Two very different bikes... | GTAMotorcycle.com

Two very different bikes...

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palmpalm

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Hi all,

Long story short, before I got my 2014 Street Triple R last fall my main bike for 2 years was a Harley Davidson Road Glide Custom that I toured all over North America on. I had some issues with it and didn't like how Harley treated me so I traded-it for a profit and my Triumph.


Fast forward to Spring now and I've put 1200kms on the Triple and I am finding that when I ride it I've been thinking about being on my Harley, relaxed chill standard seating posture, big fairing, stereo, sound of the Harley..well you get the idea. I am thinking that if while riding my brand new motorcycle after not riding all winter doesn't get me all excited but instead makes me want to ride a big touring Harley then I've got the wrong bike for me...

Long story short, even though this is a new bike and I've spent thousands on accessorizing her I'm feeling I would much rather just have a Harley again and that I've made a mistake.

The problem, of course, is that getting a Harley again will now cost me even more money.

I could trade my car and my Triumph for a new Harley but then I will be without a car and I'll likely need to buy one again anyway, though my current car is financed and I owe money on it. I could get a used Harley but then it seems silly to trade a brand new Triumph with a warranty for a used Harley without one. Either way I am loosing money.

I'm not thinking straight. Talk to me, guys.

Should I just tell me brain to shut up and learn to love my new Triple? Should I follow my heart and ignore the financials and go get another Harley?
 
You've already stated you don't like how Harley treated you.
What on earth are you thinking about the possibility of going back to them?
Your Triumph is an amazing machine, and is a very relaxed seating position as far as most naked/sport/standard bikes are concerned.

If you're really thinking about trading it in, I would strongly suggest you put it back to stock and sell the aftermarket parts, as you'll never get any real value from them on your trade-in.

If you do want the same kind of cruiser experience, why not consider a Victory? Harley-Davidson makes more money on their branding and crap than they do on bikes. Why not support a company (parent is Polaris) that has their bike division focused on bikes and not on marketing?
 
Alternatively why not one of the Triumph cruisers?

I don't think you're nuts though, I had kinda lost my passion for riding with my current bikes and lost that longing to ride which lead to very little saddle time the last couple years. The 650 was a very practical bike that I had set up with hard luggage, hard wired GPS, heated grips and accessory outlet and had it set up perfectly for commuting/touring and it's a great city bike too but I just didn't have the heart in it anymore... Now I'm itching to ride my Triumph that has none of the amenities and isn't nearly as practical (especially in this weather) but has the heart so I think that's important (and as a result you'll limit your riding with the Street Triple).
 
check out the victory's, nice bikes. ive heard some people love them and some ride them and just really dont.

i hear ya on the whole missisng the harley, mind you mine was a sportster but i regret selling it, didnt need the money to buy my sport bike, i did fairly good on the sale(made money) but still under market value by about a grand...then add all the mods i had on it and i gave him the stock parts.
whoever i sold it to did really good.

i really want a bagger next..... and a 1000rr....and a streetfighter.... but i wont sell my truck for them all, eventhough i probably could...
 
Yah, it's not even that I want another cruiser. I specifically am yearning for a Road glide or street glide like the one I had before. I've ridden Victory, the new Indian, Triumph cruisers, and other bikes. It's my old Harley I am yearning for.
 
palmpalm said:
"relaxed chill standard seating posture, big fairing, stereo, sound of the Harley"...
Click to expand...
Gross, heheh...
But whatever - it's a free country - so what are you doing on the little triple?
It's such a change from what you had before. What made you go that way?
Not sure when, but the new Indian Scout will be released soon.
That bike will be half-way between the Triumph and the Harley.
Supposed to be very affordable, and maybe you'd like it...
 
I had a girlfriend right after high school and we had all kinds of firsts and good experiences together. But we both moved on. It took a while and I really missed her, but I found another girl and had good experiences with her. She was different from the other in many ways but it was ok, I just had to stop making comparisons between the two and embrace the new one for all she offered.

And she never made me dress up like a pirate to hang out with her friends.
 
palmpalm said:
Yah, it's not even that I want another cruiser. I specifically am yearning for a Road glide or street glide like the one I had before. I've ridden Victory, the new Indian, Triumph cruisers, and other bikes. It's my old Harley I am yearning for.
Click to expand...

If you can afford it, get an older Harley without selling the Triumph. You can't have your last one back and it sounds like you miss the connection with that bike. An older version (for cheap) coupled with keeping your current rocket will develop a connection of it's own as you fix it up.
 
Too bad, the Street Triple (older model) always gives me a smile when I ride one :)
 
You are not happy with the bike you have and want the bike that you had. So sell the bike that you have and buy the bike you used to have. Stop counting how much you spent, money's already gone.
Don't stress something like that. Do whatever you like without impacting your standard of living, therefore don't sell your car, that's drastic and unnecessary. Be patient and save up if you can't pull the trigger right away.

Alternatively, if you have no money for H-D, get a Japanese cruiser.
 
This is going to sound crazy but give it a listen anyways: "Buy the right tool for the job".

Decide what type of riding you like to do and then buy the bike that was made for that type of riding. Sounds like you want to sit back, be lazy, chug along and enjoy the sights. The Street Triple is designed to be light and nimble so it can be tossed around, zipping through streets and craving curvy roads and kept in the upper revs.

I have access to a nice road glide anytime I want to borrow it and even though I've tried to like it (and put many miles on it) I just can't find much about it I like. It doesn't stir my soul like my GSXR does.
 
crankcall said:
I had a girlfriend right after high school and we had all kinds of firsts and good experiences together. But we both moved on. It took a while and I really missed her, but I found another girl and had good experiences with her. She was different from the other in many ways but it was ok, I just had to stop making comparisons between the two and embrace the new one for all she offered.

And she never made me dress up like a pirate to hang out with her friends.
Click to expand...


This.
 
Schneller said:
The heart wants what the heart wants. There is no logic. Especially with women and bikes.
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Yup, so true...
Best if one doesn't struggle and fight too hard.
 
Confess your sins on GTAM.......love the one you're with.........
 
I felt okay with my decision this afternoon. Now I've tried going to sleep and I can't sleep agonizing over it and thinking about how I would prefer the Harley. Crap!
 
palmpalm said:
I felt okay with my decision this afternoon. Now I've tried going to sleep and I can't sleep agonizing over it and thinking about how I would prefer the Harley. Crap!
Click to expand...

It's ok princess, I know life is hard but you'll make it through.
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