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I've been tangoed, Tangerine dream, the great Satsuma etc...

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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 19:30 - 28 Jun 2008    Post subject: I've been tangoed, Tangerine dream, the great Satsuma etc... Reply with quote

I did something perhaps a bit rash today. Being so frustrated that David Silver spares is taking ages with my tail unit, I decided to buy a new bike before selling the old one.

As many of you know I decided that the Fireblade is not for me. Its too much, too twitchy, too hard and too extreme for me. Its undoubtedly a nice bike, and undoubtedly its exciting to ride, but it dawned on me that I wasn't having fun on it. I found myself looking for excuses not to ride it rather than excuses to go out and ride.

I never felt comfortable cornering on it, and I always felt like the bike could easily spit me off. I didn't want to give it the 101% commitment it needed to go well.

I ummed and ahhed about what bike to get, and for a long time I wanted an SV. Especially as they are cheap. I also thought of a Cagiva Raptor but they are very rare and I couldn't find a good one.

Someone in this thread: Here suggested an alternative to me. This got me scouring ebay and autotrader for bikes.

Well, for the paltry sum of £2100, I ended up with this:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=58791

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=58792

Its done 8000 miles, has some sevice history and is incredibly clean. It has a single seat unit and brand new Pirelli Diablo tyres.

And I'm very pleased. From the moment I got on it I knew that I would have more confidence in this bike than the blade. I found myself leaning the bike over! I found myself opening the throttle hard! I found myself looking very orange! Some of the confidence could be down to the tyres. I loved the Diablos on my Buell. It would be nice for me to try out a set of Diablos on the fireblade, but alas its not financially possible.

The Speed Four is a bit buzzy, and the wind protection is not ideal for motorways, but it makes me grin again. It has really brought back the joy of biking to me, which to be honest I'd lost a bit. And it didn't cost a lot either!

The only thing I might change on it is probably the clip on handlebars. Jack lilley do a kit to convert the bike to superbike bars like a Speed Triple, and that is definately on my list. The clip ons aren't all that wrist heavy, and they are pretty comfy but I like the commanding presence that bars give.

Although I have to say that a narrow unfaired bike with clip ons is about the best choice for filtering that I've ever used!

I like this bike because it is fun. I like it because it is orange. I like it because its cheap. I also like it because its a Triumph, and my custom title means something again!

Tally ho, stiff upper lip Best of British! Very Happy
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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ms51ves3
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Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 19:51 - 28 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks brilliant and I love the colour.
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neatbik
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 20:38 - 28 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome choice mate! (but then i would say that Laughing ) Thumbs Up
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Devans
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 14 May 2008
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PostPosted: 21:31 - 28 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fucking well sexy. Karma
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garth
World Chat Champion



Joined: 15 Dec 2004
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PostPosted: 06:38 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wahey, welcome to the orange club! Thumbs Up

Taking this one on the track?
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craigs23
Mr Muscle



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: 07:50 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kinda like that. Wish I'd bought one over a Hornet now. Thumbs Up
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neatbik
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 08:09 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive been told that fitting a laminar lip https://www.laminarlip.com/speedfour.php can reduce the wind blast quite a lot.
I keep meaning to get one for mine, it can get tiring on long motorway stretches, but then its well worth it on the twisties Thumbs Up
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Reppyboyo
Nearly there...



Joined: 15 Sep 2006
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PostPosted: 09:12 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent choice matey!

I had the LSL conversion kit (the same one is on Jack Lilley) and Renthal Streetfighter bars on my old Speed Four (still for sale Here btw).
Was probably the best mod I made to the bike.
Personally I took off the flyscreen and put a cover on the back of the clocks. Felt more comfortable to me, directed air at your chest.
Helps that I have mutant neck muscles though. Laughing
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 09:32 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Reppyboyo wrote:
Excellent choice matey!

I had the LSL conversion kit (the same one is on Jack Lilley) and Renthal Streetfighter bars on my old Speed Four...


Hi Reppyboyo. Can you tell me about the LSL kit. Does it require modification to the yokes? On the jack lilley website it shows the kit, but it looks like it just replaces the clip-ons.

I've also found that with the clip ons the bike is impossible to use at full lock as my arms touch the tank way before I get there.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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Reppyboyo
Nearly there...



Joined: 15 Sep 2006
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PostPosted: 11:22 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

No modification at all.
It clamps onto the fork tubes, basically replacing the clip ons.

Simple to fit but you will have to re-route your clutch & throttle cables slightly to get full lock to lock without them pulling.
Also, you will get a new front brake line included with the kit (it least I did) which you will need if you put higher bars on there.
Its a bit excessivly long as you see in the pics, I zip tied it to my fork tube after thie pic below.

Some pics might help:

https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/1538/dsc003171024x768xj0.th.jpg
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/2505/dsc003161024x768pk2.th.jpg
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4604/dsc003151024x768wx3.th.jpg
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/5651/dsc003141024x768mz2.th.jpg
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4285/dsc003131024x768ff9.th.jpg
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Gazdaman
I did a trackday!!!



Joined: 12 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 13:04 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice one! Very 'you' if I may be so bold.

Expect to see you at Cadwell soon!

