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Since the first time I saw one, I have been in love with the Triumph Speed Four - especially in lime green. Never saw one in person, only in pics, but I always told myself if I found one for sale at a reasonable price I'd buy it. Fast forward to last week, my Kat is just the way I want it and I'm extremely happy with it but I happen to walk into a used car dealership while looking for a car for my mom and what do I see? A lime green Speed Four on the showroom floor. 
Of course I immediately asked how much they wanted for it, and when they said "$3500" my brain nudged my consience and said "Sell the Kat..." I mulled over the Triumph for a few days and avoided the street the dealership was on just so I wouldn't go in and look at the SF again. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I left work a little early and rode up to the dealership.
Once there I spoke to the owner of the lot, who also happened to own and ride the Triumph. We talked for a while and he looked over my bike, then he threw me an offer: "Would you be interested in trading this Katana +$1000 for the Speed Four?" I almost handed him the key but common sense suddenly burst to the front of my mind. I insisted I ride it before making a decision.
He agreed and rolled the bike out the door. I hopped on and almost pulled it right over on it's side, as it wasn't nearly the weight of the Kat. I liked it so far. The bike accomodated my small frame pretty nicely too. I fired her up and rolled out. The bike was certainly not a Kat, which was good up until 35 mph when I started to miss the wind protection. Very torquey and easy to toss around - I rolled into it getting on the highway and lifted the front end slightly. I was having a blast, both figuratively and literally, as the wind beat me up. I knew I wouldn't be riding this comfortably on long trips like I can on the Kat.
Once back at the car lot I hopped off and gave the bike a careful inspection. One of the front signals was a square trailer light. The paint had some slight imperfections on that side too. And a little repair work was obvious. The bike had 20k on it compared with the 7500 on my Kat. It was small, fairly uncomfortable. It was, however, light, beautiful and fast.
The owner came out and said "Just roll yours on in the showroom there and take that one home with ya"! I looked at the two bikes sitting there, their headlights looking back at me with seemingly puppy-dog expressions. "I think I have to pass. It's a nice bike but its the total opposite of what I have now and I'm really happy with that."
The owner rebutted with an offer of Kat +$750. I said no. "How about your bike and $500? You can't beat that!" Couldn't deny it was a good offer, but I turned it down. As I rode off I was reminded of why I love my bike. At the first stoplight I came to a girl in the car next to me waved and smiled, "I love your bike, it's nice!" Yeah it is, and comfy and reliable, and inexpensive to operate...
Of course I immediately asked how much they wanted for it, and when they said "$3500" my brain nudged my consience and said "Sell the Kat..." I mulled over the Triumph for a few days and avoided the street the dealership was on just so I wouldn't go in and look at the SF again. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I left work a little early and rode up to the dealership.
Once there I spoke to the owner of the lot, who also happened to own and ride the Triumph. We talked for a while and he looked over my bike, then he threw me an offer: "Would you be interested in trading this Katana +$1000 for the Speed Four?" I almost handed him the key but common sense suddenly burst to the front of my mind. I insisted I ride it before making a decision.
He agreed and rolled the bike out the door. I hopped on and almost pulled it right over on it's side, as it wasn't nearly the weight of the Kat. I liked it so far. The bike accomodated my small frame pretty nicely too. I fired her up and rolled out. The bike was certainly not a Kat, which was good up until 35 mph when I started to miss the wind protection. Very torquey and easy to toss around - I rolled into it getting on the highway and lifted the front end slightly. I was having a blast, both figuratively and literally, as the wind beat me up. I knew I wouldn't be riding this comfortably on long trips like I can on the Kat.
Once back at the car lot I hopped off and gave the bike a careful inspection. One of the front signals was a square trailer light. The paint had some slight imperfections on that side too. And a little repair work was obvious. The bike had 20k on it compared with the 7500 on my Kat. It was small, fairly uncomfortable. It was, however, light, beautiful and fast.
The owner came out and said "Just roll yours on in the showroom there and take that one home with ya"! I looked at the two bikes sitting there, their headlights looking back at me with seemingly puppy-dog expressions. "I think I have to pass. It's a nice bike but its the total opposite of what I have now and I'm really happy with that."
The owner rebutted with an offer of Kat +$750. I said no. "How about your bike and $500? You can't beat that!" Couldn't deny it was a good offer, but I turned it down. As I rode off I was reminded of why I love my bike. At the first stoplight I came to a girl in the car next to me waved and smiled, "I love your bike, it's nice!" Yeah it is, and comfy and reliable, and inexpensive to operate...
I just love a happy ending!!
I missed out on a couple of second handers ...
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