Triumphrat

captainbrex · 11-17-2009, 11:21 PM

A salesman at a local Triumph dealership is willing to trade a 2002 Thunderbird straight across for my 1998 yellow TBS. My bike has about 8k miles on it and the dealer bike has less than 1k. As much as I love my bike, the wife would like something with lower passenger pegs. To be honest, after an hour or so on my TBS my legs and backside could use a break.

I guess I have 2 questions, from a financial standpoint is this a good trade? And, will I notice a big difference in performance if I go from a TBS to a Thunderbird?

vonbonds · 11-17-2009, 11:38 PM

Suspension you will definitely notice and possibly the brakes but that depends how aggressively you ride. I owned a Tbird before my TBS and in my opinion it is a much more comfortable bike. I had highway pegs on it and could cruise all day long. Get the K&Q seat or an aftermarket seat, Hagon or similar rear shock and upgrade the front springs and you will have a very good little touring bike on your hands.

If you and your wife will be happier with the Tbird then by all means go for it. I am sure you are on the wrong end of the deal a little bit so maybe they can toss in a seat or the Hagon to even it out a bit.

vonbonds · 11-17-2009, 11:39 PM

I forgot to mention it is the same motor and I can't tell the difference between either bike as I have ridden friends and they mine.

denny · 11-18-2009, 12:20 AM

You loose Adjustable front Suspension, one disc on the front brake, more easily found tire sizes, and those cool looking exhaust on one side. You'll notice the difference in handling and braking. The engine is the same, except for the exhaust configuration, which does add some horespower in the upper Rev range.

You gain comfort, and a bike with much fewer miles on it.

BUT, if that bike has sat for any length of time unridden, it could need some TLC that yours does not....ie. Carbs thoroughly cleaned.
That means the jets should be so clean that they will sparkle when you view them with a magnifying glass. And the rest of the fuel system should also be cleaned to prevent the carbs from getting gunked up. When gasoline sits for long period of time it gels and turns to a Varnish like substance which can cause problems.

A 7 year old bike with only 1,000 miles is highly suspect.
Grease gets hard, Rubber seals dry out, brakefluid collects moisture, moisture condenses in the gas tank and inside the crankcase, etc.
If a bike is ridden those things are less likely to happen.
Are there service records that show the oil has been changed at least yearly minimum, and preferably twice a year.

So if that Dealer will guarantee the dependability of that TBird (in writing) through the next riding season, I'd say go for it, if that's what you want.

Bbogie · 11-18-2009, 12:44 AM

Just buy the Tbird for your wife to ride. Much easier than making a decision.

denny · 11-18-2009, 12:46 AM

I forgot about that choice.....

Now you know why I have 2 bikes......

thekeyman · 11-18-2009, 05:43 PM

Buy the Tbird, better than money in the bank or shares, its going to take a week or two to check out the static display bike. Sitting around on a 1,000 miles makes for seizures. Think of it as an investment for the kids. Look good in the hall too.

ssevy · 11-18-2009, 09:58 PM

I can imagine someone buying a new bike with the intention of riding it daily, and then discovering:
1- I'm not into bikes like I thought I was
2- My life has changed and I don't have time to ride

Why do they keep it? Because of "someday" (wistful expression). If it has been stored in a dry, warm environment, you might get away with just some carb cleaning and new fluids, but I concur with Denny - you may be getting into some major renovating. If you have experience working on a bike, then I say go for it. You may get lucky and it may be like new and just need some carb cleaning. If not, it will be a great bike to renovate. If you have to pay for service, however, it would be best to avoid this one I think.

Also, while a written guarantee sounds great, I bet you would have a tough time getting them to honor it in case of a sprag clutch or other expensive repair on the one hand, and items needing replacement because of their age on the other. It would probably cost you more to hire a good lizard to take them to court than you would ever get back.

GrvThang · 11-19-2009, 12:33 AM

Take the TB out for an hour or two with your wife. The difference in handling, handlebar positioning, suspension, and sixth gear might mean mean less to you than you and your wife's comfort (which depends on your riding style). That's your call - no one can fault you for that. Either way, you can't go wrong - these triples are great bikes.

cafetbird · 11-22-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssevy

I can imagine someone buying a new bike with the intention of riding it daily, and then discovering:
1- I'm not into bikes like I thought I was
2- My life has changed and I don't have time to ride

Happens all the time. There are a mess of used Harleys out there with this written all over them. (1) is easier for me to imagine than (2) - most of us at least have to commute to work!

I'd definitely have the dealer include a warranty in the deal on a 1000 mile bike....