Triumphrat

bigbossmonty · 07-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Hi Lads,
thanks for the input but have not plugged drain yet but the way I have routed it no chance of rubbish getting in reason not plugged was due out on a run.
Took the bike out after doing all the previous suggestion etc
I hit the road for the first time I was amazed at the bikes turn of speed,
suddenly I was at the Ton backed off quickly down to 70 but what most supprised me is when the bike is in top gear at 70 and I need to overtake I did not need to drop a gear, a twist of the throttle and it was up and overtaking instantly.
Bike pulls through its entire range and having the power at hand is great when needed.

Now this all sounds great but broke another indicator (plenty spare)
It seems because I am short arsed

and short legged

and moving slow I drop the bike.

I was trying to move on to a roundabout in an industrial estate I dropped the bike on its other side from previous. I was trying to get my right foot onto the footrest, as its spring loaded my foot lifted it up and what I thought was the rest was the break pedal down I went!

Need to grow longer legs or get lower bike

Cheers
BBM

KitNYC · 07-09-2008, 08:30 PM

Glad to hear she's running well, & sorry to hear about the drop. Do you know about the lowering trick for these bikes? You lose ground clearance, but you can bring it down 3 or 4 cm by running the forks up through the triples & rotating the eccentrics on the rear axle 180*.

Cheers,
-Kit

Roden · 07-09-2008, 10:40 PM

They are a cracking ride BBM! The roll on in top gear is fantastic, mine will happily pull away from 50mph in top and very quickly build speed.
I don't find much need to exceed 7,000rpm, just shift and use the torque. Good fun.

The bugger about this bikes is that they are a bit top heavy and can be difficult to maneuver at slow speed. I'm nearly 6' and I can get my feet on the ground fine but I dumped it once and still sometimes nearly lose it.

As well as the lowering trick that Kit mentioned, you might be able to have your seat modified to take out a bit of height or a Corbin might be a bit lower, a bit dear though.

Congratulations on fixing your problem!

Cheers,

Roden

trypcil · 07-10-2008, 01:44 AM

But Roden they are much better with a 1/2 empty tank!

I've always thought that it was easier to balance on end a broomstick, than a toothpick - though perhaps requiring a little more input to get a Knee down, if you're into that! The 6+ gal tank is the real culprit, @ 6.2lbs(ish) per gal., you can remove 18lbs. or so, from upon the top bit of the bike. It takes me at least a gallon to get to my favorite road, so 5 gals works out real good for the ride! Even still, once under way they are so very much fun, partly because of their lengthy roll on and the forgiving power delivery as you describe - I think low high side factor! I saw, sometime back, some videos of the Speed Triple Challenge (1995) races. Those bikes were fun to see, insane lean angles, the noise

- 15 or so S3's all with race pipes roarting about some Uk track, fantastic! Lots of loose rear ends, out of the corners, almost as if it were a flat track event - (not really). The early S3's had 5 gears, taller fork stanchions and with a custom rear shock might even be gotten taller - why! I don't know.

Whatever it is that makes these bikes so endearing to all,... not just because they're a Triumph, but that there's a something.... a character thing going on, methinks. Tall they are, with a low speed topple factor that can betray 'yer a wanker' side, to the odd rub on a Harley, as you maneuver out the pub parking lot(sort of thing) - ... to a smiling Dick Turpin, riding Black Bess across the Heath (though knowing England, probably with the rain in his face - oooh)! Nonetheless a fine steed - but the real stable of horses comes above 7k, the roll on factor is true of 3 and 4th gear - 113mph, coming out on that 'hump', up Mullholland between the Rockstore and los Virgenes heading south, doing 85+ in 3rd around that potholed left, into that little dip, hit the scoop, throttle set .... 113 ish... and it's gotta be a 40' span, just a little wiggle when you land and then down round the spiral unwinding to a halt at the light, giggle! Not to say that's how everyone should get there rocks-off but do blow out the cobwebs once in a while!

seumas · 07-10-2008, 10:14 PM

BBM, I'm a bit of a short arse too (5'8" on a good hair day and there's not many of them any more) and I'll admit to dropping the beast once or twice before I got used to how top heavy it is. I lowered mine by rotating the axle adjustors but, like Kit said, you definitely lose some ground clearance.
Now that I'm used to it, I actually like the low speed handling on the 900 better than my RS. It has more steering lock and the carbs seem to react to small throttle openings better than the EFI.

