Rebuilding my crashed Triumph

 For a number of reasons I contracted out the project of
rebuilding my '07 Triumph Bonnie/Scram/Thrux. To the same
mechanic who bought my Ultra Classic early in '09. He describes
himself as "anal-compulsive" about working on bikes,
ie, a perfectionist. However he also has a fondness for Triumphs
and says he's likes working on this one. All his Triumph bikes
were Meriden and this is the first Hinckley he's seen up close.

One of my reasons is that rebuilding a crashed bike can have
subtle problems beyond my skill, such as strangely torqued
or tensioned components (that shouldn't be under torque or tension)
and other non-obvious damage. For instance it turns out that
the rear axle was bent. So the wheel bearings may have some shock
damage as well. It may cost me more going this route but at least
I have some confidence that it'll be put together right.

My ex-Ultra was also in an accident, with a salvage title, although
the owwies are mostly cosmetic. He's already worked over it in detail,
checking everything, and found a lot of minor, but irritating
problems which he fixed. I may buy it back from him, or I may not.

I don't think I'll be in a hurry to take on another crash restoration.
Too many unknown (and potentially expensive) problems. There's no point
laying out as much (or even more!) for a restoration as for a new or
good used bike at fair market value. It seems there's an inexorable
Universal law which, roughly phrased, states that No Matter Which Way
You Go, One Way or Another You Gotta Pay Yer Dues.

SQ

 sean_q wrote:


TANSTAAFL

Always your surest best deal is to buy a well cared for, low mileage late
model bike rather than trying to outsmart the market by buying a fixer-upper.

 On 13/12/2010 7:17 PM, Mark Olson wrote:

I beg to differ with you.  I haven't had to pay for a business lunch in
ten years. <g>

There are lots of them out there.

   On 12/13/2010 9:14 PM, Calgary (Don) wrote:

In my experience, "free" business lunches are generally the least free
of 'em all.  YMMV, of course...

Bob M.

 On 13/12/2010 11:42 PM, Bob Myers wrote:

You are not doing it right

YMMV, of course...
Which it does.