Buying my first new bike - advice?

It's come that time in a man's life, having gone from sports bike, to a sensible more comfortable sports bike, to mid-life-crisis power cruiser, and now I'm on the comeback looking for a classic-style bike to remind me of my youth, with my 22nd birthday coming up in 6 months.

The fact that I'm ridiculously tall cuts out a lot of options for me. I want something that looks awesome, classic/cruiser, and actually fits. Rocket III Roadster is perfect but out of my budget. Jap cruisers and bigger Harleys are too blingy. I love the look of the Iron 883 but it's too small and pretty slow.

Now, here's the bit that might please a lot of people on here, being an SV forum: I fit the Triumph Scrambler very well, but I hear that it's a pretty terrible (albeit fun) bike. Which leads to to the T100. I think it's beautiful, it fits quite well, looks simple (not dripping in chrome, body infills or shiny paint) and all that. So:

TL;DR-
1 - What are y'all's opinion on it? Reviews are hard to come by for this bike, interested to hear all.

2 - I've never bought a bike new. How much play is there to get a deal? Are dealerships the best/only place to buy from? Tips on how to get free shizz?

Yay for the org

how about a norton ? not a cruiser but could be classed as a classic ps no idea of the price

Kawasaki W800, looks a damn sight better than the Triumph

[yorkie_chris]

You want something fun to remind you of your youth.

Youth, you were an incline in something of your dads when these were out so that one's ticked.
You're obviously not fussed about power, handling or reliability since you've considered a h*rl*y...

Get an RD350.

Originally Posted by barwel1992

how about a norton ? not a cruiser but could be classed as a classic ps no idea of the price

Just looked - over double the T100

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Kawasaki W800, looks a damn sight better than the Triumph

Way too small for my masculine frame. I sat on one a while back.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

You want something fun to remind you of your youth.

Youth, you were an incline in something of your dads when these were out so that one's ticked.
You're obviously not fussed about power, handling or reliability since you've considered a h*rl*y...

Get an RD350.

I thought the power was lame, but it was incredible fun to ride! Though I now see why people can both love, or hate Harleys. I get the ever so slight impression you do not like them.

[squirrel_hunter]

If buying new from Triumph wait until the end of the month, if they haven't reached their sales target they will bend over backwards to get the sale. Even going as far as to put the order for the bike in their name so they get their staff discount on the bike to reduce the price the customer pays in order to get the sale. This information may and or may not come from a chap who works for Triumph...

[STRAMASHER]

or SE....

Have you seen the modified swiss race W800's in ride magazine? Wouldn't normally be my thing but I think they look pretty cool. Or go 70's style retro xjr,gsx14,zrx route?

I quite like the look of the new Bonneville type things, a 12plate one just passed me (in the Defender) on the A1 and it looked lovely. APART FROM! the rear light/rear turn signals look absolutely crap. Yes, things have moved on from the ones on my old bike, made by Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness. But the new ones look like they were designed by Dan Dare's ray-gun supplier. I'd like to have a go on one though. Trouble is, I've had an old one so I think they're a bit bogus.

Have you considered the next size up from a Sportster? The Dyna family. I've had an '03 FXDL Lowrider and an '06 FXD35 Anniversary SuperGlide. Great bikes and comfortable for me at 6'5"
I'd put fork springs and shocks from Progressive Suspension and some Metzelers on the FXD35 so it was pretty nice to ride too (for a Harley )

Attached photo's of photo's of my '66 T120 Bonneville as it was when I'd just finished it, with flat bars, and with US bars next to the bike that replaced it, a Sportster Sport. Bought the Bonnie as a basket case in about '91 and sold it in Dec '01.

ps, quiz time............it's a '66 Bonneville. What's not '66 on it?

[Biker Biggles]

Originally Posted by Small Clanger

I quite like the look of the new Bonneville type things, a 12plate one just passed me (in the Defender) on the A1 and it looked lovely. APART FROM! the rear light/rear turn signals look absolutely crap. Yes, things have moved on from the ones on my old bike, made by Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness. But the new ones look like they were designed by Dan Dare's ray-gun supplier. I'd like to have a go on one though. Trouble is, I've had an old one so I think they're a bit bogus.

Have you considered the next size up from a Sportster? The Dyna family. I've had an '03 FXDL Lowrider and an '06 FXD35 Anniversary SuperGlide. Great bikes and comfortable for me at 6'5"
I'd put fork springs and shocks from Progressive Suspension and some Metzelers on the FXD35 so it was pretty nice to ride too (for a Harley )

Attached photo's of photo's of my '66 T120 Bonneville as it was when I'd just finished it, with flat bars, and with US bars next to the bike that replaced it, a Sportster Sport. Bought the Bonnie as a basket case in about '91 and sold it in Dec '01.

ps, quiz time............it's a '66 Bonneville. What's not '66 on it?

Two suggestions for what is not 66 on it.Cant see clearly but are they later carbs?Also its got a twin leading shoe front brake and I think they came a bit later too?