Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

At least there was another bike to keep you company!

 

An ER-6

 

London A40 traffic light controlled x-road junction, wet roads heavy but moving traffic - Speed Triple R 2016

Almost drove into a jogger this morning, light had changed to green, lane two had a car at the lights waiting due to cars blocking the junction exit on the other side. I was approaching the junction in lane one which was completely clear.

As the light had been green for a while and I drew level with the car (20mph max) I see a jogger running across...bloody hell, I threw out the anchors, blasted the horn and held on for the inevitable crunch!

The road was wet and manhole covers all over the road plus white lines. I thought I was gonna plough right into her. But, new Brembo brake pads nicely worn in, Michelin RoadPilot 4 and ABS with the bike in Rain mode. The bike stopped almost on the spot and my worry was the bike behind going into me. Friggin fantastic these brakes, tyres and the bike.
Jogger (ear phones still in) waved her apology several times and I was left shaking my head, she knew she was in the wrong

Just wish my camera (Drift Ghost 4K) hadn't shut itself off 10 min after I started it, this has happened several times so have asked Amazon for a replacement.

 

Just the one chip with that burger the Crispey

 

Unpleasant ride in the dark, wind and rain along the A34 and A303. Not the highlight of biking!

 

Egg and bacon butty actually! No chips mrs C has put me on a diet!

 

I hate those conditions, so much so that yesterday I contacted Vac Bag Products and ordered replacement Dri-sorb bags ( they come in packs of 3 ) ready to bag up my Bonneville at the end of this month.
We've had a good year on it this year visiting various English Heritage sites and a holiday in Northern Spain as well.
Can't enthuse about riding in the cold, wind or rain though so it's bag up and SORN time again, unfortunately.

Curly

 

Refitted my wheels yesterday to my BPOS
Will hopefully find a day with decentish weather and get out for the day
Hopefully 200-300mls and see if new rubber improves the handling

 

It won't!!

 

Yeah you're probably right

 

I only use the Bonneville when it's dry(ish), although I did use it a lot last winter. It's surprising how many sunny days you still get, even if it's on the chilly side - more layers required but still fun! The Tiger will continue to be ridden unless it's a monsoon or snowing - will be digging out the heated vest and inner gloves though, best investment yet.

 

What will I be doing? Probably loomies around 2:30-3 on my way home!

 

Not after sports bike handling
But need more grip and confidence in my BPOS
Have had this bike for about a year and a half now and I'm not impressed with the handling at all
Love the engine and gearbox
Love the riding position
Love the looks
Love the tank range
Love just about everything about it
But it's handling is IMHO Quite shocking borderline dangerous in fact
In the time I've owned it I've had the front wheel let go twice and the back wheel about seven times Bloody scarey it is
If this new rubber doesn't make a marked improvement then it's going the bloody journey

 

Hi DGF, reading your handling issues and experience with the current bike I would say that almost certainly that is down to the tyres.

Changing for different rubber will make a big difference. When I had my Bonny (for 5 years and about 25,000mls) I ran the Avons AM 26 Roadrunners - never had any slippy-slidey issues at all.

 

I hope your right biglad because I do like the bike and would like to stick with it until I can get my arse on one of them new Speedmasters
Probably a year after they're out and someone trades one in

 

Well I'm sticking to my diet

 

Had the whole front end of my bike off checked/greased and set up....happy that everything is as it should be
Too much rake?
Crappy tyres?
We'll see what the new tyres are like and hope this inspires more confidence

 

MCN says this
The Triumph Speedmaster has a decent chassis, with beefy 41mm forks and a twin shock back end, plus substantial cradle frame. It's a heavy bike at 229kgs dry, but it carries the weight lowdown and most riders will admire the way the Triumph Speedmaster handles.

So it seems that what every it is, it can be fixed, Its not inherent.