Roden · 07-11-2008, 02:14 AM

Trypcil - you try to tell people (non riders) and they just don't understand!

You are on the money my friend, there is that certain something about these bikes. I think it is honest to goodness, snarling internal combustion done with carburettors and without new fangled fancy computers. I am going to explore that 7-9k zone a bit more, I have a few miles under my belt on the old girl, I have confidence in the mill.

After all this talk I just have got to get out on it this weekend....

Go well,

Roden

MotT3 · 07-11-2008, 04:44 AM

I find I'm in the 7K plus zone a lot more with the revised gearing and a five speed box...there is a twisty stretch of road for about 3 miles close to me that I keep the bike in 3rd for & just roll on and off exploring the revs....makes for rapid progress & smooth too without gear changes ;-)

Ozbernie · 07-13-2008, 08:10 AM

Ah yes, they are a wonky, tall , top heavy beast at walking pace, but.................Twist that throttle a bit, hear the carb induced roar and that lovely triple music from some nice mufflers taking a sweeping bend out on a country road at the ton!!!!!
Who gives a bugger if it is a pig at slow speed, these machines make up for all that once out on the open roads.
I wouldnt swap mine for any new fangled bit of kit, oh I forgot that delicious over run........now Im getting all misty

Oh I neally forgot, they also look like a proper motorcycle, not like something NASA are about to send off to mars

MotT3 · 07-13-2008, 05:36 PM

Ahh yes the over run....when I first rode mine it was as much fun shutting the throttle as opening it..

It's also about the knaked with clip ons thing....how many bikes come out the factory like that..??? wether giving it the berries out on the open road or cruising through town it feels mean, purposful, a little bit raw even, it makes me feel good maybe even a bit special. One things for sure it's the way a lot of small things come together to make the Speed Triple what it is, the engine is good full stop as Trophy, Sprint, Trident, Daytona folk know but the Speed Triple makes you work a little more to fullfill it's remit...hence when you get off you are satisfyed, content, thrilled and maybe even a little scared.

Passed a bloke on a Laverda Jota (orange of course ) going in the opposite direction yesterday...he was trying to pigeon hole what the #### I was riding as I approached and I was doing the same...one thing we both knew was the hunched, hugging your bike profile ticked all the right boxes.

Ohh and don't forget 2nd gear...you get to really enjoy the best of the noise without the wind spoiling the good bits.

Bigbossmonty, we all seem to be getting a bit off track here...easily done especially as I've had a couple of Red wines..! Dropping the old bus is almost guaranteed I even have scars from it..it's fallen on me as well !!!! Every time it's been a stupid thing that I have done...offers still there if you need indicators though ;-)

Roden · 07-13-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotT3

Ahh yes the over run....when I first rode mine it was as much fun shutting the throttle as opening it..

It's also about the knaked with clip ons thing....how many bikes come out the factory like that..??? wether giving it the berries out on the open road or cruising through town it feels mean, purposful, a little bit raw even, it makes me feel good maybe even a bit special. One things for sure it's the way a lot of small things come together to make the Speed Triple what it is, the engine is good full stop as Trophy, Sprint, Trident, Daytona folk know but the Speed Triple makes you work a little more to fullfill it's remit...hence when you get off you are satisfyed, content, thrilled and maybe even a little scared.

Passed a bloke on a Laverda Jota (orange of course ) going in the opposite direction yesterday...he was trying to pigeon hole what the #### I was riding as I approached and I was doing the same...one thing we both knew was the hunched, hugging your bike profile ticked all the right boxes.

Ohh and don't forget 2nd gear...you get to really enjoy the best of the noise without the wind spoiling the good bits.

Bigbossmonty, we all seem to be getting a bit off track here...easily done especially as I've had a couple of Red wines..! Dropping the old bus is almost guaranteed I even have scars from it..it's fallen on me as well !!!! Every time it's been a stupid thing that I have done...offers still there if you need indicators though ;-)

Well Mot, at least when your bike fell you managed to get underneath it to minimise the damage...well done!

Cheers,

Roden