Triumphrat

TripleSteve · 03-10-2008

Hi Everyone,

I have a '95 Sprint with 13k miles - runs great, and is cosmetically perfect - I am the second owner, and have had it for the last 10k miles (several years). I love the low-down torque, and even after riding some of the newer bikes on Triumph demo days and my friend's FZ1, I still like the character of this bike (am I sick?).

So...I am wondering what mods you would recommend on this bike, and details regarding type/cost would be appreciated.

Specifically, it is a bit bouncy when I come to a stop, and my wife finds it a bit "harsh" when she rides with me and we hit a bump. She has recommended that I look into a (gasp) newer bike...but I am wondering if a few good modifications might be a better move? Suspension might be the first order of business...I live near Seattle, WA - any recommendations?

Also, for those that have put $ into their older T3's...are you happy with the bike once the mods were made? Did you consider it a good investment (over picking up a newer bike...)

Thanks for your help!

menelfloss · 03-11-2008

I am the second owner of a 96 sprint. I also love the bike, especially after a few years of getting to know exactly how to ride it. I decided not to get a new bike because newer ones just don't fit me as well. The old Sprints are sport touring bikes with some touring left in them.

Anyway, I recommend Corbin seat with passenger back rest. Your wife will feel lots better if you now don't have a back rest, and the seat is better for the driver as well. About $325.00

I had a pair of Micron exhausts which were much lighter than the original pipes but had a bit too much pop (high end crackle) to them.
This year I found a pair of new "over stock" Staintune mufflers for half price. They are light and deliver a very nice lower note. They come with inserts to quiet them down a bit if the straight pipes are too loud. Half Price $600.00 http://www.cbtimports.com/specials.htm#staintune

My bike came with some sort of racing front end. It is much more stiff and far less bungee than the stock. Feels great compared to the stock soft front end. Don't have any idea what it cost.

Sheep skin seat cushion from Areostitch.com as an a$$ saving measure for long rides. Works great for me...goes on and off in a bungee kinda way. http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/...s-p-16998.html (1892 tapered fits great) $67.00

I get it that you want to keep this bike, especially with the low miles and what sounds like great condition.
Mike

KitNYC · 03-11-2008

What would I do....

First, I like the T3 lineup in general. Much better than the 1050 lineup. The Speed Triple 1050 feels real nice to me, but it has no luggage capability. There's a lot I like about the new Tiger, but it's just too dang tall. I left the demo rides last April on my favorite bike of the day: the Trident I rode there on. That being said, I think the Sprint RS is much more what I want at this point. I like the 120-horse version of the 955i better than the 885, & I like 'em both better than the 1050. (I've only put about a mile on a first-gen 955, & that was a Sprint RS with a Daytona shifter.)

So, I don't think a new bike is necessarily better.

What would I do with a '95 Sprint?

First thing would be stainless brake lines. Pretty much the first thing I do with any bike that doesn't have 'em already, & just about the best bang for the buck.

After that, or maybe at the same time, would be Tokico (or Alcon) 6-pots.

Suspension would be next. I think the '95 Sprint has the 3-way adjustable rear? Call Traxxion Dynamics in Georgia & see about having it rebuilt. Otherwise, you could get a Hagon.

You could re-spring the forks & change the oil, which would help, but you might be happier with Daytona/Speed Triple/Sprint Sport forks. (You'll probably want to change the oil in those as well.)

Good luck, whatever you do.

Cheers,
-Kit

menelfloss · 03-11-2008

Kit,
The stainless brake lines, are they braided? Do you put them on for better performance or simply for safety (less likley to go bad)?

Mike

KitNYC · 03-12-2008

Hey Mike,

The stainless lines are braided stainless steel over Teflon. They don't degrade like rubber, and they also offer massively better performance. If you buy them by length from somewhere like Pegasus Auto Racing instead of getting a kit, they are easily the best bang for the buck in performance upgrades.

