Triumphrat

bruzzo · 10-18-2009, 01:13 AM

Hi guys, I just saw an ad on a local buysell website about this 2001 triumph S4 which is weird cause I thought the earliest S4 is 2002?

I'm not an expert on motorcycles so want you guys to help identify which year is this S4:

http://www.buysell.com/root/detail/BC/Motorcycles_500_1000cc/4815/721707/2001_TRIUMPH_SPEED_FOUR_CALL_FOR.aspx

Thanks

BombFactory · 10-18-2009, 02:30 AM

You are correct that the Speed Four was introduced in 2002, so it cannot be a 2001. The VIN may be a late 2001 production which is technically an early 2002 model year, so the seller may be mistaken. S4s came in black all the years, so it is hard to tell any difference there. The decals changed, but that isn't to say the fairings on it are original. The best advice I can give is to ask the seller for the VIN and also for the date on the title.

AcB46 · 10-18-2009, 05:06 AM

mine is a 51 plate so its 2001-2002

BombFactory · 10-18-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcB46

mine is a 51 plate so its 2001-2002

Again, there is no such thing as a 2001 model year Speed Four. The model year production begins midway through the previous model year. A TT600 with a manufacturing date VIN of October 1999 is not a 1999-2000 TT600; it is a 2000 TT600.

I had to go through a horrible mess when the shop I bought my wrecked CE Daytona 955i from followed the date on the VIN and had the lean sale paperwork filed as it being a 2001. I had to have three different agencies verify that it was a 2002 model year before DMV would believe me.

spank86 · 10-21-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombFactory

Again, there is no such thing as a 2001 model year Speed Four. The model year production begins midway through the previous model year. A TT600 with a manufacturing date VIN of October 1999 is not a 1999-2000 TT600; it is a 2000 TT600.

I had to go through a horrible mess when the shop I bought my wrecked CE Daytona 955i from followed the date on the VIN and had the lean sale paperwork filed as it being a 2001. I had to have three different agencies verify that it was a 2002 model year before DMV would believe me.

Model year is primarily an American preoccupation.

I'm guessing by the reg quoted the fellow you're talking to is British. We would almost always refer to vehicles with a dual year (which yes would be your 2002 model year).

So the bike ought to be a 2002 model purchased in 2001 (request the 10th digit of the VIN). There is of course the possibility that the bike started out life as a tt600.

BombFactory · 10-21-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spank86

Model year is primarily an American preoccupation.

I'm guessing by the reg quoted the fellow you're talking to is British. We would almost always refer to vehicles with a dual year (which yes would be your 2002 model year).

So the bike ought to be a 2002 model purchased in 2001 (request the 10th digit of the VIN). There is of course the possibility that the bike started out life as a tt600.

Trying not to be too pedantic, bruzzo is referring to an S4 in Canada and not Great Britain. In answering bruzzo's question of if the bike he is looking at in Canada could be a 2001, and as I stated before, my point is that Triumph does not designate any Speed Fours to the 2001 model year (at least not in the Americas), plain and simple. We can argue about semantics, but that fact stands. I'm not sure how else you would have me put it, as I certainly cannot speak for every country in the world regarding when the S4 was released, but I can answer the specific question at hand which pertains to an S4 in Canada. I agree that the VIN needs to be researched to see when the bike was first sold.

spank86 · 10-22-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombFactory

Trying not to be too pedantic, bruzzo is referring to an S4 in Canada and not Great Britain. In answering bruzzo's question of if the bike he is looking at in Canada could be a 2001, and as I stated before, my point is that Triumph does not designate any Speed Fours to the 2001 model year (at least not in the Americas), plain and simple. We can argue about semantics, but that fact stands. I'm not sure how else you would have me put it, as I certainly cannot speak for every country in the world regarding when the S4 was released, but I can answer the specific question at hand which pertains to an S4 in Canada. I agree that the VIN needs to be researched to see when the bike was first sold.

I wasn't trying to argue, semantics or otherwise and I apologise if it came across that way.
I was just attempting to add some more useful information, both for the OP and others. And you're completely right the S4 WAS released for the 2002 model year no argument there.

Even more so than you I cannot attest to Canada's use of model years or general terminology however it wouldn't be unusual to see a so called 2001 speed four on a Brit website which would be the beginning of your 2002 model year (as designated officially by triumph) I have no idea if canada generally follows The US or us on that one, they tend to mix and match just to be confusing.

BombFactory · 10-22-2009, 03:22 PM

"Argue" was too strong a word to use referring to semantics; debating is what I was getting at, which makes the world go 'round. Multiple opinions lead to a clearer understanding, so no complaint here.