Cold Feet

Coyote Chris

Site Supporter
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
3,834
Location
Spokane
Bike
10 Red NT 14 FJR, 17 XT
If I would build the perfect motorycycle, this would be it.
The Triump Tiger 900 GT Aragon edition. With luggage ($945) Luggage mounting hardware ($410) and Tank protection bar ($405). It comes with a proper center stand and lower bars and skid plate.
In my dream world, it would have a 29 inch seat height. I would put a Givi adjustable wind screen on it. And a soft luggage rack on the luggage rack, such as it is. I would not have to set the valves at 12,000 miles for $1800. Or balance the throttle bodies every 6,000 miles using a OBD to bluetooth to android phone app that cost 25 a year for the app.
I would actually have Honda or Yamaha build it.
Perfect motorcycle.jpg
From Triump there would be a $600 magnatory transportation fee. $200 documentation fee. Assembly fee $300 or so. $160 licensing. And 9.2 percent sales tax. Call it $21,000, then you have $400 insurance fee per year and $200 added umbrella policy fee. I have two other bikes and I take three tours a year and some country riding. The riding season is four or so months long.
My FJR has become too heavy and therefore dangerous to paddle around uneven surfaces and it going to be sold by my son as the Triump dealer refuses to take it in on trade 2014 FJR with 39,000. I want $3000 and he gets $1000. He knows lots of people. He tours with 5 other law enforcement agents.

Frosty told me about a 2020 Black Triump 900 GT Pro at the local dealer with 9,200 equiped about like my dream bike, except it has all sorts of bells and whistles like 9 levels of electronic preload that I could care less bout. $11,000 plus if desired $1,000 two year warrenty. $1900 for two year service contract that would cover the oil changes and other service items, like throttle body synchs and $1800 valve lash settings. I road it. It was fine. The tach was some sort of a bizarre unreadable curved bar chart, unlike the 2024 and up round ones. The quote was $13,558 with pirate fees.
It had an odd story. the second owner , known by the dealership, had them take care of the bike 1300 miles ago, a year ago...they started servicing it. When the guy traded it in on a 100 lb lighter bike, he said he was having a knee operation and wanted something lighter. He apologized as he couldnt find the keys to the luggage. The dealer told him they were keyed to the ignition key. The luggage looked like it had never been on any bike.

I was going to buy it but then I saw that the dealer had a new 2025 Tiger GT in stock for $13,800. Down $1500. And NO shipping and set up charges. A real tachometer, and 2 year warrenty. Yes, it needed roll bars and luggage and a center stand. But this dealer might give a discount of 10-20 percent on $2,000 worth of accessories. And it didnt have any of the silly pro accessories I didnt care about.
tiger gt 25.jpg
But now, you are still talking $17-18K
I have cold feet. Things done feel right. Yes, I have the money....but I want to feel good about this and I dont.
I rode my VFR today and I really like it and I really like my XT Vstrom. If one or two of them go away, I would buy a $20,000 bike in a heart beat.
The sales manager doesnt act like someone who wants to deal, despite a raft of bikes in stock. I dont like a brand that cant put many dealers out in the field. I am sure there are many in England.
I could buy a Desert version and just put it in my living room as I like the looks.
See below
 
$18,000 desert edition. It has a center stand. I dont care about all the pro features but then I dont have to use them, do I? I do like the driving lites. Luggage is $1400
1783399645458.png
It also has a real tach.
new screen.jpg
 
I don't think that you need to concern yourself anymore about Triumph build quality. They are nothing like my old '67 Bonneville. After my '66 BSA and '67 Bonny I swore off Brit bikes. I think that when John Bloor resurrected the Triumph marque, he knew that to be successful in the market, his product had to be a near peer to the Japanese offerings. Wisely, Lucas electrics are no longer "featured" on the Triumphs. They always made each ride an adventure!

Mike
 
Take your time and get it right. Riding a motorcycle is the by far the best way to evaluate the function, performance, handling, and comfort. But riding any demo bike in all sorts of conditions (which matter) is pretty much impossible. Comparing statistics until the cows come home is informative but doesn't give real world comparisons. I have no wisdom to add to your analysis of motorcycles. And I agree with you that all the fees (dealers and taxes, liscense, insurance, etc) discourages one from buying anything - especially repeatedly.

