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Is there a lower maintenance bike with a soul to replace my 2004 Sprint ST?

5K views 42 replies 19 participants last post by  chaz1234 
#1 ·
I was even thinking of selling the 2004 Sprint ST and replace it because it is a high maintenance bike. In 6 years, I had repairs including the stator, fuel connectors and a fuel pump, I had consumables like battery, tires, brake pads, chain and sprockets and basic maintenance like checking valves, air and fuel filters, brake fluids, coolant, spark plugs and oil. I always postponed the hard maintenance like fork oil, lubricating headstock, rear wheel bearing, rear suspension or replacing fuel and brake hoses. Why Triumph is designing bikes with so much maintenance? :frown2:
Anyway, I couldn’t find something with soul like this Sprint ST and storage for my laptop and gym bag, to be under 500lbs and a 120hp range with lower maintenance.
Lower maintenance I mean no shims under bucket valves and no lubrication of bearings that requires disassembling including several hours of labor.
Is there a lower maintenance bike with a soul to replace my 2004 Sprint ST? Any ideas?
 
#2 ·
you have to pay to play. I have different bikes and reliability is forefront, reliability follows maintenance. 2004 sprint is outstanding. just like my 1987 maytag washer and dryer, i'll do about anything to keep it running.... it's just that good
 
#3 ·
I bought a Y2K Sprint ST back in '01, leaving the HD fold. Loved the bike! Had an ugly encounter with a Subaru. While I was healing, I looked at every bike available, and did not find anything that grabbed me except the ST. So I bought a new one off the Dealer's floor in '03, and still ride it.

I've ridden several other bikes, and have yet to find one that interests me enough to even think about pursuing it.
 
#5 ·
Bikes with souls or quirks depending upon point of view require maintenance and down time. All bikes do. If you have the moolah, look at the new BMW R1200RS. Shaft drive, the valves and jugs are out in the breeze. You could always look at a HD or old Honda 750 Nighthawk that has hydraulic valves.
 
#6 ·
Flit, if you want a sport tourer I don't think you'll find one more 'soulful' than the Sprint ST. There's good competitors to it, like a Connie (but they're heavy), or some BMWs, maybe a VFR with bags. I have pal with an '06 VFR 800, with bags and he likes it, but doesn't love it. But for character, I think the Sprint stands alone. Like folks have said, pay to play.

I've had this internal argument with myself for years with my Volvos. They're decidedly not cheap to maintain but I love 'em.

Totally different bike, but my '14 Thruxton has been stupid reliable for the 18k miles that I've had it. It has bucketloads of soul, but it's not a ST bike. Sure I tour with it, but the Sprint is a better tool for that, which is why I bought a Sprint
 
#7 ·
Well, not 120 HP and you have to find one that has NOT been abused but the Buell XB series is really good up until about 35,000 miles and then at 50,000 miles they'll start screwing up once every 5,000 miles.
The Sprint is like George Jetson's Buell. Similar in a lot of respects but just more of it if that makes any sense. More revs, much more modern feeling and you'll notice the heat differential in the Summer big time.
Handling, brakes, ease of service and maintenance costs go to the Buell, the Triumph is triumphant (ha!) in ever other regard.
Buell parts prices are also much more reasonable but they may all go obsolete soon so who knows.

If you buy an abused XB all bets are off.
 
#8 ·
Every bike I've ever had required some level of tinkering to keep her happy. For low overall maintenance, I've heard the Goldwing is good, and it would certainly carry anything you need, however at a weight penalty so great it actually requires a reverse gear. If you want something easy to work on it almost needs to be old. Many bikes from the 60s through the 80s are ridiculously easy to do any sort of maintenance on. And for most of them parts are cheap and very easy to find. But a few words of advice on older bikes is swap to a PMA charging system, get rid of the points if it has them and simplify the wiring harness.
 
#9 ·
They're really not high maintenance bikes, and the problems like the fuel connectors and charging system issues are the sorts of things that happen with all bikes. My friends who don't spend any time wrenching are the same friends who spend time waiting for the shop to finish or get stranded on the side of the road when something they should've replaced fails.

My friend's Honda has tappet valve adjusters. Easy as pie to get to, kind of a pain to do, and required every 3,000 miles. Shim under bucket is really just as big a pain as shim under, unless you have the tool and only one valve needs done.

All fuel and brake hoses have a limited lifespan. Just because your buddy with the Kawazuki doesn't bother doesn't mean he's not supposed to. (Brake lines, though: Triumph is in full CYA mode with their replacement schedule. The stock lines are PTFE with a braided stainless cover and a plastic sleeve over that. They should certainly be inspected and replaced if damaged, but they'll last pretty much forever if they don't get physically damaged.)

Bikes with forks are going to need headstock bearings and fork oil serviced.

The hardest part of the rear wheel bearing service is buying the correct snap ring pliers, and a diesel injector puller makes the suspension linkage job a lot easier. Again, most bikes out there have a suspension linkage.

