Want To Buy A Bird

[crj0007]

Hi
I'm new here and not sure where I should be asking this question but here goes..

I am selling my Triumph Street Triple 675.
Before that I had an Aprilia RSV 1000 and wanted to try an naked. Having had the triumph for 4 years now I'm sick of getting battered by the wind over 80 MPH.

In September this year a group of us are going on a bike trip through the Pyrenese and I want a bike that can handle big distances, twisties and to have fun on before I'm past it!! I class myself as a reasonable rider (intermediate group on track days).

I have read a little about the Bird and think I would like to give one a try. I know they were built at the end of the 90s up to around 2006.

I will hopefully get around ?4000 for my bike and would put all this into a bird.

Is there a particular year that is better or are all birds pretty much the same?

Any advise on purchasing would be much appreciated i.e. what to look out for good and bad, aftermarket cans and anything you can think of will help me when parting with my hard earned.

Thanks
Clive

 

[andyBeaker]

Hi
I'm new here and not sure where I should be asking this question but here goes..

I am selling my Triumph Street Triple 675.
Before that I had an Aprilia RSV 1000 and wanted to try an naked. Having had the triumph for 4 years now I'm sick of getting battered by the wind over 80 MPH.

In September this year a group of us are going on a bike trip through the Pyrenese and I want a bike that can handle big distances, twisties and to have fun on before I'm past it!! I class myself as a reasonable rider (intermediate group on track days).

I have read a little about the Bird and think I would like to give one a try. I know they were built at the end of the 90s up to around 2006.

I will hopefully get around ?4000 for my bike and would put all this into a bird.

Is there a particular year that is better or are all birds pretty much the same?

Any advise on purchasing would be much appreciated i.e. what to look out for good and bad, aftermarket cans and anything you can think of will help me when parting with my hard earned.

Thanks
Clive

Oh dear,myouhave no idea what you have stirred up:-0)

All Birds from 96 on are great bikes, high miles is really not a problem, buy on condition not mileage. My two Birds were Sold with 106k and 62k miles Respectively with no known problems whatsoever.

The carb version is more 'punchy' than the FI version which is more
Like an electric turbine motor. Either way you won't go far wrong, both are great bikes that benefit from a few common upgrades.

Tons of wisdom will now follow from other 'experts'.......

 

[MrToast]

I've got a carb model; There's not really a lot to choose between the two. I am not personally a fan of injection on older bikes, it is just me, though.
History and condition are everything.
I've got after-market cans coz I like a good sound track.
I've fitted the Jaws shop foot-peg lowering kit and bar risers but these only make a modicum of difference - but it is more comfortable than my 1999 'Blade was, that it replaced. (I'm 58, 5'6" and not as springy as I once was)
Double-Bubble screen too.
Achilles heel is the regulator / rectifier - sometimes brought on by weak battery, apparently... You could carry one under the seat if you were really paranoid.

Luggage is readily available for your trip - many 'birds have a full set already.
Jaws on here is your man for the deep dark techy stuff, (I'm NOT a Bird expert but I know what I like) but as a rider it's a fab bike to ride, tracks so very well into corners, is a joy with bags of good tractable power; It's fun to play boy racers around the twisties but just as much fun as a laid-back scenery muncher. Engine is really smooth, too.

Really, get a test ride of one at a dealer that's got a second-hander on their books; If you like it, go hunt one down. Here in the land of the roundabouts, it's a lot of fun; looking forward to our Easter anniversary run too, when I get to tease the wife on her Zed.........

 

[bagofsand]

pick a colour, find the nicest example. Your budget gives a lot of scope. don't overpay for extras.

 

[Rheumatoid]

I have been wondering about selling mine as I make plans to retire abroad.

Its a black 2000 XXY EFI with 10k miles on it.

Its in very nice condition with service history and completely standard apart from JAWS fitted HID and loom fix.

I would probably let it go for slightly (though not much) less than 4k. I would rather keep it as an heir loom than take much less.