I'm generally an informed buyer but with the complexity of just about everything these days understanding everything about every option available is impossible (for me). That was true of the Subaru I bought 2 years ago and the same for the motorcycle I just. bought. I'm satisfied with both of those machines. Both of those machines are smart enough to take care of me, but they insist on doing things the way the computer wants to do it. It's sort of a binary system - do it right or it won't work. Both of my new machines do things in the background that I'm unaware at the time. But they both work better than the any of the '53 Chevys that I owned or my old Trail 90. But the '53 Chevys were better than the Trail 90 and the Trail 90 was better than my bicycle. It's all relative.

Does analyzing motorcycle statistics keep your mind or the fire danger?
 
Looks like tube tires on the Desert version... I won't do tubes... heck, I'll do chains before dealing w/tubes.
Look closely and you will see BMW style wire wheels that LOOK like tube rims but arent. At least they look that way to me. NO TUBES! They should be outlawed from street bikes. One of the good things Bavarian tractor works did.
Rally pro. left over. no shipping or setup. Note real center stand, skid plate, roll bars.
ralley pro 2025.jpg
 
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Take your time and get it right. Riding a motorcycle is the by far the best way to evaluate the function, performance, handling, and comfort. But riding any demo bike in all sorts of conditions (which matter) is pretty much impossible. Comparing statistics until the cows come home is informative but doesn't give real world comparisons. I have no wisdom to add to your analysis of motorcycles. And I agree with you that all the fees (dealers and taxes, liscense, insurance, etc) discourages one from buying anything - especially repeatedly.

I'm generally an informed buyer but with the complexity of just about everything these days understanding everything about every option available is impossible (for me). That was true of the Subaru I bought 2 years ago and the same for the motorcycle I just. bought. I'm satisfied with both of those machines. Both of those machines are smart enough to take care of me, but they insist on doing things the way the computer wants to do it. It's sort of a binary system - do it right or it won't work. Both of my new machines do things in the background that I'm unaware at the time. But they both work better than the any of the '53 Chevys that I owned or my old Trail 90. But the '53 Chevys were better than the Trail 90 and the Trail 90 was better than my bicycle. It's all relative.

Does analyzing motorcycle statistics keep your mind or the fire danger?
All true.
Note Alpine edition. note roll bar and center stand. I think this dealer will get hungry come fall....they have 25 Chinese units in stock that areent selling.
The fire dept was again called at 8:30 last time as the fire 1/2 mile away flared up again after the 18 units left but 4 units came and took care of it. Lots of other small spot fires around town yesterday (I can listen to their transmissions on my phone) The hill billies to our north are downwind of us today when the winds gust to 30 mph. Piles of old junk cars in tall dry grass.
Mellow and Frosty have given me some interesting forums to join. If I still have a house after the next two days (two homeless camps in woods to my south) I have one week to prepare for Oshkosh and loading my Subaru Crosstrek for a two week break. The truimps still talk to me.....
Few will understand but I always loved the way my 2014 FJR looked and when the price dropped to $13,800 no shipping or dealer setup, in crate or or assembled, I jumped on it and it has been a wonderful bike for 39,000 mi. I like the way the triumps look too and with cruise control and heated grips, they are practical.
Alpine edition.jpg
 
Look closely and you will see BMW style wire wheels that LOOK like tube rims but arent. At least they look that way to me. NO TUBES! They should be outlawed from street bikes. One of the good things Bavarian tractor works did.
Rally pro. left over. no shipping or setup. Note real center stand, skid plate, roll bars.
View attachment 23965
I stand corrected... well, I'm sitting...
 
Take your time and get it right. Riding a motorcycle is the by far the best way to evaluate the function, performance, handling, and comfort. But riding any demo bike in all sorts of conditions (which matter) is pretty much impossible. Comparing statistics until the cows come home is informative but doesn't give real world comparisons. I have no wisdom to add to your analysis of motorcycles. And I agree with you that all the fees (dealers and taxes, liscense, insurance, etc) discourages one from buying anything - especially repeatedly.

