Triumphrat

07-10-2006

Hi all. I picked up my 05 S3 this week but due to a shoulder strain haven't had time to get out on it. Just got some pleasure from cleaning and polishing. Looks great.

I traded in a beautiful Ducati S4R for it and my wife thinks I have gone mad. When I read all the mechanical woes of owners here I sometimes think shes right. So I need all you guys to assure me that the S3 is no more unreliable than any other bike!

If anyone wants to know the pros and cons of the S4R vrs the S3 i could go on for hours. :lalala:

xSpeed3x · 07-10-2006

Neal,

You won't have any problems with this bike, It's a 250,000 mile bike. You have to remember that people come here looking for answers for problems.

Take for instants - Engine Seized: if he rode it home it's not seized! So you have to take what's no here with a grain of salt. I have 10,000 mile in one year with no problems.

You'll have a blast, Don't worry. You made a good choice!

[ This message was edited by: xSpeed3x on 2006-07-10 10:18 ]

tekmoe · 07-10-2006

my bike has been great to me. i have over 3500 miles on it now. bought it when it had 1 mile on the clock.

sabocat · 07-10-2006

I have never seen a Triumph do this. The only bike I have seen do this more than Ducatis are Buells (of course, you had a water-cooled one, not an air-cooled one... ). I might be biased as they always seem to do this in front of me or my friends (as here).

[ This message was edited by: sabocat on 2006-07-10 09:40 ]

07-10-2006

Your right that perception is very different from reality. I have had both air cooled and water cooled monsters and not once have they let me down. However I do tend to treat them really well with regular plug and filter changes. I just like fiddling about with bikes.

Prior to the S4R I had a BMW R1100S and I sold it because there was nothing to do with it but ride it. Couldn't fiddle with it or alter it. Just spray it with a hose and it came up like new every time. great bike though, but it left me feeling a bit cold. Although when the new 1200 gets more affordable I will be tempted to have another bite at the BMW thing.

R100Pilot · 07-10-2006

Hmmm... looking for a new bike, here was my short list:
Ducati S2R
Ducati S4R
BMW K1200R
Wait and see what the new R1200 would be like
Triumph Speed Triple

The S4R - just not worth the cost to me. K1200R, too pricey. R1200 - I'm impatient. S2R - hmmm... not enough HP. S3? Bingo!

I haven't had a moment of buyer's remorse. Monsters are getting pretty common, even in this backwater. The S3 is unique, and will flat smoke 'em.

But Ducati's are pretty. Chicks dig 'em.

cheapbastard · 07-10-2006

You made the right choice mate, you won't be sorry! Roadkill has over 60k miles on his 00 speedy with no major probs! I've got a measley 7k miles on my 05, but I'm plann'n on rack'n up many more! Welcome to the nuthouse! :-D

Gdsila · 07-10-2006

My 2003 has given me 24,000 glorious miles and 0 problems :hammer:

BUCKET · 07-11-2006

Got 22,000km's on my 05 S3 so far with no major problems.Maintenence is the key to keeping any bike reliable however simple that may be,oil,tyre pressure,lubing moving joints,tightening bolts,all adds up at the next service if you don't keep on top of it.My 98 Daytona had 77,000 km's on it when i traded it on speedy with no major problems due to good maintenence.
Bucket :hammer:

itchin · 07-11-2006

My short list before buying was, The buell lightning, thDucati s4rs, and the speed triple. The buell was a nice bike, would still like to have one but i can only have one. The ducati, well, how can you not like a freakin Ducati, they're awesome but WAY too much money for a family man. Then i rode a speed triple and that was that. I love it. No regrets, no problems. But i like a lot of different bikes so personally i would really like to hear the pros and cons of the whole Ducati-Triumph thing.