Triumph speed four

[palmer]

I've been searching for options for when (read: IF) i pass my test.

The obvious choice i think would be the SV650s, seems a good all rounder and has a screen for a bit of protection for a little touring with the old man.

Then, i came across the speed four. (pretty literally)

Love the quirky looks, and the British branding. But i have no idea what they are like, nor can i find any real opinions on them.

Anyone had any experience?

Cheers

[stonesie]

Brilliant handling and brakes, my daytona is basically the same bike underneath but with updated engine and electronics... There are some Speed 4 owners on here so I will let them fill in the rest.


I did have a SV650 but the Trumpet is a better bike in every way

[Slacker24seve...]

I considered one - when Nick on here sold his that was what actually started me off looking.

Heart ruled the head and I went Hornet for simplicity and availability of bits, and a slightly easier 'learning how to ride a big bike' experience. I binned it a few times so that was a wise move - Hornet bits are everywhere

Great bikes, and I'd have loved one, but it wasn't right for me.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[neatbik]

There was a thread on this recently, a search should bring it up.
But in brief -
Fast, good handling, well built but watch out for charging system faults.
Nice sounding even with the stock exhaust, i found mine pretty much brilliant in every way except it was a bit soul less...

[Sload]

Dont know how you could say its soulless, its problematic, the definition of soul!

If you want something reliable and will do the job, get the SV, if not and you want something a bit more, then the four isnt a bad choice.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[palmer]

Whats it like on long journeys?

Kind of the reason i like the 650s so much is the screen.

[andys675]

great bike but hard to sell for a good price, some jokers asking £3k for late ones, even £2k is a bit much and you'll see the same bikes advertised for months on end, don't spend more than £1700 on one as you'll then be able to sell it at a smaller loss and quickly
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[neatbik]

Good on long journeys, i did a few long runs and it was fine.

As said, dont pay too much.
I bought mine from a Triumph main dealer - it was 1yr old, 4k miles and i paid £3700.
I sold it 3 years later with 16k on it for £2450. And i think i was lucky to get that, but it helped that it was in very good condition.

I would have another, but only to go along side another bike.

Heres my old one -
https://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q399/beatnck2/IMG_6754.jpg

[Sload]

It's crap, no wind protection to speak of but reasonably comfortable for me at 6'3". Get a bit of back ache and a sore bum after a while but I'm still getting used to it.

It's a fun bike to ride basically, and it feels far happier in the higher rev range cutting into corners but is poor for commuting. Poor MPG, snatchy fuel injection, and jerkyish with a heavy clutch, hard to ride smoothly slowly compared to what I have been used to.

It's more of a toy realistically, other bikes would do the daily grind far better.

I still have a fair few niggles to work through but I am happy enough with it but I do have a car for commuting.

As an alternative could I suggest a CBR600F or possibly a thundercat? They were on my list as well and I may still get one.

Personally not even slightly interested in the SV myself.


https://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/TrIcK361/Speed%20Four/460930_10150785456696706_2069246399_o.jpg
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[palmer]

Where did you get that little screen Sload?

[Sload]

Came with the bike, think it is an official extra, and it does nothing that I can notice

Still it keeps me from going too quickly
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[GrantT]

I commute on mine every day and don't find it snatchy really, it's a bit jerky bumbling along about 4k, just ride below or above it.

Fuel economy its a matter of what you're comparing it against, I get about 50mpg but when you compare that to 30mpg in the car, plus free trips through the tyne tunnel and free parking then it's win-win.

I did 600 miles in a weekend, neck was sore afterwards but lots of that was potentially above the national speed limit which is where the wind buffeting kicks in (90ish).

I wouldn't swap mine for any other 600, the only thing that would replace it would be a Street Triple

Its A LOT quicker than a rider school 500, turns in A LOT faster (first time I slung it over on a roundabout I thought I was going to drop out lowside!) and stops A LOT quicker.

[mr jamez]

The speed four is happiest when its going fast, its a TT600 with no fairing. I had the wide bars on mine and it was quite larey

My charging system nuked itself, I rode around the fueling niggles.

The SV650 is no match for the speed four in regards to performance.
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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

[palmer]

The TT600 was tempting, but it hasnt aged well. And the full fairing probably puts it up a couple of insurance groups

[spnorm]

I had one as a courtesy bike a few years ago and it was horrible - gutless below 10k revs, very soft suspension (guess that could be stiffened up) and iffy build quality. The SV650 is a much nicer bike

[palmer]

I'll get to do my DAS on a bike of my choice at mallory, the SV is one, they range from 500-1000cc. Ill give it a whirl, then try and find a speed four to try after

[neatbik]

I test rode an SV650 and the Triumph on the same day, i found the S4 to be a much nicer bike. It felt a fair bit quicker, the suspension is a hell of a lot better - fully adjustable good quality as opposed to cheap stuff on the Suzuki.

Horses for courses i guess...

[chris-red]

Whore my bike you say?

https://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/522823_10150677681088476_512803475_9265287_1365552622_n.jpg

https://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/533209_10150677684683476_512803475_9265316_1992470314_n.jpg

They are good, I've never found the issue with the low revs to affect me that much, TBH you don;t spend much time below 4 anyway.

Fuel economy is crap though. But it is comfy and I reckon performance wise the best of it's era and class.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[GrantT]

[chris-red]

[palmer]

Ok chris, you have now made up my mind.

Thats bloody lurvly!

[GrantT]

[chris-red]