Triumphrat

relocatedfixer · 03-02-2004

Hello all
I,m usually found in the Thunderbird bit - - - - bu -uuuut - - I'm considering selling the Thunder-Bus and buying a Sprint Executive.The Thunderbird is a terrific bike but I don't like taking it out in the rain/ salt/ crap etc ( you get the picture ) because it is ' too pretty ' to spoil, which is a pain, as I like to ride all year round. I have looked at 3 Sprint- Executives, had a ' sit ' on one and liked it thus far. I can't be doing with too radical a riding position as my back is dodgy and my knees are knackered. Also, they seem to be relatively affordable.
The one I sat on was up for £3599. Its a 1998, 26,000 miles, bit scuffed, Fairing - Lowers but the exhaust down-pipes didn't seem to be as corroded as the other two. The dealer offered it at £3,400 as part of a deal that involved the usual derisory offer on part-ex. Well, my Thunderbird is a sorted, low mileage machine with extras and in bloody good nick, so I'm not about to give it away to a dealer. I just know I can get more than he offered. So, I will have to sell mine first to raise funds and then I'm looking to pay under £3,000.
The thing is, are there likely to be many Sprint Executives out there ? ( In the UK ) and is there some sort of ' rarity ' premium I need to be aware of ?
As all of the examples I have found so far have around 20,000 miles on them, I am taking it for granted that the Sprint is good for touring !
Cheers
R.F. :wink:

[ This message was edited by: relocatedfixer on 2004-03-03 14:38 ]

GeoffE · 03-03-2004

Hi RF,

The Sprint is a handsome bike. I really like the half-fairing. If you want a tourer, then the Executive appears to me to be a great choice, having the Trophy topbox and paniers.

I looked for a cheap Sprint to save my Thunderbird for "sunny Sundays". The extra power and presence of the Sprint is great. I was lucky and got a good one from a friend of a friend, at a good price, and I am still grinning.

Both bikes have Bagster and Ventura 'luggage', as I prefer soft luggage, so fully able to tour as well. Both use the same T300 modular basis, and so offer a few fun options/projects. Just a different way to the route you are thinking about, perhaps?

Good luck with your search.
Geoff

relocatedfixer · 03-03-2004

Thanks Geoff E
I am hoping to go and see one up for sale privately at the week-end. Trouble is, I'm skint till I sell the other bike. Maybe a holding deposit will do it ( if I like It ).
I found, last year, that there were'nt many Thunderbirds up for sale until May and then there were loads, and they went fast. Hope mine stands out in a crowd of one ! :wink:
R.F.

03-03-2004

I own a Sprint Executive and absolutely love it!! It is a perfect mixture of a sporty tour bike. I have never had problems with her so far. If I were you I would buy it for that price. I paid € 5,200 for mine. It is a 1998 and had 17000 kms on the clock. It rides like a charm.

Greets,
Becca :-D

03-04-2004

Hi

Jumping in on this one.

I bought a Sprint (M,95, 61k miles, not executive) in January for £1295! I could have had all the Givi stuff with mine for £300, but chose not to.... I'm not going too far.
OK it's not too pretty in a few places, and I've had a few problems starting it (see below), but it goes superbly and will be a brilliant all year round bike. The prices being asked for these things by dealers seems to be completely out of whack with what they sell for privately. Bear in mind there's not that much special about the Executive.... it may be great, but it's just a Sprint with luggage. or a Sprint fairing on a Trophy. Not then worth any premium...

I haven't looked at the prices of the execs, as I wasn't too interested, but the Sports seem to change hands for under £2500 privately for good ones, (heard about a super one that went for £2200) and there's a red R reg exec in my local dealer for about £3300, which already has the beginnings of the same tatty edges mine has, although only a quarter of the mileage. I wouldn't personally give more than £2400 for it. The early Sprint RS and ST's are down to under £4000 in dealers now, and less privately, so I can't imagine why anyone would pay what the dealers are asking for these 'oldies'.

I think honestly you're in a strong buyer's market for the bike you're looking for. While they are brilliant machines they are not highly sought after, and are beginning to look very 'long in the tooth' to the majority of fashion conscious buyers. If you want that specific bike, sell your T'bird privately, and go wave cash under the dealer's nose.... but don't pay near his asking price.

There are also quite a few bikes of interest moving on ebay UK (which is where I bought mine) and the prices there are half your dealer's asking price. OK you might have a couple of little problems to sort out, but overall I've found ebay people pretty honest generally... at least as much as the average dealer, anyway!....and with a vehicle you have every right to walk away if it doesn't match the description (I am not advocating non paying bidders on ebay, but equally sellers should be brutally honest). I'm very happy with the deal I got despite the minor problems I'm having....

I strongly recommend you keep your 'I'm not accepting dealer trade in prices' attitude and add to it an 'I'm not paying dealer prices' attitude!

Best regards, and good luck in your search for a good bike.

Regards

Stewart.

PS if you want to swap your Thunderbird for 'my' Sprint get in touch... :-D

relocatedfixer · 03-04-2004

Thanks for the very positive input folks. Its 'all systems SELL' regarding my Thunderbird then! Its a bit early for them but, fingers crossed.
R.F.