Well my Stripler has been in the shop waiting for the fork stanchions to be rechromed after one started peeing oil everywhere, not weeping, I mean total dripping, seal totally gone and the chrome too. Silly money for new legs and because they’re upside down forks it’s even worse apparently, so I’ve been bikeless during all the nice weather. I would be thinking of changing to a T120 or a Tiger but seeing as Sadistiq Khan is wanting to extend the ULEZ right out to fairly near me and in between mine and somewhere I visit frequently, I may be forced to chop in the old oil burner for a newer car, which I am not too chuffed about, not just cos I would rather spend it on a bike, but because I can’t afford to right now anyway, and besides I actually rather like my Tiguan even if diesel is rapidly approaching the price of beer.
Any fellow motorbiking coffee fans?
So I sold the Harley and got on the phone to a couple of dealerships about finding a new bike. Firstly what happened to decent service when you want to buy a vehicle? I’m there trying to spend £10k on a bike and I may as well have been a nuisance caller…
“Hi there I’d like to try ‘x’ bike please, would it be ok to make an appointment?”
“Sorry we don’t have that on demo and we can only get two of them new before the end of the year and they’re both ‘insert unappealing colour here’”
Looks like I’ll be buying used!
Ernie1 “Sorry we don’t have that on demo and we can only get two of them new before the end of the year and they’re both ‘insert unappealing colour here’”
I see motorcycle dealers have not changed much in the last 25 years…some used to be good, but too many like that.
Amazing. You would think they don’t have targets to meet. I suppose if the manufacturer won’t allocate enough units then they can’t sell them, but I don’t understand the logic of that. Mind you almost every bike I’ve had has been a couple of years old and low mileage, I’ve never had new, and can’t see much reason to spend the extra, especially with that sort of customer service!
- Edited
Totally agree, especially with how much some new bikes depreciate in the first year. Although that gap has closed with production shortages pushing used bike prices up.
I usually just buy new if I can’t find a used model in the colour/model variant I want. The warranty is also a nice bonus. Although most manufacturers sting you for a first service after you’ve barely ridden it home these days so that’s another £250 to add to the cost!
Our current car’s first service was due at 12,000 miles or two years (we haven’t even done 12,000 in three years) and I think my Bonneville was 500 miles…
Trouble is, £10K only gets you a 600cc these days and they’re more interested in selling £18-25K 1000cc+ bikes. The manufacturers are still feeling the effects of loss of production from COVID/Ukraine too.
Covid tax down under.
It is almost impossible to buy a new car/bike/jetski/caravan etc.
With covid stopping interstate and international travel, those with $$ have raised the prices of used models above that of new ones as the new ones are unavailable for up to 2 years.
Car yards are almost empty, numpty salespeople don’t have to work for a sale.
Yeah, but Harleys aren’t about the bikes themselves (Milwaukee pig iron), it’s about the perceived lifestyle of non-bikers ;)
Ernie1 IMHO, it’s partly envy and blind prejudice…. For me, ever since seeing Easy Rider at an impressionable age, always desired a Harley.
I’ve owned over 50 motorcycles in my past, from a 1949 Matchie 500 (First bike, barn find) through a host of Japanese, several boxer twins and a couple of Harley’s - an evo 1200S and a customised Evo Springer, the only bike I’ve ever enjoyed doing the speed limit on. Corners how I like them were just off the menu, but while all my mates rode HDs, I could cope. When they all started giving it away bought a 1200 Bandit, which was a lovely bike, but a licence killer. Last bike was a monolever R100RS which I ended up trading for a boat (beach life)..
Gave it all away years ago and although I do miss the fun, getting too old and rusty and sure don’t miss the rest.
- Edited
Some good, some bad and some pretty average, but it was a helluva lot of fun.
Regards the FXR, nice bikes, huge custom potential but not that common in NZ. Rode just evos - Sporties, Softtails,Dynas, FL series.
Iron heads were for the impoverished or the technically minded who weren’t in a hurry and enjoyed a challenge. The Twin Cam motors were still new and really for the very well heeled when I lost interest.
I went the Softail route because the Sportster wasn’t a great fit and nearly all my mates had softtails. (Peer pressure? Surely not?) My Springer was a very pretty bike at a very good price with a heap spent on bling and performance. Once I fitted an FXR pulley and belt, it stopped bouncing off the rev limiter in top, too…. lmfao!!
Never really settled on any particular style, had a bunch of two strokes, RD400, T500, RZ350, TS400 ( most slightly modded, cough!) fair few inline 4’s - CB750 (Sohc and Dohc), CBR600, GSX750, Bandit 1200, XJ650….
My favourite bike I think was the Yammie SR500 - not fast but sheer fun. Had 2 of those. The R100RS was beautiful but a little too Teutonic for me…..(never was the most rational of people then). Happy days, shame about all the injuries, lol
What a selection! Great to hear you’ve ridden so many styles of bike. Always good to ride bikes because they’re fun or quirky and not just because they’re rocket ship fast!
My transition to the big-twin was much the same as yours. I absolutely love the looks of an Evo Sporty when parked up, and the Northern California style Ironheads of the 60s-70s too but at 6’1, I looked like the elephant in the circus when I caught my reflection in the window. And then two-grown adults on a Sportster!! What a sight!
Hanging my head in shame…
- Edited
Took delivery of the Street Scrambler last week… lovely looking bike but SMALL and the 900 feels hugely underpowered. I wasn’t able to test ride one due to lack of availability so it was quite the shock when we (6’1 and my wife 5’9) got on and felt like the elephant riding the bicycle at the circus.
Fun little bike and probably great for shorter riders doing city commutes but coming from multiple 1200cc+ bikes to a bike that’s very tamely tuned felt like a huge step backwards.
Fortunately the dealer was understanding given a lack of test ride and I’ve just ordered a Scrambler 1200 XE. The bike I should’ve bought in the first place.
Will post some pics when it arrives!
- Edited
I fancied the Scrambler 1200xe but my whole rationale for chopping in the Street Triple was pillion comfort and the salesman said he thought the high exhaust would be an issue for her at some point. Not sure I’m ready for a T120 yet, I fancy the Speed Twin more, but again, it’s barely better for pillion than the Streety. Might save up a bit until next year and see if there are any used Tiger 900s. I have a nagging feeling I will miss the immediacy and instant grin of the Street Triple though if I go all comfort-oriented. Mrs might prefer the Tiger though. I want to go abroad on the bike again, haven’t done so since taking the Fazer 1000 to the Nürburgring and the WWII battlefields. I think the Street isn’t quite comfy enough for a trip like that now I’m 10 years older, and I’m not convinced it won’t break down either, 13 years old.
Hotmetal
I took my Speed Triple for a tour of Tassie last February.
The other blokes were all on adventure bikes, three of them on new Tigers.
I love my Speedy but those Tigers are awesome!
Fast, comfy, lots of luggage, heated seats and grips, cruise control, abs, traction control.
I am seriously considering spending the $20k aud to trade up.