Gaz
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TomR6
World Chat Champion



Joined: 25 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: 16:57 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool, Dale Winton bike Laughing

It does look good, quite a lot of bike for your money aswell!
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funmonkee
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Joined: 27 May 2004
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PostPosted: 17:07 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thumbs Up great you enjoy riding again. there's no point to a bike you don't enjoy. I have a similar problem, but maybe the reverse. I hate the handling in the wet of the vmax. I hate its weight. and I want to sell it. But everytime I see it I want to ride it and when I do ride it I know I can't sell it. Its not particularly fast (I have a busa for that Thumbs Up ). its doesn't handle like my (sold) gsxr750 streetfighter. But it just feels like my bike and its fun and sexy to me Karma
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quacker_boy
Cuddle Bitch



Joined: 06 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 18:34 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can see the courtroom now. The defendant takes to the stand and states "I never saw him coming".

Laughing
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Ghost
Could Be A Chat Bot



Joined: 28 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 19:41 - 29 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lovely looking bike, you're certainly gonna stand out on that! Be a bugger trying to find matching kit though :p
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Stav
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Mar 2007
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PostPosted: 09:44 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great choice! I love my TT600 and the S4 is mean't to have a fair bit more torque mid-range...... for the money, you can't go wrong with that! Thumbs Up

As for breaking it in, why not come up to Cassington Bike Night tonight (your're in Newbury right?) details in the calendar section. Weather is good so it'll be absolutely rammed! If you do come, keep you eyes peeled for an all silver TT600 (there won't be many, if any, as nobody else round here seems to like them Rolling Eyes ) and say hello!

Cheers

Stav
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Cage> 03 Audi TT
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 10:16 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stav wrote:
Great choice! I love my TT600 and the S4 is mean't to have a fair bit more torque mid-range...... for the money, you can't go wrong with that! Thumbs Up

As for breaking it in, why not come up to Cassington Bike Night tonight (your're in Newbury right?) details in the calendar section. Weather is good so it'll be absolutely rammed! If you do come, keep you eyes peeled for an all silver TT600 (there won't be many, if any, as nobody else round here seems to like them Rolling Eyes ) and say hello!

Cheers

Stav


I'm in Reading, but alas I can't go. I've got Kung Fu this evening.

I've had two TT600's before, and I think this is a better bike. Not necessarily because of the midrange, but more because the fairing is large and fat, and isn't necessary. This bike is by far more exciting because you don't have to ride it as fast to feel like you're doing something. The TT600 didn't feel quick until you were doing about 100, whereas the Speed four feels fast at about 80-90 a bit like my Buell did.

The main downside I can see after a couple of days of ownership is the vibrations. They are high frequency and leave me with numb feet after lots of motorway miles. I'm wondering if a service with a throttle body balance might help this.

Its ugly, its Orange, and its a great bike!
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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Stav
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Mar 2007
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PostPosted: 13:07 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

You should have a look on triumphrat.net (mainly full of americans, but now and again they have the odd new idea!) I'm sure I've seen something in the supersports section about vibrations, HTH Thumbs Up
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Cage> 03 Audi TT
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AJI
World Chat Champion



Joined: 07 Aug 2007
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PostPosted: 17:58 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

beatnck2 wrote:
Awesome choice mate! (but then i would say that Laughing ) Thumbs Up


Seeing that comment and reading your sig amuses me given the colour of the bike Laughing
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Ste
Not Work Safe



Joined: 01 Sep 2002
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PostPosted: 18:07 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very smart Cool
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Paddy Blake
World Chat Champion



Joined: 29 Jun 2006
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PostPosted: 19:13 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very nice.
Just make sure the kids that painted the cars number plate don't get
near it. Thumbs Up

Paddy.
Smile
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virus
World Chat Champion



Joined: 16 Aug 2006
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PostPosted: 19:34 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

AJI wrote:
beatnck2 wrote:
Awesome choice mate! (but then i would say that Laughing ) Thumbs Up


Seeing that comment and reading your sig amuses me given the colour of the bike Laughing



Its been a while since I said this, but nick you have just been pwned! Laughing



Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.
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Pie-Roe
World Chat Champion



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PostPosted: 19:47 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very nice.

The only thing I'm not sure about is what I presume is air intakes (those bazooka looking things next to the forks).

I'm wondering if you can't modify them to shoot fireworks out of it.

Just think of that. You get a tilt switch built into the frame with a lighter, pull a wheelie and it lights a rocket, 3 seconds later your on one wheel with rockets coming out of your bike.

*drools*

Um yeah... Nice bike Thumbs Up

Pyro
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 20:24 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

pyroforlife wrote:
Very nice.

The only thing I'm not sure about is what I presume is air intakes (those bazooka looking things next to the forks).

I'm wondering if you can't modify them to shoot fireworks out of it.

Just think of that. You get a tilt switch built into the frame with a lighter, pull a wheelie and it lights a rocket, 3 seconds later your on one wheel with rockets coming out of your bike.


Its a Speed Four, not a Rocket III Smile
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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neatbik
World Chat Champion



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PostPosted: 21:45 - 30 Jun 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi mate, i dont get any vibrations on mine, so maybe a throttle body balance might benefit you. Thumbs Up
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