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2004 Sprint ST - "dailyfying"

6K views 63 replies 12 participants last post by  KitNYC 
#1 ·
So I have gotten my Sprint back from the repairer after my off a few months ago and now I need to sort it out for the daily commute.

I do a mix of freeway, empty roads and heavily trafficked roads (and lanesplitting).


First up I need a pack to throw all of my junk in and it has to be waterproof so I was thinking of this:

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/7026/145/

As I don't like wearing a backpack unless it's small and waterproof. I only have one pannier and I don't like fitting it as then I feel the bike is too wide to fit between cars. (I also don't like tankbags).

What other mods should I be looking at? Crash knobs are I good idea I think, anyone got any suggestions?

I also think I'll be fitting reset pegs to give myself some more legroom.

I've also just hit 6,000 kays in total on the bike, time for a service?
 
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#2 ·
Services are minor every 10kk and major every 20kk. Link.

Look for crash bungs that mount to an offset plate rather than directly to the cases; we've had some members sustain extra damage due to the direct-mount type over the years.

I had no problem lane splitting in NYC with Givi E41 bags on, but I think it's a fairly widely accepted theory that I'm not right in the head. :D

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#4 ·
Never, ever, do it on 30th between 8th & 9th. I think half of my splitting tickets came from that block.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#6 ·
The standard panniers are narrower than the bar width so I can filter with confidence.

You could get a tailpack to strap to the rear of your seat, or the box rack if you have it. You can get some that come with a detatchable base that stays on the bike. They can be quite small and some of them are shaped to look like a tail hump and even come with straps to be worn as a rucksack

Rexx
 
#7 ·
Panniers are your best bet.



You've got panniers.

They're narrower than your handlebars by some margin

They are your best option.

Else a single top box for the 955 can be picked up cheaply online

I know...spend your money on a radar jammer/laser detector for speeding tickets.
then spend the money you've saved on tickets on .... stuff you were gonna
spend anyway.
Crash knobs are worth it yes and you will still be able to just squeeze through the traffic ;)

Also LED replacement for the brake/tail lights and front parker/side light.

Uprated headlight globes from 50/65 to maybe 55/100 or a set of HIDs.

motorbike alarm also seems a wise choice if u dont already have one.

and a set of wets kept under the seat.

Also, if you have an android phone...spend $17 on an ELM327 bluetooth adapter that plugs on your bike's computer plug and you can see your bike's running parameters on your phone and in tweets.

those are my suggestions, but depends on your budget.

radar detector is the best buy I can think of because it opens up cash for other things.
 
#10 ·
armarra said:
Also LED replacement for the brake/tail lights and front parker/side light.
The more LEDs I (just barely) see, the more I think this mod is a waste of money and usually a loss in visibility. Most of the retrofit LEDs just aren't very good, and quality costs quite a bit!

Uprated headlight globes from 50/65 to maybe 55/100 or a set of HIDs.
And this one I really disagree with. You can get plenty of extra lumens from stock wattage, and more than one person here has melted stuff with the higher wattage bulbs. Lumens are light; Watts are heat.

motorbike alarm also seems a wise choice if u dont already have one.
The Datatool alarms supplied by Triumph seem to go bad fairly frequently, stranding people in the middle of nowhere. I'm considering a Xena lock for mine, but there is no way I would add an immobilizer.

Absolutely agree about the detector, though; don't know how anybody lives without one! I feel for you folks down there, I really do!

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#13 ·
hmm..depends what bike and what leds

The more LEDs I (just barely) see, the more I think this mod is a waste of money and usually a loss in visibility. Most of the retrofit LEDs just aren't very good, and quality costs quite a bit!



And this one I really disagree with. You can get plenty of extra lumens from stock wattage, and more than one person here has melted stuff with the higher wattage bulbs. Lumens are light; Watts are heat.



The Datatool alarms supplied by Triumph seem to go bad fairly frequently, stranding people in the middle of nowhere. I'm considering a Xena lock for mine, but there is no way I would add an immobilizer.

Absolutely agree about the detector, though; don't know how anybody lives without one! I feel for you folks down there, I really do!

Cheers,
-Kit
Thanks Kit for the commentary ..
I agree that we ought not to be talking of watts when we mean lumens.
"I'd like to buy a 200 Lumen bulb please"....can you imagine the look of the seller ?
"huh.. don't you mean a 100watt globe"... they would say ?

Marketing Marketing.
We buy vehicle tyres with
a width in mm
a diameter in inches
and a profile in percentages !

The LEDs are available on the 1050 sprints and used on the GT. But yes you're right, they must be high intensity and cost..oh.. around 20.00 each. But its less strain on the elecs. I've never had a complaint with mine...but you're right LEDs can be poor quality.
try www.superbrightleds.com

As for the higher wattage globes, I find them to be brighter especially the xenon filled ones. I've run 90/130watt versions and never had a problem with wiring burning. I do not recommend it for the newer ST and GT because the headlight lens/protector is clear plastic not glass and so they can melt or go opaque. If you have a 955, then this is an advance you can make that the newer models cannot.

