I will pay to test ride a Futura

[RRdvark]

Seriously.  I want to buy either a Triumph Sprint ST or an Aprilia Futura.  I test rode a Sprint Wednesday (08 ABS model), but now I need to ride a Futura before I can make a decision.  I've found a selection of them for sale around the country, but none close enough to me (central Indiana) for a test ride.

So if there is anybody in the central Indiana/Indianapolis area with a Futura that wants some extra folding money (be reasonable), let me know.  I am willing to ride my 600RR to your location and you can ride it while I ride the Futura to make sure I behave.

I feel pretty silly posting this (like some teenager trying to scam a joyride) but I can't think of any other way to throw a leg over one.

[Stray Cat]

The Future is a great riding bike. Two things though. One make sure that the PO or somebody through the history of the bike has done the alternator wiriing fix. If not you'll be doing it. Check the Aprilia forums. Not a big deal but....

Second, you will never, ever see what's behind you with those usless mirrors. They are worthless. Even GSXR mirror mods is worthless.
Other than that, they are a great riding bike.

[Lawn Dart]

The Futura was so far ahead of it's time.   If it had ABS, I'd have bought one.

[Orson]

I'm curious to know if Aprilia might still have some unsold Futuras sitting in a warehouse somewhere  

Anyone hear anything about that?

[evilted]

I'm curious to know if Aprilia might still have some unsold Futuras sitting in a warehouse somewhere  

Anyone hear anything about that?

In October 2007, right before I found my '05 Sprint ST 1050, I had tried several times to buy a freshly uncrated Flame Red 2004 Aprilia Futura with 0 miles from a guy in Woodstock, GA who had worked at Aprilia's US headquarters there.  I think his ask was $8k.

Anyway, in spite of the fact that he had the bike listed on craigslist, and I called him several times asking to see the bike, he only called back once and never set up a time for me to see the bike.  I got the sense he wasn't that serious about selling.

Maybe it's still crated up someplace?

[Snowbird]

Second, you will never, ever see what's behind you with those usless mirrors. They are worthless. Even GSXR mirror mods is worthless.
Other than that, they are a great riding bike.

Yeah, don't buy the bike if you are wider than the mirrors.

[RRdvark]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I'm riding a 600RR now so I am familiar with worthless mirrors - I don't think I've owned a bike with mirrors that showed anything but my elbows.

[chornbe]

At least the Futura sits you up more so you can turn your head more than 8 degrees to look around. Mirrors are just there for law makers

[servicerifle]

I'm curious to know if Aprilia might still have some unsold Futuras sitting in a warehouse somewhere  

Anyone hear anything about that?

Funny you should ask...

When I was doing recon for ESTN 2007, I went to an Aprilia dealer in Western NC.  Didn't see any Aprilias in his showroom, only Chinese scooters and the like, so I asked the guy at the counter.  He was the owner, he said, and he had about 8-9 brand new Aprilias in the basement.  Aprilia had not completed the paperwork allowing him to sell them, and he'd not technically purchased them yet...they were just sitting there, and had been for a few years.  Wonder whatever happened to them?

[RRdvark]

Funny you should ask...

When I was doing recon for ESTN 2007, I went to an Aprilia dealer in Western NC.  Didn't see any Aprilias in his showroom, only Chinese scooters and the like, so I asked the guy at the counter.  He was the owner, he said, and he had about 8-9 brand new Aprilias in the basement.  Aprilia had not completed the paperwork allowing him to sell them, and he'd not technically purchased them yet...they were just sitting there, and had been for a few years.  Wonder whatever happened to them?

Dealer name?

[servicerifle]

Honestly I don't know.  But...I poked around on Google and even looked at street view at a bunch of dealerships in the area, I THINK it is "Rick's Cycle" in Valdese.

[RRdvark]

Okay, maybe the test ride thing isn't going to happen.  Anybody ridden both a Futura and a Sprint?  Can you give me a comparison of the two?  Power?  Handling?  Comfort?

[evilted]

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40207.0.html

Okay, maybe the test ride thing isn't going to happen.  Anybody ridden both a Futura and a Sprint?  Can you give me a comparison of the two?  Power?  Handling?  Comfort?

[RRdvark]

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40207.0.html

Thanks for the link evilted!

[Castaway]

The Futura is one of the bikes I search CL and Ebay for when I'm in need of cool bike daydreaming. There was one for sale in CT recently - it had less than 5K on it and the seller only wanted $3500. Hard to resist.

[Dan K]

Check http://jaxed.com - and choose the 'mash' category.  

It searches motorcycles by model and make and year across ebay, craigslist and more.

That's where I play when day dreaming (and actually searching for a bike, although I prefer to buy from a forum so I can check out the seller in a bit more detail, have support of community, etc.)

There's a $3900 black futura with 36k miles for sale in Minneapolis, nothing else.  Slim pickins.

- Dan

[RRdvark]

With searchtempest I found a couple within two hours of my house that didn't show up searching through google or other methods.  Hoping to go look at one (or a couple on Sunday).

I've emailed with the guy in MN - he also had it listed on the apriliaforum classifieds.  I really like the black ones (asphalt gray, I think it's called), but I'm more worried about mileage than colors right now.  There's a black one in eastern PA (26k miles) and another one at AF1 in Texas (40k miles).

