1998 Triumph reviews

I bought my 98 Sprint Executive used with 6500 miles on it two years ago. Since it's my first bike, I don't have much to compare it to, but I'm not sure what more I could ask for if I were to buy a new bike. I use it occasionally for commuting, but mostly for getting out of the city and enjoying the countryside. It's excellent in the twisties, and has plenty of giddyup all over the powerband. Suspension's a little soft, but it compensates for the poor seat on long trips. With the racing green finish and stainless pipes, it sounds great and always gets compliments when visiting the local motorcycle destinations. Rode it from New York to South Carolina with my wife last summer and you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces for weeks. The odometer just clicked over to 18000 and I haven't had too many repairs. Just minor electrical, new (Metzler) shoes and drivetrain at 15000, and the usual maintenance (brakes etc.) I have my eye on the new Ducati ST4s but until my bank account catches up with my desire, I'll be pretty happy with the Sprint. Show less

I went from a colors wearing rider of a pretty stock 68 FLH to a 98 Sprint Exec. almost overnight. I rode the FLH everyday(almost) for ten years and knew and loved that bike like my M-16 rifle. I could take it apart, fix it and put it back together blindfolded, hungry, in a rainstorm. I feel the same way about the Sprint. I've felt the same way about every bike I've owned. I know the Sprint is not cutting edge but comming off the FLH the Sprint suits me just fine. I commute on the bike and put 150 miles a week on it. I average 10,000 miles a year with side trips. At 39,000 it has been almost trouble free. The center coil went out the first year and the ignition pick-up sensor went out at about 30,000 miles. Those two electrical problems are the extent of breakdowns. The 900 starts, idles, accelerates and decelerates as smoothly as the day I bought it. Fast(90mph)commuting returns 39-43mpg. On long trips, packed up and going fast on the interstates the mpg will top 50. I keep hearing that the bike is top heavy and too tall. Well, maybe for a girl. The luggage is high quality and easy to remove and the bike looks pretty good without the bags. The hinges, latches and locks have been trouble free. The paint has not faded or cracked and looks as good as new. Mine is platinum. I plan on setting the co mixture to European stats(3.5%)as I understand shortens warm-up time and generally makes it run a little stronger as soon as I can find somebody with an EGA. I plan on keeping this bike for a long time and can highly recommend it. Show less

Positive: Beautiful finish (esp. in Platinum), strong torquey engine, and superb luggage (easy on & off). Great bike in the twisties. Likes to be around redline. Negatives: Marginal-poor seat. Feels somewhat top heavy as other have stated. Likes to be around redline, (a little too much vibe) Overall, I love the bike the more I ride her. I've tried to justify replacing her but can't seem to find a suitable replacement. It's a great SPORT-touring Bike! (Emphasis on sport.) Show less

Purchased a '98 Sprint Executive in spring '99. Put about 8,000 miles on it before trading for a BMW K1200RS. Essentially a half-faired 900 Trophy, the Sprint Exec was inexplicably discontinued when it was replaced by the fantastic Sprint ST in '99. (Much more sport, slightly less touring quotient.) Triumph should have dropped the 900 Trophy and kept the Exec. Good weather protection. Marginal seat. (I replaced the stock seat with a Corbin.) As with all the 885 cc Triumphs, the Sprint Exec is somewhat top heavy. Indeed, it's heavy all over. Beautiful finish (esp in Platinum), strong torquey engine, and superb luggage complete the package. All in all, it's a great bike to ride 500 miles to find some twisties. Show less

Have a 1998 Sprint Executive Platinum it is a great bike well balanced, great performance. I've surprised plenty of sport bike riders with it. It has good handling. The only complaint I have is with the front suspension. It dives hard but since I'm 26 and I don't tour as much as I thought, I would [meaning a couple of hundred a day] I traded it in on a 2000 Speed Triple. But I'd recommend this bike to anyone who wants to sport tour and isn't ready to [wing] it Show less