xj900

2000 16k miles givi racks engine bars.
2k asking.
I need a smooth comfy tourer for me and the missus.
Opinions?
I seem to remember they were nice but a bit boring; which would be fine
in this instance.

(1) I would love a brand new sprint but cant justify all that money on a
bike that may not get used very much......

 

You're right on the money. I ran one for a couple of years, and I can
hardly even remember what colour it was.

Smooth and comfy, as you say, for rider and pillion. Decent-ish
weather protection. Very good range - over 200 miles. Cheap to run, in
that it's good on fuel and easy to service. Handles quite well, but
it's a surprisingly heavy bastard. This tends to knacker the rear
shock early.

Have a good squint at the underneath of the exhaust system. The bits
you can see are chromed: the bits you can't see aren't, and this is
where they rot. Motad does a complete pattern replica system (not a
4-1, but one that looks identical to OE).

Really, really good efficient working bike: the sort of thing they
don't make any more. But if it got flattened by a steamroller you
wouldn't miss it, IYSWIM.

Price is reasonable, btw.

 

I was looking at Rich's 900 Divie at Hulland. It really is a sweet looking
bike. The canted engine with lots of space behind it and the tubular frame
with a decent fairing come together well.

www.flickr.com/photos/15262772@N00/3460572913/in/set-72157617107414084

Obviously Richard has broken his some but YKWIM

 

Just come back from looking at it.
Some corrosion on the frame where it bolts together.
Strange little bobbly bits on the underside of the collector box but it
feels solid.
Centre stand is not very rusty.
Bit of corrosion on the shiny bit of the shaft.
Crack in the edge of the fairing where someone's leaned on it.
Other than that very nice and sounds meaty
It was at a triumph dealer and I'm at a loss to explain why I'm taking
their sprint demo for a test ride tomorrow..........

 

It won't be. Beware.

Too expensive now, IMHO. I'd want to inspect the exhaust really, really
carefully.

Much better idea

 

Hmm. I guess I could offer 500 quid less for it while gesturing at the
exhaust and fairing crack...

I know its old but I did sort of like it....

Very posh they are. Still a little out of my budget but I'd chop in my
sv as it would replace that as well. They have a range of used ones too.
One that caught my eye (1) is an 05 with heated grips and the discs
replaced for 5600 9k on the clock...1800 for the sv as part exchange.

1. The wife: 'Ooh! This blue one is lovely; its only 5 grand'. Women;
what can you do?

 

Mine's red, the red ones go faster.

You notice how heavy it really is if it's lying on top of you...

AOL. Had to replace the collector and exhausts on mine (fitted Motad)
in 2007 at about 27K.

I would, not all of us have a garage full of spare bikes.

--
Richard

XJ900S
BOTAFOT #138, YTC#18, OMF#12

Email-remove insult to reply

 

I prefer the term 'Battle-Scarred'
--
Richard

XJ900S
BOTAFOT #138, YTC#18, OMF#12

Email-remove insult to reply

 

Lend her to me for when I go shopping for a bike )

 

Is that the original blue:
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/triumph/2005/22054_0_1_2_sprint st_Image credits - Triumph.jpg

or the later one:
http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/images/SprintST_2009_510x347.jpg

A guy turned up on one of the latter when I was at HG the other week.
I thought it looked really good.

 

Caspian ITYF

Does, dunnit?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I'm too poor for the latter

 

High mileage (>100k) ones often need a new alternator drive chain.
Engine apart job to fit it, iirc, it being stuck behind the barrels.

 

Well that's settled then.
Who one earth would wish to ride an xj after trying out a sprint...
Hmmm.
It was civilised, comfortable, fast, capable, good looking.
But it *might* be older than me; I had so much fun going home on the
little SV.
Bit unfair I suppose; I only had it for an hour................

 

Well, er, thanks for all the advice on the xj.
I took all you advice on board and put a deposit down on a nice brand
new red sprint st 1050......

Cheers.

 

Well done!

 

I'm somewhat excited.
First time I ever bought a new bike..
I got it slightly cheaper as its the last of the plastic tank/ lower
handlebar variety. Not been pre-registered and never turned a wheel.
Kept hearing that triple sound in my sleep last night.......