hello all, i'm after some advise from people that may have been in my situation, or may have ridden the bikes im interested in.. i'm taking my Direct Access bike test in the UK at the beginning of june, im a 42 year old truck driver so have plenty of road knowledge and experience, just not on 2 wheels. i've obviously been doing alot of window shopping etc. im loving the cruiser style and laid back attitude. i'm really not bothered by speed/weaving in and out of traffic, scrapping my knees on the tarmac etc. But in torn between 2 bikes(well,actually many but i've narrowed it down), and was wondering if anyone could give their input . first is the triumph speedmaster(865cc) probably a 14/15/16 year second is a Triumph street twin 900 16/17 possibly even 18 year(if i can talk the wife into spending more) I have looked at specs, im aware the street twin has a more modern design/ABS/Traction control etc. now as i don't have a licence yet i obviously cant test them. i have been to my local Triumph dealer and sat on the street twin. it fits just right. as the speedmaster is a little older, they never had one in store So what do you all thing would be good for a first timer? maybe you could recommend a different model less than 7k? what about maintenance and reliability or common faults/issues it wouldn't be for commuting regularly, its more of a hobbie/ lifelong dream/passion. i just honestly couldn't afford it till now. but i'm like a kid in the build up till xmas..i cant bloody wait..lol the trouble with the internet is there is too much info...i end up confusing myself after falling for more than one bike Anyway, i appreciate anything you all can advise me on. i don't have any Triumph owner friends to ask, they all ride Japanese crotch rockets, so hopefully i've come to the right place now...
Hi. Plenty on here will reviews these two for you,not me I havnt touched either. Welcome in ride safe.
Welcome, you have done the first step, try for size, 69, started, been on a lot of bikes and found as I got older, the uprights and sports got uncomfortable after a short time, now on Thunderbird, two been bikes you wish to try, upright cruiser, feet down, feet forward, cruiser like driving lorry, car, being a HGV driver I am more at home on the cruiser, but heart says go back to busa, my choice, cruiser,
Welcome. As already noted, trying them out for a proper fit is important. But what feels good in the showroom may not seem as good after you've been riding for 3 or 4 hours. The real test is a seriously long test ride if you can rent a bike to try it. I've been riding for 50 years now and I never had the same impression of any of my bikes after a full day's ride that I had in the showroom. It seems that the older I get, the seat and riding position (read that as comfort) is the most important thing. Recently, I owned a 2012 Bonneville America which is similar to the Speedmaster. Of all the bikes I've owned, I think it was the most forgiving and best behaved bike on the road. The large front tire did not 'bobble around' on uneven pavement or bridge grates. It had enough power, but not too much to get you in trouble. It actually was a little short on torque which made for some embarrassing moments when the engine died as I let the clutch out. Overall, it was a pleasure to drive and I'm sorry I traded-up to a 2013 Trophy SE. My biggest problem with the America was the seat. I put a gel seat on and it was still painful after a few hours. The Trophy was an amazing bike to ride and had some great features. I didn't find it to be very comfortable for my size and probably age - I've probably just developed a tender butt. It also MADE me run at 120+ mph nearly every time I took it out, and I knew it wouldn't be long before I lost my license I was truly helpless under its spell. I got rid of the Trophy and and bought a 2014 Thunderbird Commander which is a true pleasure to drive. It's well behaved on the road, has tons of power, and the seat is phenomenal compared to the other two bikes. I do most of my own maintenance and it can be a bit of a 'pain' to do some of the work. Depending on what you end up with, there's probably a good chance that you will replace the stock seat and add some custom goodies. If you haven't been around bikes before, you will get 'sticker shock' when you see the prices for these parts. The message is that if you are stretching to buy the bike, you need to do it right the first time (not like me). Routine service at the dealer can also be unbelievably expensive. If you are inclined to work on your own equipment, you should consider the ease of access to things like the oil filter - is it in the open, or do you have to take half the fairing off, or work 'blind' under the bike. Also, how many special tools or software will you need. Sorry to be so long-winded, but I will finish with this. If you don't want to burn up the roads, the following are good things: 1) Comfortable riding position 2) Comfortable seat (don't forget the lovely wife or girlfriend on the pillion seat) 3) ABS is a good thing for a new driver 4) Generally, I think wider tires 'follow' the road less (grooves and bridge grates) 5) You may not like riding a 'naked' bike at higher speeds. Think about the future mounting and cost of a good windscreen. 6) Generally, I think a heavier bike makes for a more comfortable ride, but make sure you can handle the loaded weight of the bike at a stop light or at slow speeds in a parking lot. 7) Don't completely ignore passion when you make your choice. If you don't drool when you look at it in the showroom, you will probably want to trade for something else in a year or two. That's my 2 cents. I'm sure that others will have some different concerns, or may take issue with my list. If we didn't all want different things, there wouldn't be 500 choices of bikes between all the manufacturers. GOOD LUCK with your choice!!
