2013 Triumph Scrambler Ride Experience

Like a Swiss watch, the Triumph Scrambler both visually and mechanically offers a very unique personality of its own. Maybe it’s the high mounted pipes that immediately grab your attention or the superb mechanical intricacies produced by the drivetrain, this bike blends retro heritage with modern day usability.

Unlike the standard Bonneville, the Scrambler has a 19/17” wheel combination and increased seat height to take advantage of the larger wheels. The handlebar is wider and more conservative in shape for increased leverage to the 19” front wheel.  As you would imagine, the knobby Trailwings handle rougher roads and surfaces with ease, pot holes and curbs are an afterthought. Some may complain about the slight hum produced by the tires but I found that it simply added character to the experience this bike presents. The brakes have adequate initial bite but are not quite as responsive as you will find on the standard Bonnie’s 17’s.

The engine and transmission both truly offer a sense of mechanical harmony. I couldn’t help but appreciate the superb feeling of the very intricate clicks of the gear changes, one who appreciates mechanical unison will enjoy this bike as it offers plenty of it in that department. The engine hums along with little to no vibrations at all rpm’s and is most happy to make its power between 3-5K rpm. I did not find any reason to go beyond that and low end torque is there when you venture onto the trails.

The sound of the twin pipes are surprisingly quieter than I had imagined, but offer a different tone than you will find on the standard Bonneville due to a revised crank and firing method to produce it. Many folks often wonder, and for good reason too, if the pipes on the Scrambler get hot on your pant leg. I did not find this to be the case as the heat shields did their job and my pant leg came away unscathed with zero heat markings.

Like the Bonnie, the Scrambler is easy to ride but offers a unique experience of its own that separates it into its own unique class. The tank pads are a nice addition that not only protect the paint but also offer some grip for when you’re navigating the bike in tight locations, such on a trail. The clutch is smooth to operate and the seat offers plenty of extra room to carry a passenger.

If you enjoy a sense of retro nostalgia and want to combine trail usability into the mix, the Scrambler is worth the test ride.

New Friends in Newcastle

During this journey here in the UK I knew I wanted to visit at least one Triumph dealership and thanks to Bruce Scholten, I got to visit a great one in Newcastle. It was a great looking shop, and had some great bikes!  The best part being that most of the 2014 models that we won't receive until October have already been released here in Britain.

Additionally I got to see the Tiger Sport, a 1050cc powered update version of the current Tiger 1050 in the states.  Speed Triple engine, single sided swing arm and new body work were all great updates but the best is the new lower and narrower seat.  The new riding position opens this bike up to more than just the 6 for plus crowd for once, but of course there are no plans to import this model to the states at this time. 

And now a little eye candy for everyone

London calling, called, voice mail!

What can I say? Riding in a city like London is an absolute trip. It took me until London to find out that lane splitting aka filtering to the Brits is completely legal here. Not only legal in fact but seems to be encouraged by car drivers almost everywhere. I was amazed when starting to filter through traffic for the first time that the cars on either side of me seemed to part ways to create a perfect lane for me and me alone.

I have never split lanes before as I haven't spent much time riding in California and it isn't legal in Washington (yet). I was a little tentative at first but being stuck in dead stopped traffic 25 miles from where I needed to be in 85+ degree weather really gets ones motivation going. It was a breeze and came in handy so many times during my stay in London. Getting in and out of the city was so much faster by filtering through the city centre traffic but also around break downs and fender benders. 

It worked even better as I made my way to Brighton for a bit of sun, sea and cylinders. Brighton is of course the arguable epicenter for all things Mods vs. Rockers from the 1960s. Though the rivalry carried weight throughout the UK, the biggest or at least most publicized brawls of these two groups happened on many a bank holiday at the south shore resort town of Brighton. A mere 60 miles outisde of London and you're transported to a beach community known for its dance halls and boutique shopping. 

Though the brawling youth have gone, Brighton is still hot place to ride and show of your wheels. Vintage and new scooters as well as every form of motorcycle from dual sport to full custom were present during my visit and parking up on the boardwalk (though illegal) is still the thing to do. I am happy to report that many of the bikes were indeed from Hinckley, carrying the iconic Triumph badge we all love so much. 

