What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Not just BP, that’s M&S BP

 

I had one in red a few years back to do a bit of green laning ideal if you get stuck in muddy deep tractor ruts light enough to pull out but watch out for the crank bearings you'll hear it if they go

 

That looks like a good find. Most dirt bikes have a hard life but there are some gems out there.
In Dec 2010 I fetched this back from Wales. 2001 with a genuine 565m on the clock. The guy who owned it rode it up and down the lane to his house a few times then just left it in his garage. It was absolutely mint, still with the original tyres!
I put new tyres on, prepped it for green laning with a few extras and had the thing nicked off the drive a few months later!
TBH it was a bit overkill for trail riding but would’ve made a great SM bike.

 

I had a 200 version in black and red back in about 1998.
It only lasted a week ....... two lads nicked it out of my garage, although I did find out who they were and so went around for a word

A 200 version was quite peppy but the suspension is miles too soft for serious off roading.

 

That does look a beauty, just it shame it wasn't the 400 as they were more usable off road.

 

All this talk about lightweight off-road bikes - does the Matchless 350 my brother used to have fit the bill?!?! Probably not, but we had some fun on it!

 

Hey, funs the name of the game irrespective of the badge on the tank!
A group of enthusiastic riders on Honda 90s can have more FUN than all these latest and greatest "superbikes".

 

I was about to mention the c90's with all the plastics removed being thrashed around a field with half a dozen teenagers chasing it round three up and just having a great time no helmets no protection just good fun then home for tea, those 70's good times
I agree with @Eldon with the suspension being a bit soft and that could lead to getting stuck but still good fun and a great starting point

 

You accurately described my teenage years @Mark TGR9 late 70's.
Cycle down to the petrol station with a rucksack and a Duckhams oil, gallon metal can. Cycle back, a round trip of 3 miles and usually ended up wearing some of the liquid

It was great when my grandad used to come around in the company van. "Can I grandad?"
"Go on then, but only 1 gallon!"

Pipe out and another £0.75 saved
I think I can still taste it

We used to send the tallest/oldest looking to the corner shop for alcoholic beverages then take a carrier bag on the handlebars down the fields.
Lots of NCB land to play on and rarely got hassled. No damage done or violence just simple fun.
I had a Suzuki M30 to start with. Then a Honda C50, did my first gearbox rebuild on that aged 14.
Yamaha 70 Townmate, a C90 and a few others existed before I could afford any REAL motorbikes

It usually went like this, watch Kick-start on TV, then go and do it on your plaggi down the quarry
A bunch of dreamers, but it was all good practice.

Rarely watched TV, video games or even in the house..... how times change and we now wonder why kids are fat

 

Totally agree great times although I will never Syphon petrol again because as a teen before unleaded had taken hold I was in the throws of syphoning some fuel out of a mini cooper original forest green sliding windows and it went seriously wrong and ended up swallowing a bit and oh my god panic wasn't the word for it throat closed up couldn't breathe started running towards the local A&E which was about a mile away from where I was all my mates could do was fall around pissing themselves laughing at me eventually it subsided and I started to get my breath back but never again

 

I rode my beautiful Fireblade back home to where it belongs . When I had my new tyres fitted, I discovered that the fork seals were leaking, so no ride for me that day. My friends who own a bike shop then ordered the seals for me and my other friends who own a training school complete with unit, ramps etc came in their van and took my bike there, put it on the ramp and took the forks out for me.

I then took the forks to be sorted a few days ago, collected them this morning and then back to have them put back in for me. All sorted for very little money thanks to me having some very good friends indeed (the same ones that rescued me when I had the puncture on my Striple and removed my wheel etc) .

I have now done 4 whole miles on my new tyres.....I could have ridden forever when I got it back this afternoon however the time of day just means the roads are rammed with distracted parents picking up kids, people racing home from work etc. Not ideal so I resisted and just came home. (I know it needs a good clean ).

 

Needs a good clean? You could carry out medical procedures on that!

 

Not up close, trust me!! It's just the brightness of the red paint that dazzles the eyes .

 

Raining first thing so the Triumphs can stay in the dry.
Another good run out on the Kove today.



I put some new 50/50 Mitas tyres which I liked but today they were totally useless in the mud. I was lucky above to be able to stop in time on a twisty downhill in trees.

Michelin Trackers or similar required, I'll save these for late spring/summer next year.

Onwards, single track turned into fast gravel and so I opened it up , jumping puddles yes.... thud



I pulled up here just after a cock pheasant smacked me on the helmet despite ducking down, face onto the tank.


Time for a cup of tea and a pasty. My finger points to literally the skidmark from the pheasant.

 

You do know how to sell this off road stuff!

 

Out on the MV today with friend Carl on his Benelli Trek Amazonas 1130 triple. I've never seen another one, but there must be some more examples out there? Anyone got one or know someone that has one?

 

The MV is looking good! I had to Google your friend's bike, don't think I have ever seen one or heard of them before.

 

So now we have the Trackers purchased, and installed, ready for the next outing

 

Go on Mrs V. You KNOW you want one!

 

They look much more like it! The perfect “dual sport” tyre has yet to be made. Maybe one day they’ll come up with a road tyre with retractable knobs. I’ve always preferred and opted for the superior off road grip of proper off road stuff but paid the price a couple of times on wet tarmac.