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Decision time is here ........

  • Thread starter mikew
  • Start date

what should i do ..........?

  • Make the Blackbird work

    Votes: 24 66.7%
  • Take the gamble on the Aprilia

    Votes: 12 33.3%

  • Total voters
    36
M

mikew

Guest
.....cos I've been offered what must be a good deal by Taz M/C in an attempt to make an obviously unhappy customer smile again.

They have offered me ?4900 for my Bird, :eek: ,against an 18 month old Aprilia Futura costing ?4995.

My problem is this :-
Do I continue to try and sort the Bird out, or do I take this offer and face the great unknown of Aprilia ownership. :dunno:

The Futura comes with only 837 miles on the clock and factory fitted panniers.


Bugger, I hate decisions like this, but...........

regards

Mike
 
M

mikew

Guest
Well ...........

............ ultimately they all are ! unless you're riding a Triumph.

But yes this is a parallel import, but I have no problems with that, my Thunderace was a parallel import aswell. The Blackbird is a full UK Honda, and look at the trouble that is causing me.

regards

Mike
 

richard

Cool as a Cucumber
Will they do the speedo and headlight for you FOC or have they been done m8




cheers
richard
 
B

bobfar

Guest
mike have you riden a futura before, i ask because i was thinking of getting one before i got the bird. when i rode one i hated it. the riding position was just too upright for me and the vibes from the engine made my hands tingle. much prefer the falco.
but that is my opinion its up to you in the end
 
M

mikew

Guest
Certainly have ...........

Originally posted by bobfar
mike have you riden a futura before, i ask because i was thinking of getting one before i got the bird. when i rode one i hated it. the riding position was just too upright for me and the vibes from the engine made my hands tingle. much prefer the falco.
but that is my opinion its up to you in the end


I've ridden one a few times, when Riossi (Carnells) used to do test rides from Peterborough, I did the pursuit riding for them, got given the keys for the Futura the first day, and then made sure I had that bike every time afterwards. Don't know whether it's just me, but I never seem to suffer from the vibes that people talk about, be it on the Bird, Thunderace, FJ1200, or my TRX. Perhaps it's a case of " no sense, no feeling"!!!!

regards

Mike.
 
M

mikew

Guest
Headlight is ............

Originally posted by richard
Will they do the speedo and headlight for you FOC or have they been done m8

cheers
richard

done, speedo not necessary, cos at the flick of a switch it apparently goes from miles to kilometres, clever stuff eh?

regards

mike
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Well as much as I hate to say it Mike, but go for the Aprila mate..
If that is all that's on offer then I think you must.. That Bird you have is a nightmare bike and it will NEVER be right unless you spend a lot of time and money on going right thru it.
Of course, if it was me, I would say feck off, go find me a decent Bird !
It must have crossed your mind that all the folks on here cannot all be wrong.. It is very rare to meet someone who is not happy with a Bird that is in good fettle..
However, I fully understand your issues and concerns mate, and the sooner you get out of that pile of junk the safer you will be !
 

birdinflight

Registered User
Mikew.................

well maybe it is time for a change? You have had so much trouble with your Bird it would probably do you some good to have a total change of scenery so to speak.

Sounds like a good deal, although I cannot understand why they just don't offer you another bird.........or is it you that is resisting that one???

Hey, maybe once you are pissed off with the Aprillia you will come back to the Blackbird!!

Don't be a stranger here though, I guess we could make room for an Aprillia!!! :k
 
M

mikew

Guest
Re: Mikew.................

Originally posted by birdinflight
Sounds like a good deal, although I cannot understand why they just don't offer you another bird.........or is it you that is resisting that one???

Intersting thought that, I hadn't even considered another Blackbird. Perhaps I'm afraid of finding that "they are all like that,
Sir" and the problem has been me all along. But that would only apply to the unease I feel with the handling aspect of the bike.

The rest of the troubles I've encountered are definitley NOT down to me !!

My girlfriend is happy enough with the Bird, she says it's comfy. But she also likes the Futura, so no real preferences from the rear seat department!

My biggest concerns over the Aprilia, (which was my choice not Taz's) is the potential costs / difficulties with spares / dealer support in Europe in particular if I'm touring / resale value in 2 years. Measured against those parameters, the Bird would win hands down. But against the unease I feel with the Bird when I'm riding, well it's a hard call to make.

I'm sure that inside my bike there is a good one trying to get out. I'll let you know my decision when I've reached it.

mike
 

birdinflight

Registered User
I think that if they are willing to offer

you that much for your Bird which is obviously Crap........wouldn't say that about many folks bikes.............in p/x for the Aprillia then why don't they offer you the same in p/x for another Blackbird???

I think you got a bad one, much worse than we did, but we had a really vibey one, unbearable it was. The one we have now is nowhere near as bad, the vibes Derek feels are basically due to him being very sensitive to that sort of thing.

It just strikes me as odd that they are willing to give you a totally different bike?

I would not keep your one, but P/x for another with them.........or are they trying to get rid of the Aprillia for some reason???????

Makes you think?
 
M

mikew

Guest
BIF .......

