Happy 24 hr anniversary! Bought a silver 2019 yesterday. Dropped a Speed triple in trade. Took it out for a nice 200 canyon initiation ride today and I must admit, I haven't been this giddy about a new bike in a very long time. Was an absolute delight to ride. Pure enjoyment. Didn't need to ride fast to enjoy, but responsive enough when I felt like having a moment of fun (still breaking in). Great in the corners. Light as all get out. More importantly, just a pleasure to return to basics - a fun bike on open rode with a flexible cockpit and not tons of electronic crap or faring. The freedom to move as you'd like while riding and a rare gem of a bike that is equally satisfying to ride slow as it is to let you treat it like the ripper it wants to be deep down. I was amazed at how fun it was to ride and be mellow, yet how responsive it as if I felt like dragging it about a bit. The engine didn't care and the freedom of body position was fantastic.The view of open road in any direction was just zen for me. I don't remember the last time I was is pure motorcycle bliss as today. Appreciate any and all that have helped along the path to making this decision. Among Triumphs, have owned a street triple (2010-18) and a speed triple (2019-20). Currently also own a BMW R1200RS for winter, rain and distance. ZERO regrets on trading that one trick pony, though I'll miss the "ludicrous speed" from time to time. This bike brings me back to the basic joy of riding. Now I have he pleasure of making it my own, though like many of you, will be doing many of the exact same things .... Xpipe, booster plug, pipes (opted for V&H over SC project - dont need to be too obnoxious for this bike) and some little bling ... like stealing the upper yoke nut from the scrambler, sump plate and a few pazzo levers for starters. Haven't decided on a specific tail tidy, but that's a must. Likely a corbin for longer trips. The jury is still out if I do the suspension. And the little things like a garage door opener, either mo-door ... or this: . I'm sure I'll have some silly questions. I haven't even looked for a haynes manual yet, but am squarely a 3 wrencher ... 2 if electronics! I look forward to getting to know you guys as time rolls on. Forgive my silly questions and hopefully I can offer something of value in return.
Congrats. And what a place to ride a bike. Utah blew my mind a few years back (not on a moto unfortunately.) Looking forward to seeing some pics from out there, hint hint.
Sounds like you made a good decision with the Speed Twin. I think they look fantastic and, as you say, the riding position seems open and unencumbered. I haven't driven one, however. In these cases, less is indeed more. Enjoy.
Hi Warren, i hope you are enjoying the Twin as much as I am, I also swapped my Triple for a Twin this year, it is a great bike
Hi Warren and congrats on your new Speed Twin! Nothing like a new bike to make you feel like a kid again. Thanks for your nice write-up. We'd love to see some photos of the new family member, too. Where in Utah do you live? I live in southern Arizona. My hubby and I along with some riding buddies are looking at perhaps riding up into southern Utah in October or thereabouts depending on how the world is looking by then.
Great choice in bike, I absolutely love mine. I’m interested, as Sandi T is, to know where abouts in Utah do you live? I currently live in Las Vegas, but grew up in Utah, so I know it well and am extremely jealous of the roads you have at your immediate disposal. Options in Vegas are quite limited.
Hi Warren and congrats on the new purchase Nice intro and I had a giggle at the integrated door opener
I'm in Salt Lake ... Sandy to be exact. Came out here 20 years ago intending to only stay 3 but the outdoors pulled on us, jobs were offered and the wife loves it here so we stayed. But yes, the roads are great. Access to good canyons are nice and close, jumps up to MT and WY are only an hour's boring interstate ride away and who doesn't dig the national parks and the 12 the to the south ... at least when its not 100 degrees. Only negative is the heat, to which I'm less and less tolerant every year, but you get that in spades in vegas and AZ too I'd imagine.. October is a great time to make that trip. March-April and late Sep-early Oct are my favorite times to go down there for camping or riding (or both). Weather is perfect, colors pop. And I'll take morning chill over afternoon baking every day. Let me know when you guys head up!
@Warren71, it sounds like Salt Lake is a great place to live as a rider. I've never been to Salt Lake or even to any of the national parks in Utah. In fact I've only grazed the SE corner of the state while riding through Monument Valley. It's great to know that October is such a good time for a motorcycle trip through the southern parks because. Mr. Sandi and I both work in schools and we have a week-long fall break that month and usually do a MC trip then. This year, though, with COVID we don't really know what will be happening with schools and our work--or with vacation travel. It's also nice to know that March-April are good too since our spring break always falls somewhere in one of those months. My story about living in Tucson is very similar to your way of winding up in Utah. My ex and I moved to Arizona in 1991 to go back to grad and med school at the University of Arizona and had every intention of moving after we finished. As with you and your wife, the outdoors kept us here--the desert and the mountains and the vibe of the town itself kept us here. I love Tucson! And enough to tolerate the intense summer heat. May I PM you if and when we make plans for a Utah motorcycle trip to pick your brain on roads to ride and things to see?
Absolutely !!! Let me know when you guys are coming out. I'll admit I know more about the northern roads, than the southern, but I may explore that more this year. Far easier for me to take trips in the summer (June and September), than spring / fall due to workload. And last few years, most of my planned multi-day rides have gotten hijacked by the family so I've been mostly riding the NE Utah, ID/WY and up to Mirror Lake. Areas where I can escape for a day, get 4-8 hours in and be back by night. As you plan your trip, the 12 should absolutely be on your short list. You'll hit Dixie, Escalante, Bryce and Capital Reef. Great road, especially mid-week! A word of caution if you come in spring, I have hit snow in March. April far less likely, but not impossible. I had a friend go to undergrad at UofA and loved it. I'm kinda surprised she returned to Cali. The desert and horses suited her perfectly.
Absolutely !!! Let me know when you guys are coming out. I'll admit I know more about the northern roads than the southern, but I may explore that more this year. Far easier for me to take trips in the summer (June and September), than spring / fall due to workload. And last few years, most of my planned multi-day rides have gotten hijacked by the family so I've been mostly riding the NE Utah, ID/WY and up to Mirror Lake. Areas where I can escape for a day, get 4-8 hours in and be back by night. As you plan your trip, the 12 should absolutely be on your short list. You'll hit Dixie, Escalante, Bryce and Capital Reef. Great road, especially mid-week! A word of caution if you come in spring, I have hit snow in March. April far less likely, but not impossible. I had a friend go to undergrad at UofA and loved it. I'm kinda surprised she returned to Cali. The desert and horses suited her perfectly.
Thanks, Warren! I'll keep you posted. I'm not sure when our spring break is this coming school year but they are usually in March. But this coming school year will be anything but typical for us, I think. Anyway, it's good to know about the snow. We've traveled by motorcycles through Colorado multiple times and there you even have to beware of snow through the mountain passes in June! Perhaps someday we'll plan a week-long summer trip with our primary itinerary being Utah from stem to stern. I have heard about and seen a couple of videos of the 12 and it looks amazing! So we'll definitely make sure that's on the list. My brother and his wife just left Bryce and Zion and loved both although they said that Zion was really a zoo while Bryce was pretty quiet. The photos he texted me were gorgeous. Yep, Tucson is definitely a great place to live is you love the desert and you love horses. In many ways it is truly what we all think of when we think of The West. I love it. If you ever ride to the south and into Arizona, let me know and I'll return the favor on great motorcycle roads and attraction recommendations.
