Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Help! Buyer Remorse!

Hello...I've lurked here since the BA came out in '02 and joined the forum when Robert started it. Sort of always liked the looks of the BA. I'm 66 years old now and still ride my '91 HD Ultra which I bought new. We've enjoyed a lot of great miles together. Being older now, I don't ride it as much anymore as it's a chore to lug it out of the garage and go for a short ride, so, I've convinced myself that I need a lighter, more nimble ride. So, the other day I put down a deposit on a new '07 Speedmaster. Ordered a Corbin saddle/backrest for it and a Clearvue windshield, plus other assorted goodies. A good Buddy wants my HD, so he rode it home today to bond with it. And now my indecision has kicked in big time. I really enjoyed my HD....had "miles of smiles" on her....can this new Triumph offer the same?
Here's a photo of what I'm getting off....Maybe I just needed to vent....if any of you have any insight though, I'd appreciate hearing from you. Don

You live your life in a series of chapters. Turn the page and let it happen!

Go from being one of the crowd to the center of the room.
Bike is easy to handle looks great and not everyone has one!!!

You'll be fine. My brother just 'downsized' from an Ultra for many of the same reasons. He was tired of all the hardware that did little for him but make for a top heavy and unstable at low speed ride. He's got a pair of metal knees know and doesn't want to use them up on that "truck of a bike". He didn't go the Triumph route but I can't hold that against him - he's family. Anyway, I think you'll find the lightness and agility of the Triumph far easier to deal with. I bet you'll use it more, too - and that's what they are for. Good luck.

Hey, like you said, you have a hard time lugging the larger bike out to ride it sounds like it is time to make a change and the speedmaster/ba is a good choice for that. Maybe you should hold onto the 91 for a while to avoid the empty nest feeling of it not being there. good luck

mike

Yep, I'd hate to get rid of a good lookin bike like that HD also. But I'll bet that if you are going to be more comfortable on a smaller bike, you're not gonna want to ride the HD again after you've bonded with the Trumpet. And bond you will! You're lucky, you've gone from one classic to another!

You won't be sorry. In fact, you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier.

Had the same thing when I first put down the money for mine. Major buyers remorse. I get more comments from people wherever I go now than any of my Harley riding friends. Just went to my first big rally of the season here and had a steady stream of admirers stopping by to look at her.

As far as handling goes, you will find that the Triumph handles curves with a grace that is really remarkable for a cruiser. It has the comfort of a cruiser, but it doesn't handle like one.

Perform a little bafflectomy or just add some new pipes and you can get a really nice sound out of her too. The bike, combined with the expertise and friendliness I've found here in this forum, have really made my experience owning a Triumph a great one. Hard to imagine getting a different bike now. Anyway, I say congratulations man, buyers remorse aside you'll probably love it if you're looking for something a little more nimble.

Nice Glide but man , you need a tow truck to get her out of the garage . The Speedy is nimble and balanced more than any cruiser I've experienced . The thing will whip around like a hang glider . Not gonna ride as smooth as the Glide , get yerself a Town Car for that .
I have no complaints about mine . Welcome !

I am looking in the book for a law that sates one can not own more then one motorcycle at a time... Yup what I thought,, not there.. Keep the bike.

I had a great first season with mine last year, not an ounce of trouble. Fantastic steady ride, and so very nimble. Go back and read as much as you can from this forum...there is such a wealth of valuable information from bike owners of the Speedmasters, and Americas....and welcome to the club.

Don thats one nice ride.As for it being a chore to get out the garage you won't have that with the speedmaster,it's a very forgiving bike.If you havent rode it yet I'd be takin another trip out to Lambeth.You will love it,might wana hang on to the bagger fer a bit tho just in case you wana go fer a long haul and need room to pack stuff.

If the only reason you weren't riding much was that getting the bike out was such a chore then you will spend the entire season on two wheels this year. I'd regret it too but after a while the feeling will go away and as the others said if you can afford it try keeping two for a bit.

Personally I can't see why you would regret it.I've been riding Triumphs almost my whole cycle riding life and have never wanted anything else. I love my Speedmaster and have done both short and long haul rides on it. I ride hard sometimes and others I put.I rode my SM from NE PA to Laconia NH the same week I bought it in the driving rain, It rained so hard I couldn't see the tail light of the guy in front of me and it never missed a beat. It has been trouble free for 3 years going on 4 for me. I have packed enough stuff on my SM to go for a week long trip with Wendy before we bought her bike. No trunk or saddle bags at the time but it can be done. The bike has a low center of gravity and a pleasure to ride and loves the twisties.

Go rent 'The Thirteenth Warrior' and fast forward to the part where the vikings on their bigass war horses are making fun of the Arabian that Antonio Banderas is riding. You'll know what I'm talking about as soon as you get through the scene. Go now, Grasshopper, and all will become clear.

Plus, it's actually a pretty entertaining movie, so that's a bonus.

BTW, your bigass war horse is very nice as well...

I've got a whole bunch of bikes including 2 big Harleys. I love my Speedmaster and you're gonna love yours.

Last time I went riding with the cruiser crowd all of the guys on HDs were crowded around the Triumph admiring it.

should he consider a 19 tooth sprocket to approximate the hd's "feel"?

I've said it before, and it should be a motto "A man can never have too many motorcycles!" err.... pardon my PC inadequacies.... Ahhemmm, "A person can never own too many motorcycles!" (your welcome Gina... )

I've got both, the BA and a HD Classic + other vintage bikes. Love them all for what they are and how they ride. Enjoy the new Speedie, but keep the Glide if you can for those longer two-up rides.

later, Tom.

I could never let a girl as pretty as this go...



I'd just get her a new stablemate. Then you'd have the best of both worlds.

i got tired of "fighting" a road star smidnight silverado for the reasons you've ststed. getting a little "old and tired" myself. like someone said above, should have done it earlier. [ i did get an fjr to back up the bonnie, tho.]

Like oldroadie, I can't imagine you sold that bike.

Good luck with your new ride.

Well, the light of a new day and 20 plus posts of warm and sincere advice gives me good reason to turn that page and move on to that other Classic.....a Triumph Speedmaster. Sure I'd like to keep her, but finances dictate that I'm a one woman Man. The HD will go to a good home and be cared for by a fellow who can make her shine more than even I could. With a little time and effort, I'm pretty confident I can turn this new Triumph into a ride that will bring a smile to my face when I turn back to admire her. And if you Guys are right, the ride will put that smile on there as well. I've signed up with the local Rat pack here in London as well as registered for the Triumph Rally in Niagara Falls come June. So, new friends and experiences lie ahead.

Hopefully, I'll soon be able to start a new Post with a Photo of my new Mulberry Steed and you Fellows can give me some sage advice on how to live with a Redhead. Thanks again. Don