New bike day incoming
Discussion
After struggling for 3 years and losing the desire to ride, I cut my losses on my R18 Transcontinental. It weighs nearly half a ton (450kg+) and everything short of motorway riding was just a massive effort. I found myself riding (and enjoying) my 125 monkey more.
So, next week, I’ve got this incoming. No heated seat or grips, no stereo, no adaptive cruise, no reverse gear, no massive storage and charging in pannier and Bluetooth and etc., but hopefully light and nimble enough to enjoy riding again, even if I’ll have to look at my winter gear all over again to combat the lack of heat and wind protection.
So, next week, I’ve got this incoming. No heated seat or grips, no stereo, no adaptive cruise, no reverse gear, no massive storage and charging in pannier and Bluetooth and etc., but hopefully light and nimble enough to enjoy riding again, even if I’ll have to look at my winter gear all over again to combat the lack of heat and wind protection.
LeftmostAardvark said:
After struggling for 3 years and losing the desire to ride, I cut my losses on my R18 Transcontinental. It weighs nearly half a ton (450kg+) and everything short of motorway riding was just a massive effort. I found myself riding (and enjoying) my 125 monkey more.
So, next week, I’ve got this incoming. No heated seat or grips, no stereo, no adaptive cruise, no reverse gear, no massive storage and charging in pannier and Bluetooth and etc., but hopefully light and nimble enough to enjoy riding again, even if I’ll have to look at my winter gear all over again to combat the lack of heat and wind protection.
Great choice and you'll only need your winter gear for a few weeks ! So, next week, I’ve got this incoming. No heated seat or grips, no stereo, no adaptive cruise, no reverse gear, no massive storage and charging in pannier and Bluetooth and etc., but hopefully light and nimble enough to enjoy riding again, even if I’ll have to look at my winter gear all over again to combat the lack of heat and wind protection.
I had an XC a couple of years ago. I loved that bike, It was very pretty if a little slow compared to my Speed 1050RS. For the first 6 months or so it was fine. Then I noticed some coolant dripping down from the headgasket area. It went back to Triumph dealer in Wickham. They diagnosed it with a porous head. And it was then rebuilt in their Washington branch in the height of summer. In doing so I was without a bike for two months. I got the bike back in the autumn. Upon getting the bike they had scratched the exhaust heat shield in multiple places, gouged up the cam cover and chipped the paint on the side panel.
For the next three months the bike was sent back to Triumph and returned to me four or five times with only some of the items fixed and others not. And then it was returned to me with the cam cover painted in a blueish colour rather than the grey anthracite colour. Like front half was grey and back blue. It was eventually sorted after I kicked off massively.
Bike ran well when it came back and all was ok again. No leaks or anything. But then a couple of months later, I kept noticing pink coolant stains near the head gasket and then I saw fresh coolant. Took it back to Triumph and they said it was residue coolant! Tossers. I had made my mind it was time to chop it in but was deciding what to get. In the meantime on a ride it started to misfire and was down on power, Took it back to Triumph and it was a loose sparkplug. FFS! And there was coolant in the spark plug hole. FFS!!!!!!
After getting into a pretty much a shouting match with the manager on the shop floor I walked into BMW and got an S1000R Sport. Not looked back since.
Having been a devout Triumph owner having a T509 Speed, 1050 94R, 1050R, 1050RS and the Scrambler, The last four of which were from this one dealer, I'd not have another again.
It's a lovely bike and full of character, but this bike and the issues I had with the dealer I won't get another.
For the next three months the bike was sent back to Triumph and returned to me four or five times with only some of the items fixed and others not. And then it was returned to me with the cam cover painted in a blueish colour rather than the grey anthracite colour. Like front half was grey and back blue. It was eventually sorted after I kicked off massively.
Bike ran well when it came back and all was ok again. No leaks or anything. But then a couple of months later, I kept noticing pink coolant stains near the head gasket and then I saw fresh coolant. Took it back to Triumph and they said it was residue coolant! Tossers. I had made my mind it was time to chop it in but was deciding what to get. In the meantime on a ride it started to misfire and was down on power, Took it back to Triumph and it was a loose sparkplug. FFS! And there was coolant in the spark plug hole. FFS!!!!!!
After getting into a pretty much a shouting match with the manager on the shop floor I walked into BMW and got an S1000R Sport. Not looked back since.
Having been a devout Triumph owner having a T509 Speed, 1050 94R, 1050R, 1050RS and the Scrambler, The last four of which were from this one dealer, I'd not have another again.
It's a lovely bike and full of character, but this bike and the issues I had with the dealer I won't get another.
pcn1 said:
Good call on the Scrambler, had mine 10 years and still love it. Easy to bolt on some extras and make it your own.
Not a lightweight, but very easy to maneuver on the road and a lot easier to push into the garage than my 1260 Multistrada !
Regarding the OP I've had heated grips on both of my bikes. I did 90 miles on Saturday. The heated grips were used on the return leg. I remember my hands getting cold and wet when I was a youngster on the rides to and from my first job and leaving my gloves drying on a radiator.
150 miles in and I definitely made the right choice. It’s everything a bike should be and nothing it shouldn’t.
Cruises well at (cough) 70, despite no fairing, planted in the corners, great to filter on, comfortable to stand up on (haven’t taken it off road yet, but it’s clear it could do it), and so light and easy to ride.
First time in three years I’m looking forward to putting some serious miles on a bike.
My previous bikes have been:
R18 transcontinental (about to go)
Honda monkey (current and staying, but about to be adopted by my daughter when she hits 17)
Honda cb1000
Victory vegas
Suzuki gsx1400
With the exception of the r18, this bike feels like a fusion of all the other bikes (including the monkey).
Now to the accessories: side pannier, luggage rack, screen, quad lock as soon as I can recover from the bike purchase and the new lid.
Side note: the new SCHUBERTH E2 is really nice too. Only helmet I had that wasn’t knackered was an open face, so i celebrated with a new lid too…
Cruises well at (cough) 70, despite no fairing, planted in the corners, great to filter on, comfortable to stand up on (haven’t taken it off road yet, but it’s clear it could do it), and so light and easy to ride.
First time in three years I’m looking forward to putting some serious miles on a bike.
My previous bikes have been:
R18 transcontinental (about to go)
Honda monkey (current and staying, but about to be adopted by my daughter when she hits 17)
Honda cb1000
Victory vegas
Suzuki gsx1400
With the exception of the r18, this bike feels like a fusion of all the other bikes (including the monkey).
Now to the accessories: side pannier, luggage rack, screen, quad lock as soon as I can recover from the bike purchase and the new lid.
Side note: the new SCHUBERTH E2 is really nice too. Only helmet I had that wasn’t knackered was an open face, so i celebrated with a new lid too…
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