....... as I said in my previous post, the choice of the Aprilia is mine, not Taz's.


In effect they are giving me a full refund (all bar ?200 ) and I'm looking at "spending" that money on the Aprilia. However they also have a potential buyer looking for a black, Blackbird, low mileage etc etc and he don't want to part with more than ?5K. Taz are simply the middle man here.

Of course I could choose to "buy" a completely different bike from them, but at the moment, if this deal goes through, (and it is entirely down to me), I'm getting no pressure whatsoever from Taz.

Interesting to see that the vote is pretty even ..........

mike
 
D

D.S.

Guest
Mike, for what it's worth my opinion is ditch the bird, but you could

1. If you haven't already, ride another bird. Get a new bike test ride (it's straight forward these days) or test ride a second hand one from a dealership. Then you'll be able to make some sort of comparison;
2. If you still ain't happy with the Bird (as per my PM) I'd go for the Futura 'cos that's a good deal and let's face it, it's only got 800 miles on the clock. So if you don't like, you can always trade it for something else. Personally I'd go for a Mille, but ya wife wouldn't be too happy on the back of that;
3. Remember, it's only a bike, not a house purchase or a long term investment plan :}
 
M

mikew

Guest
Re: Mike, for what it's worth my opinion is ditch the bird, but you could

Originally posted by joeboy
1. If you haven't already, ride another bird. Get a new bike test ride (it's straight forward these days) or test ride a second hand one from a dealership. Then you'll be able to make some sort of comparison;
2. If you still ain't happy with the Bird (as per my PM) I'd go for the Futura 'cos that's a good deal and let's face it, it's only got 800 miles on the clock. So if you don't like, you can always trade it for something else. Personally I'd go for a Mille, but ya wife wouldn't be too happy on the back of that;
3. Remember, it's only a bike, not a house purchase or a long term investment plan


Ok,
point 1, done that, that is why I was so disappointed with mine when I first got it, the demo bike had felt just fine.

point 2, first wife couldn't give a toss what I ride (long as it ain't her!!:} ), second wife :bandit: just got remarried (phew off the hook there!) present girlfriend and probable Mrs #3 definitley don't like the Mille, but likes the 'Bird and the Futura.

point 3, you know, you're bloody right ! :beer:


regards

mike
 
J

Jack

Guest
Mike,

I know how you feel I had a Triumph Boneville America before the Bird gave me no end of trouble Oil leaks, electrical problems even a brake failure.

Things to remember

1. It is after all just a bike

2. Make a list of what you use your bike for how much money you want to spend accessories available etc.

3. Get a bike with lots of dealer support around incase your purchase dealer does not meet expectations.

4. I can't vouch for Aprilia in England but here there is very little following and resale is worse than a jap bike.

5. Its your money and you have to be happy.

Good luck

Jack :-:
 
M

mikew

Guest
Looking at the poll results so far .............. I'm glad I'm not a contestant on "WWTBA Millionaire" !!!!!!! talk about a divided opinion :}

or does that mean that half of those who polled, actually wouldn't mind an Aprilia themselves ...?

Still undecided at this time ....

Mike
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
I think you wil find that a lot of folks on here know only too well that Kylie is not the best example of a Bird ( to put it mildly ! ) and as such feel that almost anything ( yes, even an Aprilia ! LOL ! ) is better than a potential death trap..
After looking carefully at Kylie I gotta feel sorry for both you and the bike Mike..
You, because no matter how kindly you think of Taz, they sold you a total pup, and Kylie cos the poor old girl is not only suffering a split personality but has received massive abuse ( before she became yours I must stress ).
As I ( and others ) have said, given the choice I would have to get a decent Bird, but that does not seem on the cards..
 

richard

Cool as a Cucumber
Mike I would side with John on this one m8 although the aprilla is very comfy have spoken to nigel this am and he would go back to the bird if he could afford it m8, might be Worth to see if you can take a bird out from riossi to see what you think..... He says he has to wring its neck to get a kick out of it but every one wants something different and wants them for different things.


Grass is not always greener on the other side



cheers

richard

R#? R#? R#?
 
S

Stealthbomber

Guest
My two bob's worth.

Hey Mike,

Sorry to hear it has come to this. If the poll is fifty/fifty, perhaps another way to interpret it is go for anotherBIRD rather than keep the present one or swop for an Aprillia.

Tough choice, but for what it is worth I hope you find another Blackbird that you are happy with.

Iwas out on my own on Monday for a run into the wilds. Met another rider on a brand new Futura, couple of hundred miles up running in. We talked for a while on the pros and cons of each bike. To cut a long story short we swapped bikes for a short run. What a difference, he wanted to keep the Bird, and so did I.

It might only be a bike but, like most of us, I guess, buying the wrong one can be costly as well as extremely irritating and full of hassel. Been there, done it!

Good Luck

Davie.
 
P

Paddy Dougan

Guest
:B :f

Hi Mikew,
what is the actual problem with ur birdie?
I gather the head lamp is non spec, i may be a ble to help you there, (need a euro spec lamp meeself see), where did u buy it from?
 
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