Triumph Sprint ST 1050 or other useful sport-tourers?

[NJD]

Triumph Sprint ST 1050.

So I recently swapped out my ZR7-S for a Honda CBF 1000 ABS but have grown a huge dislike for how Honda have designed it in the short space of time I've had it. I like working on my bikes, but I don't think having to take the rear wheel out to remove the rear brake caliper is the best use of my time (alongside other niggles like having to strip half the bike to change the plugs). Plus I'm injured and I can't be dealing with a bike that requires as much fettling as this one.

I'd buy another ZR7/S but the prices are too high, and I want something new to me rather than something I grew bored of despite how well it worked.

Auction Sprint ST 1050 has come up. Would be a project but for the right price it looks one of the better listings they've posted: I've been keeping an eye on what they sell for a while.

Always wanted to try a triple, but how easy/expensive are these to work on? Ideally I just want it to be easy to service; fairly cheap to run and can cope with winter commuting and the occasional jaunt for say 100-150 mile round trip in a day.

Any hidden niggles / things to be aware of before bidding or even alternatives to explore? As long as the mirrors can be folded up then the specs; weight; size etc all look to be good for how and where I store my bikes.

> Brake pedal bent
> Some rust on exhaust?
> Frame slider appears to have broken off (R/H front side fairing)

They're about the only faults that look wrong with the bike, and it is classified as CAT N so frame is all good. 57,000 miles (ok for a Sprint?).

ZRX1200S has peaked my interest but other than that am open to suggestions, but would like the focus to be on the above auction for now.

Still need to get the CBF1000 rear brake attached by the local shop, and find a buyer, but with insurance due to in two months its about the right time to start looking around either way/even if this doesn't happen.
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[Nobby the Bastard]

Mine has been reliable as fuck apart from the stator which blew a month after I got it but fowlers replaced it under warrenty (it was 6 years old when I got it but they give a 3 month warrenty on their second hand ones).

They recommend that you don't fold the mirrors back too often because they can get a bit loose from repeated use.

Aside from that the clutch doesn't disengage properly sometimes but it just means it's difficult to get into neutral sometimes, it gets worse with old oil. I haven't got round to pulling it apart to find out whats wrong.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[NJD]

[Polarbear]

I've owned the 675 and 1215 Triumph triples, but not the 1050 but ridden a good few and it's a lovely engine.

It's the oldest design of the modern Triples but still being made and used in the Tiger sport so that's a plus point.

The only issues I am really aware of are electrical and Nobby has touched on that. I haven't heard of them being a problem in later ones but then I've never really looked as it was only the Speed Triple I would have bought with that engine and they stopped making it.

My comments would be 'How cheap is it' because you can bet a pound to a pinch of poo there will be more issues than just the ones you can see.

A comment on the ZRX. Real old school twin shock bike that handles like an old school twin shock bike. Nice engine but.......
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Cyclingbiker]

One of the problems brought up often in the FB is failure of the sprag clutches caused by them getting over-stressed from sluggish starting. the recommended fix is installing thicker gauge wires from the battery to the relay, from the relay to the starter and from the engine earth point to the negative terminal on the battery.

Stators and rectifiers are another common issue, some people recommend fitting a MOSFET or series-type rectifier to reduce load on the stator and prolong it's life.
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Honda CB500s (1999) - Honda CG 125 BR-J (1991)

Mod 1 - Passed - 12/11/12 --- Mod 2 - Passed - 26/11/12

[NJD]

[chickenstrip]

[NJD]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[chickenstrip]

[NJD]

Well the jury's decided: after finally putting the back end together -- with thanks from the CBF forum -- I've decided to stick with the CBF1000 for now just because of how much I've thrown at it since buying it, but would probably lean towards the FZ1S when I next change (providing nothing else takes my fancy); I don't think I'm quite ready to give up the full "tourer/sport tourer" type bikes just yet, but would defiantly love an FZ1S as a second bike (if it wasn't for the one that moans a lot).

Decided to throw a bunch of money at various performance improving parts instead: C&S/Braided lines/fixings/pads etc because some of it is still O.E.M, and things like the brake lines have me wondering how old they are (if not as old as the bike).

The bikes still ugly, mind, but has the speed improvement the ZR7S lacked and practicality to see me through winter.

I'll own a tripple one day.
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[McJamweasel]

[TheGazWaz]

I had a 53 plate Sprint so that will be the 955i. Really nice well built bike.

Problems I had was charging issues and once the battery goes flat on these suckers the bike comes to a halt. Changed stater and rec and still had the same issue. Turned out to be a break somewhere in the loom so ended up shunting the reg/reg direct to the battery. No charging issues since then.

Plastic tank. Not sure about the newer ones but mine started to expand to the point where the bolts holding it to the frame were getting really tight every time I took the tank off.

2nd gear. The triple engine felt absolutely amazing when you opened it up in 2nd but there just wasn't enough of it and I would constantly hit the rev limiter. Shifting to 3rd and it all died off until you got back into high revs.

Single sided swing arm was the dogs nuts on this bike. Sooooo easy to work on and adjustments for the chain are a doddle.

I'm still young enough (49) to appreciated something that's more likely to get me hurt so, although I wouldn't have another sprint now, in ten years time I'd definitely consider one.
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.