Triumphrat

cruisin · 11-22-2012, 08:47 AM

A little more info on your likes & dislikes might be helpful for others to suggest good choices. Do you have to stick with Triumph or are you open to other brands, street, dual sport, dirt, luggage, windscreen, naked, used, new, etc.

There are 1000s of good choices out there, but I know BMWs better than any other brand, I would suggest from various categories:

vintage: any of the old airheads are great machines, easy to work on and rock solid reliable. Also a hoot to ride and get more attention than most newer bikes of any brand.

cruiser: R1200C -- made from 1998 to 2004 / it's a cruiser that handles like a ST bike and turns heads everywhere you go. I'm on my second one as the first one was totaled in Aug. '04. I have drven the two combined about 160K trouble free miles.

ST: the R1100RT -- made from 1996 to 2001 / named #1 sport-touring bike 4 years in a row ('98 to '01) it's not any worse of a bike now than it was then but technology has moved on and some think the new RTs are better -- I wonder though.

sport: R1100/1150S -- a buddy of mine owned one of the 1100s. later he had an RC51, a Busa, and a Ducati. He contends that even though the others were faster, the 1100S would out corner all of them. I can't attest to that as I never rode any of them.

K1200RS or K1200S; both screamin' machines.

naked: R1200R -- the newer ones have tons of power and lightweight to boot. Have another buddy with one of these. He is somewhat of a performance junkie and says it is the most fun he has ever had on a bike.

New touring: K1600GT -- great styling, great power, great handling. Reliability? The jury is still out.

I'm pretty sold on the boxer engines for reliability and ease of maintenance, but many contend the K bikes are better perfromers.

edit: oops, I just picked up on your budget requirements at 3 to 4K. Many of the oil-heads suggested will fall in that range along with older K bikes, but the newer ones won't.

ride4321 · 11-22-2012, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowPocono

Or, might this be the original?
A Meriden Bonneville was featured on the poster.

http://adland.tv/commercials/target-...e-2001-030-usa

Thanks for that link, now that song is stuck in my head.

Silverado57 · 11-22-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin

cruiser: R1200C -- made from 1998 to 2004 / it's a cruiser that handles like a ST bike and turns heads everywhere you go. I'm on my second one as the first one was totaled in Aug. '04. I have drven the two combined about 160K trouble free miles.

naked: R1200R -- the newer ones have tons of power and lightweight to boot. Have another buddy with one of these. He is somewhat of a performance junkie and says it is the most fun he has ever had on a bike.

The first time I saw an R1200C I was slack-jawed. It was one of those beautiful light blue ones.

I think those R1200Rs are very cool but for my puposes I'd want the RT. Or the Triumph Trophy.

cruisin · 11-22-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverado57

The first time I saw an R1200C I was slack-jawed. It was one of those beautiful light blue ones.

I think those R1200Rs are very cool but for my puposes I'd want the RT. Or the Triumph Trophy.

I'm trying to picture a light blue; don't recall exactly. Is it like the light color on my 2-tone here?

Yeah, that new Trophy has me pretty jazzed up, but most here already new that; it's why I'm here.

Moogs · 11-22-2012, 06:00 PM

I am thinking about this bike. Low miles. Low maintenance. Low price. I'm a little suspicious though. New tires at 2500? I asked him about it and he said they were both punctured. Not sure what he means by an R motor.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/3423609147.html

Sorta love the Thruxton's though. Just not sure how they ride.

Appreciate all the suggestions guys. Don't think I'll go for a dirt/street hybrid. Just something easy and cheapish that I may really get to enjoy as well. Budget and reliability is the biggest factor, a classic look secondary perhaps.

Silverado57 · 11-22-2012, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin

I'm trying to picture a light blue; don't recall exactly. Is it like the light color on my 2-tone here?

I think this was the blue I saw...

cruisin · 11-22-2012, 07:28 PM

AH! the ice blue stilletto. beautiful bike indeed.

cruisin · 11-22-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moogs

I am thinking about this bike. Low miles. Low maintenance. Low price. I'm a little suspicious though. New tires at 2500? I asked him . . . . a classic look secondary perhaps.

I'd be a bit concerned about how hard that bike has been ridden. Completely brown header pipes at 2500 miles would indicate some hard riding for some bikes. However, I don't know the brand or model well enough to make that call on that bike.

SherpaT · 11-22-2012, 08:46 PM

If you like vintage looking UJMs, you should be able to find a nice low mileage ZRX1200 in your price range. They have a lot going for them, reliable, low maintenance, great engine, and decent chassis.

Moogs · 11-26-2012, 09:34 PM

So I'm gonna get a 2012 Thruxton. Dammit..... Dual Diablo Reds in my garage. I'm breaking my budget rule but what the hell. It's Christmas, ish.....