On a side note, I know a guy who was having problems that he just could not fix with the cooling system in his Daytona. I offered to help for free, but he never took me up on it, just kept complaining and finally sold the bike. I saw him standing near a Buell XB12 at the last race and asked him if he had replaced the Triumph with it. He said yes and the guy next to me and I literally laughed out loud. (Sorry, Steve. :))

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#14 ·
Only thing that comes to mind that will fit your maintenance complaint
is a Honda CT110
I was thinking maybe a Honda Accord, actually.

I think you're looking for a unicorn.

Honestly, the Thruxton isn't a sport tourer at all. Soul? In spades. For me, it's my second most reliable bike. Second to my Speed Four, which just takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. It's been routine maintenance only for 15k miles. But you have to maintain any bike. Valve adjustments aren't hard if you're mechanically inclined.
 
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#12 ·
Well I did some research on both the Thruxton and the Buell XB. I like the Thruxton 10000 mi service interval but still a lot of maintenance including valves!
The Buell looks impressive on paper for lower maintenance with single throttle body, hydraulic valve actuation, and gear-driven cams. However, forums are full of complains for reliability and known design issues.
Still looking for suggestions but maybe there are not a lot of choices out there!
 
#19 ·
Flit,
I put 94,000 miles on my XB before it came apart for the next 100,000 leg of ownership.
Maintenance is stupidly simple for most jobs, running costs were minimal.
I also bought mine new and they spent two weeks trying to train me on how to work on them so there's two advantages right there, I suppose.

I am hoping my Triumphs will be as dependable.
 
#20 · (Edited)
#21 ·
I think the Falco was less powerful than the second gen Sprint 955i 2002 - 2004



I have a friend with the Aprillia RSV 1000 Mile' (139hp).
I thought the Falco was a de-tuned RSV Mile engine and made only 115hp ?

Yes I believe the Falco ceased production in 2006 but by then even the 2nd Gen Sprint ST 995i made 118hp (2002 - 2004) and in 2005 when the 1050 engine came out it made 125hp?

My 2011 Sprint GT makes 130hp and my 2004 Daytona 955i out of the box was 147hp. :smile2:

Cheers
DaveM
 
#22 ·
Or maybe poke around the Guzzi forums and see what issues are up with the later big block models.
I put 150,000 or 250,000 miles on Guzzis over the years and they were always good bikes when they weren't left to sit for years and then the oil seals would dry out and the brakes and carbs would crust up.

In all honesty, we're all on the Sprint forum because they seem to be the sporting bike that makes the most sense.
Dave's GT is probably the best of the bunch and is where I'm headed next.
 
#32 · (Edited)
Or maybe poke around the Guzzi forums and see what issues are up with the later big block models.

I put 150,000 or 250,000 miles on Guzzis over the years and they were always good bikes when they weren't left to sit for years and then the oil seals would dry out and the brakes and carbs would crust up.



In all honesty, we're all on the Sprint forum because they seem to be the sporting bike that makes the most sense.

Dave's GT is probably the best of the bunch and is where I'm headed next.


No thanks. No GT bikes for me. I don't meet a barn door for a windscreen. :D
 
#24 ·
The Sprint GT looks like a good choice for 2 reasons: I have spent 6 years working on my 2004 sprint so it will be easier to learn it and really there are very limited alternatives. I see a 2011 selling locally for $6000 with 4K miles.

Now I have to decide should I complete a complete service on my 2004 with 40k miles and keep it another 3-4 years or replace it now with a 2011 GT with low miles? I know the newer the better but I really like my 2004!
 
#31 ·
Do you have a local dealer / mechanic that you can trust? I have always maintained my own bikes because I never trusted the dealers and the local dealer for my last bike was far more interested in how much he could charge than what needed doing.

The GT was my first new bike so it went to Triumph while under warranty. Quickly learnt that I could trust the local mechanic and their pricing was quite reasonable. So when the warranty was over I keot sending it there for anything more than the basics. Eg last service:
"I've changed the oil, filters and plugs but I have been riding through winter (in the UK) so please can you sort that out, oh and there is a set of front pads under the seat cos I prefer EBC to Triumph". He gave me a list of what he'd found and done and even passed my little test (I'd left a broken -from corrosion- washer in the wheel assembly when I changed tyres and he found and changed that). Asked if I wanted the valves checked and reminded me that they were spot on when he checked them at 12k and suggested I leave them for a year or 3. Took his advice on that.
 
