I thought the unthinkable...I did the unthinkable....

[Boneman]

Yes, I'm sad to say I test rode a different bike!!

A phone converstaion with a freind of mine lead us to talking about the Triumph Sprint ST 1050 as I eventually want to get into a bigger bike, that is made for sport touring. Didn't really know much about the ST so started to do some online researcha nd found that our local Triumph dealer had a used 06 for sale!!!

I was so jazzed that I left work an hour early to go check it out and take it for a test ride!



Here is the actual listing: Boost Listings - Savage Cycles

Price is $6,999CDN with no hard luggage and I'd need the newer handlebar risers to bring the grips up more. So I worked out some numbers and after taxes and what not, I decided to think about it but the reality is I probably wont be bothering with it.

I eventually want to get into the sport touring market, but right now I:

a. can't really affor a new(er) bike right now
b. don't want to sell my FZ6!!!!!!! Which I would have to do in order to get a different bike.

So it was a good experience and a fun test ride. It is a torque monster!!

[cap'n]

More details on what it felt like, please.

[RJ2112]

That's a pretty bike. Looks like it's already got projector headlights, I read the ad to say it's got heated grips and ABS.....

27K Km isn't all that many miles on an '06; especially with new sprockets. You get to keep the under seat exhaust, it's probably almost as 'unique' as the FZ...... Seems like a good price, to me.

It would, of course EAT tires....

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by cap'n

More details on what it felt like, please.

Felt "big"...lol. Compaired to the FZ6, it's huge. TONS of torque and very smooth. The way the seat is it seems to suck you in nicely into the seat and tank. Very comfortable. With the lower style grips, my bad neck was hurting after 20min, so getting the newer and taller risers put on was a must for me.

Very smooth acceleration. The bike just glides along.

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by RJ2112

That's a pretty bike. Looks like it's already got projector headlights, I read the ad to say it's got heated grips and ABS.....

27K Km isn't all that many miles on an '06; especially with new sprockets. You get to keep the under seat exhaust, it's probably almost as 'unique' as the FZ...... Seems like a good price, to me.

It would, of course EAT tires....

Yeah it is a good deal and would be a good bike to enter into the sport touring market. Here are the numbers the dealership gave me as I work and think in OTD pricing:

$9,200.00 CAD. That's the bike, taxes, new hard luggage with matching colour panels and the higher riser kit.

$4,646.00 CAD. That is the price left to pay if I traded in my FZ6 and includes taxes, new hard luggage with matching colour panels and the higher riser kit.

Obviously I could probably get a much better deal if I did a private sale. He commented on some of my mods, but as a dealer he pointed out that mods and aftermarket items don't add VALUE, they add SALEABILITY to the bike.

This bike has seen a lot of use. It was purchased from a touring company that rented it out plus the dealer uses it as a loaner bike.

[reiobard]

i have always been a fan of those, and for that price it would have been a serious consideration when i was looking for bikes before the FZ6. Maybe down the road i will look at them again.

Glad that you are sticking around too!

[cap'n]

Originally Posted by Boneman

Felt "big"...lol. Compaired to the FZ6, it's huge. TONS of torque and very smooth. The way the seat is it seems to suck you in nicely into the seat and tank. Very comfortable. With the lower style grips, my bad neck was hurting after 20min, so getting the newer and taller risers put on was a must for me.

Very smooth acceleration. The bike just glides along.

I've tossed a leg over one at the dealer, and it felt huge to me too, but I'm pretty damn tiny (5'5" and 120 lbs). The FZ6 is "tall" for me but I've gotten used to it. The Sprint and the Tiger both made me say "...nope, that's about an inch beyond where I'm comfortable." Thus I've never bothered to try and test ride either. I love the idea of that motor, I just wish it were in something a little closer to the pavement.

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by cap'n

I've tossed a leg over one at the dealer, and it felt huge to me too, but I'm pretty damn tiny (5'5" and 120 lbs). The FZ6 is "tall" for me but I've gotten used to it. The Sprint and the Tiger both made me say "...nope, that's about an inch beyond where I'm comfortable." Thus I've never bothered to try and test ride either. I love the idea of that motor, I just wish it were in something a little closer to the pavement.

Yeah I was on my toes and with the added size/weight difference, it made even just backing it into the SLIGHTLY uphill parking spot a bit of a chore and my feet/toes slipped a few times during the process. I'm sure there would be a lowering linkage you can get for it, puls some seat mods might take it down a bit.

[Geoff]

I stand for your fz6, it was one of my inspirations when I did my first set of modifications before my recent naked conversion. Your FZ6 is still hot sh**, It has character and lot of work put into it by your hands. It would be like selling a friend, I have personal attachments to things, and my bike is one of them.

[Boneman]

Thanks Geoff!

Yeah, it kinda hit me while riding back home from the dealership. You are correct that my FZ6 is like a freind and I am attached to it! I've ALMOST got it to the point where I can say "there, finished".

The problem I face now with purchasing any bike (new or used), is I look at a stock bike and go "hmmm, it's stock. Gonna need to change this, fix that, get this, this and this......". Now I've accepted that as it's just part of who I am and is why I started modding in the first place.

So getting a different bike for me also means "starting over" and is a BIG consideration as well. I like having a 'unique' bike that stands out from the rest.

Ideally and since I could never recoup all the time and money put into my bike if I sold it; I'd love to be able to keep it as the start of "my collection"...but unless I win the lottery or my daughter doesn't want to go to college, I'd have to sell my FZ6 in order to finance getting a different bike.

So for now I think I'll be sticking with my trusty and much loved Fizzer!