Triumphs... Which one?

Radis · Trackday Trickster Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Karma :

I have found out we are not going to be going to New Zealand for a few more years at least so the Mrs has agreed to let me trade in the VFR and add a little to get a new bike. I'll be sorting out test rides soon but all the dealers that have the bikes I'm interested in charge for test rides so I would appreciate a little help in narrowing my choices down a bit.

I'll be using the bike to commute on, some motorway and lots of London. I'll also have a bit of fun on it at weekends and take it to France in the summer.

The budget is £6k absolute max including the trade in value for the VFR. Sub £5k would be better...

Options:
- Speed Triple
- Sprint GT 1050
- Tiger 1050
- Thruxton
- Scrambler

Or something else entirely like a Yamaha XJ1300?

Thanks in advance!

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Of those, the Sprint.

Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

You have a lot of different criteria there.

For motorways and France I would go for the Sprint, but you do London too and maybe the Triple or similar would be better for that.

Do you lug much gear around when you commute?
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Radis · Trackday Trickster Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Karma :

At the moment when I commute I only have a bag that I shove in a top box as I leave my suit and shoes at work.

recman · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :

Then don't ruin a Triple with a top box.

koolio · Spanner Monkey Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Karma :

None of those...

Get a Tiger 100 1946-1973.. Around 3k

Most reliable Triumph and was a REAL Triumph made in BRITAIN Thumbs Up

Monkeypony · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Karma :

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Scrambler makes a nice noise, 270 crank or something - youtube Dellboys garage to see what he's done to his.

I've got a 955i Speed Triple. I like it, commute to work on it.

Never heard of dealers charging for test rides. Has it always been so in some parts? Confused

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Keep VFR use it for commute, buy toy. Thumbs Up

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moppy · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Karma :

Tell me more about the VFR, may be interested Razz

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Very odd choosing one brand rather than a genre of bike that fits your needs.

To me, the street triple seems the pick of the Triumph range a - bike that does seem to do better than the competition because it has higher spec equipment on a naked bike.

The rest of the range is matched and often bettered by others. (Ok, the main selling point of the twins is the Triumph badge.)

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

Dealers charge for test rides? I wouldn't buy a bike from a dealer that charged for test rides.

Sable · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2012 Karma :

Head would say Triple.

Heart would say Scrambler. Everyone loves the look of a Triumph Scrambler Wub

Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

Must be a London thing, up here in Yorkshire, no bikes would get sold if we had to pay to try one.

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

I've never heard of people being charged for test rides, what a retarded idea.

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

OnYerBike charge for test riding Ducatis. Refundable if you buy one. And the excess is 3000 quid Shocked

If you are touring, a Tiger or a sprint. I say that because I hate touring without hard removable luggage. I like getting to my hotel, lifting off the box and walking inside.

Why not a Tiger 800 rather than a 1050 as they have really good reports.
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Monkeypony · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Plenty of soft luggage you can lift straight off - often more easily than hard luggage.

BigDan1190 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

Having rode the Speed, Sprint and Tiger, I'd recommend the Sprint as the best all rounder by far. Tiger is not as much fun, but slightly comfier, and you're not allowed to put a top box on a Speed. Punishable by death, or (even worse) a revoked license.

And a sprint looks decent with a top box.

EDIT:

Not the GT. The GT looks disgusting in my opinion with that low gay exhaust, and its longer, lower body... eurgh.

ST 1050 all the way. 2007+ though, the early ones had issues.

spnorm · Crazy Courier Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Karma :

Radis · Trackday Trickster Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Karma :

Thanks for all the input!

To clarify: If I got any bike other than a tourer/commuter/tiger type I would not be fitting any boxes to it. At worst I would fit some soft luggage to tour with but that would be temporary.

I have only gone for the Triumph range as I fancied the 1050 triple engine and I liked the looks of their modern classic range - I'm quite open to other brands really...

With regards to the VFR I want to sell it as I am bored of it... I have been offered £2k cash and £2.5k trade in by metropolis motorcycles who happen to have a load of Triumphs I quite like the look of but they charge £100 to test ride which then gets added to the deposit if you decide to buy. There is another dealer out in Oxford who wants £25 per bike to test. I have never paid to test ride before, even in London... it irks me somewhat which is why I am trying to narrow my options a bit. Happy to sell privately if the price is right! (PM me if you want some more info on the VFR)

So far it is a matter of looks and fun (Speed Triple) vs practicality in the Tiger or Sprint.... I'm thinking that as they all share the same engine they should feel broadly the same in terms of power so the main differences in terms of ride quality would be down to suspension or are the engines tuned differently?

I don't fancy the new VFR - it has really poor mileage to the tank as far as I have seen... and it is more expensive than the Triumphs.

1198 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jan 2013 Karma :

£100 to test ride? They kidding?
Save your money on the test ride, stick it in the tank of the VFR and ride north and test ride a couple for free, make your mind up properly - robbing bastards!

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

There's a guy at my local phone exchange/depot that commutes around 15miles each way to work and back on a 1050 Sprint. It looks a smart enough bike, but not as funky as the VFR800 VTEC, and it's got a very squared off back tyre too!

I just can't help thinking that a 1000cc+ engine and 200kg+ bike is a bit much really both in terms of size and weight, and also running costs for a bike that your doing the everyday commute on as most of it's useage. Surely a 1050cc engine is a waste in a commuter and would be more fun in a more capable chassis too?