Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

After getting an MOT advisory for warped brake discs I acquired a dial gauge set to check for runout. It became evident that it is only the right hand disc that has warped so I will be replacing just the one disc as the other is still well within it's service limits for both runout and thickness. Left hand disc runout measured only 0.05mm but right hand disc measured 0.25mm which is getting close to it's service limit of 0.3mm hence the advisory. New pads needed as well. Probably the right hand side brake has been binding so I will check and clean the pistons when I fit the new disc and pads.

 

The usual monthly start up,run it through the gears n waited for it to cool down. Chucked the cover back over it &went for a cuppa One day i might MOT it or sell it

 

A crime not to be riding that

 

Clocked up the first 1000m today with a run round the Peak District. We had a warm spell 2-3 weeks ago here when temps were approaching 20deg so I took the liner out of my jacket. Well I put the bugger back in today 'cos it's been feckin' freezin' the last few days. Heated gloves in late April FFS! This global WARMING is utter b*llocks IMO.

 

Had a run out into the White Peak this afternoon and decided to try the different (unnecessary?) modes that now seem to adorn every new bike. I have ROAD,RAIN, SPORT, OFF ROAD and RIDER TO CHOOSE FROM. It was in ROAD mode when I picked the bike up and I left it in that. SPORT is supposed to sharpen up throttle response and it does just that. RAIN goes the other way and really takes the edge off and OFF ROAD feels somewhere inbetween ROAD and SPORT. I don't think any of the modes change outright power but just employ different maps to alter power and torque delivery. It was purely the engine characteristics I wanted to compare but TC and ABS also change according to mode. RIDER mode is configurable, to a degree. My ZZR has 4 TC settings, 1-3 and off and full/low power modes where low limits the bike 75% power output or just over 150bhp. ABS cannot be changed.
My opinion on all this for road bikes is I can see the need for it and rider benefit on the ZZR (and bikes with similar performance) but on a relatively low powered Triumph classic twin, not really.
My Husaberg Enduro bike has two power modes, STANDARD and RACE, the latter being a bit ott for general off roading/green laning and certainly sharpens your wits with knobbly tyres on wet tarmac.

What's everyone else's opinions on all these "rider aids"?

 

Both my bikes (tiger 660 and Thruxton r) have ride modes and to be honest I rarely change them. I can see the benefit between road and rain for less experienced riders, but would think with more experience they would not be switching. Like you say on a performance machine and if you use the bike on the track I can see the benefit, but for normal daily riding can’t really see the need.

 

My Multistrada has 4 modes Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. Sport and Touring keep the 160bhp whereas the other 2 drop it down to 100. It also changes the DSS (skyhook suspension) front and rear, DTC (traction control), DWC (wheelie control), abs level and the like. You can also adjust them all to suit you unsurprisingly I just ride it, normally in Sport or Touring mode depending on how big the horns get but just too much to play with. The good bit is you can adjust the DSS for single rider, single rider with luggage, 2 up and 2 up with luggage and it will adjust automatically

 

Home from work early, sun was out and actually felt warm, had to have a quick 40 minute blast, absolutely wonderful.

 

As i have posted previously i fitted a Nissin 3 pot caliper to my 2018 Street twin,the caliper was brand new from an Italian e-bay advertiser.Originally from/ for a Honda CB1000 dual braking system they are converted (drilled centre piston) to work all three pistons simultaneously.Just this week fitted a 14mm master cylinder to replace the 11mm that is standard.I now have a far better lever,ie: instant firm pressure with barley any movement/pull of the lever.I had a short ride today Wednesday 1st using the ABS mode and it feels stronger, i guess without ABS i will get a stronger response ? Find out tomorrow if i get another dry period ! It is a direct fit.

 

Well the 675 is going for it's mot in the morning so a quick once over and test ride in the street.



Umm, is that left fork seal weeping slightly?
Cleaned it off and bounced up and down on the bars.
Yep it is.
Tried the old sweep around of the oil seal with a feeler gauge but no joy.

