pleasing mirrors than the '01s, but either year will give you a nice view of your elbows and not much else!

Other than making sure the 12K service has been done, check the fork seals for leakage and for a loose headstock - the previous owner may have wheelied the cr*p out of it...

I wouldn't worry about the mileage - the Speed Triple's engine is pretty bulletproof.

TommyV · 12-01-2005

Forks seals look good and the head set was solid. I don't think it was a bike that got abused, I went back and drooled, ahem, I mean looked again today and there is a plug in for heated clothing under the left side of the seat in the cupped portion of the body panel, on the opposite side is a switch. The guys at the shop said he traded it on a bmw that was more of a touring bike. Apparently he rode it from Missouri to North Carolina to run some mountain roads out there, but wanted a better bike to get from here to there as far as wind protection goes. This shop has been around a long time in a small town and I have serveral good friends that say they are extremely honest. The owner of the shop would really like me to buy the VFR, he's not into the style of the Speed Triple and only took it around the block. Seein' how it's December, I'm thinking I could get the bike for under $4000. I checked with Donelson's (Triumph Dealer in St. Louis about 2 hours away) and they don't have any used Speed Triples, but they have a brand new '01 Sprint RS for $7000 out the door. Why would a new '01 be sitting there still? Is this basically the same bike as the Speed Triple with more fairing? Is that a decent price? Seems a little high to me, but what do I know?

Tommy

TRISPEED · 12-02-2005

I have seen 03 RS's go for 7 K. out the door + tax. I would rather have the 03 with the single sided swing arm and up dates. The suspension on the Speed is like the Daytona. It is adjustable more so than the RS's. I think the RS is a nice bike which is often over looked because of the looks. I rode one and found it to be a great over all bike. Good luck in finding a great machine.

TommyV · 12-22-2005

OK guys, I have cash in hand and I'm trying to make a decision. I'm posting this in both the Sprint and Speed Triple forums (hope that's not a problem) looking for more input.

While I was gathering my dough, I came across an 03 Speed Triple (Black) with just over 1000 miles on it. It's within driving distance and the price is $4900 (a little bit of a dollar stretch). It has a decent size scrape on the left side case, otherwise very nice. They said is was a low speed parking lot laydown by one of the dealership employees.

The local machine asking price is $4300 (01 Blue 13,800 miles), I'm confident I can get him to bargain but it will need a rear tire, chain and sprockets.

I sat on an 06 Speed 3, 01 Sprint RS and an 06 Sprint ST at Donelson's yesterday. The seat on the Speed 3 was way tall, kind of surprised me, way different than the 01 Speed 3 here. I didn't like it that much, but it's out of my price range anyway.

I've decided to go for a Speed 3, and the 03 seems to be the better deal, but I really like the Blue compared to the Black. How much difference should there be in price between these two bikes. Am a kidding myself making a low ball offer on the 01 here? Assume they are both in excellent condition and well maintained by caring owners. I checked NADA and average retail was only $1300 apart. I value the the opinion of enthusiasts! Thanks for everything guys!!

Tommy :-D

TripleThreat · 12-23-2005

Tommy,

Pretty much the guys have already told you the significant differences in the model years. It basically boils down to personal choice. When I bought my bike - A Neon Blue '01, I specifically looked for one that was an '01 or earlier. I wanted the body style and seat of the older style bike and I wanted analog guages. Once I found the one I wanted, I drove from Indiana to Madison, New Jersey to get it. It has been well worth the trip!

My '01 only had 1200 miles on it when I bought it and it was in perfect condition. It had a Corbin seat, Two Brothers Racing exhaust and the Ventura Pack luggage system. I've been extremely happy with my decision. I liked the blue better than any other color too. I still smile when I see it in the garage every morning (too ***** cold to ride here in the Winter). I made some additional mods by changing out the headlights to Adjure Ice Clear lenses and added Osram White Bulbs and a few other things and now I'm down to adding an Ohlins and Racetech suspension upgrade and an undertail from Rhencullen.

Here she is loaded up on the way to the Dragon in June of '05...

Go with the one that moves you most when you see it and you won't be sorry!

TripleThreat

[ This message was edited by: TripleThreat on 2005-12-23 08:01 ]