Triumphrat

marksg · 10-04-2009, 12:49 PM

Hi all - I'm Gary from Cardiff in the UK, and I've just entered Triumph ownership by buying a crash damaged TT600 (yr 2000 black and yellow) as a winter project (£600). I haven't undertaken a project like this before, so will be learning as I go. The bike was front-end damaged - bent forks, dinged front wheel, smashed fairings and ignition, but otherwise was OK. Pre-accident condition wasn't that great, so I've decided on a full strip down and rebuild. Will be doing most of the work myself, including the respray to roulette green, and plan to convert it to a Speedfour style. Frame etc is straight, no damage.

Seems like the biggest challenge will be finding the headlight and instrument bracket, and lights - any ideas for sourcing these? I will be getting some help from a local garage (e.g. replacing exhaust studs) The rear silencer is usable, but I would like to source polished downpipes/collectors - again, any ideas where I might be able to source - is the speed four exhaust downpipes equivalent to any other make/model or are there any after market options (haven't found any on the net yet)?

Finally, before the strip down, I couldn't get the bike to start - I fitted a new ignition barrel and battery, the fuel pump primes and the instrument lights up, but the starter motor does not turn over. Lights, indicators horn etc all work Bike is out of gear, in neutral/side stand switch removed. The bike has a datatag veto evo alarm which seems to disarm OK, but I'm thinking either a problem with the immobiliser circuit, starter relay, or start motor - any advice?

Will post some pictures on progress - based on my initial calculations I think it will be slightly cheaper to have bought a used speed four (!), but I wanted to develop a proper connection with a bike and gain some mechanical knowledge rather than just splash some cash on one.

Wish me luck!

Regards, Gary

Catenaccio · 10-04-2009, 01:35 PM

A wonderful bike with which to begin! Post pics of your bike and its progress when you get a chance! Good luck!

BombFactory · 10-04-2009, 02:16 PM

Do you hear a click when trying to start the engine, or is there just nothing? The kickstand switch needs to be connected to start. There is also a 90 degree tip-over switch under the gas tank that might no have reset. You might also make sure the clutch lever position switch plunger is popping out when the clutch lever is pulled in, and that the wiring to that switch is properly connected. Depending on if the bike sat out in the weather, there could be water in some of the control connectors causing issues. Blowing them out with air fixes that.

I'm not sure what you mean by the exhaust "downpipes". Are you referring to the header--four pipes coming out of the head into a collector and back to the muffler flange? If so, there are no mass produced aftermarket headers for our Triumphs. The TT600's came with bare stainless and the S4's came with polished. You could always have someone build a header, but it would be expensive.

Yes, one of the hardest parts to find used is the cockpit subframe (instrument/headlight bracket). They are very easy to bend and expensive to buy new, so most used ones will be bent. You could bend one around to work, but it is a pain getting the headlight fairing gap and mirrors mounts lined up correctly. The best place to find used parts is eBay, online classifieds, or buy new through Bikebandit.com (TRat.net members get a 10% discount when using the code found in our site sponsor's page).

It sounds like the bike took a pretty good beating to the front, especially if things were pushed back far enough to break the header studs. Once you get things torn down, I recommend having a profession motorcycle shop examine and measure the chassis to insure it is not damaged. Although aluminum does a good job of springing back under moderate impact, with a heavy impact the headstock could be bent or the chassis could be diamond. It would be a shame and dangerous to rebuild the bike just to find that the chassis is bent upon riding it.

marksg · 10-04-2009, 03:08 PM

Thanks for the info bombfactory. I hear a single click each time the starter button is pressed (i.e. not multiple clicks as if the starter motor is trying to start the bike, but there isn't sufficient energy in the battery). Also tried bump starting it, but no evidence of life. The previous owner unbolted the side stand switch so it effectively thinks the stand is always up - I will be putting it back to standard, but it is wired up so shouldn't stop the bike from starting. I didn't know about the tip over switch, and didn't notice it as I've been stripping down the bike - I will search it out - if it hasn't reset, is there a process to reset, or does it need replacing (may be the problem given the bike has been dropped.

I am suspicious of the datatag alarm/immobiliser, but other than no speaker output, everything seems to be activating/deactivation as it should - plus the fuel pump is priming which I would expect to be on an immobiliser circuit.

Regards, Gary

marksg · 10-04-2009, 03:49 PM

Here's the bike shortly after delivery:

GNTurbo6 · 10-04-2009, 05:49 PM

Street fighter it. Fairings are way too expensive. Or go race bike.

Will · 10-05-2009, 05:55 PM

Sharkskinz fairings are cheaper than OEM and you can get them with a headlight cutout. Or you can graft on another headlight of some kind if you want.

I doubt Sharkskinz stocks TT600 fairings, but once they have the molds, it's just a matter of laying up the fiberglass.

BombFactory · 10-06-2009, 01:01 AM

Marksg, the switch should reset once upright, but it may take rapping on it a little. As for the Sharkskinz, the last set I bought, which was about two years ago, took three weeks to get; they did have to make them upon the order, so it took longer.

the bike took a pretty good hit, so I would definitely be looking into the condition of the chassis. I'm glad I wasn't along for that ride, and I hope whoever was made it out okay.

tt600nut · 02-05-2010, 12:17 PM

Hey, if you're in Cardiff then the guys are superbikebodywork.co.uk are pretty close to you, they're just the other side of swansea and can do you the bodywork you need for about £200 with the headlight cut out. Its not a perfect stock replacement, its fibreglass but the quality is really good (no need to worry about flimsy tabs breaking) I bought a coloured 3 piece bodywork from them and it really looks the dogs you-know-whats. Have a think...

Raynewb · 02-05-2010, 02:50 PM

A good Triumph breaker local to you is Sandy at Triumphant motorcycles in Merthyr. fantastic range of triumph parts.
Or of course you could try ebay.
http://www.triumph-ant.co.uk/