Triumphrat

kevinthesalmon · 09-25-2009, 07:11 PM

Be interested in any opinions.

I've got a choice of 3, a local 2008 showroom model for $10,650 (including all prep), a similar 2009 showroom model 60 miles away for $10,700, or a private sale used 2007 model asking $8,000.

The private sale is interesting - sold as-new with factory warranty in April this year, it was a "demo" model that had 3,000 miles on it when the current owner bought it from the dealer. Now it has 7,000 miles. The current owner was told that it was used by Triumph executives as a runabout (which may mean it got thrashed). It has extras I do want (ABS, heated grips, touring screen) plus some I don't (center stand, engine guards) Nice blue color. Both the new ones are non-ABS in black.

Were there any changes between 2007 and 2008? The seat seems more comfortable on the later bikes, but I don't know if that's just a plusher cover or a real change. Anything else change? What do you reckon?

RedBird · 09-25-2009, 11:03 PM

You don't say where you are from.............

My dealer could sell any 2008 for $1000 less than an '09 because of the price increase and incentives.............Beginning with the '09 model year the panniers are included in the price--not so for the '07 and '08's.

I would be hesitant on the '07. The price is high unless it has the panniers and top box as well as other Triumph accessories, IMHO. Some early build '07's had piston problems. Triumph got some bad pistons from one of their vendors and these made it into a small percentage of the engines during the last quarter of '06 and the first half of '07. The bad pistons cracked in the ring groove.

Differences are basically cosmetic. I traded my '07 with 12000 miles in on an '08 with ABS. I kept my colored bits and after riding 50 miles on the '08 seat, I went back and traded for my '07 seat. The seat cover is different material on the '08 and later years, and my butt does NOT like the new material. The new material looks better.

kevinthesalmon · 09-28-2009, 12:12 AM

Thanks - your advice was a real help. I went back to the dealer on the 08 and got the price down, so I'm well pleased. And Triumph are offering $1000 in accessories; I'm thinking of going for the Arrow street exhaust and the gel seat. I seem to remember reading in a UK magazine that the exhaust was worth having.

Guess I'll be back here more often!

RedBird · 09-28-2009, 11:03 PM

You might want to wait on the Gel seat--especially if you live in a hotter climate. I found the Tiger stock seat to be very comfortable, and I had to put a King/Queen seat on my Bonnie. I have ridden the Tiger on back-to-back 600 mile days with no problems. I weigh about 185 with all my riding gear on......some of the heavier guys on that other forum find they need to change the seats more than guys my weight and lighter.

I have read nothing but good about the Arrow exhaust--that is if you don't talk price.

The TIGER now owns you..............