Wistanstow show

A few photos from the show at Wistanstow today. A nice mix of bikes, and plenty of Enfields.

Triumph Love

Feeling the love for the Speed Triple. Appearances on Rocket Garage and on Bubble Visor have reminded me that I shouldn't sell it.

Also all that bare oiled alloy would be a magnet to the salt that's out on the road at the moment, so in the shed it will stay.

Triumph TIger 800 Test

Had a chance today to take the new Tiger 800 for a two up test ride. Conditions were pretty poor and the bike was still in the running in period so I was gentle with it.

First impressions then; very low and compact for the genre. A bit too small for me to be honest. The pillion seat was described by my co-pilot as the worst she'd tried. The engine feels light and fresh, happy to rev and not buzzy. It's a good thing it is happy to rev, as you need to keep the revs up in the mid range in order to make progress.

The bike feels long and no doubt the addition of a pillion added to this. Adjustment on the shock is preload only (that I could see) and I wound it in 2/3rd of the way to account for the pillion. The test bike had the Arrow silencer and alloy sump guard fitted from the accessory catalogue; the silencer gave a little rasp to the exhaust note, though most on board sound came from the airbox. The sump guard appeared a little extraneous and was really there it seemed in order to take your eye away from the under-sump catalytic convertor.
I was a bit disappointed in the bike to be honest. I had hoped for something with a bit more grunt to it. There was no denying the bike was smooth to pull from low revs even in a high gear, but it really needed revving to get the most from it. Rumour has it a 1200cc version will be with us mid next year. I will hold on until then.

I am the Night Rider

Out last night in the cold to take a few pics of the Triumph by moonlight on the Blorenge.

Cold enough that there was frost forming on the seat by the time I'd done.

Pics done with EOS1000D, 50mm f1.8 lens, small tripod.

Sneaky

Very fast turnaround on the seat for the Triumph. I cannot wait to have it in my sweaty mitts. Cheers again Steve at lucky7moto

Again

I love my Speed Triple, I really do. Yet there are times when it drives me mad. Heading off to look at a couple of potential projects a month ago it died on me. Refused to start despite my best efforts so back home on a trailer. This canned the ideas of the projects, as the Triumph had become one again.

After trying the usual suspects on the T300 series; CDI, pick up coil, sidestand switch/relay and still drawing a blank and no spark I was getting a little frustrated. Checking through the loom for earth continuity for the 3rd/4th time I happened to brush a loop wire in the unused factory alarm connector.

It moved.

Broken wire.

Fucker.

Wire spliced, spark from the plugs. Bike running.

Some would think the story ends there, but being a Triumph it doesn't. Whilst parked up I noticed some fluid on the rear rim. The seals had gone on one of the pistons. That's fixed now as well.

This kinda brings me on to my next moan.

Done

After a busy day the old trumpet has fresh oil and filter, fresh coolant, and I cut and buffed the £20 rattle can paint. Come up nice.

Red Marley Hillclimb

Today, I thrashed 60miles through some cracking roads to get to the Red Marley hillclimb. Was well worth it. Here's just some of the many pics I took.