17k for litre bikes - since when?

[Biker's Nemesis]

Dog Star said:

That's pretty well how I dress - I ride a R1. I can't stand the whole leather romper suit look, or the textile "road captain" look (unless I'm going to work or it's raining). I like to look like I'm going to a bar.

I bet you have a double bubble screen a the whole R&G catalogue of tat thrown on it too.

[croyde]

The Selfish Gene said:

well I'm no expert (owned 5 bikes in 20 years) but it's fantastic for what I use it for. 24 mile round commute to central London.

It looks great, sounds great and goes perfectly quickly enough for town traffic. It's torquey, upright and great turning circle etc.

The guy that owns and runs the BikeShed is a mucho expert on bikes, and he bought one with his own money after testing one. (Triumph give him bikes for free)

So it must be ok!

Downside is - it aint fast on the open road. Definitely not a motorway bike. That's the only thing I've found wrong with it.

You know Dutch?

I used to work with him decades ago.

[Dog Star]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I bet you have a double bubble screen a the whole R&G catalogue of tat thrown on it too.

Hell no!

[CaptainSlow]

The Selfish Gene said:

CaptainSlow said:

How do they last? The old air cooled model rusted faster than an Africa Twin in a pool of rusty sea water.

well as you know mine was nicked before it had the chance to rust........

so I'm not qualified to comment!

OK, from having a quick look on Trumpet forums is seems the new water-cooled are also rust magnets...particularly the spokes.

I quite fancied one or an older air-cooled Scramblers but looking at a few on sale they suffer from rot quite a bit. Maybe a Street Twin with Scrambler kit is a better idea, especially as the pipe is much better than the Street Scrambler's.

[Cbull]

Being a bit of a cheap skate I can't believe the prices of some motorcycles. Genuinely shocked when I see the prices and the fact that people actually buy them (or PCP). Inflation maybe partly the reason but when we speak of inflation I always relate it to wages, on that, as I see it peoples wages have not move inline with inflation. Regardless of all the reasons of why, at the end of the day £17k is a hell of a lot to put down on a bike.

As mentioned though, there are some decent prices out there to be had. Car prices do appear to have increased but not at the same rate, bear in mind deal prices are generally a fair chunk under the list prices...
https://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/new/bmw/5-se...
https://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/new/ford/foc...

Just my 2 pence of course and only jealous I won't be getting a new ZX10R anytime soon

[Mr2Mike]

Cbull said:

As mentioned though, there are some decent prices out there to be had. Car prices do appear to have increased but not at the same rate, bear in mind deal prices are generally a fair chunk under the list prices...
https://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/new/bmw/5-se...
https://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/new/ford/foc...

Mk1 Focus (1998-2004) New price range £9,868 - £16,840
Mk3 Focus (2011-) New price range £20,140 - £39,925

More than doubled in the time frame being discussed.

[WarnieV6GT]

Mr2Mike said:

Mk1 Focus (1998-2004) New price range £9,868 - £16,840
Mk3 Focus (2011-) New price range £20,140 - £39,925

More than doubled in the time frame being discussed.

Yes, but he made the point that I did earlier in the thread about the fact that wages have not kept up with inflation.

[croyde]

WarnieV6GT said:

Mr2Mike said:

Mk1 Focus (1998-2004) New price range £9,868 - £16,840
Mk3 Focus (2011-) New price range £20,140 - £39,925

More than doubled in the time frame being discussed.

Yes, but he made the point that I did earlier in the thread about the fact that wages have not kept up with inflation.

I do the same job that I was doing in 1998 yet I earn almost exactly the same. I'm sure many are in the same boat.

Back then 3 times my annual would almost get me into a 3 bed terraced in SW London, now it would not even get me into a pokey studio flat. I'd need 20 times my salary to get back into that same 3 bed terrace.

[Mr2Mike]

WarnieV6GT said:

Yes, but he made the point that I did earlier in the thread about the fact that wages have not kept up with inflation.

I was providing some evidence that car prices have increased as much as bikes, not that wages have kept pace.

[Gavia]

croyde said:

I do the same job that I was doing in 1998 yet I earn almost exactly the same. I'm sure many are in the same boat.

Back then 3 times my annual would almost get me into a 3 bed terraced in SW London, now it would not even get me into a pokey studio flat. I'd need 20 times my salary to get back into that same 3 bed terrace.

Many are, not least anyone working in the Piblic Sector. However, what has happened during that time of wage stagnation has been new ways to finance everything to maintain moreor less the same standard of living. I know borrowing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the cost of borrowing is at unprecedented low levels, so an increase in proce isn’t often offset by a reduction in financing cost.

Mortgages are a great example. When I took my first mortgage out the base rate was c10%, lenders charged 1% over base rate and discounted / fixed rate deals were for brand new customers only. Nowadays rates are a fraction of that, my last mortgage was effectively interest free as the lifetime discount of 1% meant I was under the 0% barrier.

In your case the cost of 3 x salary borrowing would be comparable to approx 15 x borrowing now, it that I’d agree with borrowing to that level, as it’s a ticking time bomb.

[Pothole]

The Selfish Gene said:

garylythgoe said:

Out of interest - how do those Triumphs ride?

well I'm no expert (owned 5 bikes in 20 years) but it's fantastic for what I use it for. 24 mile round commute to central London.

It looks great, sounds great and goes perfectly quickly enough for town traffic. It's torquey, upright and great turning circle etc.

The guy that owns and runs the BikeShed is a mucho expert on bikes, and he bought one with his own money after testing one. (Triumph give him bikes for free)

So it must be ok!

Downside is - it aint fast on the open road. Definitely not a motorway bike. That's the only thing I've found wrong with it.

you must have a well-padded arse. Triumph seats, especially Bonneville series seats, are like planks IME.

[CaptainSlow]

Despite the price increases over the last ten years I'm always disappointed with the materials used on new bikes. Always seems to be switch gear and cast items such as gear selectors and stands that suffer. Ducati, M. Guzzi and Kawasaki are the main culprits. Yamaha not much better on the MTs.