#25 ·
Don't think I've ever heard the Italian bikes referred to as low maintenance, except in Ducati advertising materials for the newer engines. The Aprilia twins make Triumph OEM charging systems look perfect, according to several of my friends here, and my friend in DC who rides a California is always cursing the "tiny Italian children" who did the electrical wiring on it. Not that they're bad bikes, just that they're not going to save you any maintenance.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#26 ·
Flit said:
<...>Now I have to decide should I complete a complete service on my 2004 with 40k miles and keep it another 3-4 years or replace it now with a 2011 GT with low miles? I know the newer the better but I really like my 2004!
Newer isn't always better. I would strongly suggest a test ride before moving from a 955 to a 1050, as there were significant changes to the ergos. I was REALLY happy to get back on my RS after a test ride on a GT a few years ago. Obviously, YMMV as some people have been very happy to make that move.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#27 ·
I think I've already got a bike that fits many of your parameters. It's a Kawasaki ZZR1200. Replace valve shims by simply pushing the rocker arms across, 150+ bhp. Paper oil filter removable from the sump, no panel removal or burnt hands. Maintenance has been minimal-two chains, three air filters, two sets of plugs and three valve checks. And of course oil and rubber. Had it 13 years and 72,000 miles, comfier than a VFR or Sprint, or pretty much anything I've been on. Naturally has them for breakfast on speed and performance. Until it sees a bend coming :grin2:
Soul? Define please. I've learnt the bike's character through use and familiarity. I don't subscribe to the character/soul thing too much though-in the UK that was used to try and excuse Triumph/BSA/Norton from making heaps of **** while others simply pressed the button on their Japanese sewing machines and went places. All I know is I have a fast, comfy, reliable and cheap to run bike which I have taken all over Europe. :wink2:
 
#28 ·
I read the spec sheet on that Kaw and it reads like the Blues Mobile. Dual fans, dual fuel pumps. Looks pretty amazing, except that it was a carb bike. How often have you had to work on the carbs?

When I went to Yellowstone this June, there was an older gent from Canada on a Ninja ZX-10R with factory hard bags. He said that it was wonderful to tour on. That's not a large bike, and neither was he so it was probably the perfect bike for him.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Never touched the carbs. One of my problems when I fetched it from Spain- http://www.triumphrat.net/ride-trip-reports/716689-long-weekend-in-spain.html - was fuel overflow due to stuck float after it stood for eight months. Righted itself next morning but in my hurry trying to fix it in the dark I left a hose off the airbox so it drank juice all the way home. Just put some treatment in to clean the tubes out a bit (slightly fluffy as it goes off pilot jet) but it's been maintenance free. And averages 50 mpg, if I keep below 90 mph, 55. :smile2:
 
#29 ·
I recently bought a K1200GT, it's Neo, it's the one, best all around bike I have ever ridden, but I'm pretty sure the maintenance is worse and more expensive than the Sprint, LOL.
 
#35 ·
I've updated my 2004 sprint.

That way I figured I got all the benefits of the newer models and kept the benefits of the 2004, like the ergonomics and the ligher weight.

I updated the 6th gear for better touring and economy in general.

I updated the instruments to a 1050

I updated the gearing to 42 tooth rear

I added a Datatool alarm

I added the glove box and removed the computer from under the seat, to the new ecu under the front fairing.

I put a garage door remote on my bike, using the pass lever to activate
I put the led brake light inners to the 2004 brake light unit..to make it brighter.

I did heaps more...
you get the idea.. So now I'd never sell this as it gives me the best of both worlds, powerful, agile for a s.tourer and has the GT features.
 
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#39 ·
I bought a leftover Ninja1000ABS with the matching Givi made bags(expensive even with a discount). 142HP and 82 in torque. 1043cc engine. 509lbs wet. Ridden fast I still make in the low 40's mpg. Not the looks for everyone including me, but very capable. The seat is iffy and I don't care for the top mounted clipon position, but can be modded(which I will eventually get to). Is it service free, no and has all the plastic that needs to be removed, etc. I'm storing my T595 Daytona while I ride the Ninja. If you don't like maintaining a bike, I suggest paying a shop to do the work or don't own a bike. I can't see any way around taking care of a motorized vehicle.
 
#40 ·
I have been lucky enough, in the last 59 years of riding, to have had the opportunity to own and or long term ride approximately 100 different bikes of all brands. After retirement I averaged 21,000 miles a year on bikes for 3 full years.

Still own 2 Triumphs with over 60k on them. Only one of my Triumphs was a high maintainer bike 1998 Tiger. Carbs sucked. Simple standard maintenance I have always done, shims took me forever to learn. But unlike a car that can go 20k on oil changes, 50k on tires a bike can't.

Your 2004 engine can be replaced for $1500, fairing for $5-600. Almost any part can be replaced from bike breakers from bikes with only 4-5-6k miles before being totaled. If you like that bike you now ride, ride it till something need fixed or replaced. Still cheaper than buying new every 40k miles. I try to test ride any new bike just to see if I would like to own one. Never owned, rode or knew of a low maintenance bike. They are not a $ 45-50k Lexus, they are a motorized bicycle.
 
#41 ·
If you like that bike you now ride, ride it till something need fixed or replaced. Still cheaper than buying new every 40k miles. I try to test ride any new bike just to see if I would like to own one.
I like my 2004 Sprint ST because it has storage, is light and has strong acceleration and unbelievable braking power! I test rode two heavier bikes: a 2009 FJR1300 and a 2008 Concours 1400. I did not like them! First they are unnecessarily heavy. They both had ABS brakes but not even close to short breaking distances of my Sprint. Acceleration was identical with the Triumph up to 80-90 MPH then they are a little stronger. The Kawasaki has also better torque in low rpms. Maintenancewise, they have similar schedules except no need for lubricating the chain that is only a 2 minutes job. Not really any lower maintenance then. I wouldn't replace my 2004 Sprint ST with any of the 2!
 
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