Triumphrat

02-21-2006

Love both bikes but never ridden the Triumph, Duc is on layaway til this Spring(?) but......the Speed Triple has really gotten a hold of me, price, looks and am very curious about this 3 cyl exhaust note? May be setting myself up for asking this question on a Triumph forum but I have to try and find out. Which bike is a better buy/bike, try to be as unbiased as possible.

cheapbastard · 02-21-2006

well, quite simple to me, don't take a bunch of guys on a Triumph's site word for it, read all of the mags. Of course, they'll tell you the same thing we will, go with the Speed3!!! :-D It's without a doubt, the best one for the $$$! I've liked the looks of the S4r(along with the new S3's) ever since it came out, but after test riding the S3, I was blind to all other bikes, even my R1!!! :-D I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either, but if you're talking bang for your buck, hands down, Triumph!

02-21-2006

Trying to get out this coming weekend to test ride the ST but some dealers are not interested in allowing rides despite my age and experience (41, 25 plus years of riding) Gotta go aways to find a dealer at that! Thanks, J

brettmess24 · 02-21-2006

S4RS right???? not S4R??

Cheapbastard do you know what the S4RS is?

I dont think any of them have been tested in any mags yet.

S4R 996 desmoquattro 118 rwhp
S4RS 999 testastrata 130 rwhp

S4R showa suspension
S4RS ohlins suspension

S4R brembo twin pin calipers w/semi float rotors
S4RS brembo Radial mount 4 pad calipers w./full float rotors.

There is a huge difference between the S4R and the S4RS

So making this clear the more expensive bike with more goodies, more power will be the S4RS. I havent ridden one but I expect it to outperform the S3 in EVERY catagory, including price.

If money is not an issue buy the S4RS, more aftermarket support for sure.

The S3 is a great bike and I grin from ear to ear everytime I ride it.

The S4RS is going to be in a class of its own :-D

brettmess24 · 02-21-2006

double post sorry computer went crazy

[ This message was edited by: brettmess24 on 2006-02-21 09:11 ]

02-21-2006

Yes, the S4RS. I put 1k down on it a month ago but will not see it til late spring at best. It has about the same HP as the Triple but has some upgrades that the Triple just does not have, of course you pay for that too. Have ridden the S4r and liked it, like I said earlier will try to ride the Triple this weekend but pickings on dealers that allow rides are slim.

cheapbastard · 02-21-2006

ooops! thanks for correcting my mistake Brettmess24. You're right, I was comparing the S4R not the S4RS, although I do know what it is. Wasn't paying attention, although I'm still going to stick with my :2guns: ! Does anyone know the price on the S4RS yet? I'm sure it's atleast going to be in the 15-16g range. So as for his question, which bike is a better buy??? Simple, the S3. Even with all of the suspension goodies the S4RS has, I still wouldn't bet that "I expect it to outperform the S3 in EVERY catagory"! I've never been a huge Duc fan, I love the bikes, but just can't justify their price tags. So as for the testing, bring it on mags, I'm ready to see the outcome. I definately don't think it will be a blow out. Buy you a new S3, and then a used liter jap bike with the extra 5-6g's that will smoke any Duc out there! My 2 cents! :-D

02-21-2006

You are probably right especially if you consider that I will most likely not push the Duc hard enough to really put those upgrades to good use. The S4RS here in Cali anyway goes for 14.9 plus tax, etc. Since it is not even here yet there seems to be no budging on the price. Of course the S4R can be bought for a pretty good deal if you look hard enough but it still is a couple of thousnd over the Triple. As for the jap bikes, I have owned them and really enjoyed the V Twin TLR but am not a fan of the inline fours. Just did not enjoy riding the bikes as much as the V Twin that is another reason I was going back to the Ducati's. Thanks for the insights.

cheapbastard · 02-21-2006

Well panzerman, since you're a big vtwin fan, I can't blame you for looking at the Ducs. I really don't have anything against them other than there price! I hope you can find a dealer to let you test ride a S3. It has the torque that you love from the vtwins but without all of that vibration! I've never been a big vtwin fan, so hopefully that explains my comments. I've been a jap inline 4 man for 10yrs, but the S3 transformed me quickly! :-D

And yes, it has a great exhaust note! IMO, I think it sounds more like a high perf sports car, than most bikes! I love it!

[ This message was edited by: cheapbastard on 2006-02-21 09:51 ]

brettmess24 · 02-21-2006

I hope to eat my words on the S4RS vs the S3, time will tell.

With the Duc you should be able to get another 10hp just by adding exhaust and proper mapping. The testastratta motor loves large diameter exhausts. I have seen the 999's get up to 15 hp just from exhaust and mapping.

Theres very limited aftermarket support for triumph, especially in the motor department. Seems like if you want more Hp from your triple one has to turbo, supercharge or NOS there bikes. Non are my cup of tea.

It really is a hard choice if your not concerned with money but if you are the S3 is by far the best and most complete package.