Want to buy an “as-new … kinda” 2016 Thruxton R with a broken gear lever for which the owner has been waiting three months for parts, according to his ad?
The humorous eBay advertisement for the bike starts with “LOL…..Bike only has 1700 kms on it not counting kms whilst on the back of a tow truck. And is only 3 months old, not counting the amount of time it has been sitting waiting for parts.”
The ad appeared recently on eBay and has attracted a lot of attention. Currently bids are up to $13,100 for the bike worth $21,100 (plus on-road costs).
It seems the Sydney owner is frustrated after snapping the gear lever bolt after 1700km.
“Some might say I’ve spat my dummy and thrown the toys out of the cot,” he says in replies to his ad.
“It doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to go from gear lever bolt to brake lever bolt, right!?! And if it’s only after 1,700 kms … maybe next time it will be something more critical.”
Triumph Australia importer PS Imports marketing director Nigel Harvey says they have addressed the issue:
The customer had an accessories backorder issue and was refunded for this item. We experienced unprecedented demand for Bonneville accessories when the range was introduced which resulted in an initial stock shortage. Supply has increased markedly in recent months and we are confident we will satisfy demand going forward. The issue the customer faced related to a broken bolt on his gearshift linkage rod and the dealer opted to fix the bike using a part from a floor stock bike, to minimise inconvenience to the customer. There are no issues with the Bonneville range. We wish the owner best of luck with the sale and are confident the new owner will enjoy their purchase with the full backing for warranty, parts and accessories support from Triumph Australia.
The ad also mentions that Triumph contacted him and fixed the bike with parts from floor stock. However, his ad says he is adamant he wants to sell.
The bike is listed for auction with no reserve, so it could end up being a bargain for someone who wants a very handsome bike!
The auction closes on Thursday (November 3, 2016, at 3.07.12pm daylight saving time).
Ad pokes fun
The owner has had a bit of fun with his ad, including a delicious jibe about hipsters:
Now, if you have recently grown a beard and are wearing fashion from the 60s and 70s and have a hotch-potch of tattoos all gotten at the same time, telling of a life you haven’t lived yet, then this bike is for you. It will give you all the headaches of owning an old bike….
Don’t bid unless you have the money (to buy another motorbike to ride during the…extended…. periods this one is waiting for parts), permission from your boyfriend, permission from your mother, and permission from your mental health professional,” the ad says.
I am not interested in swapping for a retro barber’s chair, a 1958 Goggo Mobile, a time-share in flat in Bondi, or a disassembled 1964 Ford XP ute that you can’t finish because you don’t have the tools.
Cash only please…no shiny rocks, sea-shells or direct bank credit from your cousin who is a Nigerian Prince…..in exile.
Shen the bike sells, the owner says he will just ride his $2300 1999 Yamaha TRX.
“Not sure I will buy another bike now. The TRX is great for daily duty,” he says.
The money from the sale will go into a project to rebuild a 1976 Honda CB750 F1 bored out to 915cc, with upside-down forks, 17-inch laced wheels with 120 and 180 front and rear tyres respectively, and Fox Racing rear shocks.
It will become his “Sunday cruise bike” which has a rebuild budget of about $15,000 all up including paint and shipping from the USA.
“It will be built like the Trumpy but will be based on a Japanese four cylinder,” he says.
“I don’t feel bad chopping up the Honda as it’s one of the less popular F models not a K. I was attracted to the F though because it’s the only Honda which had front and rear disk brakes and laced wheels.”
(We haven’t tested the sexy looking Thruxton R, but have tested the Street Twin and T120 and love them! We should also note that we own two 2010 Bonnevilles and have had nothing but endless joy from them.)
