So, bored with not being able to make my mind up what I want and when I want it I thought it was time to take a bike out for a test ride.
I nipped into Kawasaki Birmingham to book the bike in for a service. Triumph is next door so I went into there and asked about this bike. It's 2015, 3 months left on the warranty, just 1000 miles on the clock and priced at £7,000.
I've not ridden one so they agreed to let me take it out.
The bike is small, really small. And it's very very light. The seat is the right height for me and it seems to be comfortable enough.
This is an old school bike, with no gimmicks or tricks, just abs and a quickshifter.
Fire it up and there's that well known Trumpet Triple Tenor. Nice noise, I'v missed that.
It pulls away sweetly and the triple torque means it pulls well and cleanly. The engine spins up and the dash lights up when it's time to change gear.
Steering is light but solid, loads of feedback without overloading you with information. I will always sing Triumphs praises for the way they get their bikes to handle.
Off through some traffic which it eats up with easy. I'm still getting used to the quickshifter which I don't always use.
Out onto the open roads and this thing sings. It's probably the least powerful bike I've ridden in over 10 years but that only shows up at the top end. That said, as it's naked you notice the speed more and you don't feel compelled to try and break the land speed record.
The small size, sorted chassis, quality suspension and the right tyres all make you feel like this bike will do what you want. It's something to chuck about at will. It gobbles up corners and doesn't think twice about changing your direction.
Triumph appear to have taken a leaf out of Kawasaki's books and worked on aural engineering. The induction is addictive, it really does howl. Great sound. Add to that the burble you get on the run off and it's easy to see why triples have a dedicated fanbase.
I was out for an hour. The bike was easy to use on all sorts of roads and in a variety of traffic.
This bike is a great little weekend tool sure to put a smile on your face.
