Triumph Speed Four - Talk to me

[bacon]

Hi all,

Anyone own/owned a Triumph Speed Four? I don't ride much as of late, so feel my MT09 is going to waste in the garage and I've been considering selling the MT09 and replacing it with something cheaper. The idea being that I don't want to be without a bike, but I don't really like have £5k+ sat there doing nothing most of the time.

So the usage of the bike would be for the odd ride to work in shite Friday Traffic, the odd ride out. I may also use the bike to go fly fishing on occasion so B roads and A roads.

Triumph Speed Four caught my eye many years ago, I am a fan of it's rather marmite aesthetics, the engine sounds like it should be great on the road and the suspension/chassis sound well sorted. I am aware they are getting on 18years old nearly in some cases and am aware of the effects of age on suspension components etc. So that will be factored in.

I was originally looking at cheap hacks, having sold my dullville in March, so something that could replace the use of both dullville and mt09. I was looking at Hornets, Bandits, Fazers etc, anything for around £2 to 2.5k really. But the speed four looks like the fun option.

I'm not bothered about break neck speed any more, I've had some decent bikes and I am now aware that I favour ease of riding, good Handling and a bit of practicality, man I'm getting old! (35).

TL:DR Speed four is a sweet ride or a dog best avoided?

Chsers

[MarJay]

I had one...

They are cheap. The handle nicely for what they are but they are asthmatic.

Not bad as a fun bike for not much money. I've been seeing a few around for less than £1000 lately.

However, They come from an era when Triumph were not at their best in terms of build quality. I had a cheap crashed TT600 which dropped a valve, and my Speed Four had a weird wiring loom problem which was fixed by replacing the entire rear loom. I also crashed it at Snetterton, and I think it was because the throttle stuck open, but I can't be 100% sure...

Good for the money, but know what you're getting yourself into. Also I have no idea what parts supply is like today.
____________________
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.

[c_dug]

I've looked at them before, as a pre-ULEZ London commuter.

Granted, my 12,000 mile a year commute was a different purpose than your occasional fun ride / commute, but in the end I decided a Bandit 1200N was a safer bet.... then I went and bought a Diversion 900 instead

I think even for mostly-fun purposes I'd probably look at the Bandit over the Speed, on paper the Speed should be a clear winner, but the original Bandit 1200 is the bike I most associate with a classic hooning bike and I figure it got that reputation for a reason.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Moxey]

I was looking at one before I went for my Fazer 1000.

Funnily it was Marjays old post about the valve drop and others with charging issues that put me off alongside the fact that for what some people are asking is knocking on 08 street triple money (couldnt see the Speed matching up to the Street imo).

Distinctive though!
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 91 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[MarJay]

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad bike, and the TT600 which dropped a valve was a crashed damaged repairable and it was missing a small section of webbing on the clutch cover, so I think it was probably pumped around the oilways and got caught in the head doing the damage.

https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/sp4-1.jpg
https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/sp4-2_169.jpg

I've seen two or three around for less than a grand, and for that money it's FANTASTIC value. They handle well, the suspension adjusters actually adjust, they are comfy and quick enough.

I did consider one briefly for the missus, but she declared it 'ugly' and not another word was spoken. I was half taking the pi$$ but I thought it might be a cheap upgrade from her ER6.
____________________
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]

I must admit I like them. It was one of the first Hinkley Triumphs I rode and thought it's build was OK. Better than wifies Bandit of the time and stuff like the suspension was decent, not like the Bandit crap.

Saying that I rode one, I didn't own it so I have no idea of the long term owner problems but I can't remember the owner of the one I tried moaning too much.

I like the garish colours as well, that baby puke lime green
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[A100man]

I think it would look great with a an endurance style twin spot nose fairing (think early FZR) in place of that ridiculous cowl.

Presumably though it needs the bazookas

In fact I'd probably just get a TT and cut down the fairing
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[bacon]

Cheers for the responses, some good info to consider there, great photos as well, it's a good looking bike.

I can't say the ones I'm looking at are around £1000 though, near enough double that.

I did spot a rather nice 955i speed triple which may be a good alternative, and only approx £500 extra.

[P.]

You can stretch a bit more for a street triple...

I'd have one over a speed four. I had a Daytona 600 which I guess was that in a dress and whilst it was great, it had its flaws.

[Moxey]

[MarJay]

It's still a lot of bike for two grand, better than a TT600 IMO. However, there is a LOT you can get for about that money - Hornets, maybe a Steelie CBR600, lots of things. I know inflation is a big deal with secondhand bikes and really anything under a grand is rare these days.

