Monday 12 May 2014

So I finally took the plunge .......



Saturday morning dawned wet and windy, which was a shame as I was collecting the new bike and hoped to get some miles on it. Then the realisation set in that I no longer had shiny aluminium and chrome to worry about cleaning, so it was off to my local Triumph dealer, Jack Lilley, to collect it. The salesman Geoff was apologetic that even though it was an SE version, the special equipment hadn’t actually arrived from Triumph, so the bike was minus the top box and heated grips although the tall screen was in place.

Don’t worry about that said I, I just want to ride the thing. Of course, the minute I set off the heavens opened but I carried on regardless with a mile-wide grin, a bit cautiously I admit as I remembered a story about new tyres and wet roads not mixing very well. I eventually had to stop when the puddles in the Surrey lanes grew to the size of lakes, fortuitously adjacent to a rest area complete with burger van. One large cuppa and a veggie burger later, the rain had stopped enough for me to carry on. I got home about an hour later, impressed that my seven-year old Revit jacket had not leaked, and that the new bike was filthy and covered in mud.


Old habits die hard though, so I could not resist giving the bike a quick wash down before putting it away in the garage. Sunday was equally crappy weather, but I still managed a gentle ride around for a couple of hours, explaining to LF that I had to run the engine in on the first weekend, as we intend to be riding to Holland next week. Hopefully.  Anyway, I was feeling so rebellious when I got home that the bike got put away dirty, now that’s a first for me. All-in-all an enjoyable weekend; first impressions are how nice to ride a bike where everything just works – no more looking around to see what just fell off!


Oh and just as a postscript – Geoff the salesman tells me that my old Thunderbird was a star of the small screen, having appeared in episodes of ‘Miss Marples’, or some such crap series. Still didn’t increase it’s trade-in value though!

9 comments:

  1. El D:

    congrats on your new XC SE. I'm surprised that the dealer didn't have these parts "on the shelf". I like those red accents. Doesn't it feel good to know that all the parts are "new" ?

    Is there a Balloon tire option ? Then you could ride over here . . .

    bob
    A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Bob, feels so good for everything to work smoothly; now I'm just looking forward to getting some miles on it and enjoying my riding again.

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  2. Very nice El D, but on the first piccy I see that an apple has fallen off?

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    1. Nikos:

      what sharp eyes you have. I hope it doesn't seriously affect the balance

      bob
      A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast

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  3. Excellent leap - I remember that new bike feel =) (Mine -Aged 5 summers and still nothing has totally fallen off, not before it was caught that is ... but everything feels a little looser today.)

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    1. Vstar lady, just recently I've realised my motorbike life has been about how the bike looks, now I want it to be about the journies.

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  4. Congrats to the new bike. Seems it is a way better fit for your size. Looking forward to some road reports from the Netherlands and beyond (Some people in the Black Forest would have a guest room waiting for you).

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  5. Awesome - congratulations on the new ride.

    How great that the Tiger was a good fit. Sure looks pretty too.

    And good on ya for putting it away a little dirty. Watch out, that becomes a habit. Ask me how I know.

    I hope you have many happy miles of riding with no aches and pains from riding position..

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  6. Very nice, I see you stepped up to the SE eh? I love that black cherry paint, preeeeetty. Enjoy.
    Tigers prefer to be washed in the rain than with a hose.

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