Anyone with buyer's remorse over inline 4?

[DADDI]

Ive been riding since 1971 and have had my fair share of bikes. From a 65cc bike right through to
R1, busa, etc but the speedy is a really good bike its got plenty of power i think a lot of people under estimate the s3. No fairing well it dosent worry me and it reminds me of when real men road real bikes.

[warped929RR]

You won't regret getting a speedtriple. The majority of the bikes I ride with are gixxer 750's and 1000's and I have no problem keeping up, exept on the straightaways. If you're an experienced rider, you'll be able to hang with most bikes. A lot of people ask me how long I plan on keeping my S3 and I tell them, "barring any accidents, forever".

[Lord Flashheart]

Originally Posted by Lord Flashheart

it's true that the S3 doesn't have the legs for a long journey.

Originally Posted by jaket

not true. Just drive, you got big engine with easy touring cruise(it's basicly ST(touring bike) without the fairing. and under 80 mph the fairing is not much help anyway. What I actually like is the wind keeping sort of 'speeding limit', because it's annoying to drive over 80 for long periods of time, you drive 60-70 and it's comfy at those speeds. and that makes it very ideal for street usage. you just cannot cruise at 100mph all the time and avoid the hand of law.

I guess we're talking about different kinds of "long" journeys, is all.

I once rode my FJ1200 from southern Switzerland to northern Germany: almost 600 miles, at an average speed of a little over 100mph, with a passenger and luggage. There's no way on earth you could do that kind of touring on a speed triple. I bet you could on a Sprint, though - different horses for different courses, etc.

My riding these days is limited to commuting, and short blasts along coastal roads or up into the mountains. There's no better bike for me right now, it's perfect for what I do.

But it sure would suck as an interstate tourer.

[bikewriter71]

Thanks for all the input. My friend has the new FJR1300 and he's itchin' to take a loooong trip comprised of a lot of interstate riding....and there's no way I'm looking forward to a fairing-less ride for 6 or 7 hours (one way!) But I don't want a larger bike such as the awesome FJR. Obviously I need to make more $$$ to afford more than one bike, huh.

[Ruagoat]

I traded an 06 ZX-10 for my 08 Speed Triple. I have no remorse. My 10 was a fun bike, it had an Arrow exhaust, Power Commander, braided lines, all the goodies. It was fun but not practical. You cant ride a 170hp beast daily. Like I said it was fun but M y Triple is way more fum and comfortable. This is my first non Japanesse sport bike in 14yrs.

[SalsaShark]

I traded my ZX-14 for the S3 and have absolutely no regrets. While the 14 was a great and FAST bike, it was really a one trick pony. Also, there's nowhere that you can push that kind of bike (legally).

I've had the S3 for almost two months and I have almost 4K miles on it. This includes daily commuting, weekend trips, and one Iron Butt Ride. The bike tours great. Although I don't think it would cut it riding 2 up. That's why the passenger pegs are sitting on the shelf in the garage.

The only regret I've ever had getting rid of bikes for other bikes was when I got rid of my Sprint ST for the ZX-14. But that remorse was cured with the triple!

[Jake Harsha]

Less is more... After owning a CBR600, VFR800 (the cool, pre-Vtec one with gear-driven cams--not the new, bloated, origami one), and several other street and dirt bikes, I find that I don't miss that extra cylinder much.

The V-4 in the VFR sounded every bit as cool (if not cooler), but the CBR I-4 sounded like ****e, IMHO.

I don't miss the fairing much either... I find that I speed a lot less on the S3 because 100 MPH feel FAST again. 130+ MPH on a VFR or CBR feels perfectly reasonable. It keeps me semi legal (at least when I can keep the front wheel on the tarmac) and I enjoy the lack of buffeting that a fairing inevitably causes

I do miss the comfy seat and luggage options on the VFR tho...


Jake

[DGA]

I just came back from a 600 mile 2 day weekend and 200 of those were in the rain. You get used to the upright, no faring riding. I would do the trip again in a heart beat. I let one of my friends ride the bike for the first time-he rides an MV Augusta-and he described the bike as a turbo diesel that likes to rev, while adding that he would trade his bike in on one if he did not owe so much on his. It's really to each their own, but I can tell you, in my humble opinion, that this is the best bike I have ridden. My favorite thing to do is switch bikes with someone, than get back on my Speedy right afterward, and grin from ear to ear, because she is nothing short of a gem.

[listo]

This being my first 3cyl bike I have to say I love every minute on it. Previous bikes were a 97 YZF600R and a 01 R6. They were great bikes, the YZF600R more for every day and the R6 just because . The S3 has the power from low/mid/top end and is just great. You can cruise all day in 4th gear if you want too. The bike I was riding just before the S3 purchase is a 76' Honda CB550F. Great bike, old school I4 but sadly I haven't even started it since purchasing the S3. Sometimes I do miss the full faired bikes but non of them are an S3 and never will be. You don't see it at every light but everyone sees you and it's great. The first weekend I had it some dude on a ZX10R was right next to me at a light and every time I looked over he was scanning the bike with that what is that look.

If you get the S3 you will not be disappointed. I too have done 500 mile weekend on it and it handled great at 80mph highway speeds with occasional 100+ blasts. You get used to not have the fairing very quickly.