Triumph Speedmaster 865 (08)

Nod

Nod

Tootles
Suspended / Banned
Messages
49,339
Name
Nod (UK)
Edit My Images
Yes
Anyone got one (or similar Trump)? Any comments?

Took a 1200 Sportster out for a test ride and it gave me horrendous hip pain so looking at alternatives. Same dealer has a sub 10,000 miler Speedmaster which feels much more my size than the 1/2 Harley but the hip was too sore to take it out for a test this afternoon.
 
Go for a proper bike nod...not a Hardly Driveable :lol:
 
Too shiny, Heather! If I was going to go for a full sized Harley, it would be an old Shovelhead rather than a Evo or Twin-Cam. We were literally passing the dealer and popped in to see what was in stock etc. and of all the stuff they had in there, the Nightster (matt green and black Sportster) was the only thing that really caught our eye. Between leaving to fetch lids and leathers and getting back from the test ride on it, the Speedmaster had appeared in an area we had previously missed! Hip was way too sore to take a strange bike out again so only had a quick try on in the shop but will go down soon and take the Trump out for a spin. It's nigh on 2 grand cheaper than the Sportster too (and even less chrome - always a bonus!) Oddly, the speed of the Triumph is almost a negative to me - I'm far too old now to hoon around like I used to (allegedly!) and simply don't really want or need anything too fast (or quick).

They do also have a dressier Bonny (modern) in stock - way too shiny for me! Oh, and one of the last right foot change "real" Bonnies which would have been both our #1 choice other than its age! I want something that'll start on the button every time and not let me down.
 
I have a Kawa Versys 650 with a few mods, lowered pegs, bar risers, puts me in a very straight up position.
Harleys are rubbish no insult intented, sports tourers?
 
viv1969 said:
Go for a proper bike nod...not a Hardly Driveable :LOL:
Click to expand...

Mr Bump said:
Harleys are rubbish no insult intented, sports tourers?
Click to expand...

I see the normal carp being spouted by people who have probably never actually ridden one. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. :rolleyes:

Mine is perfectly "driveable" and far more comfortable than any sports tourer I have ridden. I have taken it down to the South of France twice and several times to Scotland from the South Coast and have covered over 500 miles in a day on more than one occasion. It has never let me down in the 9 years I have owned it (unlike various others I have owned!) so I really don't think it could be classed as "rubbish". ;)
 
Tigger.ufo said:
I see the normal carp being spouted by people who have probably never actually ridden one. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. :rolleyes:

Mine is perfectly "driveable" and far more comfortable than any sports tourer I have ridden. I have taken it down to the South of France twice and several times to Scotland from the South Coast and have covered over 500 miles in a day on more than one occasion. It has never let me down in the 9 years I have owned it (unlike various others I have owned!) so I really don't think it could be classed as "rubbish". ;)
Click to expand...

Each to their own, no?
 
Saw this bike the other day. I was quite impressed by the size of the engine lol. I know nothing about motorbikes, I've always been a quad bike person and own a road legal Raptor 700R.

Looked up the bike in the picture and it's a 2.3L, 0-60 in 3seconds...not bad lol

Edit: just noticed the lock. not exactly securely locked up is it?

10445717_10152254192877523_1551275740_o by Peanut651, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
I did wonder about a Rocket III but decided it was too big a lump to have as a toy. Looked (briefly!) at a Honda NRX 1800 Rune but 16 grand is even more to pay for a toy! (Hell, my car wasn't much more than that.)

Back in the early '90s I had custody of an 88" Shovel lowrider. Didn't handle (mainly down to minimal ground clearance) but stopped extremely well, was capable of 3 figure speeds (apparently - no speedo so not 100% sure) and on hard acceleration left dashes on the tarmac. At the time I was around 19 stone (in riding kit) and could stand on the kickstart on compression. If I had had the money when the owner was selling it, I would still have it. Admittedly there was nothing standard on the bike (possibly a couple of fasteners) but it was still recognisably a Harley and certainly not crap.
 
:D

motorbikecartoon.jpg
 
Reminds me of a Jack Sh!t cartoon in Bike magazine in the '80s with a girl asking "Got anything faster in pink?"

£100 deposit paid, should be ready for my birthday next week if not before. Far nicer than the Sportster in every way, not to mention the £2,000 saving. Seemed way more torquey, definitely stopped better (hell, an SLS "proper" Bonnie does that!) and a nicer exhaust note. Most importantly, no crippling hip pain after a dozen miles or so. Mrs Nod likes the colour too...
 
