Keith and cat,
Yeah, but I also am lucky enough to own both modern Triumphs and a beautiful '70 Bonnie custom Streettracker, and I can tell you that some of my most enjoyable rides are on that old piece of British Iron.(speaking of Brit Iron...thanks again Soren for the cool shirt...I should be receiving it, any day now)
The bike(knock on wood) has been very, very reliable, the past eight years of my ownership.
Even more than when I ride the BA, it gets so many admiring notices that I feel like a freakin' movie star just by association.(actually I usually feel like a cross between Steve McQueen and Gary Nixon(old champion Triumph factory racer of the '60s and '70s, for you kids out there) when I'm on the seat.
Nope, it's not a long-distance ultra reliable modern bike, but that's it's charm.
I rode it about 80-90 miles yesterday, up the Santa Monica Mountains to a little road-house known as the Rock Store,and back home, with not one wit of problems. Sundays are a zoo of almost every conceivable types of bikes that one could imagine converging haphazardly at one location. Gee....guess who's bike garnered the most attention?!
The collection or appreciation of older machinery is one of my passions, so I may be a little bias here, but it seems to me that the people that I find the most enjoyable and entertaining company are the types that are kindred to this love of history and historic artifacts, and that especially means bikes and cars.
I think Roland is ready to begin that journey of discovery, and leave behind the solitary and overriding thoughts of just convenience. Trust me, the little(okay...4-6 grand may not be little) monetary outlay that one expends is returned ten-fold in pleasure, knowledge and comradery if you find a well maintained example of the breed.
AND if you find that this just ain't your bag, you can almost always sell it for about as much as you paid for it, or often times more, as classics and collectables seldomly drop in value, unlike a brand new bike. Most bikes, with the exception of many Harleys are worth HALF their original price in five years time. In other words, find a GOOD classic and you've got yourself an investment.
Roland,
Nope, sorry. I'm not familar with Ventura's BBC Triumph. The Garage Company in Culver City owned by a very nice guy by the name of Yoshi is a good place start, and Cindy Rutherford's Century Motorcycles in San Pedro is also a store that harks back to the days of bike shops before the big-box superstore concepts. But, be aware that any REALLY NICE old Triumph in these two places, will also carry a premium price-tag too. Best to check, as I said earlier, "Cycle Trader" and keep your eyes open for the "ONE"!
Dwight