Funnily enough I think I paid £2200 for mine back in about 2008.
____________________
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.

[neatbik]

I had one a few years ago, it was pretty reliable apart from the stator shitting itself, giving charging problems. Had it rewound and it was fine after that.

I found it quick enough for me, handled well too, although at that point i hadnt been riding very long.

Sounded quite good too, even with the standard can i thought.

[bacon]

Street triple is a solid option, I had a 2013 R model for a while, but I've not seen any for reasonable prices lately.

The MT09 sold today, so for the first time since passing my test in 2009 I've not got a bike....doesn't feel good. Usually I buy the replacement first!

I think I would prefer to keep the budget down around £2500 if I can. That way if it gets used for 100 miles in a year I won't feel like I've got excess cash sat there doing nothing.

I am tempted to go and see the speed four as it's relatively nearby. Quite high mileage though considering the price, 27k I think from memory.

[A100man]

[bacon]

I hope to do a couple thousand a year ideally but I definitely get your point.
I had a Honda Deauville (sold in march) which I used to commute to work a couple of times a week. So that bike took most of the mileage and the mt09 wasn't used.

So one bike to do everything really while putting a few k in the bank

[bacon]

Decided to re-evaluate what I want the bike for.

So I was previously using a dullville to commute when I wanted to (have a car for day to day) and I had the mt09 for fun rides and commuting on sunny days. What this realistically meant was that I rode the dullville all the time and never went out on the mt09. I also realised I don't ride for fun days out any more, I have other hobbies that would get my attention these days if I managed to get any spare time.


So, what I'd like is a bike that I can take out in all weathers without giving a shit (I.e cheap and won't fall apart in the rain) for those days I fancy commuting on the bike, if I ever go on a pleasure ride it's likely to be used to go fly fishing at the nearby reservoirs, so a bit of luggage potential would be handy.
It would be great if it wasn't completely dull, though I dont want or need a sportsbike. Comfy would be a welcome bonus.

So with those in mind I've decided to go and see a 2000 vfr800 pre vtec tonight.

It ticks a few boxes, with the exception of being exciting I guess. But my hope is the v4 will sound half decent.

It's a 35k mile example with a fair few owners (12 previous). But looks tidy enough. I will go see it and make my own mind on whether it's been looked after or not.

Any objectors? Wasting my time on a 20yr old commuter?

[Polarbear]

I had a VFR750 which was superb build quality and a lovely sound but i did find it a tad boring.

I have no experience of the later ones other than the few frighteners you hear about the early VTecs so can't help you there.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[A100man]

[bacon]

[MarJay]

[bacon]

It isn't no! I swear I saw a VFR for sale with a Nitron shock though, so perhaps it could be yours.

I'll go take a look this evening, I am a short arse with a 28-29" inside leg (prob closer to 28) so I will see if it suits me. I tip toe all my bikes so it's no big deal, on paper its lower than the Dullville so I am sure it will be fine.

I am warming to the idea of a vfr though, aside the age of this it seems rather ideal.

[bacon]

And it's 15kg lighter than a Dullville, so its a relative light weight!

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Those big plastic dildo launchers protruding from the front look aweseome!! Like some porn James Bond gadget. Why don't more bikes have these??
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[MarJay]

[bacon]

Cool, I assume you had no issues with the bike then regarding the size?

5ft 6", 28"ish inside leg/

cbr600fs - Tip toes
zx6r b1h - Slightly taller than cbr, as tall as I'd ever want to go, but the bike was a featherweight so it was ok to slide to one side for one foot down fully.
zx7r P model - Low but fat, very easy side shuffle for one flat foot.tip toes on both feet.
zx10r - like the b1h
Street triple R 2013 - Comfy tip toe job, one foot easily down with a slide
ZRX1200R - Like the 7r really, low and wide
SV1000S - Tip toes or one flat foot, fairly low, fairly narrow seat, but top heavy weight distribution made slow maneuvers a bit of a handful if it went past the balance point for any reason. otherwise the height was decent.
Dullville - Reasonable seat height, wide comfy seat, easy to shuffle over for a flat foot, very well balanced with the weight down low, easy to ride even with a pillion.
MT09 - Tip toes, or one flat foot comfortably, it was very narrow and light, perfect bike for a short inside leg.

Is my experience of my past bikes!

i think height wise the VFR is a non issue?