Featured 2003 Speed Triple Project

Discussion in 'Builds & Projects' started by Oldjeep, Aug 10, 2024.

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  1. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    #1 Oldjeep, Aug 10, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2024
    Purchased a crashed 2003 Speed Triple off craigslist this week. It had been run into a car in 2019 and has been sitting in a shipping container ever since. I've just about finished stripping the broken parts off of it and have the ignition cylinder at the locksmiths to get a key made. A set of junkyard forks are coming today and I need to order a wheel since that is bent as well. IMG_20240808_202819_HDR.jpg IMG_20240808_204459_HDR.jpg IMG_20240808_204502_HDR.jpg IMG_20240808_213654_HDR.jpg IMG_20240809_114708_HDR.jpg
     
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  2. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Its alive - sorta. Added a new battery and the bike has no drains, powers up and cranks. Have a set of steering bearings coming today so that I can install the junkyard front end on the bike. Have another front wheel coming, the original one took such a hit that it bent the axle and the wheel before snapping the forks off.

    Once that is done then I'll temporarily reinstall the fuel tank, change the oil/filter and make sure it runs before starting to order up the rest of the parts.
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  3. TONY F

    TONY F New Member

    Jul 11, 2017
    0
    1
    Chelmsford
    Looks like a speed triple to me, maybe change title?
    Good luck with the rebuild.
    Tony
     
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  4. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    I keep making that mistake ;) Fixed it. In any event it runs, so now I am just waiting for a bunch of parts to come in from junkyards across the country.
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  5. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Straight front wheel and 1 straight front rotor ;) Should be getting headlights, speed sensor and some trim stuff later today. Pretty much everything else important shows up on monday. Figure by Friday next week it might be rideable - just not pretty.
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  6. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    14,360
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    Do check the headstock area really well as they have been known to crack with front end knocks
     
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  7. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Whole front of the frame was checked carefully. No cracks in the tubes or welds. The triple trees and bearings have been replaced. Starting to look like a bike. Bunch of parts coming tomorrow, should be able to install exhaust and cooling system and then flush and fill fork oil.
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  8. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    #8 Oldjeep, Aug 20, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2024
    Exhaust, cooling, fork oil replaced and front tire mounted. Likely get to the front brakes tonight and then spin it around and get the rear tire/brakes/sprockets/chain started.
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  9. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Rear brakes done, new sprockets, chain. Next are the front brakes as long as the mailman brings me a lever. IMG_20240820_131222_HDR.jpg
     
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  10. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Front fender showed up, as did the front levers. Front end is all done and bled out. Just waiting on the rear brake lever now - supposed to be here today.

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  11. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Well, it is rideable. Still needs a back brake lever - if that ever shows up. Suspension needs a little tuning. The lockset that is showing up Monday will eliminate the need to carry a screwdriver to start it. And I guess I'm going to have to make it pretty, because this thing is awesome. The engine is so smooooooth and the clutch engagement is too. It will wheelie on demand, so you need to be careful with that. Not bad for 2 weeks of work.

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  12. Boothman

    Boothman Noble Member

    Jul 26, 2023
    667
    443
    Wigan
    Good job - otherwise that could well have gone in the skip. Is it a cat d (or similar recorded write-off) though?
     
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  13. sprintdave

    sprintdave Nurse,he's out of bed again
    Subscriber

    May 25, 2014
    1,539
    750
    Birmingham
    Looking great, well done for saving her. Good read too.
    Enjoy
     
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  14. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    It has a clean title on it. The whole salvage title thing is weird in MN.
    If the person who crashed it had collision insurance, and the insurance declined to have it fixed then you get a salvage title.

    If there is no insurance claim and it is sold to a private party there is a checkbox on the title that you need to check if vehicle has sustained more than 80% of value in damage. That of course all depends on a judgement call and if you would fix it with new or used parts. In this case, my total repair parts (not including maintenance and beauty stuff) was about 1500 worth of mostly used parts. Book says the bike is worth $2600-$4000, so not even close to 80%.
     
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  15. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Have put a bit over 100 miles on it so far and it works perfectly. Rear brake lever showed up friday, as did some mirrors. New (used) ignition and lockset comes today so I can stop using the screwdriver. The exhaust gasket adapter and clamp also shows up for the high mount 2 Brothers exhaust I have for it. Tail section needs some touchup paint and it'll be good enough for now. Need to decide if I want a front "fairing" on it and if I will change the color of the bike this winter.
     
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  16. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    14,360
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    slough / burnham
    @Oldjeep What a fantastic repair job. So happy for you and the bike that could have so easily ended up in a scrap yard. I take my hat of to you.
     
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  17. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    It was a lot easier than I figured. Typically when I get ahold of crashed bikes there is something mechanical wrong with them. This one has been a pure - remove and replace. The oddest thing has been that most bikes, front end parts are expensive and hard to get ahold of used. People must mostly flip these bikes over backwards or slide them. The front end stuff was very easy to find.
     
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  18. LoneStar Tiger

    LoneStar Tiger New Member

    Aug 27, 2024
    0
    1
    Fulshear, Texas
    Looks like a cool and rewarding project. Personally, I enjoy this process almost as much as riding. Best of luck!
     
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  19. Oldjeep

    Oldjeep Well-Known Member

    Aug 6, 2024
    110
    78
    Mn
    Decided to keep it, so now I have to make it pretty. First thing in that regard was to cover the ugly stock seats and add some foam to the front so that it actually holds you in place. Next thing is to add a flyscreen. I found a NOS kit in Iowa, but it is that ugly neon green. Before I paint it I need to decide if the bike stays black or gets painted British Racing Green (Aston Martin 1107). I'm torn between not really wanting to repaint everything and not being a huge fan of black bikes. I also have a front spring kit coming from traxxion to stiffen it up. Will need to figure out the back once I see how it feels with the upgrades in the front
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  20. Markus

    Markus Crème de la Crème
    Subscriber

    Oct 28, 2020
    3,522
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    @Oldjeep: You did a great job till now. All the best for the last upgrades! ;)
     
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