Motorcycle help.

[Chako]

I will admit, I am in the deep end of the pool right now.

I do not know how to make a poll, so I am just going to post a link with the following question:

If you had to decide on only one of these...which would you choose?

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/7056/4679/

Thanks for any info. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Triumph.  Hands down.

Better rep, lighter bike.  More cool.  Harley guys, street racer guys and cruiser guys all like Triumph.

Will be easier to sell when you move on to another bike.


Seriously though, Triumph. 


Kawasakis are good bikes, but you will take a beating when it comes time to resell (which will come---it always does).

[Zack]

Triumph here as well.  For all the reasons Mr. Whippy stated.

[Chako]

Yeah...I think I will give the guy another call. I think I see a Triumph America in my garage soon.

[jim guy]

Triumph Americas are nice bikes. They sit and ride good. They do fit in good with other bikes, Ive never had a Harley rider give me greif over mine, and Ive been around some ruff bikers! Whenever we go to a bar or mc rally the come look at mine first!

[jim guy]

one other thing, If you get the Trumpy join this site www.triumphrat.net  Its like MTO for Triumphs! Im a member also.

[Smitty44]

When I was younger,tried to buy a Triumph 650,to popular,had to get a BSA 650 Lightning instead,just about the same,but the Triumph looked better, I think you will be glad that you got the Triumph in the long run.
 &

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Got to be the trumpet

The chassis and cycle part's are way more sophisticated, and it should still hustle without decking too much if your in the mood

[Chako]

Thanks for the good info and link. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

When I was younger,tried to buy a Triumph 650,to popular,had to get a BSA 650 Lightning instead,just about the same,but the Triumph looked better, I think you will be glad that you got the Triumph in the long run.
 &

(Image removed from quote.)

Proper man's bike

[GraysonK]

I know nothing about bikes, but I vote for the Triumph as well.  My uncle used to have one and I loved riding with him on it.  He later bought a Harley and I didn't like it, from a passenger point of view.

[Smitty44]

When I was younger,tried to buy a Triumph 650,to popular,had to get a BSA 650 Lightning instead,just about the same,but the Triumph looked better, I think you will be glad that you got the Triumph in the long run.
 &

(Image removed from quote.)

Proper man's bike

Thank you sir.

[Chako]

That is a nice looking motorcycle.

Well, here is a mini update. Tomorrow after work, I will meet up with the seller at a Tim Horton’s that is just around the corner from my workplace. Neutral territory to see the America in person I guess. I am 99% certain that I will buy it. I just have to inspect it first.

On the flip side, I registered at the local college for the bike safety course. It starts on June 7 and runs for 4 days from 5:30 to 10:00 PM. The downside is that they are looking for an instructor (1 per 5 student ratio). If they can't get one, they will have to push me back to a later June date. My goal is to ride a motorcycle to work before summer vacation. Time will tell, but I see things ever so slowly conspiring against me.

Once again, thanks everyone for the very helpful information in this and the other thread. 
 

[scibeer]

Which ever you think will keep you in the saddle more.   Have you sat on them?   Spend a few minutes on each one and see which has a better riding position for you.

After that if they are till close, get the Triumph!

[Chako]

I just got home. The seller and I talked for quite some time at Tim Horton's. I sat on the motorcycle and it was like true love. It felt a lot better than the Vulcan. The gas tank has a small ding which he didn't know about, and he was rather upset that his two youngsters must have done it while the bike was in storage in his garage. Likewise, they also scratched up the fender real good. He told me he would get it touched up by a local painter that just finished painting his Harley. I was concerned with the fender, and not at all concerned with the little dimple in the gas tank. Call me odd, but I would hate to do something like that to a new bike. Now that I will be buying the bike, the little things don't seem to bother me as I know they would on a new bike.

Other then the long scratch on the front fender, and the little dent, it looks pristine. The sound is incredible. I do not like the straight pipe sound many Harley owners go for. This is oddly rich and satisfying, but not loud enough that I would worry about waking everybody in the neighbourhood. The sound was quite different to all other V Twins, it having a a parallel twin. He kept the original pipes, but played around with one of the baffles to get that nice timber. He also modified the carbs and other things to eek out some more power, etc. The windshield is a classy thing that wraps around the handlebars. For a first bike, I think it will be better suited to me then the Vulcan 900.

<--- Does the happy dance.

Now all I need do is start the safety course, learn how to ride it (and talk about incentive to learn as much as I can) and hopefully be able to drive it to work before the summer holidays roll around. I have till the end of June to get everything sorted.

[ryan1835]

good luck chako!

all this has got me wanting to learn to drive one   wont ever happen though or least not for a while

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

good luck chako!

all this has got me wanting to learn to drive one   wont ever happen though or least not for a while

A CBT is only about £100 and the license lasts 2 years

[Chako]

You know you want to ryan1835   

I am so pumped this morning that here are a few reviews of the type.


http://www.motorbikestoday.com/reviews/Articles/triumph_bon_america.htm


http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/triumph_bonneville_america/index.html


http://www.triumphtwinpower.com/triumphbonnevilleamericaspecs.php

[ryan1835]

I think I'd like to gotta learn to drive a car first though and I don't think the parents would be too keen on the idea either :/

[Chako]

Spoken with words of wisdom. One should never annoy or tick off their parents.

