Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Would you buy a British Classic ?

[moto748]

Pretty much wot Eamonn said.

I ran a succession of Triumph T140's, and, latterly, two TR65's (a much sweeter bike), which Triumph should have made years earlier, but didn't in their usual hopeless way. I used them as daily transport, and went from a TR65 to my 750SS, and then to the 748.

The brakes were awful, but they were still a pleasure to ride. Didn't have problems with vibration causing bits to fall off on the TR65's, which run a short stroke, and hence smoother engine.

My main beef was/is the quality of the cycle parts, rather than the engine itself. The looms were rubbish (even if you bought a brand-new one. I ended up making large alrts of it myself), the speedos lasted 6 months max, the indicators (until the latest models which used BMW(!) ones, were rubbish, as were the ignition switches, and anyway the alternator wasn't powerful enough to flash the indicators if you had the lights on (even with the "high-power" alternator upgrade - a massive 180W!).

The clutches were marginal, and didn't last long. Sweet enough with a brand new cable, plates, basket etc., but they made my 748 clutch look long-lasting.

Would I ever have another?

I might be tempted by a tidy Gommando :cool; but they're frankly overpriced; the way the market's going these days, I could buy a mint 916 for the money they're going for.

[Edited on 5-10-2004 by moto748]