Triumphrat

dtp · 02-16-2009, 12:45 AM

Hi all... new here. I've been looking to upgrade my ride (currently have a Shadow VLX 600) and have been strongly considering the America. I like the bars and seat of the America, but I also like the blacked-out engine of the Speedmaster. But, since I plan to do a lot of 2-up riding, the America would definately be a better fit for me.

But then the salesman presented an intriguing offer... he said he'd be willing to swap the bars/risers and seat from an America and put them on a Speedmaster. Has anyone done this? Any pics available if you have? Any thoughts on why it might not work? They seem to be the exact same bike except for some bolt-on differences.

Also looking for reasons why I should get the Triumph over... oh, say the new VStar 950 or the VStar 1300.

Thanks a ton.

Speedy Dave · 02-16-2009, 12:59 AM

Can't really answer your question but I just traded my VLX last weekend for a new Speedmaster. I went in to look at the America because I thought I would like the bars better since they were closer to the Shadows. Once I sat on the Speedmaster though, I couldn't go back to the America and we did the deal. Great choice, only been able to get about 150 miles on it so far but it is a great bike and I get more comfortable on it every time I ride.

I also shopped the comparable japanese bikes but to me the Triumph was exactly what I wanted and I like that not everyone else has one. Been getting loads of complements all week at work.

Good luck with your choice, you can't go wrong with either bike.

bikingboit · 02-16-2009, 02:20 AM

Thats the best of both worlds, all the Speedmaster/America stuff is interchangeable, there basically the same bike, by taking the offer you will also get dual front brakes, tach and get the setup you want.
Ride the other bikes you mentioned, then buy the Triumph.

mag10 · 02-16-2009, 09:47 AM

do it, it sounds like a good deal.

I originally got my speedmaster with the america seating but kept the drag bars (personal preferrence)

270* · 02-16-2009, 10:01 AM

I have the America solo seat on my Speedie (pillion seat and pegs long gone) and the lad I swapped with now has the Speedie Gunfighter seat on his America.

The swap suggested by your dealer is a common one.

Only you can answer your last question: what are you looking for in a bike? What kind of riding do you do? Will you be riding in the mountains or sticking mainly to straight roads? Never having ridden one, and never having taken a pillion on my Speedie, I would imagine that the 1300VStar would be a better bet if, as you say, you'll be doing a lot of 2-up riding. Not that the Speedie/America is a bad choice but the bigger engine (in the V) is going to make it slightly easier/more comfortable.

Test ride them all then come back and tell us what colour Speedie you've bought!!!

DaemonWulf · 02-16-2009, 08:50 PM

I dig the spoke wheels on the America, but the Speedmaster has me spoiled. After riding with drag bars for the past 3 years or so, I cant give up that sense of control over the bike.. i sat on an America and felt disconnected, like the front end was a mile away (this coming from a guy whose first bike was a Virago he put dirt bike handlebars on). Also keep in mind the extra front brake is a big deal... just remember its there cuz shes grabby in the last 1/2 inch of travel (Ive got the scar to prove it). All in all, Im a big fan of the Speedy's sprotier style, but those two differences are the big ones, other than that its cosmetics.

HumpedZebra · 02-17-2009, 03:40 AM

When the 1300 was announced a couple of years ago, I pined for it and I waited for it. I went to the dealer looking for info and while there noticed the Triumph corner. I was hooked pretty quick and bought the Speedy. Like you I found this site and did my homework.

I did get the America seats but am considering an upgrade for the pillion. Either seat works fine for me but the pillion needs a little work, especially that gunfighter.

I have ridden with the Star club and I gotta tell you, those bikes have no soul. I've never looked back.

UJMrider · 02-17-2009, 12:52 PM

There is/was a guy in our local RAT who had a Speedmaster/America hybrid. IIRC he had an America and he swapped out a Speedmaster front end so he got the drag bars and the extra front disc brake. He also swapped the rear wheel because he wanted cast rather than spoke wheels. I can't remember if he swapped the seat or not. In any case, it's certainly possible to do the Speedmaster/America swap and changing handlebars is probably about the simplest modification an owner can make. I swapped handlebars on my last two bikes (Triumph T-bird and a Kawasaki Spectre) and both times the change made a world of difference.

(One of the nice things about my Scrambler is that the bars are just about perfect "as is" so I won't be swapping them out any time soon.)

me1.0 · 02-17-2009, 03:24 PM

Not 100% sure about this, but I have heard that some have run into the problem of the cables not being long enough swapping the America bar on the Speedy.
I have been looking at getting a speedy and asked this question myself.
The most frequent recommendation was to get the 2 inch risers to replace the stock and this would pull back the bars for a bit more comfort without running into any cable problems.

I would love to hear from others about this because I plan to get my bike in the next few weeks.

dtp · 02-17-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me1.0

Not 100% sure about this, but I have heard that some have run into the problem of the cables not being long enough swapping the America bar on the Speedy.

That's my biggest concern... that the dealer would agree to doing this and then find out things didn't go quite as easily as they thought they would and then trouble would follow. They've only been a Triumph dealer for about 4 months, so I seriously doubt they have any hands-on experience with this swap. I actually thought about the cable length issue being the thing that might be a deal-breaker.

Maybe risers and an upgraded America seat on the Speedmaster would be the way to go.