Update...the bike is going to be certified on Wednesday. 

On the flip side, the safety course was canceled due to a lack of instructors. When I called back after hearing the unfortunate news on the answering machine around 4, I was told they closed at 3 on Fridays!

[jim guy]

glad to hear you got the trumpy, you will like it!

[Chako]

Oh the joy.

Tried to get myself a motorcycle jacket yesterday. The largest they had was a 3XL that wasn't a 3XL. It seems that motorcycle jackets are one size smaller in order to prevent them from flapping in the wind. If I catalogue order from the only local store that can get me a 4XL, they will charge me over 400 bucks for a non leather jacket. 

So here I am searching on eBay of all places for a jacket. I think due to the size discrepancies, I may just go for a 5XL if I can (The rational being that if it is to large, I may be able to return it, or buy another size smaller and still be further ahead compared to that 400+ bucks the local shop wants). I see most jackets come with some sort of cinching feature. I did find one that is made out of Cordura with removable body armor that doesn't look like I am trying to pretend to be Marlon Brando. 

On the flip side, I bought the Idiot's guide to motorcycles. That title may prove more apt then I am willing to admit right now!

[Mr. Whippy]

Try www.newenough.com BEST and least expensive online gear store

[Chako]

Thanks for the link. 

Well, I am having a lot of fun right now. I managed to get in contact with someone at the local college after having to wait for the long weekend to end. They had notified me last Friday that the course was canceled due to a lack of instructors. I had informed them to sign me up right quick for the next available course if the one I signed up for was cancelled. Well they didn't. Thus, the next course date is now filled with people who probably signed in after me, and I am not finding myself signed up for the next one...June 25th! Sigh! There goes my personal goal of driving a motorcycle to work before the holidays. 

[ryan1835]

well that sucks, is there no where else you can go for it?

[Mr. Whippy]

If there is a local Harley Davidson dealership, check with them.  They run their own Motorcycle Safety courses which are state recognized in the US. Canada may have the same deal.

[Chako]

Only place is the local college. The nearest Harley dealer is a good 3 hour drive away in another city.

[Chako]

I am thinking this sort of morphed into an informal weblog. 

Anyways, I talked with the seller. The mechanic couldn't certify it today as there are still 4 bikes in front of mine to be certified. He figures tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I asked him if he had the used vehicle information package. It is a sort of money grab by the Government, but is useful in telling the buyer if there are any leans on the bike or vehicle (and of course it is the law). Guess he will have to do that very soon. Once the certification is done, and the info package is complete, then I pay for the bike, find some insurance right quick, and put some plates on it. 

Seeing that the course is now towards the end of June, the seller and I have a bit of time to get everything done. On the plus side, when I informed him of the fun with booking the safety course, he kindly offered to give me an hour of free lessons to get me up and running. I just might take him up on it. 

[ratslash7]

On the plus side, when I informed him of the fun with booking the safety course, he kindly offered to give me an hour of free lessons to get me up and running. I just might take him up on it. 

IMHO you should wait and take the course. This guy may be an excellent rider: a safe rider with good habits. He may also be like the guy who taught me. It took quite an effort to change the bad habits I had started out with. Lucky I lived long enough to finally take the MSF course.

Don't get in a hurry. You are going to love riding and you'll want to be doing it for a long time. One bad habit can reach up and rip your kneecap off and kinda' ruin your taste for riding.

Just sit on the bike and make Brrrrm Brrrrmmm sounds till you get some training.

Just my thoughts on the matter which may be absolute crap. Many of my thoughts are.


Dave

[Grant Lamontagne]

I see Dave's point, but I have to disagree.  Experience is the best way to stay safe, and I'd suggest taking the bike out to a parking lot in the middle of the night (trailer it, don't ride it!) and ride around in circles for a little while.  Take some time to familiarize yourself with the feel of the bike- how it turns, how it reacts to small bumps, how it accelerates and decelerates etc.  If this guy is willing to help you get the basics under your belt, listen to him, but remember the warning that he may be teaching you bad habits.  Still, the more time you have in the saddle will equate to more comfort with the bike when you finally do take the course, which means you will probably do better at it.

If you stay off public roads and stick to parking lots, trails or fields then you aren't breaking any laws.  Police may stop and question you about what you are doing in an empty parking lot, but when you explain what you are doing, and see you aren't some dumb kid, they'll likely tell you that what you are doing is a good idea, and they wish others would do the same thing.  The worst they would tell you is that you are on private property, and unless you have permission from the owner (mall parking lots are great for doing this, although you can pretty well count on them not giving you permission) you'll have to leave.  Thank them for their time, load up your new toy and go home... or to another parking lot! 

Def