There is some pseudo-scientific theory (some say claptrap) that every lungfull of air you breathe contains the same gas molecules that were once breathed by the great figures from history - your Julius Caesar, your Henry VIII, your Winston Churchill, your Ant and Dec etc. etc. I'm no expert and I'm far too short on time to research this properly, but it has something to do with the advantageous ratio between the predictable number of people who have ever lived on the earth and the still comparatively huge number of molecules in a good gasp of air. I hope you get the general idea...
I'm now working on a similar theory that the internet auction site eBay is becoming so ubiquitous that there will be a point reached at which every item of worth that a person buys and subsequently sells by whatever means - a motorcycle for example - will eventually reappear again on eBay. Along side the looted Persian antiquities and morally suspect debt-avoidance schemes of misguided female students (allegedly).
In the experience of Lee Sykes (and staying firmly on the bike theme), this was a rapid sequence of events that started when he himself advertised his Trident on eBay - a bloke put in a winning bid, collected and paid for the bike quickly and soon readvertised it at a higher asking price, eventually netting some hundreds of pounds in the process. Nothing too revolutionary there I hear you cry - it's just the medium that has sped up and achieved greater geographical coverage. And you'd probably be right. This electronic entrepreneur could have found himself buying at just the wrong time and been left with nothing to do except sell on at a loss or - heaven forbid - keep it and actually ride the thing.
With this in mind I should perhaps have not been quite so surprised when, during my daily lunchtime perusal of bikes for sales on eBay UK, my eye was drawn to a familiar-coloured Trident on offer. Naturally I pulled up the details immediately and was amused to find that yes, indeed, it was my old bike that I traded in at Boyers just over a year ago.
The mirth factor was somewhat diminished however when I started reading through the text. It was not that the description was unarguably false, just that it was pretty economical with the truth, in a way that did justice to the, by now, well-worn euphemism.
I'll excuse the fact that it was described as a 1993 model when really it was a '92 registered in '93 - I did not become aware of that distinction until I'd owned it for several years, and then only by chance. In fact given that both years still featured the silver engine and swingarm, I prefer the '92's simpler pillion footrest/exhaust arrangement. I'll also overlook the absense of a warning that the centre stand was missing - a close look at the pictures or an appreciation of the compromises required with a 3-into-1 exhaust would explain that.
What irked me was phrases like "number of previous owners: 1" which suggests the V5 wouldn't be telling the whole story as I was at least the second owner, and "service history up to 34,000 miles" that gave no clue about the other 22,000 miles it had done (with appropriate servicing I might add). Potentially useful pictures, like a close-up of the clocks, were conspicuous by their absense, although the seller, who's identity I couldn't shed much light on, did face up to the fact that it's hard to disguise a great big split in the seat cover (sustained after it left my hands I might add) and so featured that in its own pic.
Top of the "gonna be disappointing to discover and not easy to remedy" list though was the disparity - based on my own knowledge of the bike - between the phrase "a bit of paint needed on the right hand engine case" and the real state of affairs which I would have described as "lower engine plus pillion footrest brackets peeling on both sides and wheels cosmetically shagged front and rear" (if you'll pardon the expression).
On the up side the shiny "Renergade" (sic) exhaust can still looked good - although there was no mention that due to lack of correct clearance the clamp had caught the top of the swingarm on that side, wearing a little corner off. As an aside, it must be some mental failing on my part that left me still surprised when I bought two more Renegade cans for my '95 Speed Triple and they did the same thing - doh! The seller did think to mention the immobiliser and alarm (one alarm fob was mint when I parted with the bike, having never had to use it) and the conclusion that it was a "real solid allround bike" (sic) is not one I'd argue with too much - if you overlook the occasional backfire on starting that it used to exhibit... when the neighbour with the small nervous dog was invariably passing the end of the driveway. I've got to hand it to that dog, I never heard it whimper once, even as its owner would coax it back down from the tree.
Anyway, at the time I first noticed this nugget of nostalgia, there was only a couple of hours to go with the auction so I did not have to wait long to find out how much the winning bid amounted to. I am prepared to reveal that the trade-in value I got from Boyers was something in the order of £750. I don't know how much the seller had previously paid for it of course, but they must have been fairly keen to sell as the auction was "no reserve". They ought to have been pretty pleased with themselves though as when it closed the lucky winner had committed themselves to paying £1,120... and taxing it afterwards.
So "jade7279" I can only wish you many years of happy riding and may this British bargain be for you the start - or the continuation - of a long affair with Hinckley Triumphs, as it was for me.
Wipes away tear, fades up music from Hovis advert.