Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Let’s suppose for a minute I wasn’t such a hands on DIY biker and didn’t have Dealertool, I’d be faced with contacting a dealer and arranging a diagnostic visit which, even if it was free would still be a bit of a faff, not to mention the interim worry that something is wrong with your pride and joy. Is this really progress?
Bring back carbs and magneto ignition I say!

 

Rode almost 200 miles and burned almost a whole tank of fuel! Beautiful day, sunny and mid-70sF.

Mostly rural farmland. Autumn color is at peak. This photo is near home.

 

A spare set of points and a condenser, change out of a fiver

 

Fall color trip close to home today.

My first experience riding in less than perfect conditions. Grey skies, on and off mist/light rain, damp roads and wet leaves. The wet leaves, acorns and large walnuts are the biggest concerns for me. Acute low speed left turns on damp roads are unpleasant. I want and need the practice and I am “riding easy” as a friend with decades of riding experience says to do.

 

Right hand turns for us British

 

So I read this as typically British conditions but you failed to mention the potholes, maybe a bit different over here?

 

I remember going to the Sulby Hotel for breakfast (on the IOM)
I arrived miles first having lost Alan (a previous employee of mine) despite him being on a " fast bike these things" Hyabusa 1300 and me being on a 1000, and my mate on a 675 triple. I asked what the problem was, to which they both said.... it was wet under the trees

 

Funny! I have driven in England several times and agree the mist on the windscreen is aggressive and persistent, to say the least.

Mother Nature, having the upper hand as she always does, chased me off the roads.

After a coffee break I got back on the bike and rode home in light showers with 30mph gusty winds. 10 degree F temperature drop made for cold hands but not unbearable.

I put the machine in Rain Mode out of curiosity and because conditions warranted it. I did not perceive any change in behavior.

Roads were wet, but not flooded, and rain was continuous, but not heavy. Good practice for me. I rode easy and enjoyed the training.

Tanked up and put her away wet but warm and happy!

Only one photo from the ride, hands were cold and wet and I was pining for the heated leather of the Cayenne!

 

Pic from yesterday’s ride. 2-man Triumph biker gang. His 2021 Tiger 900 GT is a nice machine. Obvious power when accelerating away and great exhaust note.

 

Rode it! 1.5 hour local tour around lakes and along wooded roads. Lovely autumn color! Low 50sF and sunny!

 

If it is like rain mode on my Street Triple, I find the ABS / traction control will activate sooner if you muck about and the throttle response is smoother. I initially rode mine in rain mode when I first got it as it was my first post - test bike, then road mode and now it is very, very rarely out of sport mode . I always forget that I have rain mode now and have only ever used it perhaps three times more in absolutely biblical downpours with flooding when I have had to go out e.g., for a booked service.

 

Now that's creepy you've managed to get a ghost in the picture

 

Looks nice and warm in there and even room to move around I've got garage envy

 

Swap your autumn and winter for ours

 

I had “wet under the trees” moment at the MGP in 1990 when we were out for an early morning lap. There had been some heavy rain the night before and some wet patches remained in the sheltered parts of the course. Accelerating hard up the hill from Ballacraine the tacho suddenly flew round to the rev limiter, the bike gave (what felt like) a huge twitch and I almost cr*pped myself, not really knowing what was going on. There were wet leaves scattered around and the rear must’ve spun up and stepped sideways, probably no more than an inch or two.
The grunt on those oil cooled 1127cc motors is still impressive even by todays standards and of course no traction control or ABS etc back then. It’s funny how a moment like that tempers your enthusiasm.

 

At the weekend I was out for a ride with my son on his STRS, when I noticed one of the Powerbronze handguards I have on my bike was starting to work loose. Thinking (wrongly) that I could get home before it became totally detached I felt the bar end go flying off a few miles from home. It was pretty pointless to turn around and go and look for the missing parts which had probably flown into the nearest ditch, so I contacted Powerbronze yesterday (Monday) and they are sending out the parts I need today (Tuesday) via first class mail. So just a shout out to Richard and the guys at Powerbronze for getting me sorted so quickly. The parts weren't that expensive either, so I just thought I'd share the experience with you guys and gals. Well done Powerbronze. Note to self: put some threadlock on the fixing bolt next time! Lol