[Pete Rock]

I'm considering buying an '05 955i Daytona, but I'm not sure if I can afford to maintain it. I've read that parts are expensive; just how bad do they add up? I've also read that the 02+ are pretty reliable though, and they seem to be the most inexpensive of the European brands. Plus I do all of my own work, so I'm thinking it could even out.

It sounds ideal for what I'm looking for (daily rider with a few big trips per year), but if it's not in the cards, I'll just keep looking for a '97 TLS.

Any Triumph owners with experience to share?

Thanks

 

[kevin_stevens]

I have a 2001 Speed Triple, and previously had a 2000 Sprint. Nothing about them has been any different than a Japanese bike except for a somewhat smaller availability of aftermarket parts. (But I just got done ordering aftermarket sprockets and chain replacement from one of the usual suspect online dealers, no problem.) BikeBandit also has online parts and fiche.

My Ducati and Moto Guzzi were a PITA with parts, you never knew what was going to have to be hand-crafted by Luigi and shipped on a slow boat. Haven't had that with Triumph, it's much more similar to BMW availability/ship times.

KeS

 

[User Name]

I've had exactly zero problems with my '06 Speed Triple, but I only have 5 to 6K miles on it so far. There's two Triumph dealers nearby, so I don't suspect getting parts would be much of an issue, and I'm sure you could get most things over the net anyway. If you'll be doing your own maintenance, I don't think you'd have anything to worry about.

 

[F4sSprintST]

Many of the parts are sourced from the japanese suppliers. and are interchangeable.

 

[Tripped1]

I buy shock parts for a CBR 900 lol

Usually you can find the parts second hand, if not they aren't that much (if at all) more expensive then their Japanese counter parts.

They are even getting better about the parts you DO need to order coming by sea turtle.

 

[stealthy1]

Stop worrying and buy it.

 

[enos]

I have an '02 Sprint 955i and my last bike was a '97 TLS.
The Sprint is very reliable, I'd say more so than the TL. It's got 41k on it now, with only some minor regular maintenance. I haven't had to buy big parts for it yet, so I'm not totally sure how that goes. The regular stuff (chains, tires, etc) is the same as the Japanese parts. That said, the tooling is a bit different. Nearly every screw and bolt is an allen, so that's a new set of sockets and bits. The Kawi dealer who put my front tire on also complained that they almost couldn't get the front axle off due to an odd size.

The TLS has far more design problems: crummy rear shock, weight too far back, can't see the top of the instruments over the windshield, no center stand (sucks to lube chain on trips), crummy mileage and range, but it will put a smile on your face every time. I've done 3000 mile trips on both and I honestly can't say which I'd like more. The Triumph is more practical, the TL has more soul.

 

[kevin_stevens]

The TLS has far more design problems: crummy rear shock, weight too far back, can't see the top of the instruments over the windshield, no center stand (sucks to lube chain on trips), crummy mileage and range, but it will put a smile on your face every time. I've done 3000 mile trips on both and I honestly can't say which I'd like more. The Triumph is more practical, the TL has more soul.

I can. I've owned both, and I'll take the Triumph every time. Ok, the S3 rather than the Sprint, but still.

The TLS has no soul, it sold it to the devil before birth.

KeS

 

[955iguy]

get the trumpet you wont be disappointed. parts are no more expensive, just not as many aftermarket items. but most of that stuff is useless junk anyway. i have an 02 daytona and it has been nothing but fun times. now all be it if you do crash it may be a bit harder to find plastics but they are available.

 

[mercutio80]

I put 26k on an '01 Sprint ST and have 16k on my '05 Speed Triple. Neither have had major issues, and the things I've needed were either in stock or arrived within a week.

I've waited longer for Japanese parts.

 

[Tripped1]

I put 26k on an '01 Sprint ST and have 16k on my '05 Speed Triple. Neither have had major issues, and the things I've needed were either in stock or arrived within a week.

I've waited longer for Japanese parts.

+1

I used to have issues but it was also in 2002 and in Hawaii. Everything is slow out there. I think the longest I've waited was 2 weeks for a clutch cable.

 

[mcwilliamsda]

no issues that are out of the norm compared to the rest of the I4 biking world. buy it and live the dream.

 

[Filip75]

The only problem I with my Daytona was that the parts were expensive and hard to find in my area.

 

[enos]

The TLS has no soul, it sold it to the devil before birth.

KeS

+1

 

[Tripped1]

that is going to hurt.

 

[mcwilliamsda]

+1

All he is doing is jumping up into the air so he can click his heels to show how happy the TLS is making him.

 

[preisker916]

I used to have a 955 Daytona. 60,000 trouble free miles. Engine wise, anyway. The front full floating rotors wore out at 55,000 miles, started making a chinga-chinga noise coming down the street. 2 new ones off of Ebay for $105. For both, a killer deal. And the brakes are copies of Brembos, that bike would stand it up on the nose effortlessly.
It had a ton of personality, kind of like a Ducati, but different. Fast, not really, really fast like a ZX-10 or R1, but still do an indicated 170 or so. Kind of a rough ride, a little primitive, but real fun to ride.

Oh yeah, it broke a clutch cable, but one off of my XR600 fit it.

Good bike, if I could find a good deal on one, I would buy another.

 

[kai]

I have a 2005 955i, and love it. I have had no problems with it. Like has been said in the prior responses, it is much harder to find aftermarket parts for the bike (but you can find some...many of which have to be shipped from Europe, though). The stock Triumph stuff...well, you pay stock Triumph prices (which aren't that cheap) for them...Unless, of course, you can find the parts on eBay.

 

[Liquids]

Sometimes it pays to be different, other times it costs. When it comes to repairs, especially replacing fairings fuel tank headight taillight seats etc.., it is going to cost you. Standing out in a crowd at bike nights will pay off though. Depends what's important to you.

design problems:.... no center stand

zomg, that is not a design problem lol

 

[Claudius]

I have an S4 - and although it is a different bike than the Daytona / S3 - it has been stone cold reliable. I don't baby it either. With perhaps 75ish horsepower at the rear wheel (I'm estimating) I have to thrash it to keep up.

I know several people with various iterations of the Daytona and they all tend to keep them. The word is that they are great over the road bikes and I know a couple guys who sport tour on them.

No worries with the Triumphs. They are different and they rock. They seem to be overall less finicky than Ducatis.

The only problems I have ever heard about Triumphs concern the 675's - which I understand can eat oil. I have met only one person who had this problem and as I understand it Triumph took care of them on the issue.