Triumph Day 2012, Johannesburg

[DaveB]

Did any of the South African RATs see the televesion report of Triumph Day on The Bike Show, Ignition TV (channel 265), this past weekend along with riding impressions of the Rocket III Roadster? It was refreshing to see coverage on local TV of the event.

It even contained an extensive TV interview with our very own Silli. Presenter: Why do you ride Triumph? Silli: Because of the heritage- this interview segment lasted about 1.5 seconds !

 

[CarlS]

Silli, the celebrity!

 

[DaveB]

Well I was standing next to him and he got 1.5 seconds more TV exposure than I got .

I don't wish to be critical, but I truly think that, for effect, he should have perhaps replied "Because I race them!"

 

[CarlS]

 

[DaveM]

Nope missed it

 

[Doug]

Camera picked up my bikes and quite a few of the usual suspects from TT

 

[Silli]

Gee. That's two TV appearances - and I missed them both. Oh... the price of fame.........

 

[otherwise]

I can see it now, Silli walking about from now on with a printed tee-shirt saying "As seen on TV"

 

[DaveM]

 

[avion]

Hey Silli - start your own reality show. lol

...

 

[DaveM]

Yeah we could call it being Silli at the track

 

[CarlS]

 

[DaveB]

The May issue of Bike SA has a few miserably small photos of the event.

Along with some typically worthless text: It makes reference to the 'Paul Smart' Bonneville- it should read Steve McQueen Bonneville.

 

[DaveM]

Yeah well I stopped getting the ad mag years ago

 

[otherwise]

The May issue of Bike SA has a few miserably small photos of the event.

Along with some typically worthless text: It makes reference to the 'Paul Smart' Bonneville- it should read Steve McQueen Bonneville.

That's inexcusable.

 

[Silli]

Well said DaveM. I think I have bought 3 in my whole life. It's rubbish!

 

[DaveB]

That's inexcusable.

Yeah, well the editor is a right nana (in polite conversation I use a much stronger word to describe him). He doesn't exactly care about facts too much IMO. I wrote a letter to a local general newspaper, complaining about a Cannonball Run he did and the boasting of his illegal riding & speeding in his mag. That was back in the Eighties.

And they published it !

 

[DaveM]

Ah so that was you

 

[Rbeans]

Last year I had a short test ride on the Tiger 800XC & I liked it a lot. Last Saturday I had the chance of a longer ride on a different 800XC. I didn't like the riding position- I found the bars high & wide and quite a stretch. At speed the screen gave excessive turbulence and it seems to be just too far in front of the rider. Also, the handguards are small and don't protect against wind & rain. The 21" front wheel makes it feel all gangly on slow turns. I don't think the front brake has enough bite or power. I can't imagine any set of circumstances on an asphalt road where I'd prefer it to my Tiger 1050.

I've had my Tiger 800XC for a bit now and I absolutely love it. I completely agree with you on the windscreen, I got rid of it right away and replaced it with a Givi touring screen and now it is perfect. The handguards are small and tilted a bit down so don't protect against wind and rain but I would imagine their purpose is more to protect levers against damage during falls than your hands from the elements as with a dirtbike. Larger handguards are something I am considering for the future. I am also considering getting some risers for the bars, my arms aren't that long and I find the reach to the bars is a bit more than I would like. The riding position took a bit to get used to as I feel it is a bit sport-bike like, more perched atop it than 'in' in but I'm used to it now and don't mind it at all. My biggest complaint for the moment is the handlebar position but other than that I adore this bike! To each their own though, I've never ridden the 1050 but wouldn't mind giving it a try for sure.

 

[DaveM]

I think no matter how good a bike is you will always have those small teaks that you need doing just to fit your own needs, it does seem that this one is a winner for Triumph once again.