Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Been mega busy, un-siezed the back brake, took the cam cover off to rub down and paint, and discovered head has been done, new cams and associated parts, think I'll pick 6 numbers

 

I hadn't ridden my Speed Triple RS in so long that I couldn't remember the last time I rode it! He was staring to grumble when I'd go out into the garage. But I'm off work on Tuesdays so I decided to venture out in the heat and ride over to our local Triumph dealership then pop down to Tucson H-D to check on some back-ordered parts. I didn't leave the house until about 1pm so it was a bit "toasty". Well, time to acclimate before the temps soar over 100ºF. This was what the temperature was when I headed back home from the Harley dealership.



This is the time of the year when I become what I call a "Shade Buzzard". That entails circling around looking for any bit of available shade. There was one tiny little corner with shade in the Triumph dealership parking lot and lucky for me the spot was empty when I arrived.


Inside were four Triumph Tiger 660's all lined up like guards at the gate. The salesman said they just in very recently and the blue ones had just been put out on the showroom floor today after being assembled.


I continue to be drawn to Speedmasters even though I've never ridden one--which I'd love to do. This one had been sold to someone up in Phoenix so is slated to be shipped up to a sister dealership in the next couple of days.


A beautiful 2022 Speed Triple 1200 RS. Of course, I'm especially fond of this model! And this is the first black one I've seen in person. Although enticing, it's not enough to lure me away from my Speedy.


This red Rocket 3 was pretty darned enticing, too. And of course I'd love to test ride one of these babies! It's too bad that Triumph no longer comes around with demo trucks like some of the other brands continue to do.


Before heading over to the Harley dealership I had a bag of fresh popcorn and an energy drink to sustain me for the long ride. Well, not really. It's only 5 miles between dealerships. This popcorn maker really does make delicious popcorn and Bruce, the salesman at AZ-KKT pretty much keeps the thing popping all the time.


It was super quiet at the Harley dealership which meant that there were a few shady motorcycle parking spots available.


Today's goal at this dealership was to find out what the heck is happening with my back-ordered parts for El Gordo, my Fat Boy. The service writer who has been working on my order since back in January has moved on to a bigger and better (?) job (insurance sales, I hear) so I'm now connected with a young guy who seems knowledgeable plus his follow-though is good. But the news on my parts was not good. I have three parts I'm waiting on and the earliest one shows a release date in August and the latest one in.....December. I ordered the parts at the beginning of January! Sigh. I remind myself that this is a "first world problem".

The dealership itself looks good. They've been doing a major facelift--new flooring, repainted walls everywhere, new baseboards, new designs and decor on the walls, less stuff on the showroom floor like tables and display cabinets. It looks updated and more modern. It did need it. Now if they'd just fix the sink in the women's bathroom. They did keep the lounge area but with less "stuff". No shelving along the walls for print materials and flyers, less furniture. But they did keep the old pool table. I think that's designed to entertain family members who find motorcycles less than mesmerizing. I can't imagine playing pool in a motorcycle dealership, for pete's sake! Too many bikes and parts and so much gear to ogle.


I've pulled out my mesh jackets for the summer season and tucked most of the others away for the next four or five months. I've also pulled out my cooling vest and will start using that on longer rides and trips. This is the Spidi mesh jacket I wear on my Triumph during our hot months. I think it matches my Speed Triple pretty well. And recently I ran across the Triumph patch you see here--forgot I'd bought it. I had it sewn on my jacket just last week.

 

Another awesome day out for you @Sandi T . I’m not really jealous about your weather, especially after spending a very wet week in Scotland. lol

 

@Sandi T: Thanks for the great report and the terrific pictures. The jacket looks cool!

 

I have used the Fahrenheit scale for most of my life but it’s strange how you so quickly become used to Centigrade or is it Celsius that F numbers cease to have any meaning. So much so that I had to remove my wrist watch and look at the comparison scale engraved on the back.

 

That bike is sublime

 

Excellent and very envious

 

It's not cheap as they keep the numbers down, but it's with a good bunch and it's very relaxed atmosphere off track and on, with only 40ish bikes and an open pitlane for 4 days.
It was my first trackday back in 2019....
Hoping the next one will be October, but there was only 30 bikes this time (a lot dropped out last minute), so may not happen unless we can get the numbers up....
But they're definitely doing one next May still.

 

Thanks, that's the race version with the toned down tank paint.
This is the other version of the tank.

 

My mate does quite a few trackdays with a group, Silverstone, Cartagena etc. and they usually had a great time although the last one didn't end well. The resort (near Portimao) has a reputation for attacking English. There were four of them and afterwards on reflection they all agreed they'd been targeted and not one of them said they'd managed to get a punch in.

 

X4 lads together remaining out of an x18 group, others gone to next bar. Biggest taken out first.
Pics edited close in for privacy.

 

Ouch!
Never saw any problems when we were there but we were staying in nearby Galua rather than Cartagena itself.

 

I love that!!!

 

@Sandi T I am yet another suffering from weather jealousy (pretty much permanently) . I am a creature who craves the heat and sunshine!!!

Hopefully all of the parts you're waiting for will turn up sooner than expected .

 

The incident was near the Portimao circuit, Portugal.

Worth a trawl on the web and a bit of research if you fancy that circuit as this wasn't an isolated incident.

 

I misled by mentioning Cartagena in my reply; the situation I mentioned was near Portimao as my later posts and edits have now hopefully clarified

 

Portimao sounds like one to avoid then...

 

So @Sandi T, I think we may need to open a sweepstake on whether your next bike is a Speedmaster or a Rocket 3

 

Spring is not really getting off the ground for us. This week we have already broken all temperature records for the month of May with +30 degrees Celsius since the start of weather data recording, but the early temperatures are still at times around 5-7 degrees Celsius. Therefore, I ride in the onion-skin look on the Bonnie to the office, because on the return trip then with about 27-30 degrees are present.

 

Been to Portimao a few times and have never seen any problems. I don’t understand this behaviour, is it born out of jealousy by the locals?