Triumphrat

BlackBeauty · 04-02-2006

Hi - my dealer told me that there was going to be a factory promotion on Sprints in the very near future. He had no further details such as whether it was only for bikes already on the floor, financing only and/or free accessories.

Anyway - I was aiming to get an '06 ABS later this year but may be tempted if there is a good factory deal. It looks like they aren't selling that well in comparison????

Take care

triumphite · 04-02-2006

If they were not selling why did the MSRP go from $10,599 in 2005 to $10,899 in '06 for a non-ABS Sprint? :???:

BlackBeauty · 04-02-2006

Dunno. I just know that my dealer said he is confused as to why such a good all-rounder isn't doing well - at least here in San Diego. He has had the same 4 bikes on the floor since release.

By the way - when I test-rode an '05, I found the fuel injection/throttle to be very sensitive and hard to modulate smoothly - at least compared to my 2000. I'm sure you get used to it but what is your experience of that?? It was the only 'negative' - other than the rear brake pedal seeming to be a little in-board!!

Take care

triumphite · 04-02-2006

Well, if I could do it all over again, I would have not bought the '05 Sprint. I would have kept my 2001 Sprint, put 80k miles on it, sold it on ebay and picked up a used '05 in 2008!!!

Bike is good, but my 2001 was just AS good for the way I ride. All I got in return was a bike payment!!

playinthestreet · 04-02-2006

I too preferred my 99 to my 05...

The "promotion" is... hard bags are free for bikes purchased between 4/1 and 5/30. And, it's the new bags..

And people wonder why Triumphs don't hold resale value? Hell the bike isn't a year old and they're giving stuff away. Thanks, Triumph, from a buyer who paid for his bags!!<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Code:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><PRE> </PRE>

BlackBeauty · 04-02-2006

Thanks for the feedback. Hhmmhh - I would probably never use hard bags. For a start they look so ***** big!! Yes - I can see why existing customers would not be happy with promotions happening so soon after release. Either way - I think I'll probably change my bike before it needs another major service (in 11K's time).

Take care

REGULATOR · 04-02-2006

well according to Eric Buell, in an article I read, he said although Sport tourers are usually the best motorcycles, they don't sell well in America

Somethign about not being as cool as a full blown race replica, and not being as touring as maybe one of the hotter segments the Adventure tourer ( tigers and GS's etc)

said thats why Buell came out with the Ulysses bike instead of a Sport tourer ( when really what they made was an ST, they just lifted it up suspension wise)

not enough people in the US understand bikes. they either buy it cause it looks cool, IE Harley/ cruiser, or they buy it because they read its the fastest etc in a magizine.

we are just too worried about image.

Windblown · 04-02-2006

Black Beauty,

I thought the throttle response was a bt twitchy too. I suspect it was do to an overly lean air/fuel mix (read: Emissions). When I got the exhaust swapped out with the Off-road version and the ECM was re-programed the problem went away.

Galesa · 04-02-2006

Interest stuff this!

In Oz the Blackbird is the best selling ST (something around 500 units. Heh! we're only 20mill).

The next best is the Sprint ST at around 350, ahead of VFRs ZZRs and whole bunch of other bikes.

In the (large) complex where I work there are three 1050s.

Don't think you will find many Triumph dealers in this country with floor stock in 1050s.

AZWildcat · 04-02-2006

I found the throttle to be overly sensitive and hard to modulate when I first got my 05 also but after a few hundred miles I got used to it.

I also prefer my 99 to the 05 for the type of riding I do with it. I think the bags for the older Sprints look much better than the new ones. The new bags look freakin huge from behind. First time I came up behind an 05 with bags on it, all I could think of was God, that's ugly, then I recognized it as a Sprint.

The new model does not seem to be selling well at all. Every dealer I have been in has Sprints sitting on the floor, some for quite a while. I had my 05 in the local paper for sale for 4 weeks and didn't get a single call.