Test Ride On a New Triumph

Triumph still makes motorcycles.  It's not the same company, they just bought the name.  However, they just came out with one that is meant to re-create the look of the classic Triumph of the 60's, and they did a pretty good job of it.  I talked Orv and Ross into going to take a look at them at a local Triumph dealership (that mainly sells Harleys).  Turns out they even offered to let us go for a test ride.

We just took our pick of a couple off the showroom floor, they were not even demo models:

They rolled them out into the parking lot:

Orv picked the black one:

And I picked the silver one:

You can see the resemblance to my Bonneville, but these are thoroughly modern motorcycles, with disk brakes, fuel injection, ABS, Traction Control, tubles tires, and electronic ignition.  They also run about 10 grand out the door.

The guy with the beard (Bob) led us around on a short ride that included some freeway, so we got a chance to "open them up" a little.  They are nice bikes, no doubt about it, and I could get used to owning one.  However, when I got back on my CBR, it felt pretty good.  Mine certainly doesn't have the horsepower or torque of the new Triumph (they are about 900cc versus my 500cc), but my bike is smoother, fits me better, and has a better front brake.  Actually, it's pretty hard for any bike to beat the front brake of the CBR.  At least not any that I can afford.

Ross opted not to take a test ride.  I think he doubts his ability to say no to an impulse buy.

Triumph Tweaks

I just couldn't stand that skinny back tire.  When I found out I had a slow leak in it, I decided to bite the bullet and get one that would look better.  So I spent another $87 on top of the $105 for the first tire, plus a whole afternoon of work changing it, to end up with this difference:

Old Look

New Look

Worth the money and effort?  I think so, but sometimes I wish I wasn't such  perfectionist.  

I'm also trying to come up with an acceptable mirror arrangement.  I don't like riding without having a good view behind me.  I bought some modern levers that have a threaded hole for a mirror, and I like the way the mirror turned out, but the clutch lever doesn't have the same leverage as the stocker and the clutch pull is stiffer.  I'll have to ride it awhile to see if it is acceptable or not.  

I have a lever for the brake side, but haven't installed it yet.  To make the lever fit the stock cable ends I have to drill out the new levers, which probably makes them non-returnable, so I'm doing one step at a time.

Here are a couple more pics of the bike with the new tire: