My Bonnie Street Scrambler PCP runs out next year and I'm already splitting my grey matter about what to have next. My original intention was to buy the bike after the PCP, and I made sure it was suitably accessorised. However, that was before my servicing in August, and the day's grin-inducing fun I had on the Trident 660. I just couldn't get enough of it. I thought it would be a great second bike (and the receptionist at Webbs tells me that's what everyone says after a test ride), but found myself unable to forget how much fun I'd had on it, round Lincolnshire's twisty back roads. So I was thinking more and more about swapping the Bonnie SS for one next year - a full purchase, rather than PCP as I've felt rather limited by the contract due to worries about possible scrapes and cosmetic damage costing me on the bike's return. Then they announce the Tiger 660. I've always liked sports tourers - had a Fazer 1000 gen 1 for 5 years prior to the Scrambler, a GPZ (my second one) before that and a Tiger 900 prior to that. I chopped in the Fazer to get something easier to handle off the bike and that gave me more grins on local roads within the 100-ish mile radius that I usually do my rides around. That makes me concerned that I'd be heading back in the same direction - though the new Tiger is lighter, thinner and probably far easier to manhandle. During the final service for my Fazer, Webbs let me have a Tracer 700 for 2 days and I got on well with that, so the Tiger may not be a problem, size-wise. I didn't have to push the Tracer in and out of my workshop, though, which is up a short ramp. But I bet that Tiger's a cracking machine! I'll be booking a test ride ASAP this year, and I'll try and get them to loan me one as a courtesy bike during my servicing this year so I can spend a bit more time with it. It'll probably come down to finances and exactly what's on offer at the time - but it's driving me nuts trying to reach a decision. Yes, i know it's over 18 months away, but you know how it is...
Summat new will come out before then, just play the test ride game over the next few months and try as much as you can... have fun dude!
JD_Lincs I got the similar woes on my mind. I would love a 660 but some of the trade in offers i got for my spirit of 59 Bonnie were no more than a joke. So for now i am keeping my Bonnie. Even trying privately just attracted spanners. Joe.
That surprises me. Sorry to hear it - awful when that happens, but I had it with two past bikes and both got sold within a couple of years - one for more than I paid for it. I'd just bide your time - though with used bikes supposedly being very much sought after right now I don't know if there will be a better time, so maybe just needs the right buyer. A guy came from Ireland to buy my last bike (I'd been trying to sell it for over 2 years) - he said UK bikes are far better looked after than Irish ones.
JD_Lincs Yes doesn't really bother me at present as i do love the Bonnie. I really have not put a lot of effort and mainly tried dealers as i don't want to be without a Triumph. Joe.
As @DCS900 says something new will hit the market in the 18 month time frame. I would just chill and keep looking at what is happening in the market for the next 12 months or so before making any decisons.
You have found yourself in the dilemma that I always find myself in Looking for the next one FAR too early, and the likelihood of you changing your mind in the next 18 months is high. There will be new models, other bikes that catch your attention etc. I would say, enjoy your beauty for now and don’t think too long about the next. The bike will present itself when it is time.
I'm definitely picking up a 2nd bike before too long and I'm not selling my Speed Twin. I have certain personal goals to achieve over the next few months that won't be easy, one of which is getting my Triumph all but completely paid off. If I can come out it all successfully I'm pulling the trigger on something. I was thinking Ducati up until somewhat recently but I'm leaning toward a BMW S1000RR now. I'm still young enough to get some years out of a sport bike. Go big or go home. You only get one go-around, and no one here gets out alive.
I went through this back in the 90's when I just had to have the latest top dog sports bike. This was when a new GSXR/FZR/Fireblade was around £7-8k and every year I'd part-ex it at the dealer +£2k for the next one but I enjoyed it which is what it's all about. Nowadays I tend to get attached to bikes I like and stick with them. The ZZR is 10 years old, not found anything to match it, likewise the dirt bike is 13 years old and not available new anymore so it's staying. When I saw and test rode the Triumph in 2020 I had to have one and liked it so much went out and bought another one when it was stolen and written off. IMO there could well be a rush of new bike models (real bikes that is, not these battery powered toys) from manufacturers over the next several years prior to the impending ban.
“no one gets out alive” this is my mindset when it comes to motorcycles. Too many times I have had the conversation of “why do you ride motorcycles, they are so dangerous” blah blah blah. If I go on 2 wheels I’ll go doing what I love. Everyone would love more time, but 2 wheels is something I’m not willing to compromise on. Ride safe and ride on, I say however to get back onto topic, I understand the love for the beemer, however they are too ironed out for my liking. Far too refined and perfect. The duc on the other hand, might be a good choice coming from a triumph. Still get character but tons of refinement. Both great brands though!
