X-1 and other T3 Specials

[Sydtrip]

While the story behind the IOM replica X-1 in a recent thread sounds dubious to say the least, it got me thinking if anyone knows of any other dealer-built or otherwise T3 Specials that might have been available in a particular country or area?

Back in 1997 I remember drooling over 5 silver '96 Speed Triples that a Sydney dealer built to repicate his own personal S3 which was reported to be quite hot itself. They were the last of the T3 Speedys and were being sold alongside the T509 for about the same money from memory. Needless to say, I couldn't afford one at the time. Aside from the unique paint and gold decals, I think they had Sebring 3 into 1 exhaust, carbon front guard and hugger, seat cowl and maybe 6 piston brakes. I'll have to see if I can find a photo. I've never seen nor heard of any of these bikes since and wonder where they all went.

[daytona 750]

i think mine could be classed as a special as they only made 300 of the dayton 750, 150 in red and 150 in black
but apart from that, i dont know of any others

[KitNYC]

Oooh, like my special SSSA RS. I heard there were 200 each in black & blue; not sure if that number was stateside or worldwide.

Yeah, that X-1 thing just sounds less & less real. It seems like all the "factory specials" have been parts-bin bikes, with the exception of the anniversary models.

No offense, daytona 750, but your Daytona, my Sprint RS, all the '98 Sprints, all the 750 Speed Triples, and probably some others were built from leftover bits.

I am also curious about dealer-built specials, wonder if we had any in the states?

Cheers,
-Kit

[daytona 750]

nah, mine was one of the first, but they ceased production in late 93 early 94.
not entirely sure why tho

[KitNYC]

D'oh! My bad, I forgot the short-stroke motors were the ones that started it all! Blame it on the fact that we never got 'em on this side of the pond.

I think they mostly stopped making the 750/1000 motors after they stroked 'em to 900/1200, much the way the 955 has given way to the 1050 more recently.

Cheers,
-Kit

[Buckwheat]

Here's some interesting documentation I've recently come across:

http://www.geocities.com/cleanstream...ials/index.htm

Check out the "De MecaTwin X90 a true follow-up for the X75. In the French championships it even made it to a first place in the '96 season".

[sykerocker]

I can think of two specials right off the bat:

First was the 'original' Speed Four, which of course consisted of bolting up a Daytona or Trophy 1200 motor into a Speed Triple. I think the first one was built by Kari Prager out at the BMW/Triumph dealership on the West Coast. It even had 'Speed Four' tailpiece decals identical in type style to the Speed Triple ones. A second version was built later than year ('96) by Bill Miller at Millerbuilt Small Engine in Lynchburg, VA. I think he still has the bike. I remember it because I was trying to get him and Kari hooked up regarding the tailpiece decals.

The other was a "Speed III" (aka "Super Triple") built by Jim Howell at Howell's Harley/Buell/Triumph in New Kingstown, PA. I owned this one for about two years and 12,000 miles. It was a '95 Super III that had gone down, and was rebuilt using Speed Triple instruments and headlight on the Super III fork. Having the Super III engine and a lot less weight, it ran. Ended up trading it back to Howell's just before Jim sold the dealership for a '00 Tiger in blue.