Triumphrat

dave1068 · 11-17-2007

While I was recovering from a broken toe last week. I spent a lot of time reading on line and noticed there are a lot of triumphs for sale w/ very low mileage (as in under 800) and often from 2006-07.

Many were Bonnes/T100's. Anyone else ever notice this and wonder why. Are the bikes too small, too big, not fast enough or just not what people expected. As triumphs seem to be a niche' bike as in everyone doesnt have one, i found this interesting.

Even on this site there are quite a few 06/07 bonnes for sale. I guess its a buyers market.

There a black bonne for sale in my area w/ 13 miles and its never been registered.

Dave-

bikerboy · 11-17-2007

Ive observed similar results. In the last week I have been looking at second hand bonnies and have been suprised at some of the low mileage bonnies! One was an '01 with 190 miles! BUT... I have also been suprised and pleased to see that some of them have been used too, with some bonnies with 5-10,000 miles a year on them.

Ben

Geoff · 11-17-2007

mine was a year old with 358 miles on the clock. I was happy to get a "new" bike at used prices.
I think some folks are (were) in love with the idea of riding a beautiful triumph motorcycle, those sunset pics with the gorgeous pillion get you to thinkin....then you buy, then your possibly less than gorgeous pillion tells you in no uncertain terms that you'll never get HER on the back of that ****ed thing....you go yourself, suck in a bug and almost choke to death....decide to turn around and go home, and itstarts to rain......next thing you know, almost new bonny for sale

G

ohiorider · 11-17-2007

One of the writers for a BMW Club publication, who also writes frequently for commercial bike mags, is convinced some of us are born with a 'bike gene'. You are either attracted to bikes to the point of addiction, or you're not. I know my story .... totally obsessed with 'em!

Lots of people like the idea of owning a bike. They just don't enjoy riding it once they've made the purchase. Hard to believe.

Bob

drharveys · 11-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohiorider

Lots of people like the idea of owning a bike. They just don't enjoy riding it once they've made the purchase. Hard to believe.

Not hard to believe at all -- I think there's a motorcycle manufacturer that bases a lot of their appeal on the clothes, the gatherings, the camaraderie, the chrome, and the "lifestyle" in general, and the only riding one has to do is from the trailer to a parking spot by a restaurant or tavern.

Now I'm not saying there are not those who ride that type of motorcycle, just that the motor company does not hesitate to sell motorcycles and motorcycle accessories to the folks I mentioned above.

dbarber · 11-17-2007

I think part of the reason for the low mileage Bonnies out there for sale is the bike's popularity with "returning bikers." Many of them quit biking some time ago and the Bonneville appeals to them because it looks like the motorcycles they remember or the ones they admired. The purchase is made and reality sets in: their golden memories were formed at a time when the roads were much less crowded, there were no cell phones and the most popular 4-wheel drive vehicle was a Jeep CJ. Nostalgia competes with someone in a Escalade with 23" rims blabbing on a cell phone and comes in a poor second. A hair-raising close call incident occurs and so-long bike.

ohiorider · 11-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by drharveys

Not hard to believe at all -- I think there's a motorcycle manufacturer that bases a lot of their appeal on the clothes, the gatherings, the camaraderie, the chrome, and the "lifestyle" in general, and the only riding one has to do is from the trailer to a parking spot by a restaurant or tavern.

Now I'm not saying there are not those who ride that type of motorcycle, just that the motor company does not hesitate to sell motorcycles and motorcycle accessories to the folks I mentioned above.

Let me rephrase my initial comment "hard for ME to believe".

Bob

ATGATT · 11-17-2007

It's not just bonnies, I see this on all bikes. Ebay and Graigslist show the same.

The ones that get me is when they spend a fortune for upgrades and then go and sell it with very low mileage. Whatever makes them happy, but money comes too hard for me to make decisions like that.

mecscc · 11-17-2007

I agree. It really has nothing to do with bonnies. People get sucked in to the mystic of motorcycling and buy on what amounts to impulse, find out it is not for them, and sell. I'm glad that they do it sooner than later. It gives a lot of us on this forum some good pickings when it comes to buying a bike.

Monte

rmak · 11-17-2007

I think what many new and returning riders find is that riding a bike, in its essense, is a solitary activity, better suited for introverts and those that are most comfortable inside their own head. Even if you sometimes have a passenger or if you participate in an "event" there is really no interaction during the ride (unless you have one of those microphone things inside your helmet). The road is long and sometimes boring and uncomfortable. You're away from family, hearth and most creature comforts. If you're not really into your machine or that type of experience, I believe you discover that fairly quickly.