Finished for now...

[whiplash23]

As I have mentioned about a thousand times around here, I bought a ’95 Speed Triple with the intent of turning it into a track bike (what can I say, I am a proud owner). I know an old S3 isn’t the best track bike, but the price was right and I have a real soft spot in my heart for the triple motor. Well, I love the bike and now have completed the last upgrade (until I hit the lottery) and thought I’d share the mods.

I was out the door with tax, tag, and title for $2100 bucks on the bike. It had been neglected as a daily commuter and needed a lot of TLC. However, it had:
- Staintune slip-ons
- Carb work
- Foam air filter
- Spirit steering damper
- and the tank was chromed

It put out 94 ponies on the dyno but, it handled like a pig. Thus I did the following:
- New chain/rear sprocket
- Replaced rear shock spring (675#) with a 950# (strongest a stock shock can handle)
- Lowered the front 14mm by dropping the triple clamps relative to the top of the forks (did 10mm at first before I got new fork springs, and added the last 4mm with the stiffer front end)
- Set of Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa tires
- Skyking sliders
- replaced the stock front brakes with ZRX-12 6-piston Tokiko calipers
- Stainless steel front brake line
- And finally, replaced the stock fork springs (stock springs were progressive with an avg of ~.56 spring rate) with 1.05 liner rate springs (just got the forks back today)

Traxxion Dynamics helped with all of the suspension work and I have to say that these guys are great. They understood that I was on a budget and I really think that this bike handles as good as is possible without putting a new shock on the rear with an adjustable ride height. I don’t have to fight the thing to get it to turn in anymore and it will hold a line with little effort. I can even use the front brake when cranked over without having the thing stand up (like it did at first). The rear shock is still a little under-sprung, and the new fork springs really accentuate that, but Traxxion put the shock on a dyno and she just can’t handle any more spring.

All in all, I have a little over 3k into the bike now and am very happy with the result. When I find $1500 lying around, I’ll get a new rear shock and have the front re-valved, but until then, I think she is finished! Y’all have given me a lot of help during this project and it is appreciated. If you find yourself riding out in N. Ga, let me know!

[Briank]

pictures?

[whiplash23]

I didn't get the bike back together until after dark tonight, but I'll post some pics tomorrow that shows all the mods.

Here is an older one from a track day and one of the new brakes...

[whiplash23]

Damm the picture function! Here they are bigger...

[whiplash23]

more pics as promissed

[zooplancton]

that middle photo has an interesting bronze color to it.
-- the lights give it a cool effect.

edit: never mind "tank was chromed".

cool tank.

[ This message was edited by: zooplancton on 2007-01-31 21:40 ]

[s3hooligan]

Bravo Zulu -- or for you civilians ...Well Done!

[R100Pilot]

Sounds like a steal, man.

Those pictures from Jennings?

[Dobieman]

WOW those forks stick up way above the tree. Looks like a lot more than 14mm. Not familiar with the stock set up - do they stick out pretty good as stock or something?

[whiplash23]

R100, yep those are from Jennings. That was my first trip to Jennings. I love the track, and the staff are great too. It took me a few sessions to figure out turns 7, 8, 9, and 10, but once I did I had a blast!

Dobie, I think the early Speed Triples used parts bin forks and b/c of that, the stock set up has them 28mm above the triple clamp to begin with. I think they got properly cut forks in '96. I have them 14mm above stock for 42mm total. It looks a little goofy but handles like a different bike!