Greetings - Advice Needed!

Good evening

Nice to meet you all at last

So after a few years on a Triumph im looking to move to the orange side...!

Im in the UK and was wondering if anyone can tell me if its worth going for a 2009 bike or later and if the benefits/updates are worth the extra cost? Looking at slightly earlier FI bikes they seem much better value.

Cheers,

Oscar

Welcome...as you live across the pond and have up to and including new SD's available, it might just be a matter of what you can afford or is available. Here in the colonies a 2008 is as good as it gets. Enjoy the search.

Thanks, lots of options to choose from so wanted to call on your experience and get some proper buying advice.

I've seen the 'Model Differences' thread now so slightly more clued up.

As far as i could see there wasn't any updates to the 2009 UK model - am i right in thinking that?

Quite fancy the benefits of the 2007 onwards updates (bigger tank etc) so wanted to know theres any point going for anything newer?

None if you are after the SD. If you want the SDR that is a different story.

Personally, I think a low milage '07/'08 would be the best option to you. I have an '07 and once you've done all the mods that you will eventually do it has everything that any other model has or will have really. It's a better bike than the '06, (don't believe the hype that the older bike is a rawer, more primal engine - it's only created so the "oldies" feel they have some advantage over the more lucky newer owners. ) The '07 has a bigger tank which is better styled, better brakes, and a slightly revised steering angle which is better for most people's riding requirements. Nothing the later models have is worth noting - it's mostly colour changes from silver to black on cycle parts. I don't really believe that the R version has any practical advantage. What you gain in HP you loose in harsh suspension set up. And my modded bike has closed the gap in HP much closer to a standard R anyway.

Whatever is the real truth the fact is what you do to it in the way of exhausts, airbox and mapping will make far more difference in HP and torque than any difference in model spec.

And your riding skill and ability will make even more of a difference on road or track.

You'll get all the views here - mainly telling you to choose an orange one.

But the only answer you should listen to is a black '07.

Buy the bike YOU like, I would go for a summer use only jobby that has been well cared for, if you can find one with useful extras like Akra cans, crash bungs etc that will save you money buying them later, avoid track day bikes as they will have been thrashed and probably dropped.....

Good luck, I searched for 18months before buying mine, I am a fussy bastard

.....Let your eyes (does it look loved), wallet and the service book decide they did not make a bad one

Later SDR (Black fork stantions and Akra Down Pipes) have more top end power ...but less mid range, The earlier SD (with Non Radial Brakes) had higher lift cams in but smaller Tank and is quicker (if its a black one)

Changing Air box makes a HUGE difference to all SD & SDR

Most /alot of SD get to go on track because they do it so well and are sooooooo much fun, they are well built and the motors last well (Some on here have 40k plus and spent a good persentage of that on track doing track days)

If you can get one with Exhausts after market Airbox and crash bungs ....you will save yourself alot of money....as you will only buy this gear later