Buying my first new bike - advice?

Give that man a ceeeegar.

Amal Concentrics instead of GP's and a twin leader front wheel from a '68. Well done.

Here's one of the original pistons, now a paperweight.

Originally Posted by 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...

How late into the month? Great tip!

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

or SE....

Sat on a V7 because they're so beautiful. Didn't fit:

Originally Posted by Whitty

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?

Nope. GSX14's aren't sold any more, don't want a sportsbike (ZX) and the XJR looks boring (but I do like them otherwise), like they're waiting to be made into something awesome.

Originally Posted by Small Clanger

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 )

Too expensive. What other bikes have you fit well at 6'5"?

[squirrel_hunter]

Originally Posted by allantheboss

How late into the month? Great tip!

That I don't know, didn't think to ask at the time. Might be worthwhile cold calling a few dealers to try and find out, but I would guess around the last week, they should know from their current sales what its looking like...

The two GS12's were comfortable, both for myself and the wife on the pillion. We did major miles in all weathers on them. The R1200S was also a very comfortable bike, a superb long-legged A-road bike. Up through North Yorkshire, Northumberland, into the Borders and back down through Cumbria. 9/10 hour days in the saddle, no problems. Probably one of the best bikes I've had. I would have loved to have kept it for track-days but those two f-cking great cylinders poking out......one low-side would have written her off. I had an RT1200 for a weekend on demo, that was really uncomfortable, hated it. The 'Glide was a perfect long distance ride as well, way too expensive now though.

How about the Triumph 800XC or whatever it's called? They look quite good. GS800's are also good if you're tall but I would'nt buy one at the moment. They've just up-graded the GS650 so no doubt the 800 will be next, they'll have to keep ahead of Triumph!

I always make sure I get on friendly terms with the dealership, I run a business, so I know that everyone else who does has to make money.

When you decide what you want, use the 'net, spec it up, know what the bits cost, know what your trade in's worth, do your homework, that's part of the fun. I don't really need to ask how much a specced-up bike is going to cost when I walk into a dealership, I make sure I already know, likewise with trade-in values. Tell them what you have, tell them what you'd like, and ask for the figure it'll cost to change. That's what I do.
A quick calculation based on the miles I've covered on the bike I'm trading in tells me how much it's cost per mile. If it's not too eye-watering, shake their hand. Whatever your budget is, aim a bit higher, there's always a bit of leeway, especially if you can look them in the eye and say "include that and I'll write the cheque now"
Worked plenty of times for me anyway.

ZRX not zx if they still sell them. Xjr is lovely bike to ride but pegs grind easily when you start shifting.

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

That I don't know, didn't think to ask at the time. Might be worthwhile cold calling a few dealers to try and find out, but I would guess around the last week, they should know from their current sales what its looking like...

Triumph sales figures are taken quarterly, not monthly. An individual dealership may have their salesmen paid on commission on a monthly basis if the deal is invoiced but not all dealerships work the same way... we certainly don't work that way.

Saying a particular brand do things this way or that way shows a glaring lack of knowledge of the way bike dealerships and the trade in general work.

[squirrel_hunter]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Triumph sales figures are taken quarterly, not monthly. An individual dealership may have their salesmen paid on commission on a monthly basis if the deal is invoiced but not all dealerships work the same way... we certainly don't work that way.

Saying a particular brand do things this way or that way shows a glaring lack of knowledge of the way bike dealerships and the trade in general work.

The sales guy I was chatting with (multi-franchise dealer) only specifically said Triumph in the conversion, hence why I have been led to believe that is how Triumph operate. But that is interesting and I'll take it up with him next time I'm over there.

So if Triumph take their sales figures quarterly and if a dealership is shy on numbers given the information I have been told it could help Allan here on his quest to buy himself a new bike. Furthermore could you help Allan and maybe others by furnishing the end of quarter dates they use and maybe suggest a good time to approach a deal?