TRIUMPH SPEED FOUR (2002 - 2006) Review

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £190

Worst features: Electrical issues are the worst. My S4 let me sit three times with dead charging circuit. I finally bypassed the factory wiring connectors to solve the problem. Best: 1. It is a beautiful machine. The air intakes give it an agressive look and it really commands attention. 2. The 599 cc inline four seems pretty bullet proof and provides plenty of power. Torque comes on a bit later than I'd like when normal cruising but it's adequate when keeping the revs higher. Valve clearances were still in spec at 9500 miles (a bit past the recommended service interval). 3. It handles very well and the brakes are more than adequate. I would recommend it to a friend if he's willing to chase some electrical gremlins.

Buying experience: From a private seller. He was the 2nd or 3rd owner. I bought it in 2017 and it had about 7 k miles on it. I paid US $3400.

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £350

I also have a 2006 Daytona 675. The Speed Four is more comfortable to ride by a long mile. One of my sons bought a second hand Speed Four and loved it and kept on at me to get one too. Covid lock-down, too much time on my hands and some spare cash saw me pick up my bright yellow Speed Four and I have not regretted it. Pillion riders had problems with the foot rests until I fitted rubber grips on them.

Buying experience: I bought this from Trademe (NZ's E-Bay) I won an action and paid NZ$4500. It cost me another $500 too get it brought up from the South Island. I bought during Covid lock-down and folk were selling bikes cheap due to uncertainty of employment: Two Speed Fours recently listed have been NZ$6-7000 each.

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £197

Had this for 5 years now and will never sell, it is one of the best bikes I have owned.

Buying experience: Bought from Destination Triumph for £1050 with 28000Miles didn't haggle no need.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £1,506

Only thing lacking on my bike is aset of better looking fairings, as far as performance, it's the best bike I've drive...

Buying experience: 2700$ dollars, and paid that amount.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £150

I bought my Speed Four new in 03, (my first new bike). I have owned several other machines, and this one will stay with me until the end. I find the handling, acceleration and braking to be absolutely superb. The bike has an amazing combination of modern sophistication and old school grunt in a package that can be as tame or aggressive as needed. I have no trouble keeping up with the 1 litre bikes in challenging twisties.

Buying experience: Dealer was Ok, did not use them for much service. Really did not need to.

Year: 2003

This is a timelessly styled machine that will never lose it's luster. Goes like hell and remains composed while doing it. If you've ever wanted to roll up to your local bike meet being piggybacked by a gentleman who is skipping, wearing a tophat, monocle, and smoking a pipe all while screaming at the top of his lungs then look no further. I almost don't want to write this review because for every one of these bikes someone else buys it's just one less that i can keep for myself.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £200

This is my third bike, going from a 75bhp Kawasaki zr-7 this is very light and flickable and great fun with a noticably more eager engine and suspension/chassis to boot.

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer. Went by condition, had no scratches from being dropped/no rust. 22,000 miles 2003 model paid £2200 when advertised for £2300. Not a lot of choice out there, I really wanted it in green and a tidy model.

Year: 2006

Beautifull bike. Is stealth black and have got a union jack belly pan which always gets commented on. have added Renthal fat bars and risers instead of the clip on bars and adjustable levers which again have had a lot of positive comments.

Year: 2006

Quirky and fun, I love mine

Bought this form my Fiance as her first big bike and myself a CBR600F 2000. Comparatively, the CBR600 feels smaller, lower to the ground and feels much lighter (even though on paper they weigh the same) we are now selling the Triumph as around town 10-40 mph the fuelling is quite snatchy, as a learner you're trying to be smooth and build confidence and this snatchy throttle just gets in the way too much. The CBR600, is a 2000 so not fuel injected like the Triumph and thus will naturally have a smoother throttle delivery. Other than the weight and fuelling the ride is great, at higher speeds it's fantastic. So i'd say it's a great 600, especially for the money, for probably a slightly more experienced rider who can work around the fuelling. For a first big bike, the CBR (my only basis for comparison) is a much better choice.

Fantastic bike, the S4 is my first big bike since passing my test last June and it really is a jack of all trades. In only a year and a half of ownership i have done everything on it from going to Italy and back to commuting to work and college. It is only let down by a slightly clunky (Triumph) gearbox and iffy fuelling at low speeds which can be a bit of a hassle around town in traffic but otherwise it is a superb handling bike with excellent brakes and above 4000 rpm a great engine that sounds awesome. Some say that it is not for a new rider but I have found it perfect and my only previous experience is on a GPR50 and an old XL125 but it is probably more down to the individual than the bike. All in all the speed four is a great bike for anyone from new riders to experienced track hacks.

Handles like a dream, can even be used for a bit of touring if you're determined, but be warned it makes you want to take the long and twisty way where ever your going cos it's just to good on the twisties.

As you can tell by the title its my 2nd one,Killed the first one 2 years ago.Had all sorts of bikes from GS500 to SV1000s 11 in total (wife not to happy!)But this S4 came up 05 plate 2500 miles for £2500 had to have it.Looks wise there is nothing else like it which makes it cool to start with.Best handling bike so much better than other so called bugget 600 Hornet,SV,Fazer,CBF,Z750,Beats all of them hands down!Will give most sport bike 600 a run for there money.Its not wot you ride but how you ride it!

...or short legged (so I had mine lowered as I live on a hill, not a good combination). A superb handling machine with awesome brakes and excellent engine, aside from the flat spot at the 3k rpm mark - easily manageable by just changing gear/speed. Totally addictive. So a total shame that it's been discontinued and the gap filled by the Street Triple - because I can feel the money burning a hole in my pocket right now. Expect some real bargain S4s around this summer, as owners p-ex them for the new Street Triple.

Had my speed four now for two months and done over a thousand miles on her. Running in is always a pain but I could feel the true potential of the bike even then. After first service (which I was told to go over its better) at 650 miles I have really bonded with the little black beast. I swopped my SV 1000 for the Triumph and was a little worried I would miss the tourque, overtaking has been interesting until you start remembering to click down. But on the handling "boy" you only have to think of leaning over and it has done it for you. Engine again, horror stories of bad fueling. I have found the fueling to be faultless, guess they had it sorted by 2006 model. Brakes are awesome, back a little wooden (dont use much anyway). Comfort is up compared to the SV at least an hour and a half before numb bum time compared to 30 mins on SV. Strengths: Handling, Handling, Handling, Brakes, Retro style and looks English. Weaknesses: Back end looks dated.

Having rode a 2000 faired Bandit for my first year of biking, the Triumph is MILES away from the quality of the Suzuki. As soon as I rode away from the dealers having snapped up a brand new S4 for £3700 (plus alarm) (!!!) I knew instantly I was totally hooked. The sound of the engine is great, it sounds like a modern, tight engine, one to be proud of compared to the lazy, loose sounding Bandit. Although I'm still officially running it in, the pick up is very quick and responsive. Obviously being a 600, the gears dissappear pretty quickly, nonetheless when comparing to the Bandit, this feels 10 times quicker :) Brakes are superb, handles like a dream, goes around roundabouts lower than I ever imagined I could go, but am using nearly all of the tyre...eek. Sounds too good to be true.......It is. Just a shame you see the big name bikes like Bandit/Fazer/Hornet/Sv650 in the mags every week and the S4 is missed out...why? Probably because it's better :). Strengths: PRICE Quality of components Handling Looks Hooliganism. Weaknesses: Tank range only 100 miles ish.