Keep, Trade or Sell ?

[SteveM]

The eternal question...

My 2025 Triumph Thruxton FE is in and I'm debating what to do with the 2021 Tracer 9GT I have.

My best arguments for keeping both are:
>I am not financing either way,
>the bikes do serve distinctly different purposes,
>it's a fall back if I don't love the Thruxton,
> I could possible keep one in Maine and one in Mass and avoid trailering back and forth.

My best arguments for keeping just one are:
> $$$, at purchase, avoid 2 insurances, fees, excise tax, etc.
> Domestic quietude, "do you need 2?" question goes away.
> Keeping one in Maine will require storage rental at about $125/mo. (but I'd use the storage for other things as well)
> It will force a commitment to ride the Thruxton for more than just "cafe races". i.e. longer day trips.

IF I get rid of the Tracer (10,000 miles on it), it comes down to trade or sell.

Trade pros: ($7,500) ballpark
> ease
> sales tax savings +/- $400
> no need to keep 2 registered and insured even for a little while.

Trade cons:
> I can't change my mind once it's gone.

Sale pros:
> potentially more money
> I might change my mind

Sale cons:
> No guarantee of when it will be gone
> dealing with tire kickers, payment hassle, etc.
> keeping it insured
> I might change my mind

A lot of you have gone down this road many times,

Discuss....

also, I put up a poll, just because

[FriskyDingo]

2 is the optimal number of street registered bikes, if not a financial burden, keep both. Worse case, you "waste" some $$$ on storage & insurance for a year and then sell it next year, worth the cost to see if 2 bikes works better for you.

[boosten lebaron]

There is something wrong with your poll. I don't see a give option.

[OreoGaborio]

Anyone that votes & doesn't also vote for "Beet is naked" or "Bemused" gets the hammer

[SteveM]

Anyone that votes & doesn't also vote for "Beet is naked" or "Bemused" gets the hammer

I intentionally allowed multiple responses for this purpose.

- - - Updated - - -

2 is the optimal number of street registered bikes, if not a financial burden, keep both. Worse case, you "waste" some $$$ on storage & insurance for a year and then sell it next year, worth the cost to see if 2 bikes works better for you.

I am leaning to this...

[OneCheekRider]

As someone with 8 bikes, I say keep it. When in doubt, always keep. Believe it or not, my insurance went down after bike 4 or 5. Transfer your titles to South Dakota to save on excise tax. I have endless reasons to N+1, so don't be afraid to get a few more while you're at it

[MattR302]

Personally, after looking at the ergos of the Thruxton, I’d want to keep the Tracer in case I ever wanted to ride any longer than 10 minutes

[PurplePackage]

commit insurance fraud and then buy red bulls and scratch tickets with the money

[SteveM]

Personally, after looking at the ergos of the Thruxton, I’d want to keep the Tracer in case I ever wanted to ride any longer than 10 minutes

I posted a comparison of the ergos and the Thruxton is VERY close to the layout of the VFR800 I took cross country in 2012.

I am 99% sure it'll go 100 miles without a problem, the issue is miles 101-400 in a day!

[SteveM]

commit insurance fraud and then buy red bulls and scratch tickets with the money

Always an option, but it works better with folks who really have nothing to lose. I've never liked Red Bull, but I've been known to grab a scratcher now and again when I feel like paying extra taxes to the state.

[SteveM]

I just told them to pencil it up without a trade.

If perfection = n + 1, and my current n = 1, then I'm just starting out!

[OreoGaborio]

I intentionally allowed multiple responses for this purpose.

As is tradition

[e30addict]

Basically retired and presumably not hurting for money. N +1 is the way...

[SteveM]

Basically retired and presumably not hurting for money. N +1 is the way...

I’m failing at retirement, busier than ever.

[golden chicken]

Keep it. Use the Thruxton on perfect summer days. Use the Tracer in spring and fall and when weather is iffy.

[loudbeard]

This is very clearly a “keep it” case. Basically zero overlap between the two rides other than them both being motorcycles. One at home and one up north sounds like a great scenario.

Worst case scenario is you sell it later.

[feralchimp]

^^^ all that