I rode a mates Sportster 1200 just for a giggle he followed me on my Kawa z750 about 5 years ago. The Harley was truly the most awful thing I have ever ridden and that includes a old Jawa single, it had no redeming features at all it vibrated so much i genuinly thought things were going to drop off, thats why Harleys are made of iron and massive cheap nuts and bolts, it was so slow and i mean slow, the brakes were utter garbage to the point of being unsage.

yes i certainly have ridden one @Nod

would i even consider owing one? no chance.
 
Last edited:
Mr Bump said:
I rode a mates Sportster 1200 just for a giggle he followed me on my Kawa z750 about 5 years ago. The Harley was truly the most awful thing I have ever ridden and that includes a old Jawa single, it had no redeming features at all it vibrated so much i genuinly thought things were going to drop off, thats why Harleys are made of iron and massive cheap nuts and bolts, it was so slow and i mean slow, the brakes were utter garbage to the point of being unsage.

yes i certainly have ridden one @Nod

would i even consider owing one? no chance.
Click to expand...


So your judgement that all Harleys are rubbish is based on riding someone elses old ironhead sportster then? :rolleyes:


Nah, not even going to bother trying any further, no point.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
So your judgement that all Harleys are rubbish is based on riding someone elses old ironhead sportster then? :rolleyes:


Nah, not even going to bother trying any further, no point.
Click to expand...

It was brand new, about 4 months old.

you just need to take on board that there are good and bad of anything and that Harleys meet certain criteria of which the Amercans prefer, its heavy, has a large unrefined engine which kicks out very little power, doesnt do corners etc.

There is a reason the Americans don't sell many cars in the UK ?
 
Last edited:
Mr Bump said:
It was brand new, about 4 months old.
Click to expand...

Then if it was that bad your mate should have had it back to the dealer. (but he was probably happy with it!)

.....or perhaps you just didn't like it?

You are allowed to just not like something, but when you come out with the statement that "all Harleys are rubbish" when actually you mean " I didn't like the one that I had a ride on" then that makes you look a bit narrow minded.

You probably think that all Harley riders are not "Bikers" either.
 
Mr Bump said:
It was brand new, about 4 months old.

you just need to take on board that there are good and bad of anything and that Harleys meet certain criteria of which the Amercans prefer, its heavy, has a large unrefined engine which kicks out very little power, doesnt do corners etc.

There is a reason the Americans don't sell many cars in the UK ?
Click to expand...

As you have edited this after my last post.......

Why don't you just say you don't like them?

Don't quite see the relevance of american cars but they sure sell plenty of bikes over here.

I don't find my tuned 1450 Dyna Custom unrefined or lacking in torque, and it seems to go round corners just fine. I have managed to upset a few sports bike riders by being sat in their mirrors in comfort without having to be crouched over the tank at stupid speeds and at the traffic light grand prix they have had a nasty shock, so it can't be that gutless.

Horses for courses.

In the past I have had BSA, Honda, Yamaha, BMW, Suzuki of various sizes and have enjoyed all of them for different reasons but not everyone would agree with me there either!
 
@Tigger.ufo hey you like your Massey Fergusen go for it !

Someone has to prop that company up it might as well be you :-)
 
Mr Bump said:
The over 60s Accountants will always need bikes :)
Click to expand...


You just can't help yourself with the stereotyping can you?

We all get that you don't like them, but really, do you actually believe all this stuff you are coming out with?

Perhaps you need to go and meet some people who have Harleys and get some facts about them, not many accountants I shouldn't think!
 
Tigger.ufo said:
Perhaps you need to go and meet some people who have Harleys and get some facts about them, not many accountants I shouldn't think!
Click to expand...
The very few that I know drive BMW's
(Or is that stereo typing too? :D)

The only (couple) of Harley riders that I know are in the building trade,
one way or another.

You're not a bricky are you Heather? :D
 
To dispel the untruth that Harleys are slow, until 2006, a Harley held the official motorcycle land speed record and had done so for 16 years.

Comparing a Z750 to a 1200 sportster is akin to comparing a Diesel Fiesta to a Mazda MX-5, totally different animals. Personally, I find sports bikes excruciatingly uncomfortable, especially around town and only marginally improved in that respect at speeds over the limit when the wind pressure lifts some weight off the wrists - horses for courses.
 
