 '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
I have a sob story that I need to post where people will appreciate my pain. I moved from the Chicago suburbs to New Jersey last fall as my wife got into a PhD program out here and my job is portable. I left my 2007 America, my first and only motorcycle that I bought new, in my brother-in-law's barn about an hour outside the city. I planned to fly back in the late spring and ride it out to my house in NJ over a long weekend. Well, my brother-in-law's barn burned down yesterday. To the ground. My bike included. Everyone's ok, my sister's house is ok, so it could have been a lot worse. Mostly just 20 years of my brother-in-law's accumulated. I'm not sure what's going to happen next. I'm not sure what the insurance situations are going to be...still trying to figure out the logistics of that. Not trying to figure things out yet. Just sad at this point and taking a moment to wallow in it. I'll remember each of the 30k miles fondly and all of the maintenance and upgrade tasks I learned on that bike (a lot of it from lurking on these forums for years). Trigger warning: Motorcycle Carnage ahead.
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 168 Likes: 11
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 168 Likes: 11 |
That is sad.
I have damaged motorcycles before and felt bad, but all were my fault and none were as total as yours.
The good side is that there are leftover America's available at great prices.
Good luck with insurance.
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
Glad your family is OK and sorry for your loss. On the bright side your America had a Viking funeral.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Very sad to hear. We men DO get attached to our machines somehow. In some strange way, I kinda think there can be a "hidden" connection made between man and machine in some kind of metaphysical way. I know guys who don't respect machinery at all and all they seem to have is bad luck with their machines. I'm just the opposite, treating my machines with care. While I do have breakdowns, they never seem as bad or as often as those who don't care. While I suppose it is irrational to become emotionally attached to an inanimate object, I do sometimes. Just last night I was in a morose kind of mood and wandered out to the garage where my cycles are stored. I walked by my 58 Cushman that my Grandfather gave me when I was 17 and which I restored last year. I patted it on the seat and spoke to it, "we sure had some good times, didn't we!"
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
Get the same year and color  
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
Quote:
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
Personally, I'd go for the carb models...so much simpler to troubleshoot......easier to tune too.
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Get the same year and color
Snowball II
From that vintage, my color scheme is by far my favorite.
The blue and white two tone
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
Personally, I'd go for the carb models...so much simpler to troubleshoot......easier to tune too.
Yeah, I could go either way on that. I only knew enough about my carbs to do basic maintenance. Balancing and rejetting. Never had to do any troubleshooting or a full rebuild.
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,174 Likes: 15
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,174 Likes: 15 |
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
Personally, I'd go for the carb models...so much simpler to troubleshoot......easier to tune too.
I would go with the EFI models. super easy to tune, make mods and they start much easier.
05 speedmaster - 1100cc, 11:1 racing pistons, Carillo rods, thunderbike cams, ported and polished head, 2mm over intake and exhaust valves, Barnett kevlar clutch, scepter pipes, oversize manifolds, 45mm HSR's, TTP stage 4 firestarter
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1 |
David that really sucks. 30k miles she was in the prime of her life. Barely enough to recognize. I’m glad your family is okay. If your insurance company comes through I would take a look at the 2018 Speedmaster if I were you. 1200 cc’s of fun.
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks, guys. You're making me feel a little better...
Now, the question is...If I try to replace with a similar vintage, do I update to the Fuel Injected models (2009 was the first I believe?) or look for a carbuerated model?
Personally, I'd go for the carb models...so much simpler to troubleshoot......easier to tune too.
I would go with the EFI models. super easy to tune, make mods and they start much easier.
Oddly enough, I never had problems starting mine, or any problems with driving rains flooding it which was kind of a miracle for that age.
Only one major problem with it ever and that shockingly happened within the warranty period.
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Quote:
David that really sucks. 30k miles she was in the prime of her life. Barely enough to recognize. I’m glad your family is okay. If your insurance company comes through I would take a look at the 2018 Speedmaster if I were you. 1200 cc’s of fun.
Yeah, she was just getting warmed up. Didn't have a lot of miles but we had a lot of saddle time together on the commute.
I checked my policy today and I had actually been smart and got a supplemental rider for accessories too as I think there were more dollars in chrome and leather on it than what the bike blue books for these days anyway, so I'm optimistic. (as optimistic as one can be about an insurance company anyway)
New Speedies are 1200cc? I have been meaning to stop by the Triumph Dealer in Metuchen...
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Re: '07 America's sad departure.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1 |
I don’t think the New Speedies will be in showrooms for a few months but they are coming. Based on the Triumph Bobber.
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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