Nostalgia - I have begun to look at Early 90's Triumph triples

[Mr Moofo]

It was the first bike I had ...
So I have kind of got a hankering for the first gen speed triple - but people now consider them collectors items.
So I am looking at the 900 Daytona ... big / heavy etc ... but easy to work on etc.

Anyone have any experience?

[v8-powered]

No experience with the 900's but had a couple of 955's - T595 and 955i.

Peachy engines and despite weighing similar to a car, with the right suspension they can be made to handle well too - I used to track mine and despite much piss-taking and harsh words such a 'pig-iron' and 'ships anchor' it held it's head high at places like Snett amongst the Power Rangers on their litre sports bikes.
Sure the 900's can be dropped in to a similar category....

[weeksy]

Always always wanted an old school Triumph speed triple, sometimes it was the black, sometimes it was the lime green one i wanted. I can certainly see how they'd attain 'classic' status.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-spee ... SwywBfCLBM



Looking at it now.. i'd probably go black.

[Nidge]

I'd still go for the the original 1994/5? A mate had one brand new in 1995, at the time there was a one make support series at BSB (or may have been WSBK) for them which meant there was a lovely Yoshi 3:1 (one of the very few mods that were allowed for the race series) available which sounded glorious- I still think it was one of the best sounding bikes I've ever heard. They still look good in a brutal kind of way I reckon, and as you say prices are on the rise but still available for reasonable(ish) money:

[KungFooBob]

I'd still go for the the original 1994/5? A mate had one brand new in 1995, at the time there was a one make support series at BSB (or may have been WSBK) for them which meant there was a lovely Yoshi 3:1 (one of the very few mods that were allowed for the race series) available which sounded glorious- I still think it was one of the best sounding bikes I've ever heard. They still look good in a brutal kind of way I reckon, and as you say prices are on the rise but still available for reasonable(ish) money:

I remember watching John Cooper ride one around Mallory when they were launched.

iirc they did a 750 version too.

[Taipan]

I wanted the bug eyed version some years ago but never went ahead as there so many complaints about gearboxes exiting stage left?

[KungFooBob]

I wanted the bug eyed version some years ago but never went ahead as there so many complaints about gearboxes exiting stage left?

I heard the same about the Daytona with the same engine, at 12,000 miles the gearbox would explode.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Always always wanted an old school Triumph speed triple, sometimes it was the black, sometimes it was the lime green one i wanted. I can certainly see how they'd attain 'classic' status.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-spee ... SwywBfCLBM



Looking at it now.. i'd probably go black.

I've got a 1997 T509 Speed Triple in my garage...It's Lucifer Orange, from the first year of "bug eye".

Pretty much totally stock. It was my first big bike. I plan to do a full strip and rebuild one day, it's bound to be a classic.

Just like this.



The gearbox did indeed exit stage left not long after I got it in 2003. Fortunately it was replaced under warranty.

[KungFooBob]

While we're here, can anyone confirm the urban myth that the early Bloor/Hinckley engines were based on Kawasaki lumps?

I was once told that dealers often supplied engine bits in Kawasaki packaging?

[Mr. Dazzle]

It's more likely Triumph tapped into the same supply chain as Kawasaki for cost reasons.

McLaren do the same with Jaguar for all their "normal" bolts etc.

[Supermofo]

If it's a Gen 2 then surely it's gotta be the Nuclear Red (pink)?

[Mr Moofo]

I'd still go for the the original 1994/5? A mate had one brand new in 1995, at the time there was a one make support series at BSB (or may have been WSBK) for them which meant there was a lovely Yoshi 3:1 (one of the very few mods that were allowed for the race series) available which sounded glorious- I still think it was one of the best sounding bikes I've ever heard. They still look good in a brutal kind of way I reckon, and as you say prices are on the rise but still available for reasonable(ish) money:

That is exactly what I would want - but not for north of 5k!

[Nidge]

You’re in luck- I’ve just saved you a couple of grand

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk-1-Triumph ... SwX2xe8mgF

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spee ... Sw6xxe6aIB

[Mr Moofo]

You’re in luck- I’ve just saved you a couple of grand

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk-1-Triumph ... SwX2xe8mgF

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spee ... Sw6xxe6aIB

Saw the both of those - the top one has merit.
The bottom one has all sorts of engine mank going with the paint etc ... can be bothered with that at that price ...

[Mr. Dazzle]

Gratuitous shot of me out running my mate at Santa Pod...

[Horse]

While we're here, can anyone confirm the urban myth that the early Bloor/Hinckley engines were based on Kawasaki lumps?

I was once told that dealers often supplied engine bits in Kawasaki packaging?

It was never a secret* that the first design team bought several Japanese bikes to strip down. Kawasaki were IIRC the 'best' to use for inspiration or guidance.

* eg Articles in the bike press

[Mr Moofo]

when i bought mine, i was told by the dealer that they ere based on Kawasaki engines ...
And there was a lot about it in the press at the time.

[Mr Moofo]

Seems they have sprag clutch issues - and repair involves splitting the case....

[weeksy]

Seems they have sprag clutch issues - and repair involves splitting the case....

As do Aprilia and early KTM990s but people still own and ride loads

[KungFooBob]

Sprags normally get buggered when they turn the wrong way.

If there's not enough juice in the battery to fully turnover/start the engine and it kicks back, that's what kills the sprag.

So just keep it charged/well used.