Triumphrat

bob5150 · 11-03-2007

I'm new to the forum, but I've been reading the forum for the past couple of weeks after deciding to sell my Duc 748 and move on. I like the looks of the S3 and after a test ride an '07 S3 at a dealer, I was duly impressed. I now have a buyer for my 748 (fingers crossed), so I've been hunting around for a Triple. My closest dealer still has 2 '07 leftovers, but I've also thought of going used. The warranty w/a new bike would be nice, but someone else taking a hit on the depreciation/initial service costs is an attraction too.

I read the sticky on S3 problems so I'd have some idea what to look at in a used bike. I checked out an '05 today, 2,800 miles on it. The front brake lever did feel kind of mushy to me and there was a bit of oil on the left front corner of the motor. I tried looking for the source, but the bike had some road grime, so it was hard to pinpoint, but might have been from the top of the cylinder. Are these unusual problems? The seller said he would have the leak checked by a dealer but I didn't mention the brakes, since I'm used to the Brembos on the Duc and wasn't sure the S3s were abnormal.

The seller also mentioned that it was necessary to keep the battery charged because it tends to run down pretty quickly. He said most of the miles came from doing most of his riding in the city.

Any other advice you guys would care to share would be greatly appreciated.

RevBuddyWinkler · 11-03-2007

For what it's worth, my '06 has never leaked a drop of oil and my battery has never needed charging. Speedies are not known for leaking oil unless there is a problem, so I'd be very wary of the leak...battery may just need to be replaced if the bike has sat unused for a long while. (It's got pretty low miles for an '05).

Can you squeeze the brake lever all the way to the grip? If he has not had the front caliper pistons replaced by the dealer, then they probably need to be. Honestly, the brakes on my bike have been rock-solid from day one, but mine was not part of the good-faith recall that I think affected all the '05s and some of the earlier-made '06s.

I'd also be concerned if the bike's sitting around with alot of road-grime. If the guy can't even clean up his bike for a potential buyer, it may be a clue as to how well it was maintained.

If I were you, I'd keep looking. Unless this guy's offering it at a really good price, or you have your heart set, I bet you can find a used one with zero issues. Fall/winter are the best times to buy.

bob5150 · 11-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevBuddyWinkler

For what it's worth, my '06 has never leaked a drop of oil and my battery has never needed charging. Speedies are not known for leaking oil unless there is a problem, so I'd be very wary of the leak...battery may just need to be replaced if the bike has sat unused for a long while. (It's got pretty low miles for an '05).

Can you squeeze the brake lever all the way to the grip? If he has not had the front caliper pistons replaced by the dealer, then they probably need to be. Honestly, the brakes on my bike have been rock-solid from day one, but mine was not part of the good-faith recall that I think affected all the '05s and some of the earlier-made '06s.

I'd also be concerned if the bike's sitting around with alot of road-grime. If the guy can't even clean up his bike for a potential buyer, it may be a clue as to how well it was maintained.

If I were you, I'd keep looking. Unless this guy's offering it at a really good price, or you have your heart set, I bet you can find a used one with zero issues. Fall/winter are the best times to buy.

The lever came about halfway back to the bar. It felt softer than my Duc, but I've never put a lot of time in on the S3, so I have no basis for comparison.
The owner took the bike to the dealer and said that the leak was from a valve cover gasket and that it would be replaced. I looked it over pretty well and that was the only thing that stood out.
He claims to have receipts from the services, so we'll see. The bike wasn't filthy, but I felt the same way - I would've cleaned it up knowing I was selling it. Of course, the seller lives and rides in Wash DC, so road grime is a way of life!

Brooksie · 11-03-2007

Too many wheelies?

RevBuddyWinkler · 11-03-2007

Hard to have a helpful opinion about a bike I can't see, so I'd say if you feel comfortable with the '05, then go for it. I'd guess average prices for that year to be in the low to mid $7,000s, some higher, some lower.

The brake issue is not a big deal. If he hasn't addressed this, most dealers should swap out the caliper pistons for free with little hassle. This, reportedly, will make a big difference in the feel. I've not ridden a 748, so I'm guessing, but the triple's Nissins will probably never have the overall feel of the Brembos, even though they actually perform very well. Speedies have posted some of the best 60 to zero distances of any production bike, so they will stop you quickly, even if they feel mushy. The new 08s come stock with Brembos.

Overall, SP3's are very reliable bikes. The only other concern that I can think of is that if this bike has been leaking oil and the owner has not been checking the oil regularly, he could have been riding around with low oil levels. Luckily, it doesn't have many miles, so if he can prove he's done a couple oil changes (the 500 mile change being mandatory, of course), it's probably not an issue.

Good luck.