Selling My Tiger

That's a tricky one, some go for a grand or less but obviously they are rough ones. Steamers are a love em or hate em bike unfortunately, they are a niche bike. Yours looks lovely and such low mileage too, for a nice one I would be be looking at 2 grand as an absolute minimum but I would expect it to go for considerably more than that as yours is also a one owner bike. It depends on the day and who has the cash. Summer us coming and it's a good time to sell, Good luck.

 

Nice bike!

It's always difficult putting a 'sale value' on a bike since it's worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it - and that might not match your personal idea of what you think it's worth and what you might expect anyone to pay for it!

It does look like it's in good condition (pity about the front mudguard!) but that's only part of the story - especially with "Steamers"! If the bike has been stored for any length of time with untreated fuel in it then there are two things that could - and probably will - have transpired over that time and that are common to this model :-

1) the carbs become gummed up with stale, hardened fuel - the only viable remedy is full removal; complete carbs strip down and professional ultrasonic cleaning

2) the fuel tank is PLASTIC (not fibreglass) and the ethanol in modern fuels actually eats into the plastic causing bubbling and that's a major job to remedy.

The T300 range of Triumphs seem to be in that lifecycle phase where they're admired by a few people but aren't quite yet 'true classics' (whatever THAT means!) so prices can vary enormously - and unpredictably. Normally the first suggestion would be to "check the market" - i.e. look around for similar bikes for sale and see what they're fetching. The difficulty for you with that approach is two fold - first there aren't THAT many T300s of ANY kind for sale and, secondly, since the Tiger wasn't exactly the most popular of machines in the range, even in it's heyday, the number of those for sale is lowered even further.

Add to the difficulty the now perennial problem with early Hinckley machines that is the dreadful shortage of factory parts - many of which, including consumables like airbox, are now obsolete and, thus, unobtainium. The concept of range modularity means that obsolete parts are thus unavailable to a whole range rather than just one model! If enough of the range continue to survive and a marketplace demand for parts continues to exist, the perennial hope is that - as it did with Meriden machines - a true aftermarket supply chain emerges with manufacturing at the start point of the chain. The difficulty (I suspect) is that Bloor seems to keep a very tight reign on copyright so the current "repro" stuff is, usually, a less than accurate facsimile rather than a faithful reproduction.

Any road up meduck, none of that helps you put a value/sale price on your machine, does it? My personal view is that you'd probably get anywhere between £1500 - £3000. You could, quite feasibly, get more than that 'top line' figure as the bike appears to have all the desirable attributes for a sale (low mileage, one owner, good condition, etc.) but those attributes are of a 'niche' machine looking for a 'niche' buyer so be prepared to either wait or compromise. Or both.

Good luck with the sale. The Steamer has more 'character' than, arguably, any of the T300 range - including the Speed Triple - and is a great machine to ride.

BTW, I'd be prepared to make an offer but it would, of course, be subject to all of the above constraints and limitations!

 

Oh, I KNOW just how tall, wide and top heavy they are - I have a 1993 in Caspian Blue! Mine is in standard original trim - with the exception that it's fitted with THUNDERBIKE (NZ) crashbars - for someone of my stature and age that addition was more than a sensible precaution!

It is a FANTASTIC machine, arguably the most characterful of all the T300s, though the Mk 1 Speed Triple normally carries that crown.

Sorry to hear about your arthritis - age is no friend to bikers, is it? If you're looking to stick with all of the great characteristics of the Hinckley Triumph triple but in a more "user friendly" package, start looking for a Thunderbird Sport 900. They're not much different in overall weight but they are noticeably different in the weight/height/balance "feel" and, with the narrower seat and smaller wheels, are much more practical for the septuagenarians amongst us!







Best of luck with the sale - feel free to pm me if/when you have a price in mind as I could (SO EASILY!) be tempted!