03 Speed Triple: Opinions

[Mini4x]

Been shopping for bikes and Triumph never crossed my radar, but I stopped at a local dealer and the 06 speed trip really looks like something I want.  BUT Mr Wallet says NO FRIGGIN WAY.

SO

I find a 03 Speed Trip..  that is OK wallet wise.

good / bad / ugly?

Of course it's GREEN! (I like it)

Other short list bikes..
Z1000
Buell X1
SV1000 (non-S)
or..??

Lookign for naked fun liter class.

Last bike was a bandit 1200s, if it was a non-S I might still ahve it.

[2DFlyer]

Been shopping for bikes and Triumph never crossed my radar, but I stopped at a local dealer and the 06 speed trip really looks like something I want.  BUT Mr Wallet says NO FRIGGIN WAY.

SO

I find a 03 Speed Trip..  that is OK wallet wise.

good / bad / ugly?

Of course it's GREEN! (I like it)

Other short list bikes..
Z1000
Buell X1
SV1000 (non-S)
or..??

Lookign for naked fun liter class.

Last bike was a bandit 1200s, if it was a non-S I might still ahve it.

I have a Triumph triple in my future also.  Best bang for the buck IMO is the ZRX1100/1200.  You can't have much more fun for so little money.  Course if you're liking the Z1000, Rex may not be your speed.  919 is on my short list also as a fun liter bike.

[bizarro]

I've had a lot of bikes over my relatively brief riding career and I have to say that the the Speed Triple (mine was an '04) is hands down the best street bike I've owned. Now, keep in mind I said street bike. The 954RR I had was the best pure sporting-street bike I've ever owned, but my Speed Triple could do most of what the 954 could do but I was grinning like a maniac while doing it on the Trip. It's a thoroughly antisocial machine and will inspire you to do things you wouldn't on a Honda or any other bike (*cough* MrRC45 won't ride in the rain poser wanker* cough*). The motor is sublime and the only thing you'll want to keep on top of is bleeding the breaks. In fact, the only upgrage you could possibly need on an S3 is a brake upgrade and there are master cyclinder and rotor kits available. I say go for it.  

[miles]

I'd have to agree with Mr Multiple Personality- my '04 Speed Trip (roulette green, of course) is the most fun bike I have ever had, and I have owned heaps of bikes over the last couple of decades.

[Mini4x]

My current ride is a Bandit 1200s.

Little more sport-touring than I'd like, looking for something more of a city commuter, more nimble, liter class, more of a back roads burner than a slab scorcher like the bandit was.  I have nothing bad to say about the bandit really, just looking for something different than it has to offer.

My local Triumph dealer will sell me a brand new '06 for about $9000 otd.  (the 1050, mmm, 131hp now..) almost too good to pass up.  My wallet will hate it though..

[2DFlyer]

My current ride is a Bandit 1200s.

Little more sport-touring than I'd like, looking for something more of a city commuter, more nimble, liter class, more of a back roads burner than a slab scorcher like the bandit was.  I have nothing bad to say about the bandit really, just looking for something different than it has to offer.

My local Triumph dealer will sell me a brand new '06 for about $9000 otd.  (the 1050, mmm, 131hp now..) almost too good to pass up.  My wallet will hate it though..

Your wallet will forgive you (unless you're taking milk from the baby's bottle).

[HotSkeete]

I'd have to agree with Mr Multiple Personality- my '04 Speed Trip (roulette green, of course)

The Black ones are the fastest ...    

[miles]

The Black ones are the fastest ...    

I have yet to see test results that validate this claim...  in the meantime, I have to believe that the fastest of all are the pink ones (nuclear red, or whatever the official name was).




miles

[Mini4x]

I have yet to see test results that validate this claim...  in the meantime, I have to believe that the fastest of all are the pink ones (nuclear red, or whatever the official name was).




miles

Mostly because all your buddies are too busy laughing at you, so that give you time to get the jump on them!

[maddjack]

Been shopping for bikes and Triumph never crossed my radar, but I stopped at a local dealer and the 06 speed trip really looks like something I want.  BUT Mr Wallet says NO FRIGGIN WAY.

SO

I find a 03 Speed Trip..  that is OK wallet wise.

good / bad / ugly?

Of course it's GREEN! (I like it)

Other short list bikes..
Z1000
Buell X1
SV1000 (non-S)
or..??

Lookign for naked fun liter class.

Last bike was a bandit 1200s, if it was a non-S I might still ahve it.

My 03 Speed triple is a wonderful machine,has done about 24k now ,no worries,good all around machine with ergos that aren't a torture rack.It also is easy to fit luggage to and isn't a half bad sprt tourer although the Marquis de sade seat is the pits unless you after market or sheepskin it.