I'm generally an informed buyer but with the complexity of just about everything these days understanding everything about every option available is impossible (for me). That was true of the Subaru I bought 2 years ago and the same for the motorcycle I just. bought. I'm satisfied with both of those machines. Both of those machines are smart enough to take care of me, but they insist on doing things the way the computer wants to do it. It's sort of a binary system - do it right or it won't work. Both of my new machines do things in the background that I'm unaware at the time. But they both work better than the any of the '53 Chevys that I owned or my old Trail 90. But the '53 Chevys were better than the Trail 90 and the Trail 90 was better than my bicycle. It's all relative.

Does analyzing motorcycle statistics keep your mind or the fire danger?
Taking my time is correct. I feel better. Right now things are so hectic with wildfire prep and Oshkosh and cruise planning. I want to feel right about this. I really feel right about the 900 after my test drive. Great engine and great clutch. Didnt try clutchless shifting but for me its a question no one asked.
 
I stand corrected... well, I'm sitting...
Sitting is bad for my fav moderator. You should be wacking 15 acres of cheet grass!

My phone last night. Note fires at 8:40p and 10:11 am. Hill Williams with piles of old junk cars in tall grass. Welder? Fire works? Who knows? Note speaker symbol. I can listen to all my local spokane rural fire dept audios. PulsePoint is a great app. You can follow what ever fire dept in your area and go to an incident and see whats happening, a link to Watch duty, another great app, and zoom in on sattalite view to see which neighber messed up.
1783439770918.png
 
Don't tell me your 2014 FJR is only worth 3000 dollars. Then what is mine worth with 65000 miles.
Chuck, the dealer didnt want it at any price as a trade in. A fair trade in value is about 4.
This is the dealer that took in a member's nt with over 100,000 on it.
Right now, no one is selling anything. Lana at the campground was saying the same thing for Rapid city that the national news was saying about America. People are in a wait and see buying mode. Its not just the price of gas. Microsoft just announced that it is laying off 4,800 workers from (I think) the seattle area. AI and other reasons.
This Triump dealer is over stocked with chineese machines and everything else. They wouldnt even take my bike in on commision. No room.
My son thinks we can get $3000 for my FJR. I would be happy with that. 12 model years old and 39,000 miles. Once you get the bugger off your finger, you stop paying tags, insurance, umbrella fees, maintenance fees. I hope your market place is different.
 
Look closely and you will see BMW style wire wheels that LOOK like tube rims but arent. At least they look that way to me. NO TUBES! They should be outlawed from street bikes. One of the good things Bavarian tractor works did.
Rally pro. left over. no shipping or setup. Note real center stand, skid plate, roll bars.
The Rally Models come with spoke wheels. Reviewers do not like them as they are hard to clean. The GT models have more of a road bias. It has a 19" front wheel.
 
Hey Chris: I happened to see a review of a slightly different Triumph, the Tiger Sport 800 Tour. 113 hp triple engine. Full luggage. Cruise. Heated grips and seat. Centerstand. Full wet weight 511 lbs. Looked very interesting. Retail price just under $15 k.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately) no one has in stock near me.
 
I happened to see a review of a slightly different Triumph, the Tiger Sport 800 Tour. Same triple engine. Full luggage. Cruise. Heated grips and seat. Centerstand. Looked very interesting to me.
 
Chuck, the dealer didnt want it at any price as a trade in. A fair trade in value is about 4.
This is the dealer that took in a member's nt with over 100,000 on it.
Right now, no one is selling anything. Lana at the campground was saying the same thing for Rapid city that the national news was saying about America. People are in a wait and see buying mode. Its not just the price of gas. Microsoft just announced that it is laying off 4,800 workers from (I think) the seattle area. AI and other reasons.
This Triump dealer is over stocked with chineese machines and everything else. They wouldnt even take my bike in on commision. No room.
My son thinks we can get $3000 for my FJR. I would be happy with that. 12 model years old and 39,000 miles. Once you get the bugger off your finger, you stop paying tags, insurance, umbrella fees, maintenance fees. I hope your market place is different.
Market is not the issue, I had an opportunity to trade it in twice now. Once seven years ago when I bought my Big Versys 1000 SE And then again a year ago when I bought my NT1100. Both times it would have been a fair trade with the amount of miles at that time. I just could not let her go. But situations change and the sale or trade of the FJR is again on the mind. Maybe I should drain the fluids, disassemble her, take her down stairs to my family room, reassemble and use her for Still Art. :biggrin:
 
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