Last night Chris and I went to Lincoln for the launch of the Speed Twin, the event was very well attended.
Well the guy gave us a lot a facts and figures about the 3 bikes that were on show last night, and from a distance all the bikes looked really nice, that was until you got near them and then sat on the bikes. 1st stop the scrambler ( Which in my opinion is light years ahead of that thing that Ducati have brought out )
Triumph have upped even more the quality of their bikes coming out the factory, the fit and finish and the quality of the paint on the tank, and the frame is up there with the best of them, I would go as far as to say, "Honda you've just met your match". I can't over emphasise just how good these bikes are, and that's before I've had a chance to ride them. The switch gear on the bars are a major plus factor, they not only look great, they're robust in their operation too, and feels just right. The clutch, which is cable operated feels more like a hydraulic system when you pull the leaver in.
But, and this is a big but, the moment that you sit on these bikes, especially the scrambler, it's unbelievable to think that you're sitting on a twin cylinder motorbike.
How on earth Triumph have made this feel as light as a single, is anybody'd guess, it really hits you the moment that you lift it off the side stand. Talking to one guy in the shop who's ridden it, he was saying that it's an absolutely brilliant bike to ride, in part to just how light it is. Another observation is the badges on the tank, now with regards to the new T120 I think that the tank badges are too small, I like to see a nice chrome badge on the Triumph's tank, however on this, and variants of the base theme, I don't think it would work. The transfers look right and don't look silly or cheep, and to be truthful NOTHING on these bikes looks remotely cheep, and I think that a hell of a lot of thought has clearly gone into these bikes. One such function is the passing switch on the left handlebar switch cluster, it's still a passing light switch as such, but its main function is high and low beam, when you press the switch it goes to main beam and stays there until you switch it back. They've located it where the passing light switch normal is, to facilitate the extra functions need in the left switch gear cluster
The catalytic converter is under the engine near the front, and doesn't look out of place, and it in no way spoils the overall look of the bike, ( mainly because unless you know it's there you can't see it ) also when you take the seat off, which is key operated, it reveals a tidy area under the seat, to which you can charge your electrical goodies via the USB thing. The finish on the standard model exhausts are really top quality too. The single clock also has been well thought out with all the information that your going to need on the road. Some have said it should have a rev counter, I'm not so sure that this bike needs it, the way that everything just fits into place looks and feels just right to me. So who do I think that this bike is aimed at, well anybody who wants a great fun bike that they can have a leisurely ride out on, as well as going backwards and forwards to work on, and that they've no plans to go round the world on, this would be a perfect 2nd bike that all of us here would have a great time on. Would I buy one ?, based on what I saw last night, Yes with out a shadow of doubt. One last thought, if these bikes which are from the new Bonneville family, and could be coincided as the baby of the family are this good, then what on earth are the new T120's and the Thruxtons going to look like. Triumph have smashed the hell out of the nail on the head with these bikes. If your in the market for one of these, then I think that it would be great bike to own, and I doubt that you'd be disappointed.
Well that's War and Peace over with, time to look at the bikes, there are 3 links to the fair quality videos of the bike being fired up too.
The Scrambler is fitted with LED indicators and rear light. All these you can buy as part of the kit.
A link to the scrambler being fired up.
MAQ03494.MP4
Well the guy gave us a lot a facts and figures about the 3 bikes that were on show last night, and from a distance all the bikes looked really nice, that was until you got near them and then sat on the bikes. 1st stop the scrambler ( Which in my opinion is light years ahead of that thing that Ducati have brought out )
Triumph have upped even more the quality of their bikes coming out the factory, the fit and finish and the quality of the paint on the tank, and the frame is up there with the best of them, I would go as far as to say, "Honda you've just met your match". I can't over emphasise just how good these bikes are, and that's before I've had a chance to ride them. The switch gear on the bars are a major plus factor, they not only look great, they're robust in their operation too, and feels just right. The clutch, which is cable operated feels more like a hydraulic system when you pull the leaver in.
But, and this is a big but, the moment that you sit on these bikes, especially the scrambler, it's unbelievable to think that you're sitting on a twin cylinder motorbike.
How on earth Triumph have made this feel as light as a single, is anybody'd guess, it really hits you the moment that you lift it off the side stand. Talking to one guy in the shop who's ridden it, he was saying that it's an absolutely brilliant bike to ride, in part to just how light it is. Another observation is the badges on the tank, now with regards to the new T120 I think that the tank badges are too small, I like to see a nice chrome badge on the Triumph's tank, however on this, and variants of the base theme, I don't think it would work. The transfers look right and don't look silly or cheep, and to be truthful NOTHING on these bikes looks remotely cheep, and I think that a hell of a lot of thought has clearly gone into these bikes. One such function is the passing switch on the left handlebar switch cluster, it's still a passing light switch as such, but its main function is high and low beam, when you press the switch it goes to main beam and stays there until you switch it back. They've located it where the passing light switch normal is, to facilitate the extra functions need in the left switch gear cluster
The catalytic converter is under the engine near the front, and doesn't look out of place, and it in no way spoils the overall look of the bike, ( mainly because unless you know it's there you can't see it ) also when you take the seat off, which is key operated, it reveals a tidy area under the seat, to which you can charge your electrical goodies via the USB thing. The finish on the standard model exhausts are really top quality too. The single clock also has been well thought out with all the information that your going to need on the road. Some have said it should have a rev counter, I'm not so sure that this bike needs it, the way that everything just fits into place looks and feels just right to me. So who do I think that this bike is aimed at, well anybody who wants a great fun bike that they can have a leisurely ride out on, as well as going backwards and forwards to work on, and that they've no plans to go round the world on, this would be a perfect 2nd bike that all of us here would have a great time on. Would I buy one ?, based on what I saw last night, Yes with out a shadow of doubt. One last thought, if these bikes which are from the new Bonneville family, and could be coincided as the baby of the family are this good, then what on earth are the new T120's and the Thruxtons going to look like. Triumph have smashed the hell out of the nail on the head with these bikes. If your in the market for one of these, then I think that it would be great bike to own, and I doubt that you'd be disappointed.
Well that's War and Peace over with, time to look at the bikes, there are 3 links to the fair quality videos of the bike being fired up too.
A link to the scrambler being fired up.
MAQ03494.MP4
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who am I kidding )