I've been lucky with my Datatool, but I've read up a lot about them, so I know what false triggers them. Any bike alarm would be fine though, does not have to be original triumph fitment.

I too don't think you're NQR, You've made reasonable points,so don't let 'em tell you so.
 
#15 ·
Scotchgard™ is good stuff; I just used it on my old Rev-It jacket over the Winter. Test on a hidden are first, though, to be sure it'll work. It was suggested to me by a friend who's the gear/accessories/apparel person at the local Aprilia/Guzzi shop (as well as being a hardcore rider and endurance racer). She was quite emphatic about buying the 3M product and not substituting another brand.

Parking next to someone else's shinier and more expensive ride has always been my preferred method of protection. :D Do lock your steering column, as it will prevent one type of casual thievery. Do not ask me how I know. :p

I really, really, do not recommend using a phone as a GPS on a bike. The screens are too small, their lack of waterproofing can leave you stranded with no GPS and no phone in an instant, and you can't operate 'em with gloves on. I bought a non-waterproof GPS and a waterproof box for it for about half the price of a "motorcycle" GPS; the best part of my writeup is here.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#28 ·
I really, really, do not recommend using a phone as a GPS on a bike. The screens are too small, their lack of waterproofing can leave you stranded with no GPS and no phone in an instant, and you can't operate 'em with gloves on.
You can get ruggedized Android smartphones that are waterproof. I have one (Motorola Defy) and it's brilliant, I can answer my phone under the shower (not that I do :)), it cleans real easy (just put the phone under the tap, then rinse dry) and is generally pretty hardy, whereas I know three hardcore iPhone fanatics walked around for a few months with broken screens.

As for capacitative screens and motorcycle gloves, there's a simple solution - just buy some conductive thread and sew it through the fingertip. I modified all my bike gloves in that manner and I'm now capable of operating my Defy without taking the gloves off.
 
#17 ·
I am a human giraffe so I have big hands and feet and I have found on the ST I loose feeling in my toes, whereas on my old land barge Kawa GTR 1000, the fairing tended to waft engine heat over my feet.
You are on the money though, I'm looking at heated socks.

I have DriRider "Adventure" gloves and even before my big off, they weren't water proof. They do have the rubber bit on the left glove for wiping the visor which is awesome.

Fog stuff yes, I also have to find something that cleans a visor well.
Already have heated grips (I think mine were fitted to the bike when new), they don't get hot enough for freeway riding I've found.

My bike was also lowered as the previous owner is a lot shorter than me, it's getting raised next week, after that I'll see if I still need to sort out the pedal positioning.


Phone... may have to wait a bit. I'm going OS again in sep so I might try and pickup something then.
 
#18 ·
don't clean visor with tissue !!



Don't clean visor with tissue !
its like sandpaper.

put soft soap or similar on the removed visor and run it over a tap, gently rubbing with your fingers. Dont use tissue.

if you have micro scratches in the visor and its clean and dry, then apply brasso and use a very soft flannel type rag.

Brasso and Silvo are metal polishers, but Brasso also works for all clear plastics, try it you'll be amazed how it removes haze and tiny scratches. you can rub as hard as you like if the cloth is soft and clean. Oh did I say...Don't use a tissue !

regards to your long limbs, the body takes blood circulation away from the limbs to save the body core temp. This is why the comfort of the rider is paramount and cold weather gear is actually safety gear because you don't want to loose feeling in your limbs.

The Sprint st does put a nice warm air flow onto your lower legs, but not your toes specifically. Try moving your legs out or in on the pegs and the warm air will be noticeable.
On cold nights is just means the air down their is not quite as cold, but you must have your feet in the right position. If you use high cut boots, you may not feel this warm air.
cheers
Rod
 
#20 · (Edited)
I commute daily with my Sprint and I think it comes down mostly to gear. Though heated grips are a must if you don't have them. I also rock a pair of Sidi boots that I change out at work (Mr. Rogers style...). I like to wear a balistic nylon jacket that vents well and has a liner rather than my heavy leather icon. For gloves I like my armored gauntlet style Fieldsheer's. They're a bit warm on a hot day, but I like the protection factor. Throw in a helmet and some balistic sun glasses and I'm ready to ride.

I have thought about throwing some frame sliders on, but haven't done enough research.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I went with a Axio Hardpack tail bag. It's a bit on the small side, but fits my lunch and thermos. It comes with a waterproof overbag. The red matches my ST almost perfectly.
 
#22 ·
Some other small things:

1. Where can I get a right angled fitting for the rear air valve? It's a bugger to check the air pressure in the rear tyre with the stock upright fitting.