Luckily, it just so happened I had some spare seals and oil on the shelf

Ok, so not as planned but a quick fork service needs to happen, but then, the fork top cap was absolutely solid and silly tight
I tried with my Snap On strong bar and a 24mm single hex socket but no chance. Summoned my little lad (16 and going to the gym ) for assistance so it didn't all end up on the floor .
Right, you hold the front wheel straight and the bike on the front stand!
I now moved up a notch and employed my 3' Snap On strongbar, yes that's about a metre long and 3/4" drive.
no problem.

Now to remove the front wheel and the outer pinch bolt was tight but l just needed to try harder ........ ooh nice punch of the knuckles into the front disc as the allen bolt had the last laugh



Umm, a quick plaster with additional masking tape for security, and job completed.
Roll on mot in 9 hours time

Note to self;
wavey discs might look flash but, a plain disc works just as well and wouldn't have cut me like that

 

Ouch

 

Oops! Sorry, @Pegscraper! And thanks for the additional suggestions, @littleade.

 

I have various modes on my Speed Triple and my new Street Glide but none on my Low Rider ST. It's funny...I got all excited and thought it great to have all these options but it turns out that I've pretty much figured out which I like best then rarely even think to change it! I did use Rain mode on our ride down to Bisbee in March (since it was actually raining here in the desert ) and felt pretty good about that.

I added the optional "RDRS" system (see screen shot below) on my 2020 Street Glide primarily to get the additional electronic safety features since I put a lot of touring miles in many different conditions on that bike. Many of the features were sort of "behind the scenes" which was fine with me. I have to admit I got spoiled with the hill hold feature and the tire pressure monitoring! Now all of these features came stock on my new 2024 Street Glide.

Funny thing...when I started using the hill hold feature, I sort of felt like I was "cheating". But then I changed my tune since I'm small and the bike is huge and it really helps! Why the heck not use it?

Lastly, my Low Rider ST has TC and ABS and that's it. And I've never really thought twice about not having all that other "stuff".

 

Yikes, @Eldon! Geez, the bike looks terrific! But that hand..... Hope it's ok.

 

Yes it'll be fine thanks, a quick rinse, or is that wince , before bed should see it sorted.



A drop of Smirnoffs finest

 

I like your "medication", @Eldon.

 

That's a good point about bike weight vs rider stature.
Aids like hill start will certainly make a large cruiser much more manageable and hence safer. Tech has moved on tremendously in the last 30 years and the advent of ECU controlled everything has made adding all these "aids" relatively simple. Personally I still think they should be optional with base models available without them so you can pick and pay for the features you want.

 

So up for 07.00 on my day off and at the mot station for 08.00.
Test passed then into work for 09.00 and 4 hours overtime

Sent my mate a message; "fancy going out on bikes this afternoon? be at mine for 13.30 and I should be home, sorted and taxed ( road tax for the 675 that is, alongside all the other taxes I pay )."

All planets aligned and plans came to fruition.
Calimoto did its thing and gave us a good ride around ending at Tan Hill.



Ironically, and bear in mind I also have a 765rs in white, the guy on the black 765 used to be the owner, for 8 years or so, of the 675 I'm on today, yet on previous outings the bikes had been reversed.

Does the 675r lose out a lot to the modern 765, ten years it's junior?
No, not really, the outstanding thing is how raw the original street triple R was and that's in a positive way. In hindsight it was ahead of it's time and a proper performing machine yet still great even now for 5hits and giggles as they say

Then on to Ripon on the return journey for a can of pop, chocolate and a natter.



200 or so miles test ride and the fork seals held up nicely to a few jumps and numerous wheelies

 

Got the Speed Triple MOT'd. Now to sell it.

 

Use the money to put the Busa back on the road.
Had the Speed Triple since 2022, not put a 1000 miles on it