If you are still interested after this lot have taken the piss get in touch. Come the fair weather though I may change my mind :-0)

R.

 

[Cougar377]

Hi
I'm new here and not sure where I should be asking this question but here goes..

I am selling my Triumph Street Triple 675.
Before that I had an Aprilia RSV 1000 and wanted to try an naked. Having had the triumph for 4 years now I'm sick of getting battered by the wind over 80 MPH.

In September this year a group of us are going on a bike trip through the Pyrenese and I want a bike that can handle big distances, twisties and to have fun on before I'm past it!! I class myself as a reasonable rider (intermediate group on track days).

I have read a little about the Bird and think I would like to give one a try. I know they were built at the end of the 90s up to around 2006.

I will hopefully get around £4000 for my bike and would put all this into a bird.

Is there a particular year that is better or are all birds pretty much the same?

Any advise on purchasing would be much appreciated i.e. what to look out for good and bad, aftermarket cans and anything you can think of will help me when parting with my hard earned.

Thanks
Clive

Hi Clive, welcome to the oldest bike owner group on the planet.

If you are patient and keep an eye on this forum on a regular basis then a prize example can be yours for not a lot of money.

Any long standing and well known forum member selling their bike will give you the full run down on the bike's history and it's various extras and the rest of the forum will endorse it. The history of most bikes owned by long term members can be found here anyway so you'll soon know what your buying.

Many of the Birds owned by forum members have been sold on to other members (and occasionally bought back again...!), which tells you all you need to know about a bike for sale here.

Your only problems are:

a) buying it before someone else on the forum does and

b) actually getting them to part with the keys (you'd be surprised how misty eyed and reluct owners will get once it comes to crunch time...!).

There's quite a decent article on the Bird in this months Practical Sportsbike mag (if you've not already read enough about it).

Finally, without a doubt, this is the most helpful and knowledgeable owners forum I've known.....once you get past the sarcasm and piss taking.

Oh...and blue is the best colour.:-0) (and that's how it starts....). c7u8

 

[crj0007]

Cheers guys much appreciated

I'm getting quietly excited about owning one@tu*
Also thanks Rheumatoid for your offer. I am obviously going to look around but your offer and bike seem like a good deal.

All depends on what I can get for my Triple.

Whats the story about the rectifier? How much is a replacement and is the fit easy? I had to fit one on my triple also, as when on my first run out when i bought it, it packed up in the fast lane!

Thanks again

 

[slim63]

Mine is/was a beat up old carbie that's slowly getting better the longer I own it & I cant see it ever being for sale as it now does almost anything I ask with ease @tu*

Purely my own opinions from using my own bike

Stock seats are like a plank & ruin what would otherwise be a comfortable bike for someone fairly fit

Most of us here are knocking on a bit & find the stock bars uncomfortable so bar risers or bar conversions are common, budget for that if bikes you look at are not already sorted & you struggle with weight on the wrists

Personally I detest the linked brakes, after a couple of weeks trying them out to be sure I had to de-link, others seem to get on with them ok, I guess riding style has a bearing on this

I'm not impressed with the stock front brakes on any of the 5 or 6 birds I have ridden (inc my own)

Soggy back shocks seem common on older higher miles bikes unless they have been changed so its always worth checking whats on there

Still they are great bikes that do most things very well, are easy & cheap enough to remedy the minor niggles on & are very reliable

 

[MrToast]

Oh...and blue is the best colour.:-0) (and that's how it starts....). c7u8

gr0n:

For the sake of accuracy... Grey bikes are quicker... @tu*

The reg rec thing is a well-known Honda trait - fit the later Mos-Fet one with heat sync and be free of worry
http://www.jaws-motorcycles.co.uk/birdextra.htm#regrec

and spend even more on goodies here:
http://www.jaws-motorcycles.com/

 

[derek kelly]

Double bubble is a must as is a comfy seat, if you are touring then splash out on a scottoiler even if you're not touring they prolong the life of your chain, you may also want to think about heated grips, they really make a difference to my arthritic hands.

