Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Attn: All Iowa and/or New Hampshire BA members...

...I'm a bit confused, and need some help deciding something!

You see...I was just wondering what you folks think should be my next motorcycle purchase???

According to all the "experts" I've seen of my TV recently, it appears that you folks are pretty good at whittling down choices and picking a front-runner for "the next best thing" for the rest of us here in these United States. I know, I'll bet it's SUCH a responsibility for you folks, huh?!, BUT you always seem to be up to this task!(well, at least every four years or so, that is...once again, this according to the so-called "punditry" out there)

Now, I was thinkin' maybe something new and sporty, like say the STREET TRIPLE! But, seeing as how it's so new to the Market and all, and has very little experience out there, it may just be a little over it's head at first in the roll I want.

Then, I was thinking maybe of buying a ROCKET III. But then again, even though that machine was been around for a while now, it's seems to have a very polarizing effect on some people's opinions about it.

And then I was thinking of some kind of all-round/do everything sort of bike, such as the TRIUMPH TIGER. But of course, that would lead to the proposition that this machine changes it's purpose at every whim, and could you really trust it all that much in the long run to keep it's focus and not "flip-flop"?!(per se)

How's about something with a SIDECAR, maybe??? There's nothing like a hack so you can take a few more members of your family with you as you ride around, right?!("family values" being what they are today and all...whatever that means, this is)

And these four ideas are JUST the tip of the old iceberg, as they say! There's SO MANY choices out there, ya know!

So, please help me here! You see, by the time these kinds of decisions usually get around to the rest of us, you folks have always helped to narrow the field down to just a few choices so as to not confuse us.

(thanks in advance for your help)

Get the Tiger dude. You'll never regret it!

Try the Speed Triple instead of the Street Triple. Awesome bike.

Hey Matt and Chris!!!

I SAID this question was strictly for those residents of Iowa and New Hampshire!!!

And especially YOU Chris, down there in FLORIDA!!! You'll just screw this whole thing up all over AGAIN!!! What?! You think I want to have to go through another RE-COUNT about this thing once I make my choice???

(geez...doesn't the term "hanging-chads" mean anything to you guys down there ANYMORE???)

(BTW...I'm leaning toward the Street Triple 'cuz it sounds on paper to be light-weight, comfortable, fast and would be really easy to throw into the twisties)

KTM 690SM or Duke 690, light, agile, fast and unique! I hope to add one to my stable in the Spring. If you really want to stay with a twin, the new Kawasaki Versys redlines at 10,500 and is a pretty cool bike! and if you want some good advice, keep the Speedy, you will miss it if you don't.............

I know I am staying out of it. We provided the transportation for the last several years and the dependability is less than acceptable. It has cost a ton to maintain. Hard to start, impossible to stop and simply out of control when any curves come up.

I can never buy from that dealer again.

Well being that I'm from NH but originally from MA I feel that I may have a unique out look…

The Rocket III you mentioned does have a bit of power, and couple that with the fact that it has been around for a while, it draws upon experience to help it handle the twists and turns that come its way…But that being said it also tends to be a bit over the top at times perhaps because of its power…this is definitely not a bike for those who have little or no experience but again it could just be more of the same power rich stuff…

The newness of the Street Triple makes it interesting because of it fresh out look and unique design/appearance but then again if I were to want a reliable machine proven in the field and sure to be a reliable contender than I might be more than a bit nervous about this choice, the whole thing seems too new and totally unproven to be a real option when the time for the final choice comes to call…but then again it could just be the surprise of a lifetime should it come out on top!

The side car is you mentioned has so many issues I don’t even know where to start…First off What is it going to be coupled with…you know that no matter how good the side car may be, it will surely be influenced by what its connected to…this could be good or bad, My opinion is this is a non-choice on many levels…I want something different not some old hack with a new paint job…plus it frightens me to think of what type of baggage comes with the thing, and I just plain don’t like it .

In short it really doesn’t matter what we say in the end you will have to choose and my opinion is unlikely to change yours

Buell 1125R


Dry weight 375 pounds
Belt drive
Torque 82 ft. lbs. @ 8000 RPM
146 HP @ 9800 RPM
MSRP $12K

Bucky, the Buell seems like a very nice bike(now with something other than that big lump of a Sportster motor in it), but I'm too old(THERE! I said IT!!! ) for clip-on handlebars and that out and out sportbike riding position anymore.

I've ridden the 675 Daytona and it's low-end torque is amazing for such a "small displacement" machine, and now that the Street Triple has ergos that even a old fart like me(THERE! I said it AGAIN!!! ) can appreciate, is why I'm leaning toward that bike.

(and besides...those rounded radiator covers/scoops on the new Buell look a little...well....Have you ever been to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert?...I think those radiator covers on the Buell look like a small pair of that ampitheater's famed enclosure, one on each side of that otherwise well-designed machine)

You arent getting any younger it may be time for a Goldwing????? I was on 1 a couple weeks ago & it was feeling pretty good to me!

