Triumph RS Sprint, probably the best bang for your buck?

[jjdugen]

As in posts pasim, I'm on a trawl for a replacement for the ZZR 600. Nothing wrong with the old girl, just that my compadres have all bought 1000cc+ stuff for the annual pilgramige to the Manx GP.
I need something that goes like a sportsbike, but can be fitted with Givi and Bagster without looking daft. Looked at the Suzuki 1400, ticks a lot of boxes, except for its bulk and wayward manners on seriously twisty roads, ditto the Kwak zx1200, a beast in every meaning of the word. A yam FZ1000 Fazer looks very good, prices reasonable for the performance, but it is a bit on the.. ugly side.
Friend asked me to give his Sprint RS a service, I've done some work on it, mainly sorting out the mapping with the assistance of TuneECU and the modified maps you can get on there. Never really considered it as, well, its not exactly flavour of the month as reflected in its used prices.
Its been left with me to 'evaluate' as Mig hardly uses it and, as he says, its not worth selling for the price he would get.
All I can say is that this thing HAS to be the most undervalued motorcycle out there. Admittedly, it has a very different map in the ECU and this has transformed the performance, according to the owner. Given that, it GOES!! A creamy smooth engine (if sounding a little agricultural) that just keeps on piling on the speed. No frantic gear changes needed, just ride that wave of torque. The front forks have needed better progressive springs and slightly heavier oil (did that a while ago) so I cant compare standard forks performance, this one holds rock steady lines and is quite willing to switchback with no big effort Its even remarkably good on fuel, as well as having a tank good for nearly 200 miles. A grand, maybe one and a half gets a reasonably low miler.. Whats not to like?
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[MarJay]

The Daytona 955i does the same things with more beauty and slightly less comfort. With higher quality suspension.

They are seriously underrated bikes.
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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.

[Polarbear]

It's one of the few Triumphs to get pretty well universally slated and I think it's more the quality of the opposition rather than how really bad the Sprint is (although it isn't exactly brilliant, lol).

If you look whats it's up against - ZZR & GTR from Kawasaki. The honda VFR's. BMW's and Yams FJR. Then there is the Suzi bandit 1250 with luggage, it's not suprising it struggled and no wonder Triumph have brought out the Trophy.

I'm in the market for a tourer and was looking at a Tiger 955i. I had completely forgotten about the Sprint, perhaps I should have a look at one.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Tenko]

Welcome to the joy of the triple!!!!!

I've had loads of bikes over the years, but the one I've kept longest (12 years and counting...) is my old Speed Triple. There is something special about that engine.

The Sprint was never the Kelly Brook of bikes, more like the woman two houses along with the faded pink dressing gown and big undies on the line, but if it goes....

[c-m]

ZX9R costs less, and can do more, so i'd say that's much better bank for your buck.

I do like the triples though.
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[jjdugen]

I looked very closely at the ZX-9, but only the early ones come sub £ one and a half thou, and, I hear they have a gearbox problem, not if but when
VFR's still command a good price, even with lots of numbers on the odo I've had a few through my hands and found them to be a bit small for me, legs and arms out in the slipstream. Nightmare when the rear headers go too....
Big ZZR's emphatically tick the comfort and going at ballistic speeds boxes, but dont play to well in the serious twisties, as well as having high mileage at anything in this price range, ditto BMW's, except for the going at ballistic speeds or going round the tight stuff.

The mention of the Daytona had me doing a quick search, still holding reasonable value unfortunately, one of those might well be the perfect machine.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[c-m]

You heard wrong then.

C2 models can be had with less than 20k on the clock and £1,500.

They don't suffer the gearbox problem either. Although not listed they have updated gearbox internals. I can dig out the changes if needed.

Source: I owned one
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Bomberman]

One near me at the minute (RS). 2000 model, 30K on the clocks and listed at £1500. Tempted to go and have a look.
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'Allo! My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!
'89 TZR 125 - '94 GPZ500s - ZK3 GSXR600 Alstare

[Seb]

A workmates got one and in all likelihood I'll probably be buying it off him at the end of the year.

Marjay's got it spot on really, it's a halfway house between the full fat Sprint ST and the Daytona 955. It's lardy, heavy, the finish on the fittings is pretty poor and it's relatively slow by litre bike standards. I still think it's a great bike if you can forgive it's ugliness though, it's got masses of torque combined with road friendly low gearing, whilst it's certainly not an agile bike, it's holds it's line like a pro tug of war troupe

All in all it's a nicely engineered and reliable heavy weight all rounder
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[jjdugen]

Well then, lots of positives, how unusual for a BCF topic!
I'm not in the market for an RRRGSXZ ballistic missile. They are far too focused for the road riding I do. To get anywhere with reasonably uncluttered roads means a motorway stint. So I need good cruising manners as well as something that can be hustled a little when the going gets interesting. Seems that anything with 'touring' in its description immediately comes with shite suspension and loads of unnecessary weight.
The Sprint RS is a relative lightweight in this company, the front seems to respond well to a bit of judicious fettling and I've not found the back to be too horrendous. I can see why the ST version is heavier, single sided S/arms are never light and it does carry more bodywork. All in all, for about the median price of £1200 on the last few that went through the 'Bay, I'm giving this one very serious consideration.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Blackwolf]

What about a cbx1100 black bird?
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[mfactor]

Go for it, having owned 2 S3s I absolutely love the way they make power, and was watching a few sprints on ebay before I got my RF