Take your time & look around there are plenty of good examples to be had, there is also some crap about, you might even get a member on here who lives near you to help you check them out, avoid dealers if possible, what they don't know about a bike they make up.

Good luck, get a black one if possible they're the fastest, I had to slow down so I got a blue one.

 

[Jaws]

Just reading all the above, my only additional info is........

If you buy a bog standard one then ride it as is for at least a thousand miles before making decisions about what to change.
Give your body a chance to adapt to the new riding position.

I have done regular runs to Italy in a day.. My Birds are usually close to what Mr Honda intended.. Stock seat, screen, etc etc.

I would suggest a change of front springs ( about a 10/15 minute job depending on your skill level )' and if the bike has more than about 25k miles on it, I would suggest a shock rebuild ... I do a custom build that is owner specific for £119' and again pretty easy to change out.

On the efi models, the most common issue is the generator, on the carb models the reg rec.

The only other issues are the cct ( amazingly easy to change, proly 20 minutes of which half of that is taking off the fairing lower and refitting it ! ) and on the efi models there is a serious issue with a duff plug under the seat .. Full details of how to cure the problem can be found near the top of this section of the forum.

I am gonna be out of touch now until the 24th of the month as I will be on the road, but please feel free to contact me with any questions after that date

 

[carler]

" before I'm past it!!"
If you are over 97 on here you are getting close to past it and should buy a slow red FI one!
Welcome by the way!

 

[crj0007]

Thanks again.
Its good to have someone like JAWS who seems to know his stuff for techy help.
Seems like a good responsive forum, which is good to see.

 

[crj0007]

Just reading all the above, my only additional info is........

If you buy a bog standard one then ride it as is for at least a thousand miles before making decisions about what to change.
Give your body a chance to adapt to the new riding position.

I have done regular runs to Italy in a day.. My Birds are usually close to what Mr Honda intended.. Stock seat, screen, etc etc.

I would suggest a change of front springs ( about a 10/15 minute job depending on your skill level )' and if the bike has more than about 25k miles on it, I would suggest a shock rebuild ... I do a custom build that is owner specific for £119' and again pretty easy to change out.

On the efi models, the most common issue is the generator, on the carb models the reg rec.

The only other issues are the cct ( amazingly easy to change, proly 20 minutes of which half of that is taking off the fairing lower and refitting it ! ) and on the efi models there is a serious issue with a duff plug under the seat .. Full details of how to cure the problem can be found near the top of this section of the forum.

I am gonna be out of touch now until the 24th of the month as I will be on the road, but please feel free to contact me with any questions after that date

Excuse my ignorance Jaws but what is the plug under the seat and the issue with it??

 

[Rheumatoid]

Excuse my ignorance Jaws but what is the plug under the seat and the issue with it??

Search loom fix.

 

[ianrobbo1]

Pretty good article in Practical Sports Bikes this month, amazed actually as it wasn't bullshit made up by someone that knows sweet FA about them!!:dunno:

 

[Cougar377]

gr0n:

For the sake of accuracy... Grey bikes are quicker... @tu*
http://www.jaws-motorcycles.com/

Can I have my hook back now....? :-0)

 

[lumpy]

I'm getting quietly excited about owning one@tu*
Also thanks Rheumatoid for your offer. I am obviously going to look around but your offer and bike seem like a good deal.

All depends on what I can get for my Triple.

Whats the story about the rectifier? How much is a replacement and is the fit easy? I had to fit one on my triple also, as when on my first run out when i bought it, it packed up in the fast lane!

Thanks again

once the reg rec is changed it will last forever assuming the uprated one is fitted. Injected shit, look for the loom fix as if it hasn't been done it will need to. Avoid red bikes as they look shit. Otherwise no real issues. Only problem is keeping licences

 

[lumpy]

Pretty good article in Practical Sports Bikes this month, amazed actually as it wasn't bullshit made up by someone that knows sweet FA about them!!:dunno:

makes a nice change.

 

[ianrobbo1]

makes a nice change.

Doesn't it!!