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

I commuted on the 'Blade today. Was having a fabulous ride on the way there having got past the little traffic there was on dry roads with sweeping bends. I had checked the forecast for home and work and there was 10% chance of rain during the night tonight, nothing for the day . Then I got to about halfway and a very large hill and noticed that the cars coming towards me were just switching off their wipers. I wasn't too bothered as it's often a bit damp and drizzly at the top of the hill and OK again the other side....however I got to the top of the hill where it was indeed raining, had a good look at the skies in front of me....which looked blacker and blacker the further in the direction of work they were. So the second half of my journey was completed in torrential rain, which stopped pretty much the instant I switched off the engine when I got to work. Nothing I was wearing was waterproof so I was soaked to the skin .

Nice ride back, even if it was in still - damp kit .

I swear the Blade does some sort of rain dance, I have only had the odd completely dry trip on it so far .

 

I can empathise with you. Riding in heavy rain is definitely not good. On the return from a long weekend in Luxembourg it started to rain before we got to the Chunnel and thereafter continued in true biblical fashion all the way home. If it wasn’t for my son riding pillion plying me with that drink that gives you wings I don’t think we would have made it, all in the dark as well. Despite all the proper wet weather kit the rain got everywhere except for my feet. It even stopped the oil temperature gauge working. Daytona boots are absolutely brilliant. So exhausted when we got home that it took me over a half hour to get my kit off.

 

I think you took the „rain running baton“ from me.

 

I did think of you @Markus when it happened .

 

Wow, that ride sounds epic, @Baza! "Epic" as in hellacious, that is. Well, it's definitely one that becomes a yardstick by which to measure other challenging rides and it can be a great story, too. Gotta be some perks to a ride like that.

 

Most definitely. Before the rain dampened our enthusiasm good weather, some challenging roads (but no potholes), superb company, excellent accommodation and food. We overnighted in Brussels on the way there but the return leg was one 400 mile bash, rain and all. As you can see, a goodly while ago.

 

Cleaning them all this morning. I wish the weather would perk up a bit here on the East Coast, its been relatively cool and cloudy here for several days now.

 

Worked out how to set the shift light on my Blade. I have never seen it on - not surprised as it was set towards the top of the redline. I'd be halfway to the moon and well beyond my skill set at that. Maybe one day on a track.....

 

Evotech tail tidy has just arrived for the Street Triple. So that’s to fit when time allows.

 

Not today but last Saturday we rode to a local bike detailer who had organised a suspension set up day with Will from SWB Racing https://swbracing.com/. He had just come back from the TT where he had been working with a couple of riders. Mrs Visor had already had her Street Triple done at his workshop in Ebbw Vale and he had transformed it.

We got there just before 9 and were already 4th in the queue (it opened at 9). His general method of working is to establish how long you've had the bike, how many miles you've done on it in that time, take the piss (tyres, mileage, cleanliness etc) but in a very friendly way, find out what you have noticed about its handling (maybe nothing), check everything over (sag, damping, preload etc) showing you why you are feeling what you said you are feeling, set everything up correctly whilst explaining what he's doing and why, make sure it's balanced then send you for a 20 minute or so ride to check. When you return he'll speak to you about what differences you felt, were the changes for the better, anything you need to change (the gift of the man is generally you don't) then pay your £60 when satisfied.

In my case I had taken the Tuono Factory which has fully adjustable Ohlins suspension. Mrs Visor had noticed while out for our Devon trip that the front dived on any front braking (I generally use engine braking but motorways required a bit more due to erratic car drivers over the Bank Holiday) and I felt the back end was a bit of a harsh ride. He looked it all over and showed just how slow the rebound was which was causing that harshness and adjusted the front forks. Once he had made all the adjustments it was off for my ride.

Wow, what a difference. The ride was a revelation, exactly as the Tuono should be set up to make it the hooligan it really is.

All I can say is that if you want to spend any money on your bike you will not spend a better £60 than getting a professional suspension set up done and from my point of view if you are within 150 miles of South Wales then Will is your man

 

I took the NS400 out to our local biker watering hole yesterday, a round trip of around 50 miles depending on which route I take, The bike performed faultlessly on the run itself. Its great fun to ride the old stroker. After a 20 minute stop for a sausage roll and a cuppa, she wouldn't start. Of course its kick start only and after a minute or so kicking away with helmet and jacket on I'd built up quite a sweat. Other guys generously offer to push, but frankly there's nowhere to get hold of the bike at the rear without doing possible damage to the under seat plastics so I left it another 5 minutes and tried again and off she went. The side stand is quite short and so the bike leans over at quite an angle when parked up. I think the LH carb had flooded, as when the bike did start it was on 2 cylinders for about 20 seconds or so before the 3rd cylinder chimed in. I must remember to switch off the fuel tap, even for a short stop. Great weather for biking though, I'm going to get out as much as possible whilst this warm dry spell holds out. Sorry I forgot to take any pictures.

 

Crankshaft seals?

 

No, they are virtually brand new, renewed less than 500 miles ago.

 

On Sunday we went down to the Ace for breakfast. It was Triumph Day and on display was a new model Street Triple RS and the electric effort.

I quizzed the dealers who brought the bikes about the heated grips on the RS as I liked the controls which are part of the left hand grip. I said that the only thing stopping me put the heated grips on my 21 Striple was the fugly control switch. They insisted I was mistaking an aftermarket product for the OE part.

Absolute sphericals, see part numbers A9638191 for my machine and A9638341 for the new models. The new model part is almost identical to the Ultimateaddons heated grips from the Sports Bike Shop at almost half the price of the OE ones.

 

Koso Apollo do heated grips with an integrated switch in the left hand grip. Big improvement over the separate control panel on the Oxford grips

 

I've got a 2020 RS with the integrated control button, not sure why they're showing the old type switch for a 2021, maybe an incorrect listing?
My 2018 Tiger has the integrated version as well....

 

Many thanks. They look almost identical to the Ultimateaddons one, and priced within a quid. My only concern is whether they are suitable for ride by wire throttles.

 

Most interesting. Many thanks.

 

Today is my birthday. I started work but then asked for leave from 1300hrs as it was just too tempting to get out on the bike in this weather .

It was the Blade’s turn and we had a lovely afternoon out; I went cake hunting and was duly rewarded by a lovely homemade slice. I had to double back on my route after about another 10 miles as the road was shut with Police directing people to turn around - so executed a pretty sketchy u - turn on a steep hill on a bend which I didn’t much enjoy, but stayed upright at least, the turning circle of the Honda did mean it took the whole road width but thank goodness I got it round cleanly.

The doubling back didn’t matter one little bit obviously as the weather is so lovely and I just took another equally fun road instead for another quick stop for a can of pop and then home. All in all a lovely afternoon .