Triumphrat

04-13-2005

Hi all, new member here. Currently at the enviable stage of sussing out a new bike. Last bike was a Ducati M900. Great bike, but looking for something with a teeny bit less growl and bite but don't want to lose the sport feel, and I really dig the retro lines on the classic T's. (Don't get me wrong..The Duc was sweet..but it's..sniff..gone).

Anyway, a local dealer has a used '03 TBS with 3k miles, listed at $6,500. Does this seem like a fair price ? Do I have any bargaining power, on price and/or accessories with Triumph dealers in general and with this particular TBS?

Looking forward to your thoughts and corresponding further with this group..

Breckenrick

vonbonds · 04-13-2005

Personally I would be looking for a bike like that in the mid to hi 5's. They aren't huge sellars in my neck of the woods though so dealers seem willing to negotiate for the most part on classic triples.

UJMrider · 04-13-2005

That's the one at Erico, right? I've seen it on their web site. Just FYI, it's been there for several months, so my guess is that the $6500 they're asking is a "best case" scenario for them. I just got a 2001 Tbird (not a sport) with less than 2k on the odometer and still under warranty for $5k, so I'd regard $6500 as somewhat excessive, even considering the low miles.

Now, what you may be able to do is ask what kind of other goodies they're going to offer (extended warranty, accessories, etc) to pique your interest.

Normally in the case of bikes I'd say pass on it because another one will come down the road, but of course when you're talking Triumph Triples, that's not neccessarily the case, is it? So they're factoring the relative rarity of the bike into the price, and of course, being a Triumph dealer, they have contact with customers who are particularly attracted to Triumphs.

Still, I think if you "shop around" on Cycletrader.com, you'll find what others are asking for the same bike is a lot less. Even if you assume the dealer is going to add 10% just because they're a dealer and not a private party, I don't think the bike should go for a penny over $6k, unless it's got some special qualities or comes with a hell of a warranty.

mecscc · 04-14-2005

Based on what I have seen on eBay and CycleTrader, it is at least a thousand too high. Knowing that, perhaps you know what accessories you want that they could throw into the pot: for example: a windscreen, center stand, sissy bar/luggage rack and K&Q seat will cost you about a grand - but cost them a whole lot less.

But, if you don't want or need any OEM accessories, I'd just offer them $5,000 and see what they come back with. You can do better than their asking price.

Monte

Bushwhacker · 04-14-2005

I just bought a 2000 TBS in November for 4750. It did have a pretty cool custom paint job, sissybar, and the seat had been reworked.

I had done a lot of looking and while this was a few hundred dollars higher than some others I had seen it was not terribly out of line and I was willing to pay a little premium for the Custom Paint.

There are only a half dozen on Cycle Trader.

There is a new 2004 in SF for 8500,

There is a 98 in San Diego and a 98 in SC both for 5000.

The price for this one (2003 w/only 3k miles) seems to me to be a better deal than those. - ie $2,000 off the new price for only one year and 3000 miles and only 1500 more than the 2 98's on cycle trader and it is 5 years newer than those.

Now, that said, Chattanooga's Southern Power Sports has one listed on Cycle Trader but not on their web site. They do not list a price but they generally have the best prices anywhere.

I know they currently have new tigers for 9483 out the door.

It would be worth giving them a call.

http://www.southernpowersports.com/

Plus, If you buy it in Chattanooga, you get to ride Cherohala Skyway, The Dragon, Blue Ridge Parkway, then take it back for the first service (On the Tiger it was 600 miles) then ride it back to Colorado.

-

[ This message was edited by: Bushwhacker on 2005-04-14 00:50 ]

UJMrider · 04-14-2005

Quote:

On 2005-04-14 00:41, Bushwhacker wrote:
Plus, If you buy it in Chattanooga, you get to ride Cherohala Skyway, The Dragon, Blue Ridge Parkway, then take it back for the first service (On the Tiger it was 600 miles) then ride it back to Colorado.

-

Of course, by the time you factor in the airfare to Chattanooga, the hotel(s), the time off work and the gas to get it back, you'd have to get that TBS for about 4500 to beat the Denver price. :razz:

Seriously, he could probably have it shipped to Colorado for about $400-$500. There are a couple of places that specialize in doing just that.

Bushwhacker · 04-14-2005

Quote:

On 2005-04-14 01:16, UJMrider wrote:

Of course, by the time you factor in the airfare to Chattanooga, the hotel(s), the time off work and the gas to get it back, you'd have to get that TBS for about 4500 to beat the Denver price. :razz:

Airfare - $200
Hotels - $300 (5 nights - Motel 6 is cheap)
Food - $125
Gas - $100
Time off from work - Vacation
Riding Cherohala and the Gap - Priceless

Total $725 and you would probably save this much on the price of the bike from them so basically you get a free vacation for only a couple hundred dollars more than the cost of shipping the bike.

Quote:

Seriously, he could probably have it shipped to Colorado for about $400-$500. There are a couple of places that specialize in doing just that.

There are a couple of great shipping companies - such as Federal, but, where is the fun in that?

I bought my TBS in Nashville, flew up and rode it back to Houston. This was only about 900 miles. This was in November and it was the low 30's and drizzling rain when I left Nashville and I had a great ride.

Granted 900 miles is probably only about half of his trip, but it gave us, me and the TBS, a chance to bond.

04-14-2005

Quote:

Last bike was a Ducati M900. Great bike, but looking for something with a teeny bit less growl and bite

:???:

Maybe you should consider a nice Vespa Granturismo; maybe a Honda Silverwing, Reflex; or maybe just a nice compfy Barc-o-lounger & new HD Plasma TV?? :-D

04-14-2005

Thank you all for the advice..not looking to drive the dealer into the ground on price here, just want a fair deal. I'd prefer to buy at a local dealer (UJMrider..yep that's Erico Motors) where I could hopefully gain a decent relationship with them..never know when that will come in handy.

parkec..I'd LOVE an HD Plasma, but they don't work at my altitude..9,700ft.

[ This message was edited by: Breckenrick on 2005-04-14 07:56 ]

97TB · 04-14-2005

If it's the bike you REALLY want, I wouldn't let the deal fall through for a few hundred dollars. TBSs are fairly hard to come by; they are also, IMO, the finest of the Classic Triples. Try to talk him down, but don't get too carried away.

Dan