Weighing my options

[Dr. Mordo]

I will add that I agree with your friend that FI is superior to carbs.  I never believed that until recently, but what I have learned is that if a fuel injection system fails, you replace a sensor or maybe the injectors, and it goes back to normal.  But with carbs, they have to be tuned, and few people these days really know how to tune carbs.  I have struggled for a year to get my carbs right to no avail (and previously I was a auto mechanic, albeit not a great one), and took it to Triumph.  After a month I picked it up and THEY couldn't get them right - the bike has a miss from idle to 4k rpm.  So now it's going back to Triumph for them to make it right.

I love my Steamer, but a Girly might be a better idea if you can find one that isn't some hideous color.

[paulie]

I want to be able to get on, go for a ride, not worry too much about the things that need to be fixed and just enjoy them free time I have.

Based on the above statement a Steamer is definitely not for you.  Buy a Japanese bike.

Nooo! Don't do it! Just get a Girly!   :twisted:

[Mudhen]

I agree with the follow-your-heart people.  I tried to go to newer and more practical bikes and sold them, always returning to my Steamer.  But then again, I haven't had a lot of the same problems some on here have had...almost 50k miles, though, so maybe I just got a good one.

Good luck.

[khakitiger]

Steamers are rare indeed in Canada. I've only seen one other one in Calgary, and I bought mine from Abbotsford. I can relate to the notion of going to sell it and then hesitating. Two days ago, I was about to put her up on Kijiji, but now I'm just not sure...

They do require a bit more 'hands on' than some other rides but it isn't as bad as you might think, and there is a genuine joy in getting to know what lays under the bodywork. Of course I only have 43,000 km on mine and have done only routine maintenance...

I was sorry to hear about Regina Triumph closing its doors. They were great to deal with and I prefered to order stuff from them than go to the local dealer. They deal in a huge number of marques and are in no way a 'specialist'.