You can't argue that Ducati is certainly a premium brand with a huge loyal following. I "tried" one in 2011, namely an 1198SP and it ended up being the shortest lived ownership of any bike I've ever owned. I test rode one and liked it on the day so I've no one to blame but myself. I fell out of love with it quickly and in 3 short months, in my mind it went from must have to must get rid of so I cut my losses and it went. What made it worse was I kept thinking of how I'd part ex'd my beloved '04 R1 which was an absolute gem and up until the ZZR, was the longest I'd owned any bike. I'd give the Ducati the best looking bike award but I just don't get the "character" thing, give me refined any day. Looking back it was so obviously an impulse buy. Bloody male menopause.
Last year I tried out the Panigale V4S and S1000RR. Both amazing bikes, obviously. I wanted to love the Panigale, and in some ways I did, but there was something about the BMW I just liked a little more. I put it down to not spending most of my biking life on v-twins or fours.
I returned to motorcycling a little over a year ago after nearly 2 decades away, albeit due to working high tempo overseas gigs for much of it so I had no control over things if I wanted to stay out there in the mix. I'm kind of making up for lost time now, although I certainly wouldn't trade my globetrotting years for anything. The Speed Twin was the perfect bike at the right moment. After settling back to a normal life and working a normal "boring" job, thing's a fuckin' Godsend and it seriously lit a fuze. I've never owned a high-end sport bike. Ridden several, and I'll have one before my time is through here. It's really that simple. I don't want to be that over the hill geezer rolling around in or on the ride of his dreams from back when he was in his prime but too broke, too busy with the rat race, or too busy raising kids. Not to belittle those dudes, I see them around every so often with the top down and the stereo up. Gets a smile out of me every time. I just want to fulfill a few bucket list things while I'm still relatively young… and I stress relatively. There's only a small handful of items left for me. No excuses. I've checked a lot of boxes in my time that very few people get the chance to and less even seriously consider. I won't list any lest I be considered a braggart but I have been very fortunate, in more ways than one too. I've achieved some spectacular feats and I've beaten some scary odds. I've rolled with some giants among men and a few I called mentors, some of them absolutely fearless. When people speak of "dangerous motorcycles" or it being outside their comfort zone, my heart goes out to them. I can only smirk and shake my head a little. So the next bike will be that bike, and I refuse to do it at the expense of my current one.
@JD_Lincs: Both bikes are great and come up with a great performance! For me, the decision would be a question of size. The 660 is simply too small for me with a height of + 180 cm. With the 900 that would not be a problem. But you have to judge that for yourself individually.
And what a lovely "quandary" to be in, @JD_Lincs! I relish two things that are very related to your "dilemma"--research and anticipation. Perhaps you enjoy these things, too. I agree with the suggestions and advice of others here. Watch for new models, test ride lots of bikes, and pay attention to the bike or bikes that keep "calling your name" and drawing you to them. You'll know when you know.
I owned and loved a Mk2 vtwin Tuono, it was a fantastic bike, I've always in the past had 2-3 or more bikes , whilst I had the tuono I also had a 350 morini and a guzzi 750 S3 and a Laverda triple. In a brain fart moment I pxd the Tuono for the V4 version. Massive mistake, it was properly fast but so utterly focused and uncomfortable and lacked character compared to the twin, then my arthritis got considerably worse, my guzzi was stolen, I could no longer kick start the morini so hardened my heart, sold everything and bought the T100, no real regrets though my true love is Italian bikes the bonneville has been great to be fair I've enjoyed modifying it to my taste and me and Mrs W have piled the miles on in the last 12 months, this will almost certainly be my last bike, I'm still waiting for an operation to put 4 screws in my spine but I'll ride as long as I'm physically able and glad to not be looking for another bike as I'm satisfied with what I have.
I sold this to get the Nightstorm and always regretted it.......not the Nightstorm, love that just losing the Tuono Finally had sufficient funds and found a decent replacement
I had one of each, my tuono wasn't the factory but had a few factory bits but I went for the full titanium arrow system, Oz wheels, full monoblocs I got from splitlath as we supplied to their team for Aprilia.
I was in Via Moto in Sheffield a couple of weeks ago, coveting the Tuonos and RS660s. I've never ridden one, somtthing I must rectify one of these days.
