Speed Four - 1000km review (long)

[trumpy]

ooo Trumpy, didnt know you'd got some special bits for it! Would love to see what the difference is with the commander and the pipe! When are you up here with it next? (I'll be down with my bike gear for the track day Fri 8th till the sunday, in Taupo.)

Up in Aucks every week but, unfortunately, generally not with the bike. If I am two wheeling up I will pm you before hand and you can take her for a blat.
Not had more than a few minutes on the bike with the Power Commander fitted. Hopefully the weather is better this weekend and I can try out a couple of different fuel maps.
The Micron sounds great and does free things up a little and seemed to work just fine on the standard fueling although it doesn't improve the under 3000rpm problem. I just ride in a higher gear around town.

[BAD DAD]

Thanks Ranty Dave for your review on the S4 and cheers to Devil, Trumpy & co for your follow-on comments. Apart from articles that seem to have been cut n pasted out of the Triumph promo lit,I haven't seen much about either the bikes themselves or aftermarket gear.
Not being much of a technical rider it's good to read what others find when they give the S4 a bit of a push. I've got to say that even with my stiff, jerky and random style of riding, this bike is a pleasure to ride.
Cheers

[trumpy]

Thanks Ranty Dave for your review on the S4 and cheers to Devil, Trumpy & co for your follow-on comments. Apart from articles that seem to have been cut n pasted out of the Triumph promo lit,I haven't seen much about either the bikes themselves or aftermarket gear.
Not being much of a technical rider it's good to read what others find when they give the S4 a bit of a push. I've got to say that even with my stiff, jerky and random style of riding, this bike is a pleasure to ride.
Cheers

I ride like a real plonker :spudbn: but this bike looks after me well . Happy to share any info.

[Devil]

I'm getting real crap fuel mileage while commuting at the moment. Mechanic and I aren't sure what the problem is. Used to get 190-200km off 13L commuting, now thats down to 150km or so. Its got new plugs, air filter, fuel filter, chain and sprockets, dunno what the problem is. Might chuck it on the dyno and see whats its doing.

Fuel consumption appears ok when out on the open road...must be a low revs thing.

...might have to borrow that power commander for a while!

[Lou Girardin]

I'm getting real crap fuel mileage while commuting at the moment. Mechanic and I aren't sure what the problem is. Used to get 190-200km off 13L commuting, now thats down to 150km or so. Its got new plugs, air filter, fuel filter, chain and sprockets, dunno what the problem is. Might chuck it on the dyno and see whats its doing.

Fuel consumption appears ok when out on the open road...must be a low revs thing.

...might have to borrow that power commander for a while!

Is it getting up to temp normally? If it running cool, the ECU thinks it's in cold start mode and richens the mixture.

[Devil]

Is it getting up to temp normally? If it running cool, the ECU thinks it's in cold start mode and richens the mixture.

It had been taking ages to get up to temp, I got them to replace the thermostat under warranty and its warming up quicker but the fuel consumption hasn't changed. I thought that could have been the problem too. Do you think the ECU could still be thinking the wrong thing even with the thermo changed?

Have sent an email to dave at amps dot co dot nz about this (earlier today) to enquire about potential problems and to see what it'd cost to get a base run on the dyno...

[Lou Girardin]

Have sent an email to dave at amps dot co dot nz about this (earlier today) to enquire about potential problems and to see what it'd cost to get a base run on the dyno...

Dave should get it sorted.

[Indiana_Jones]

Damn, I wanna be part of the Triumph club =( lol

-Indy

[BAD DAD]

What ever you do, DON'T let anyone knock your speed4 over on it's side. I can't believe that I did that to my bike and now I can't believe how much money for so little damage. $129.00 just for the front brake lever and over $300 for the mounting bracket to put the footpeg on. What is worse is that the bracket has to be imported from UK (at this time of the year) so I doubt that Christmas will be a particularly riding type holiday.

[trumpy]

Is the foot peg bracket in a repairable state (ie. repairable but not necessarily pretty)? If so I might be able to get you at least mobile while you wait fo the new part. PM me if interested.

[BAD DAD]

Trumpy, it,s made of cast alloy of some sort so probably not too easy to fix but I might be able to fabricate a temp out of steel then get a couple of welds put on it if I get desparate. Appreciate the offer though and might yet accept. Cheers

[trumpy]

If all the pieces are still there I might still be able to weld it up for you.
I'm in Aucks thurdays and fridays, PM if you want me to have a look.

[Devil]

What ever you do, DON'T let anyone knock your speed4 over on it's side. I can't believe that I did that to my bike and now I can't believe how much money for so little damage. $129.00 just for the front brake lever and over $300 for the mounting bracket to put the footpeg on. What is worse is that the bracket has to be imported from UK (at this time of the year) so I doubt that Christmas will be a particularly riding type holiday.

Try it with the Triumph radiator cowlings then have a cry when the mounting bracket for that cuts a hole in the radiator (aluminium of course) *sigh*. Glad that one is well behind me!

Bad luck.

Mine's just had a good run to wgtn and back. Love having a decent seat on a sporty bike, no aches or pains at all in that area. Must have been sitting funny on the way back from Taupo yesterday though, have a sore shoulder.

5L/100km @ 110km/h with full packrack.

While I think about it, the bike is up to 28k now and still going strong. Why anyone would be scared of buying a bike with this many k's is beyond me. It's going as strong if not stronger than it was when it was brand new. Love it.

[BAD DAD]

how do you guys find your bikes under heavy breaking, as in probably going too fast into a bend and knowing that you aint going to make it unless you scrub off some speed real soon? Not that I ever ride so irresponsibly..fancy a tui anyone?

[trumpy]

I've usually chickened out long before that stage . For me it's normally "Ah sod it, why did I brake so early?!":slap: and then I have to accelerate up to the corner.

The odd time I have done this by mistake the bike has looked after me just fine. While I have had cheeks firmly clenched and heart momentarily stopped I have always (so far) been able to get the speed off, even braking right to the apex, and exited none the worse for wear. Devil can probably give you a better "technical" explanation.