Old Style FZ1/Speed Triple advice

[Bytor]

Looking for info on the old style speed triple and FZ1 Fazer, prob 2000-2004. Some of you have probably owned them over the years - so what are they like as a viable daily commute come weekend thrash bike? What questions should I be asking sellers and what should I look out for? Are Triumphs significantly more 'expensive' to maintain than Yamaha's? Any info would be gratefully received. Cheers

[Blackbird]

PM Mangell6, he has an earlier FZ1 and knows them inside out. Amazing bike. He's racked up a huge mileage and it just keeps going. It has an excellent performance too, around 260 km/hr flat out and had superb long range ability. The earlier Speed Triples had a few minor faults but they are still a great bike although carrying a passenger over touring distances is not one of their plusses! Both bikes are really built for different purposes.

[Bytor]

Yeh the FZ1 looks like a very underated bike and there's a few in my price range. Wont be doing any touring for a while - with three kids under 5 there's no way the missus is going to let me bugger off for a week or two, so the Speed Triple could be an alternative - just need to know of any issues with them.

[Sensei]

98 Speed Triple I owned did the following

1 - Shit all the big end main bearings - $1400
2 - 2 Head gakets - $900
3 - Clutch basket broke - $1000
4 - Clutch plate & fibres replaced after basket broke - $380
5 - Clutch springs broke - $300
6 - Broke 4th gear in gear box - $1250
7 - Intake manifold gasket x 3 - $280
8 - Retorqued head x 4 - $340

Enjoy the Triumph !

[Bytor]

Yeh, I've digging around on some triumph sites and there seems to be more issues than with jap bikes. Can't afford to have unreliability or parts issues which is why I've stayed away from Ducs as well. Need to find a FZ1 in Auckland to test ride. Might have to ride all the other usual suspects too: CB900, VTR1000, SV1000, Z1000, etc.

[tri boy]

I'm not sure about 2000-2004 speed triples, and Sensei seems to have had a horror time with his. But my 95 Daytona has had the following issues in 12 yrs:
1xBrake light switch.
1xFuel tap diaphram.
3xBatteries, oil/filters/tyres etc.
I shit you not. The carburetted "Steamer" engine/frame/brakes are incredibly strong.
Its had a heap of work this winter though, but I did crash it into a ditch.
Like anything, check them over, as no two owners are alike.
Happy hunting.