Mr Bump said:
@Tigger.ufo hey you like your Massey Fergusen go for it !

Someone has to prop that company up it might as well be you :)
Click to expand...

Now you're just being a bit of an arse :lol:

(And it's Massey FERGUSON)
 
Nod said:
Comparing a Z750 to a 1200 sportster is akin to comparing a Diesel Fiesta to a Mazda MX-5, totally different animals. Personally, I find sports bikes excruciatingly uncomfortable, especially around town and only marginally improved in that respect at speeds over the limit when the wind pressure lifts some weight off the wrists - horses for courses.
Click to expand...

Its all about your body shape....

I love my CBR RR's & you get used to the wrist ache or just drive faster... (alledgedly)...
 
rode a few harleys over the years (standardish and chopped) and they are not for me...prefered the chopped ones and only because it was style over substance, ok to have a little cruise on but not for having a razz about or long distance loaded up with luggage for a rally...thats why i have a suzuki clitoris (AKA bandit)...does it all for me

used to love sports bikes but my knees are knackered now and i cant crouch for long periods and stopping at lights is decidedly dodgy as my knees lock up and i cant get them down quick enough :exit:
 
I took delivery of my speedmaster on friday last week
Tried the harley fat bob and it just didn't do it for me, nice bike though but I really didn't want such a big bike, and tbh was a bit shocked at the rust appearing on the demo bike.
Anyway I took a speedmaster out on a demo the other week and loved it, it's not going to set your bum alight but I was quite suprised how it gets up and goes when you push it, the ride position is just right for me, however I do have a problem with stalling/stuttering off idle, do a google search and you will see it's a common problem, that said I doubt very much I will be sending it back and will learn to live with it and do a few mods that get rid of the problem, not ideal for a new bike but dealer seams keen to help get it sorted.
I have always riden sportsbikes but my body can't take it anymore, I am generally happy to sit in the line of cars if they are going at the speed limit these days :), I was offered a yam xvs650 a couple of years ago and like the riding position but it was a gutless thing, so px'ed it against the speedy.
Go for it, you will love it.
 
Last edited:
I've ridden a couple of Harley's in the past. The Fat boy was my favourite. Just a lovely bike. I can't afford one though unfortunately or I'd definitely have one. Although I do love my 2008 Speed Triple at the moment and not sure I would swap that.

Not sure this guy agrees that they don't handle well though....

 
:D

Do that on a sports bike.

I really don't get the comparing apples and oranges attitude to Harleys. So they're not a sports bike? Er, yeah I sort of get that.

Go with what you like - no need to slag off other options.

If I was in the market for another bike, Harley would be high on my list if only for the sound ;)

However, if Triumph were to sell this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that, Keith. Mine is/will be an 08 one rather than brand new. Like you, I'm happy staying legal(ish) as far as speed goes, I reckon I'll love longer! As you say, it seems to pick up it's skirts when asked to and despite the laid back riding position doesn't mind twisty bits. Just waiting for the call to tell me it's all serviced and ready to be picked up! There are a couple of extras I want to get hold of - any idea where the best place is to get accessories (ideally genuine) at a reasonable price?
 
2008 should be EFI so may be affected by the stutter
depends what you are after there are some short pipes on thiefbay atm, but try the local dealer, they seem pretty keen on their pricing for accessories.
I paid £250 for my short pipes fitted, and ecu remapped, got to run it back to get them fitted yet though
 
Last edited:
It's got the shorter pipes on it already. :) Might want a better seat for the pillion and maybe a rack - I'm getting practical in my old age!
 
Don't like Beemers. If I was aiming for a round the world trip, I would have gone for the 1800 Honda they've got in stock but since that's only about 4 grand less than my car cost me, I'll stick with the Trump!
 
Nod said:
Thanks for that, Keith. Mine is/will be an 08 one rather than brand new. Like you, I'm happy staying legal(ish) as far as speed goes, I reckon I'll love longer! As you say, it seems to pick up it's skirts when asked to and despite the laid back riding position doesn't mind twisty bits. Just waiting for the call to tell me it's all serviced and ready to be picked up! There are a couple of extras I want to get hold of - any idea where the best place is to get accessories (ideally genuine) at a reasonable price?
Click to expand...
You might live longer too ;)

Last trumpet I had was a 1972/3 triumph trident, metallic purple and with the then new 5 speed box - happy days. Had many bikes since, would love another but just can't afford one :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top