2. I had a look on bike bandit and the triumph parts catalogue, I can't find the part number for the RHS lock that holds the RHS pannier in place. On my bike it's missing (it apparently broke and the pannier went flying down the road while the last owner was out riding).
 
#25 ·
Most motorbike shops will have them, Ask before you get the bike to them.



Ask before you get the bike to them.

Its not a triumph part...
Do you check the triumph catalogue for tyres or globes ?

It's a generic consumable.

ring a few motorbike shops in Melb and that will reveal who has them.
I don't really know off hand, but a quick ring around will reveal who has them in stock.
 
#31 ·
Don't get red ones as the red reflector will absorb all the light.
That's actually the opposite of how it works. White bulbs through a red lens look red because the lens absorbs all the wavelengths of light *except* red. Red passes through it. If you put a red bulb behind a red lens, the lens will pass the red light from the red bulb just as it would pass the red light from a white bulb. (And the red part is the lens; the silver part is the reflector.) Superbright LEDs actually recommends buying LEDs the same color as the lens.

Superbright LEDs has a pretty good FAQ here that points out some of the differences between LEDs and regular bulbs. By the time you have enough LEDs pointing in enough directions to simulate the spread of light produced by a regular incandescent, you won't necessarily be saving a whole lot of power and you will be spending a whole lot of money.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#34 ·
yeah...knew there was a reason I got white...



yeah you are right Kit, I figured that.. I thought the same thing then realised that the licence plate globe was integral with the tail light so that would have maximixzed red but made the number plate light Red also. So I forgoed the red transmission for a white licence plate light..
 
#35 ·
Question: How is the brake line from the handlebar meant to be routed down to the brake caliper on the front?

When I go around right hand corners, something feels like it is grabbing and I'm convinced that the mob that repaired my bike after the accident have routed the brake line incorrectly and that it is stretching. Can someone direct me to a thread or have a nice clear shot or two?

thanks!

Oh and if I take the sprocket cover off to clean the sprocket while Im cleaning/lubing the chain, is there anything I should be wary of?
 
#36 ·
The brake line is a Teflon/PTFE tube on the inside with a black rubber coating on the outside. In between those is a layer of braided stainless steel that does not stretch at all. I'm not saying it's routed correctly, you could still have a problem, but I once bought a stainless line for another bike that was half an inch too short and I can tell you that they do not stretch at all.

The sprocket covers on the carbureted Hinckleys were a nightmare of stupid engineering decisions. Fortunately, the engineers learned from their mistakes and the sprocket cover on your '04 is just a sprocket cover. Worst case scenario with this one is dropping a screw and not being able to pick it up with a magnet because it's stainless.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#37 ·
Phew!

Can we teleport these learned Triumph engineers back in time to somewhere in the late '50s and 60's so they can beat some common sense into the Rover engineers who came up with the handbrake mechanism on my p6b?

I can handle dropping screws (thats my fault), I can't handle stuff that has me baffled for hours! :D
 
#38 ·
Another Rover owner !



So you're a Rover owner.. with the inboard discs and the 3.5 V8.

Watching George Gently on Television and he drove one. Nice comfy Saloon.
Not sure about the handbrake though.. never knew what they used.

I liked the idea of the capacitive thread in the gloves to operate the phone screen. Just not sure where to get this magic thread.

I made an angled aluminium bracket and placed it under the headstem bolt. It used ultra strong military grade Velcro to attach my GPS case or my phone cast. very slimline.
 
#41 ·
I keep meaning to ask as well... What's the triumph you mention in your signature?

Also - what is involved in a 10,000km service? Mine just clicked over 10,000 on the way in to work yesterday.


ps: Rover is here - http://www.classicroverforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=8638
It's a bit sad at the moment, I don't drive it since the front suspension is worn out, so the tyres probably have flat spots and the newly rebuilt transmission leaks if I don't drive it enough. Catch 22...
 
#42 ·
The maintenance schedule for '02-'04 Sprints is here.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#44 ·
Thanks for asking. Its a triumph stag with 4.4 alloy v8 which kinda suits as it's an Australian car. Cam timing is setup for high torque but poor horse power.
2,78 diff with alloy housing and supra 5speed box. Original looking but goes well. Rebuilding engine with bit more compression and cam overlap..nothing too hairy just lifting it from a truck engine..terrier.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Motorcycle.com Free App
 
#45 ·
How long g ave you glad it..I gather our exchange rate against the pound is good! !

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Motorcycle.com Free App
 
#47 ·
Cool. Always liked the shape of stags. Dad had a 2000 and a 2500 tc. Grandfather had a 2500 PI that got traded for the Rover when it was new.

I inheirited it from same grandfather about two years ago. Drove it as a daily for about 1 year at one stage. Great fun. Plans are for a stroker 4.6 litre with tophats and a supra 5spd. Unfortunately I keep running out of money so I have the ctek tending the battery and it is sitting.
 
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