Featured 2018 Speed Triple Rs – Ownership Thread

Another 100 miles today through the twisty Essex countryside (in case you're local...Abridge, Ongar, Dunmow, Finchingfield, Hempstead, Thaxted, Takely to Hatfield Heath (one of my favourite stretches), Fyfield, Ongar and back to Abridge).

I learned that using all the available revs in conjunction with Shift Assist, is raucous and supremely exhilarating.

In reality, finding the red line was quite hard (on country lanes). I'm not keen on maxing out in first gear, so that leaves second...and you have to do between 83 and 85mph to turn the rev gauge a bright shade of red. Third gear was clearly out of the question.

This bike is so different to my old R - I'm no racer, but the extra rev range really transforms the ride. It feels way more willing, much lighter and easier to turn in...and the exhaust note (in my opinion) is perfect without those discs.

I run the rear suspension at 18 Compression and 15 Rebound, but tried the Rebound at 13 today. It felt great, but a tad hard, so I'm going back to 15.

Back to cleaning and staring at it tomorrow

 

That's a great photo (and a lovely bike!) - I need to get more arty with my photography. Anyone tried a moody dark background photo of the Matt Black version?

With regard to the exhaust, there are no negatives whatsoever. As I wrote earlier, the idle went wobbly initially, but was easily cured using 'Reset Adaption' (from cold, start without touching the throttle or any controls, run for 10 to 15 minutes (the dealer advised 12 minutes) and the ECU will adapt to the engine.)

 

Another wise colour choice and you have a tank too!

 

Now that looks gorgeous. The tank grip suits the styling really well. Very nice indeed!

 

Well fingers crossed that they do release something, because I've spoken to them a couple of times at shows and there's not been any movement to date. My son has AR on his Daytona and MT-10 - and the MT-10 in particular, sounds absolutely amazing (with the baffle out, it's reminiscent of a V4). He visited their workshop and said it was like Aladdin's cave (no photos allowed).

Definitely my first choice

Here's the MT-10:



and the Daytona:

 

Sounds like you and I could team up and get something sorted

The SC Project under-seat slip-ons are reported not to fit the 2018, as the diameter of the link pipe (where it meets each can) is allegedly different. SC are quoting September to have an updated part.

It's all a bit confusing, because the 2016/17 Arrow cans included a different link pipe (a much nicer shinier one that needs no clamps at the can end...hence the old wobbly can problem...which was easily solved using a broomstick as a lever...but I digress). I assume that all of the aftermarket under-seat slip ons, fit the standard link pipe.

Of course with the 2018, the Arrow cans are mated to the standard link pipe (in other words, if you buy Arrow cans for the 2018 S, you don't get a new link pipe as you did for 2016/17).

Now looking at where the link pipe joins the cat, for 2016/17, the cat exit pipe is attached to the lower frame mounting point; but for 2018, it's now the link pipe that attaches to the lower frame mounting point.

The other three mounting points for the under-seat Arrow cans (one on each can and one on the link pipe) are the same for 2018 - I know this because I mounted my old 2016 Arrow cans and offered up the link pipe, before establishing that it was short at the cat end.

Phew...glad to get that lot of my chest



Plus...I also understand that the headers are a different size, rendering the 2017/17 Lowboy useless too.

 

I thought I had tried to answer that - maybe not very well

I'll send you a PM with my number and we could have a chat...and spare the world the pain of my ramblings. Then I can post up the results when I have them.

I think that for any low mount option, the link pipe attachment is a different length and requires a mounting bracket, and for any high mount option, the link pipe is a different diameter at the can (which is why the current SC cans won't fit).