New or used?????

[kajoh]

Ok, here is my dilema. I have been looking and keeping track of bikes sold on both ebay and through craigslist. Seems to be that there have been some great deals lately on used bikes. Guess what I'm looking for is some input..I love the Roadster, but won't really know until I take one for ride. From what I understand though, might be a bit hard to get and by time I'm done with it going to put quite a dent in the wallet. I like corbins bags and fairing....so alot of extra $$$$$.

But just sold on fleabay for $7100 was 06 Rocket with Corbin beetle bags....sounds pretty good to me and probably about 10k cheaper, mind you it had 15,000 miles on it. Are there any model years that did have more trouble than others? Just asking this because if I do end up going used then I will zero in on a certain year...etc..2007. Seems to me that most of the 05-06 Rockets sold on fleabay in last little while have been in the 7,000-8,000 range. Would there be any issues with these years?

So...Do I wait to get the Roadster, let somebody else trick it all out and then snatch one up in a year or two for quite a bit less and get a used one for now? OR do I wait for the Roadster and that extra torque and hp?

I know that there are alot of questions there....but I'm sure you all will impart your wisdom on me..oh wise Captains.

Thanks in advance...

 

[RocketDaryl]

If you're looking at new bikes, that tells me you're looking at used from a value standpoint and not out of necessity. Assuming that's the case, I'd look for a new, leftover 09 or a used, low mileage ,08 or 09. I just sold my 08 Touring for $12K. That's around $500 less than the dealer thought they could get for it, but I wanted it gone and, as the saying goes, a bird in the hand... You can find brand new 09 Standard Rockets for $12K as well. That's a pretty **** good deal and you'll get a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty.

 

[rocket31998]

It depends on how long you plan on keeping it and how much you plan to ride. A leftover new one is ideal if you are going to ride a lot and you don't plan on selling for a while. Used is the way to go if you plan to turn it over relatively soon. I bought my first Rocket III Classic ('06) used in the Winter of '08 and sold it six months later for more than I paid for it. Since selling was the craziest thing I have ever done, I bought an '08 Rocket III Touring last summer new and leftover. I got a great deal and plan to hold onto it for a while. Either way, you can't go wrong with a Rocket III. Good luck!

 

[HellFire]

It's probably the most expensive way to go, but I've pictured a shiny black 2010 roadster with matching Beetlebags and short summer windscreen as my next bike. It's just a pipe dream for me, but for someone ready to buy .... who knows.

 

[kajoh]

Well guys, thanks for the replies and advice. Daryl, good point about the warranty that is available, have to keep that in mind. Once I get it I do plan on keeping it for quite a while rbickford.

Hellfire that is exactly what I was thinking...Roadster, Beetlebags, Short wind screen....

Guess I will just have to make that choice if I'm ever able to take a Roadster for a test ride. Hoping Triumph Detroit will have one available in next couple of months.....or when this **** snow melts.

 

[xhdskip]

Bought my Black Betty new,
it was a demo.
Had 23 miles on it the first test ride, and 253 the second.
Bought it then, 1 week later.
Some guy who had a rocket and lived about 100 miles from the dealer,
had brought his in and they loaned him mine to ride while his got fixed.
Nobody rode mine from my test ride on, except this guy who rode it home and back.
It's an '07.
Bought my wifes off ebay for around $7000.
It's an '05 and had 6,500 miles on it.
Mine had the output shaft bearing go bad, hers hasn't.
Now that we've had a couple of years to think about this output shaft bearing problem,
I think the installer was just on drugs, or hungover or something.
so in essence,
just get one,
it don't matter which year,
you'll change stuff around anyway.

 

[flhtpi]

Like others have said, shop around for the best price. I purchased new because I wanted the warranty. I've had my R3 Std less than 2 months old, I think I got a great price. It's a left over 2007 with zero miles . I paid $10097.00 out the door. I live in NC and got the bike in MD. As far as the Roadster goes, it all comes to taste. I perfer the R3 Std myself.

 

[RocketDaryl]

If *I* were going to buy a Rocket today, I'd find a leftover Standard. I've not seen a Roadster in person so I don't know if I would like the ergos on it or not. I know the pegs are back more; closer to a midmount position. The Standard is almost identical to my Thunderbird and I love the ergos on my T-Bird. There's a black one at our dealer and they offered it to me for a great price. MSRP puts it at around $15K out the door and they offered it to me for WAY less than that out the door. I opted for the T-Bird because it's a much smaller bike and easier for me to throw around, so to speak. I'm not a very big guy (5'10", 150 lbs) and the Rocket literally swallows me. My wife said I looked like a little kid on my R3T, lol. Also, the dealer gave me a very good deal on my T-Bird. Essentially, they offered me either bike for the same out the door price. Obviously, the T-Bird wasn't discounted as much, but it's a 2010 and also I think the they sell a little better than the Rockets. I think this is due to them being less expensive to begin with and also they're more traditional looking for a cruiser and they're smaller. A lot of folks just think the Rocket is too big.

xhdskip

I had a similar experience with my Tiger. I bought it brand new. It was supposed to be a demo, but it hadn't been prepped yet. I saw it, inquired and they said they'd have it ready for me to test ride in about 20 minutes if I wanted to ride it. I did and came back the next day and bought it. Other than the dealer doing their required check ride (about 10 miles), I'm the only person that has ridden it. I got a REALLY good deal on the bike because of the demo credit and additional discount from the dealer. I also got a $1000 in accessories via the Triumph promo. I was elated with my out the door price.

Btw, another thing to consider if you're able to buy right now is you'll get $1500 in accessories if you buy an 09 Standard Rocket.

Finally, the Triumph Demo Days kick off in Daytona during bike week. It's coming to the dealership here in mid March (I'm going to work the event at the dealership). I'd check with the local dealers in your area to find out if/when it'll be at their shop. It will have all of the current year models. I've seen most of the bikes they'll have on the truck as our dealer had them for prep, which included putting the initial 500 miles on them. Our very own Scot in Exile put the miles on a couple of the bikes. I was supposed to help out it with that as well, but between work and cold weather I was unable to take any of the bikes.

 

[kajoh]

Thanks for all the useful advice. I guess at this point I will wait to be able to actually sit on, and maybe even ride the Roadster. I guess I'm leaning more toward what Hellfire said, but the downfall is I'm going to have to either A) sell the kids, pets on ebay or B) get my wife a paper route or C) sell a kidney to afford it.

I guess time will tell. I called Triumph Detroit and they said they are hoping to be able to get a Roadster in by end of March. I gave them my number and they said they would call and let me know as soon as they themselves knew. I guess at this point its a bit of a waiting game. I will have to see if that difference in torque will make up for the difference in price between a couple year old standard or new? Again, thanks for the helpful advice. Hoping this summer I will one way or the other be riding. I'm tired of renting when I feel the urge to get out on two wheels.

Would be nice to have it there ready in the man cave when the need arises.

 

[kajoh]

Just missed it!!!

Well I couldn't believe my eyes....Looking on Jaxed, a great search engine for anything for sale. An 05 Rocket, 10,000 miles, bags, sissy bar, touring seat. First $4200 takes it!!! I could'nt believe it. I called right away, the guy answering said they sold it in 30mins. Bike was in Florida.

Said it was in perfect working condition, never down, never damaged. He listed it for a buddy. Said his friend was in dire need of cash and fast.

Oh well, just have to wait.