[miles]

I don't mind the seat on mine at all.  I'm comfortable enough on it to do 1000 mile days.

On another note, on your right hand rear view- is that this little guy's cousin?

[bizarro]

I never had trouble with the seat up to about 400 miles. At the time my back was still really screwed up so I think sciatica may have had something to do my discomfort on bigger mileage days.

[maddjack]

I never had trouble with the seat up to about 400 miles. At the time my back was still really screwed up so I think sciatica may have had something to do my discomfort on bigger mileage days.

I agree witht you and the above to 400 miles but after that it pains me,or did till I sheep skinned it now good for much longer days(hey my A$$ is getting old,literally). And Miles yeah seems we have cousins aboard.

[Mini4x]

I'm about 99% sold on one..

Found two I like a 2003 and a 2006..

I really like the newer one better, looks wise.. black it just looks BAD ASS..

The 2003 is better wallet-wise..

Any huge reasons to get the newer one, other then about 25hp..?

USD forks, are they really better?
The highmout exhaust does it for me, really why have a single sided swingarm than hide the wheel behind the muffler?

[miles]

I think the horsepower differential is a lot less than that.  Bike magazine's dyno tested samples only showed about 11 hp gain on the new engine vs the old.  I'm sure that newer smog restrictions have something to do with it, but it'd take a reprogram and aftermarket pipes to uncork it.

I agree on the high-mount pipes, though.  It's silly to have to remove the exhaust to pull the back wheel on a single-sided swingarm bike, but the factory high-moount is readliy available.



miles

[Mini4x]

Oh yeah..  HP...

I though I read the '03 was under 100.. but it's more like 120.

2003: 0.6349 HP/kg

2006: 0.6878 HP/kg

Like you'd notice that on the street.

[bizarro]

If you're not worried about pillion accomodations at all I'd go for the new one if you can afford it. Don't get me wrong, my '04 was a hoot, but if you can get the new model why wouldn't you?   Besides, the aftermarket has finally woken up to Triumph and there are some amazing cool exhausts available for the 1050.

[Mini4x]

If you're not worried about pillion accomodations at all I'd go for the new one if you can afford it. Don't get me wrong, my '04 was a hoot, but if you can get the new model why wouldn't you?   Besides, the aftermarket has finally woken up to Triumph and there are some amazing cool exhausts available for the 1050.

The only thing I really liked for the '03 was the Wolfe undertail ($1499).. and then thats almost a wash price-wise between the two bikes.. and with the 06 the stock pipes are up high and just will need some slip-ons.. ;-)

[nchristie]

I replaced my 96 Speed Triple with an 04 - love it.  A lot.  Comfortable enough for the street, fun on track days (yes, it's heavy - and at 220#, so am I).  I did buy the TuneBoy to dial it in - maybe would not do that again, but would instead just do a regular Power-Commander or equivalent.  Have a Jardine High-Mount exhaust - I deleted the passenger pegs, and I don't think I own the passenger seat.  The front brake line & replacement master cylinder (from South Bay Triumph?  Jask Lilly?  I forget) was a significant improvement - sponginess is no longer anyplace in the brakes. Sargeant seat is good.  Dyno's at 112 HP with good torque (I forget the #); more than fast enough (according to the Wisconsin State Police, Illinois Highway Patrol, and Virginia State Police).

Personally, I like the looks of the last generation more than the 1050 generation - a personal thing, agreed.

Just buy it.

Neil

[2DFlyer]

I'm with Mini4x here.  Ever since hearing the Chain Reaction exhaust audio clip (daily, several times a day  )
http://www.chainreactionmoto.com/ I'm thinking I can overlook the contortionist pillion accommodations and front end I'll learn to tolerate to get this suhweet runnin' playmate in the stable.  The motor is the easy part, how does the rest of the bike stand up?
Lights:  good at night or daytime runner only
Comfort: 30 or 300 mile seat
Fuel economy:???
Etc

[bizarro]

Can't speak for models beyond '04 but.....

Lights: good enough, especially on brights (ran those most of the time)

Seat: good for me for around 400 miles

Fuel: well, that all depends on how much fun you're having and what you're definition of fun is. Heavy on the throttle? Out on the road I seem to recall getting 120 to 130 to a tank. In town and having fun? Maybe 95 miles to a thank. It's a bit thirsty, but you won't care.

As I said before, riding my Speed Triple was simply, and hands down, the most fun I've ever had on two wheels (with the possible exception of riding around the outside of jackasses on R1s on my VFR400). It's the best street bike I've ever owned.