[Butcher]

I finally had the tie to bust out and get to my local Triumph dealer today and see the 07's in person.
I was torn between the Bonnie Black and the Thruxton. After weighing the options I think the Bonnie Black is the best for me due to the fact that I travel (with light baggage) and ride with a passenger at least 1/3 of the time.
I wanted to run a couple of things past you folks and maybe you can steer me right. The guy says he could get me the Black in 10 days time and keep it in storage at no charge or deliver it to me straight up. He says he can sell it for 6850 plus the 500 freight....is this good enough or should I hammer him for more discount? I plan on putting exhaust on the bike, but he say if I do so to go only with the Triumph pipes....no offense, but there are others I think would sound a lot meaner and louder, right? If I am wrong, maybe I should go with the Triumph setup for the 400 and some odd dollars and ask him too throw that into the current price.
You guys (girls, too) have been in this market for much longer than me and I figured you can shed more light on this subject than just taking the dealer's word for it. He also said not to mess with the airbox, but I think that is wrong. Common sense says that more airflow is going to make her run better especially with the new exhaust and jets, right?
Bottom line, I would like to put maybe another 700 bucks into the bike (based on what I have to work with right now) on top of the selling price, so I just want to make sure I allocate those funds in such a way that I am maximizing my finished product.
Thanks in advance.....

 

[Grigsby]

my advice is to pay for the mods outside of the financing......financing the mods will cost you a lot more than just paying for them outright.....

 

[sweatmachine]

If you're used to Harleys, you will HATE the Triumph Off Road pipes.

They're really tame.

From your other posts, and the fact you ride a rigid-strutted Ironhead, I'm thinking you'll want some pipes with real balls. The Triumph pipes are not the answer.

Predators, D&Ds, Staintunes, Bubs, JC Whitney Dunstalls, etc are more in line with what you'll want, and be happy with.

And, you should definately mess with the airbox. My experience with dealers/salespeople is they don't know jack about aftermarket mods because they don't make any money off them.

So gut that airbox, get them loud aftermarket pipes, and tell your dealer thanks but no thanks!

 

[SCCTrim]

Since you asked for my opinion...

1: A ride across the line into pa would get you a bonnie black for 5995.00 I believe it is a brand new '05 model with no miles on it. It was bought from a dealer that went under.


2: Your gonna want loud pipes and TOR's aint it. Either D&D's, or Predators, or Staintunes. D&D's loudest, pred's are next and stainless, staintunes are probably the least noisy and the most expensive. Do not buy the tors, you'll be disappointed.

3: Forget keeping the airbox, ditch that sucker and get either a airbox elim kit or cut up the airbox yourself and install pod filters and rejet.

This dealership in pa also has a account with british custom's, and could hook you up with pipes/airbox elim/rejet..all for roughly the cost of what you wanna spend...these guy's arent scared to mod the bikes. They also have '07's in stock if your bent on havin a 07.

If you'd like their # pm me...( no I do not work there nor do I get perk's )

 

[SCCTrim]

Also, have them wipe down the pipes with alcohol before the bike is ever fired up. And remove the ai as well.

 

[Butcher]

I appreciate the input. I looked at the British Customs site (it's in "my favorites"), and I think I'll end up getting the complete kit that includes the pipes, the airbox kit, rejet goods and AI eliminator - if I am reading the description correctly. Is that what most of you folks have done? It seems like the best choice since all these items are the things I want to do the most to my new Bonnie.
I do also appreciate SCCTrim's advice to go across the PA line for that 05 model, but in all honesty, I think that 1. I can get more off the bike from the dealer here still, 2. I would have no way to get the bike back to OH except to have it shipped which would be kind of pricey and outweigh some of the savings in the first place, and 3. I did look it up on their site and see that it is Silver rather than black. Plus, and not that this is a huge issue, but in 05 the engine's in the bases were the 7 series instead of the 865.
All in all, I will take all the mechanical advice I can from you folks. I have seen a lot of your photos and been reading many of your posts and am very impressed with what can be done to these timeless machines.
Keep the advice coming and thanks in advance again to everyone for lending an ear and a helping hand.

 

[SCCTrim]

Right on, shame ya dont have a truck man. Nothin wrong with the 790 motors, infact the cam timing is setup to make more power on the topend.

Good luck with your purchase...


later

 

[Bhakti-rider]

The dealer you (Butcher) mention is obviously totally conservative, and almost... does he also sell BMW, by any chance?

I haven't seen anything to make me subscribe as a consumer to his limited perspective. I'd definitely write him off immediately.

When I get mine back in what I intend to be its ultimate state, which will be within two weeks I'm confident, I'll post a list of mods I've had applied, and try to post two or one pictures, and offer feedback as I experience it. I've already ridden it with all the engine work done (small oil leak) and with the belt. The belt is amazing, by the way.

 

[Butcher]

I think the dude at the dealer is just trying to do his job as far as selling genuine Triumph parts....I can't blame him for that. I can only hope for good customer service in the future...aftermarket mods are not something I expect a dealer to promote. They don't sell BMW's at this dealer....but I understand why you ask that question in relation to the salesperson's conservative nature.
I am interested in any and all input and pics of your rides. I have found that ego and blind pride play no part in customizing....observe, learn and respect all that others can show you.
By the way, this may be a really stupid question, but what is the "belt" you refer to?
Later.......

 

[Bhakti-rider]

Belt drive conversion - QPD (Quiet Power Delivery), a guy who's been making belt drive conversions for British twins since way back, long before the new Triumphs. He makes them for the new ones now as well, and it's really nice - much smoother than with the chain, and cleaner to boot.

 

[DrEnglish]

I don't believe in fighting the dealer for every last penny. Motorcycle dealers don't make a ton of money, and to me, having a healthy local dealership is enough of an asset that I'll happily pay enough for them to make a bit of $$$. Hell, I don't do anything for free either.

I have a recommendation if you want a loud pipe that also knocks about 25? lbs off the bike: Specialty Spares tt. Very loud, very light, very cool.

 

[Butcher]

Anywhere I can look to hear a sound byte of the Specialty tt's? They look pretty tough.

 

[sweatmachine]

you wanna hear the specialty spares TT pipes?

Find a stock bonnie and pull the mufflers off, leaving only straight pipes. Fire it up, that's about what they sound like.

Course I'm only guessing because I've never heard them in person, but they gotta be a loud sumbiatch.

They look cool too, and the price is right, what like $325?