Speed Four - cheap to run?

[slightlytasty]

I'm running a 2003 Fazer 600 for touring and commuting (good mpg) and a 2001 Speed Triple for fun and track days but need to cut costs as I'm gonna be a dirty student next year. Thinking of flogging the Triple and just running the Fazer but I just don't love it. Now considering selling both and getting a Speed Four.

Has anyone had one? If so what is the MPG when not caning it - eg. motorway touring and commuting?

I'll also need to do camping trips to Scotland etc. Are they easy to fit luggage to? Is a top box and rack available? Bungy hooks? Are they terrible on the motorway? (the Speed triple is manageable - it's got the small Triumph screen on)

Finally, are they reliable and cheap to service? I've found the Speed Triple to be surprisingly good - very well made, but it eats fuel and tyres.
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Own Aprilia RSV and 955i Speed Triple and 2002 FZS600, had Bandit 650, SV650S, GPZ500S, DR650

[MarJay]

Erm...

Realistically, a speed four is going to be as expensive to run as any other performance bike. Insurance isn't too bad but it'll be higher than a Fazer I reckon.

I don't see the logic in running any kind of performance bike on a budget. Anything with a reasonable performance will cost roughly the same to run as anything else with reasonable performance. The only way to really cut costs is to sell both bikes and buy a CB500 or a CG125.

The Speed Four does have rudimentary bungee hooks and is quite comfortable, not too bad on the motorway, but I fail to see the logic of selling one reasonably fast bike for another. If you're looking to combine the advantages of both bikes then it would definitely be worth a look. You can commute, scratch, tour and trackday on it. I'd even go as far as to say that it is a better track bike than a Speed Triple. Its light and has clip on bars, because it is effectively a naked TT600.

Servicing is reasonable, no better or worse than equivalent japanese bikes. It won't mash tyres but the fuel economy isn't fantastic as I recall. To be honest I never really notice bike fuel economy because its so much better than my car.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[neatbik]

Mine has been reliable, apart from having to replace the generator and reg/rec.

General mpg for me about 42-45, on long motorway runs it can do up to 60 mpg (thats sitting at 70-75mph)

I dont go through tyres/chains quickly at all, but i'm a steady and smooth rider so that must play a part in it.

Overall i'm very happy with my two and a half years of ownership, it has done everything i have asked of it.

Mine will more than likely be up for sale in a month or two, i just fancy a change now.