[Snowbird]

Be patient an look through the winter. When I was looking, fewer bikes we listed from now until February.

[RRdvark]

Be patient an look through the winter. When I was looking, fewer bikes we listed from now until February.

How many miles do you have on your Futura, Snowbird?

[Snowbird]

How many miles do you have on your Futura, Snowbird?

66k on one, 22k on the other. The one with 66k had the living shjt ran out of it-- by me-- and received a lower miles motor transplant.

[RRdvark]

So a guy had a Futura in KY that I was going to look at and ride on Sunday, but he sold it.  Closest one is 6+ hours away now.

Who can tell me the differences in the years of the Sprint ST's?  I see more '06 and '07 models for sale.  Are the 2008 models any better?

[Dan K]

Metal tank and higher bars on the '07.  Many '06's have had the newer higher bars (mine included) installed.  Never rode the lower barred '06 but I'm willing to make a bet it's a pretty substantial difference ergo wise.

-Dan

[Medic09]

I had an '01 Sprint ST, and liked it better than the later models.  The 1050 models got a steeper seat, even less conducive to my pillion being happy back there.  I was very happy with the 955i.  Best all-around bike I'd ridden.  The posture got a little hard on my neck and back injury, so I switched to a more upright ride.  Were it not for the injury, I'd still be on it for sure.

Did you look on the Aprilia forum to see if anyone nearer to you has one for sale?  http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/index.php

[RRdvark]

I had an '01 Sprint ST, and liked it better than the later models.  The 1050 models got a steeper seat, even less conducive to my pillion being happy back there.  I was very happy with the 955i.  Best all-around bike I'd ridden.  The posture got a little hard on my neck and back injury, so I switched to a more upright ride.  Were it not for the injury, I'd still be on it for sure.

Did you look on the Aprilia forum to see if anyone nearer to you has one for sale?  http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/index.php

Thanks for the info.  I check the Aprilia forums every couple of days to see if anything new pops up (like the yellow one in NV) and there is actually a guy from that board that tried to help me score a test ride with a Futura owner closer to me.

[GRN]

Metal tank and higher bars on the '07.  Many '06's have had the newer higher bars (mine included) installed.  Never rode the lower barred '06 but I'm willing to make a bet it's a pretty substantial difference ergo wise.

-Dan

Not really, I think the actual measure was around 1" up. I owned an '06, spent a day on an '07, didn't notice a significant difference. I liked the '06, not sure why they bothered to change them.  

[Dan K]

Not really, I think the actual measure was around 1" up. I owned an '06, spent a day on an '07, didn't notice a significant difference. I liked the '06, not sure why they bothered to change them.  

I bought mine used with the '07 bars installed and the way everyone says the Sprint has Sporty ergos I just figured the rise must have been significant.  Try a Daytona - those are agressive sporty ergos....different world than the Sprint.

But the Sprint can still cut a nice rug.

You should find one for a test ride.  You can take mine as long as you have cash to buy it if it goes boom...

- Dan

[evilted]

1" may not seem like a lot, but putting Gen-Mars on mine made a huge difference in terms of my ability to ride all day comfortably.  YMMV.

Not really, I think the actual measure was around 1" up. I owned an '06, spent a day on an '07, didn't notice a significant difference. I liked the '06, not sure why they bothered to change them.  

[RRdvark]

You should find one for a test ride.  You can take mine as long as you have cash to buy it if it goes boom...

- Dan

Already did.  Rode an '08 ABS model at the Triumph dealer in Indianapolis.  Liked just about everything about it.  Only concerns were the gearbox (seemed kind of clunky, especially 1st to 2nd) and the fit/finish (uneven seams between fairings, just seemed kind of rattle-y).  Loved the engine, seating position, seat, sound, and heated grips.  Handling was very sharp, too.

[RRdvark]

So I finally decided the Futura is out and I'm going to buy the Sprint - just need to find the right one (factory bags, moderate mileage, preferably blue) at the right price.  I've already got a list of craigslist bikes, but I figured it would make sense to look at the pre-owned inventories for the Triumph dealers around Region 4 and of course there is an '04 Futura sitting at Ohio Motorcycle with less than 14k miles on it.  The dealership is located near Columbus or Dayton (maybe both?) which is less than three hours from my door, but the listing says the bike is available in Akron/Cleveland.  Not sure what that means - waiting to hear back from them.

[Dan K]

Good luck!  If you end up with  Futura and you're in the Chicago area, let me know - I'd also like to take one for a spin.

- Dan

[ride200mi]

So I finally decided the Futura is out and I'm going to buy the Sprint - just need to find the right one (factory bags, moderate mileage, preferably blue) at the right price.  I've already got a list of craigslist bikes, but I figured it would make sense to look at the pre-owned inventories for the Triumph dealers around Region 4 and of course there is an '04 Futura sitting at Ohio Motorcycle with less than 14k miles on it.  The dealership is located near Columbus or Dayton (maybe both?) which is less than three hours from my door, but the listing says the bike is available in Akron/Cleveland.  Not sure what that means - waiting to hear back from them.

OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..........