Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[caddydaddy]

Does anyone here own or have ridden one? Looks like a sweet bike!

[speediva]

I hope I'm not dashing dreams here, but I had a friend who owned a Triumph (not the Sprint, but the TT600). Let me tell you... service NIGHTMARE. At least in western PA, there are virtually no dealerships, so it was a trek just to get to one. From there, all kinds of things needed to be serviced on a regular basis. I've heard tell that they have gotten better through the years, but I personally wouldn't want a Triumph as my only bike... perhaps 3rd so I could have 2 other reliable scoots for the majority of the time.

[jeffcoslacker]

Well you could always get a Ducati Desmo and need a $600 valve adjustment every 5000 miles....

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by speediva

I hope I'm not dashing dreams here, but I had a friend who owned a Triumph (not the Sprint, but the TT600). Let me tell you... service NIGHTMARE. At least in western PA, there are virtually no dealerships, so it was a trek just to get to one. From there, all kinds of things needed to be serviced on a regular basis. I've heard tell that they have gotten better through the years, but I personally wouldn't want a Triumph as my only bike... perhaps 3rd so I could have 2 other reliable scoots for the majority of the time.

There's a Triumph dealer about 10 miles from me, and after that, there's at least 3 more within 80 miles. I haven't heard anything bad about the service requirements for the new models, so maybe they have improved! The same can be pretty much said for all bikes, they're better than they used to be.
I'm not too scared of working on the bike myself, I've never taken my Ninja to the dealer in the 2 years I've owned it for maintenance.

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Well you could always get a Ducati Desmo and need a $600 valve adjustment every 5000 miles....

I think Ducati said that their new bikes require less maintenance and it's cheaper for '08. There's a Duc dealer about 15 miles from me, but they really don't have a bike I'd like right now.

[aussieidiot]

Originally Posted by caddydaddy

but they (Ducati) really don't have a bike I'd like right now.

You don't like the 1098/848?

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by aussieidiot

You don't like the 1098/848?

I do like them, I've seen them both up close. But I'd rather ride a bike than lay on top of it! At my age (26), I need a bike with comfort!

[M3FordBoy]

^haha...What are you going to do when you turn 50?...Get a nice side car and hire someone to drive?

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by M3FordBoy

^haha...What are you going to do when you turn 50?...Get a nice side car and hire someone to drive?

I'll buy a Goldwing! Isn't that what all the old riders ride?

[aussieidiot]

Originally Posted by caddydaddy

I do like them, I've seen them both up close. But I'd rather ride a bike than lay on top of it! At my age (26), I need a bike with comfort!

i know i act more my shoe size than 34 but mate, i've got 8 years on ya and i still get on my blade. even with a bad back, two shot knees and a rather large case of blue balls to get in the way.

[M3FordBoy]

Originally Posted by caddydaddy

I'll buy a Goldwing! Isn't that what all the old riders ride?

Haha I guess, but my dad is turning 50 this year and just got himself a '94 Katana. Not as radically sitting as a ducati, but definately not Gold wing.

[aussieidiot]

My old man is 64 and rides an '04 Kawasaki Z750.

admittedly he's fitted higher bars and rearsets to make it more upright, but its a far cry from a goldwing. he was also looking at the harley V-rod too

[richtazz]

Originally Posted by caddydaddy

I do like them, I've seen them both up close. But I'd rather ride a bike than lay on top of it! At my age (26), I need a bike with comfort!

Yeah, cuz 26 is so over the hill. At 40, I must fart dust and crap fossils, Sheesh!!!!!!!!!

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Yeah, cuz 26 is so over the hill. At 40, I must fart dust and crap fossils, Sheesh!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I was kidding about that! I just don't want an all out sport bike right now. My Ninja 250R is sporty enough. Haha! So a sport touring bike would be better for everyday use, because I ride my bike everyday. That is when there's no ice or snow on the roads!

[richtazz]

In that case, find yourself a VFR Honda. They look like a full-on sport bike (even have the single sided rear swing arm Honda race bikes use), but are all day comfortable, well mannered (read not twitchy and peaky like many 600/750's) and smooth as silk. It was Bike of the Year for about 20 years or so in most motorcycle circles. If I were to go looking for a second bike to play on and canyon carve, a VFR750/800 (bright red of course) would be parked right next to my Fatboy. I rode one at a Honda Days event a few years ago, and would have bought it right then and there if I would have had the money.