So Rob, what you're tellin' me is that at this time in the process, the caucuses(or should that be CAUCI???...humm...that sounds a little like "cockeyed", doesn't it??? how appropriate for something with a election theme here, HUH?! ) still has no discernable front-runner, huh?!

(though I have the feeling once I test ride the Street Triple, my vote will be committed to it)

you could wait for the 1620.

I'm leaning toward the Rocket myself...but I still have mucho research to do before I commit....

Thank (insert appropriate recipiant of thanks here)
that you're not leaning toward the hack

(psst Rob...I just threw in that side-hack thing so's I could make a reference to "family values" in this thing...I figured Larry there at the Iowa Caucus would especially appreciate that!!!)

I'd like to get into longer rides & would love to do a coast to coast or an Alaska trip. I can't see myself doing it on my Speedy.

Well, I'm a born and raised Iowan, or as I like to say, Iowegian and I'll have to admit I'm new to the motorcycle world but I have to say that street triple looks very, very nice. I'd definitely go with that. You already have a cruiser in your speedy and again, those triples look very, very nice.

Dwight,

You have mentioned the Street Triple in 4 consecutive posts (and nothing else)... do you really think we believe we are helping you decide eh ... eh?

So, which colour are you leaning towards?

If money was no object (and it always is with my income) I'd love to own the Rocket 3.

Reason 1. It's important to us Triumph riders to ride something a little bit different, we're rebels.
Reason 2. When you pull in to get gas, and somebody asks you about your bike (which happens a lot to us Trumpet riders) you can start every explanation with "Its the largest production bike in the WORLD...) Tim Allen and all us macho dudes WILL understand that! UGH UGH UGH!
Reason 3. While some of us Turnips can't choose it, we would all love to see you on it and would be envious of you in our own friendly way.

I just checked out the Street Triple and I see it has a standard riding position, nice...
Now I might have to re-think my bike choice for the Spring

and here I thought we were talking politics (and I think Saxton did too)

Yup, I did especially when he told Matt and Chris they couldn't be part of it

Dwight,

Not from NH or IA either. I can't help it that I live in Oklahoma though... Long story but it's my wifes fault.

Anyway, for my 2 cents I'd go with the one that nobody is looking at, namely the Kawasaki Concours. It would be a very populist candidate and a lock for an outside the beltway winner.

On the surface nothing flashy, a hard worker, very experienced and time tested. Yet with a big heart and an attitude when needed in a crisis. It could even incorporate the Teddy Rosevelt "Walk softy and carry a big stick slogan." Sort of the middle classes answer to BMW or Duc. It would get the red states votes for it's conservative looks and long upstanding tradition and the blue ones for it's sporty ergos and that underlying swager of the ninja powerplant.

Just what you want in a candidate , the best of both worlds....hey It's worth a look anyway.

Bob

Well, since those of us in Nevada are getting a shot at this early decision making thing, I should get to put my 2 cents in as well.
Since the Rocket III (in it's latest incarnation) and the flashy new Street Triple are getting all the attention, it may well be one of those. I'm pretty sure that you're leaning toward the Street Triple. I still don't think that it'll be accepted though.

I think something from a tried and true marque would fit the Bill. We could say a Moto Guzzi Norge. Not so flashy, Not so well known, but should be good for the long run.

Of course, you may end up with a Vespa with a side hack

Ok
Native NHite here.
I think you should go all out and embrace a fringe canidate(uh bike).
A visionary, obscure, something different.

A client rode in last evening on his brand new vision, complete with light up badges and god awful lines.
Its perfect for you to stand out, be heard and get your point across without (speaking in these.)

Oh and it was ugly as sin, but I couldn't tell him that. He was still riding that new bike high. And I wasn't out riding in 35 degree weather as the sun was dropping.

Because winter is coming a URAL with sidecar would be a good choice for the snow. I'd put studded snows on her and you'd be good to go.

Hey Dwight,
How's tirement going, you sound bored.
Having ben an Iowegian for some odd 45 yrs I think what you want to know is should you get the pink one or the black one or the one without any guns...
The question that has me befuddled right now is how can someone garner a locked up position jus because they happen to come out on top at the first one????
ModelMaker

How about an FJR with their flavor of shift by wire technology, with the shift paddle on the left handle bar - ultra geezer friendly

Dwight, dang it you know a Harley is the only option! It is American and tried and tested in times of great stress and has over come and shone and made us all proud during the dark times in history! But then again, there are a lot that look like Harleys and seem to perform pretty well too and well often come out ahead in the media coverage. Kind of tough to sort through the lot because they all say their the best. But you know I really get tired of everything always looking the same year after year. You would think they would listen to the riders a little more?

eddy