Cheers,
-Kit

menelfloss · 03-12-2008

Would you need a special crimping tool in order to crimp the ends onto the connection lugs, (nipples, connectors, sticky outie thingy's)?
Mike

KitNYC · 03-12-2008

Pegasus sells lines with banjo fittings on one end & threaded connectors on the other. You buy a line, a threaded banjo fitting for the other end of the line, & possibly some crush washers & banjo bolts.

As an example, you might want to convert a Kawazuki GTX-800 from the factory setup with one line from the MC to the right caliper & another over the tire to the left caliper to a racer-style 2-line setup. For that, you would get a 2-line banjo bolt & 3 crush washers for the MC, a 27" 3AN/straight banjo line for the right caliper, a 31" 3AN/straight banjo line for the left caliper, 1 straight banjo 3AN 10mm hose end, 1 bent banjo 3AN 10mm hose end, 1 single banjo bolt for the left caliper & 2 crush washers per caliper.

Hope that makes sense....
-Kit

sailfish · 03-12-2008

I've messed with the bike very little but here's my list of mods. Many of them were recommended on this forum. I'll rate them subjectively 1 to 5, performance/value, i.e. 4/5.

Hayabusa front calipers. The bike STOPS. I've locked the front avoiding a critter. Very worth it. $80. 5/5

Sigma BC800 cyclometer. It's a bicycle computer that you calibrate to the front wheel circumference. The speed is accurate, unlike the Triumph clock. It has the usual functions, my favorite is that it retains top speed so you can be stupid and concentrate on the road, not the speedometer. Good to 300kph. $30. 5/5

Whistler Cruisader Radar Detector. It's stealthy, you can hide it in a faired bike easily. Haven't had it long enough to tell how good it is. I got it on ebay, uninstalled, box open. The alarm is visual. $120. 3/4

Extended screen from Jack Lilley. It's ok but it moves the buffeting from my shoulders to around my ears. A Canadian bug created a stain on it. $90. 3/4

Throttlemeister. Excellent quality. Does what it's supposed to very well. Expensive. $120. 5/3

Race Tech springs/Gold valve emulators. Race Tech recommends springs that are too stiff IMHO. I bought the recommended .95 kg/mm, that's 60% stiffer than stock! The front end didn't move on most surfaces. Unimpressed with the emulators, just as much could probably be accomplished by playing with oil viscosity. That stuff is off of my bike. $300. 3/2

Sprint Sport adjustable fork. Triumph should have put this on ALL of the T300 bikes. Adjustable for preload, compression and rebound. The springs are acutally softer than the non-adjustable forks. damping control seems to make up for that. I am really enjoying playing with the clickers. Kit spotted this for me as a mis-labeled item on ebay. I owe him a couple of pints for that. Ironically, the fork with aluminum yokes was cheaper than the Race Tech springs/valves. $180. 5+/5+

45 tooth rear sprocket (previously a 43). Standing stop acceleration is much improved. No more clutch slipping when fully loaded. Top speed seems to be the same. The fuel economy dropped modestly. $45? 5/5

Larger main jets. Better power after half throttle. Much improved performance at higher RPM. $15. 5/5

Buell turn signals. Cheap, available, they look better than the originals on the bike. I only wish that the lenses were not smoked. $20? 4/5

TripleSteve · 03-12-2008

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the feedback! I think there are some great ideas in there - I will keep you posted when these occur - the weather is getting better and I will begin soon - If anyone else cares to chime in about their experiences and upgrades of note, I would find that helpful. I am sure the front forks can be greatly improved - I am wondering if having the back suspension re-built provides a similar bang-for-the-buck?

Steve

KitNYC · 03-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailfish

<...>
Buell turn signals. Cheap, available, the look better than the originals on the bike. I only wish that they were not smoked. $20? 4/5

IIRC, Harley sells the lenses in both smoked & non-smoked. I believe they run about $3 a pop. You'll need a halfway decent parts guy, though, as I don't have a part number for you.

Cheers,
-Kit