Hi mate and welcome Both of these bikes would be ideal for you as neither of them are what you would call vicious or intimidating I have an 09 865EFI Speedmaster in BLACK and I love it Trouble is I just can’t leave it alone and I’m always looking for things to do and change Have a look at the bonneville and Speedmaster sections and see if anything lights your fuse or puts you off Then get a BLACK Speedmaster
I'm not averse to a nice 'cruiser' style of bike, indeed I borrowed one (can't remember exactly what - some sort of Bonneville derivative) while my bike was in for service, BUT ..... going over bumps on one sends a sharp pain straight up my back. Admittedly this is the result of an injury caused by falling off the side of a lorry (not to be recommended - I was lucky that the ground was there to break my fall!) and breaking my heel bone, and (as I found out subsequently) crushing two vertebrae in my neck. Took about seven years for that pain to start and be diagnosed. A not too radical forward leaning (not upright) stance suits me best. But remember that we are all different.
thanks everyone for your time to reply.. my heart is leaning to the speedmaster, possibly in matt black..lol. but i have read this colour on any bike/car is a pain to keep clean? but my head is saying street twin..but every other day i change my mind and swap them about....wish i could have both..lol the insurance for either of them is about the same for a new rider, and i did a few years as an apprentice car mechanic in my late teens, so am not afraid to get my hands a little dirty when it comes to maintenance. i just want to make the right choice 1st time, no regrets..
Welcome, 2 good choices of bikes, all I can say is, keep them in mind, pass your test and then have a damn good test ride and see what suits you best, we all have our favourites and we are all different so what suits one person won’t for another person. Who knows once you’ve got your licence you’ll probably be in love with another!
Both bikes are a good choice for your first bike as the power isn't intimidating (unless your right hand overtakes your brain) as the other posts suggest take a good long test ride day 40/50 miles minimum, then think about how you feel walking up to the bike and thinking how much you want to own it. After many years on sportsbikes and too many years of racing I now ride a Bonneville America and I really enjoy the ride and smile every time I walk up to the bike (It's a 2016 Ltd edition 8 ball paintwork) thinking that's my bike! Take your time and enjoy the search for your steed, good luck with the test. Cheers,Pete
Welcome Ed. The answer is simple mate. Test ride both (and others). Find a dealer that has a Street on its demo fleet and book a ride. Then find a dealer with a Speedmaster and ask for a test ride. Then if cruiser is your bag look at what others are available. At our shop we've just this Friday sold a recent model America to a lorry driver who is chopping in a litre sports bike. He had a test ride with his missus on piliion and loved it. Another lorry driver customer started with a BMW GS (kept dropping it, two up) so chopped it in for a Street Tripe R low for fun, and bought a T120 for two-up cruising and touring. He passed his test lest year. And another lorry driver mate who passed his test in Summer 2016 started out with a Street Triple 675, found it too small so bought a Yamaha Tracer MT-10, and then in a little over a month chopped it in for a Tiger 800 XCa which is the keeper. Test ride. Test ride. Test ride.
Welcome to the Asylum you should fit right in. You have got to test ride the bike's you like. Then get the black one Tucker
Hello Ed and welcome to the forum Everyone is offering sound advice. Whatever you decide on let us know with pictures even if it’s not a Trumpet.
Hi and welcome to the forum. Good advice given already so no need to repeat it here. Steve makes a good point in that the cruiser style may not be as comfortable as you think if you have any sort of back problem. My friend has a Harley and is now finding that the feet forward riding position is actually giving him a lot of pain at the base of the spine and is now thinking of going for a bike with a more "upright" riding position. However, the choice will be yours
Street Twin is probably going to be lighter than a cruiser style bike - useful for when you are learning. Good luck with the test - I did mine at 55 and had not ridden before so you should be fine. Take your time with the tests, especially Mod 1 the slow speed manoeuvring thingy and remember to look over your right shoulder "life saver" as it's known before you do anything. I seem to remember that you have to do this even when pushing the bike into position!
If you decide to go down the cruiser route and are concerned about back problems (I starred in the video T shirt etc) send me your email address and I'll send you some photos of the seat that we built for my America which has a custom built back rest.
Hi and welcome; good luck with your test. Either the street twin or speedmaster will provide you with a great start into biking. Once you have ridden for a while you will likely swap what ever your first bike is so I would not stress to much over the decision. Wessa
Welcome from across the pond. I just got a new Street Twin and love it. My 1st Triumph. Easy to ride and tons of fun. Highly recommended.