Hi Chris, hope you are well sir? A while back I watched one of your videos where you were telling us of all the problems you'd had with your Speedmaster. I'd fancied adding one to my collection but decided to not to buy one after your videos. My interest in the Speedmaster did not go away and kept on researching the bike. I finally found one with only 300 mls on the clock and 16 months old and not a spanner been near it since it left the factory. I've just bought it to add to my 77 XLX Sportster, 95 FLSTN and my BSA Starfire! I hope I don't experience what you went through sir. Ride safe Chris. Cheers, Sky.
Afternoon again Sky - I'm glad you persisted and found a good Speedmaster to purchase: I'm confident you'll be happy with it. I'm happy with mine, even though it was a real pain for a year. The Speedmaster really was a huge step up for me, coming from a Sportster... But I will always hanker after another Sportster; maybe, one day... Cheers, Chris
Fantasy Island prices - love it! Yes indeed, $$$ could make these 'factory' great bikes an 'outstanding' bike and I've always hoped Thornton Hundred would do a Speed Master build .
Morning Pod - the Thornton Hundred stuff is awesome... but the prices! Since I made the video Jody began to offer wide wheel kits; a snip at £10,000 and £8,000! Even with carbon wheels, that's a tad over-the-top! Cheers, Chris
The Speedmastar fits me like a glove, but since it was launched in the marcket I felt there were some points I didn´t want to deal with, as the chain/lube/tension the short lean angles, or the invisible oil visor and short dumper courses. It's a pity, but it is.
Afternoon - I agree with everything you say there - it is a pity, but we have to live with it. (Except 'short dumper courses': what's that?) Cheers, Chris
Afternoon Chris. You may be aware that I'm a total footboard advocate. I road 20 miles home from the dealership on the oem forward front footrests with the footboard kit following behind in my wife's car. I installed them that night and the transformation was night and day. I simply couldn't have ridden the bike longer term on the forward footpegs. Yes they're c£500 but for me, an essential upgrade. They do sometimes come up on Fleabay or various Triumph forums if ou keep an eye out. Funnily enough I also have the Motone up and over risers with the OEM beach bars. Again they suit my requirements. Fat tyres/wheels : purely aesthetic and unnecesary for me. I've really enjoyed the "Upgrades I can't afford" series. The only remaining upgrade I can't afford (and I've spent a small fortune) is the belt drive conversion although strictly speaking I could afford it but I'm unwilling to cut through my Speedmasters frame...!
Afternoon Craig - we footboard avdvocates must stick together, bro'. 😉 I really do need some boards - how I wish I hadn't sold the Kuryakyn jobbies! Thanks for saying how you enjoyed this series mate. Nice to hear. I appreciate the frame cutting dilemma with the belt drive, but the replacement bracket on the Free Spirits kit looks good quality, heavy metal. I would certainly live with the butchery... I do like the Triumph footboards and, if I had the dosh, I might stretch to spending the extra (compared to Kuryakyn), but the rods & pedals included in the kit scared me. Do you still have the original parts? Why don't the standard pedals fit the boards? And why do the rods and such need to be replaced? I wonder if the boards would fit on my extended footrest setup, although I think the Kuryakyn would be okay (with the splinned adapters). Thanks again Craig, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Yes I've kept all OEM parts (I always tend to anyway, seats, exhasts, side plate, lights etc etc) from memory the oem pedals foul on the boards, hence the much longer replacement ones (plus rods). I especially like the replacement gear lever as it's a heal and toe setup, heel to change up through the gears, toe to change down... The Triumph kit was really easy to fit too.
Hi Craig - I wonder what the stock pedals would look like on the Kuraykyn boards? Several have used them with, as far as I know, the stock pedals. I do like the Triumph ones but, as I mentioned, I'm not sure they'd fit over the extended foot rests I have. Further investigation needed! Cheers, Chris
I can recommend 3.25 risers that are easy to install, look nice, and are stable and affordable, i put them on my bike, a 2018 speedmaster. There are other sizes as well. Dont go wider on tires, in fact, drop the rear width to 140 from the stock 150. Go with michelin commander 3 tires though. Traction, cornering, straight stability drastically improves
Hi Tom, again - thanks for the info. Do you have any pictures - or a short video - of the risers? I see you had 5.5" before: where they no good in the end? Wide wheels are a bit of a pipe dream, nothing close to influencing reality. But I do love them. The stock Avon Cobra tires work fine for me though. Cheers, Chris
No I don't think you are being frivolous. I'm in the same boat with a 2012 T100. Why not just trying to source the widest tyres you can put on those rims. My bike rear is only 130, but there are some brand tyres that will fit up to 150, apparently not all brands will fit inside the back of the bike, they go onto the rim but not enough room inside. Eg chain is in the road. My next bike will probably be another triumph but I live the Indian bobber dark horse, what a motorcycle, if you have a spare 30k Australian dollars.
Hi there RSC - I have looked at the different tyres (tires?) on these rims and, honestly, it gets really confusing! But, as you note, different manufacturers can put different size tyres on the same rims. I think (with very little actual knowledge!), that the Speedmaster rear subframe is not problem for even monster width, but the alignment of front and rear sprokets is. As you say, 'chain is on the road'. I have seen several kits that put a spacer behing the front sproket though. The Indian Dark Horse is gorgeous - but too heavy for me, on British roads (which are often narrow and beaten-up). Plus, I'm old and feeble - though very beautiful. Cheers, Chris
Morning Ralph - well, the air-cooled America & Speedmaster were the same, but the new 1200 liquid cooled bikes are very different. One day, I'll be able to afford those custom made risers... Cheers, Chris
You don't need a speedmaster you sound like you need to go back to the Harley although the Harley is cheaper and less refined it sounds like you are trying to turn a top quality bike (the speedmaster) into a Harley