Even though I am no longer on the Triumph, having turned it in to the factory on Monday, I will have more to share as I meet more enthusiasts here and experience more great riding roads throughout the UK.   But for now, cheers!

4359 Miles to Seattle

The distance from John o' Groats where my journey north came to a close, and ended a day of the best riding I have experience in my life.  The Scottish Highlands handed me lochs, mountains, moors and rivers leading to the beautiful seaside roads past Inverness.  Little towns centered around their churches and ancient cemeteries and the increasing number of whisky distilleries, I had a permanent grin on my face.

The weather was sunny, and the roads were twisty. The Tiger was the perfect bike for this adventure. It even allowed me to take a dirt road through sheep grazing pasture out to a small loch hidden in the hills. 

As I continued on I found a playmate in a car that was having equal fun in the curves. There seem to be a great number of people in the UK that really know how to enjoy their wonderful roads.  Sadly, even though the ride was amazing, my camera malfunctioned half way through and I was unable to capture the best of what the roads delivered. 

Making the finish at John o' Groats was fantastic!  A real sense of accomplishment and a great photo opportunity  to boot. I met a few other riders there that were just starting their journey in the opposite direction and was able to wish them luck as they congratulated me on making it so quickly. 

The Highlands are seeing a large influx of American and Canadian visitors right now as this is the 200th anniversary off The Clearings. This is a darker time in Scottish history when the rich set a decree to remove the poor from the inner highlands so they might clear the land and make room for grazing pastures. This may have gone over decently well if it was handled by robbing the Highlanders of their belongings and burning them out of the houses. Many attempted to move toward the coast and tried to learn to fish, but many others left Scotland for America and Canada.  Now 200 years later their ancestors are returning to their ancestral homesteads to see first hand what their families were forced to leave behind. 

There is an amazing sense of history everywhere you go in this country, and I have a sense I am really going to enjoy discovering more about it.  Here is today's video http://youtube.com/watch?v=XMV21QJDaf8

Hinckley to Land's End

Well this is all ready to be posted a little later than planned and most of that has been due to lack of wifi access but now, as I sit with this cup of tea watching the rain in Glasgow I have time to post an update from day one of this awesome ride.

First, the bike change! Originally for this trip Triumph staffers asked what type of bike I would like to ride. I didn't hesitate in my reply, "a modern classic!"  The idea being that the current modern classic line contains 2 of my top 5 favorite Triumph models and it would be a great way to incorporate the heritage that the brand has during the ride.  So I was given a choice, Thruxton or Scrambler? I chose the Thruxton. Unfortunately a combination of weather and a rear tire that would need to be changed part way through the trip nixed that in the end, and at this point I'm pretty happy it did as there are a few things that I may not have known/planned for with this trip.

First, Google Maps is a great tool for laying out routes and getting a general idea as to what you will see along the way. However, it does not account for the British people's fondness for many types of round-a-bouts, nor does it accurately calculate "Cornish" miles. My first day should have been about 400 miles in total.  I ended up riding over 650 miles do to Google Maps not explaining that it only counts the 4 large round-a-bouts out of Hinckley, not the other 8 that are in the actual route!  It also needs to learn a great deal about Cornish miles, which seem to be roughly 1.8 actual miles.  A difference that adds up rather quickly.

Secondly, and to the point, I have not ridden this type of mileage per day for this many days in some time and my bum just isn't in shape for it.  The Thruxton would have been fun in the twisties and would be a real head turner through London, but I don't know if my body would have taken it.  Instead I landed on a 2013 Tiger 800 standard that just finished the full 1000 mile break in period!

That's her, and in my favorite color!  Amazingly I've been averaging 59 MPG so far. Not bad for a bike this size and with the power it makes. Kind of makes me wonder how someone could justify buying the Honda NC700X just for fuel economy. I'm sure if I was nice to it I could clear 65 MPG and the Tiger has so much more to offer in terms of performance, handling and adventure. Maybe I should find some trails to explore in Scotland?

Well that's what happened day one, and here is a link to a video recap: http://youtube/qS5ZfspZ8Us

Wishing I had Seattle weather?

Day two is almost done and thankfully the ride is over. Nine hours in the saddle today (6 1/2 of those hours featured a light rain to outright down pour) covering about 600 miles. If anyone needs light weight rain gear, Triumph's two piece set is worth every penny, as are their Goretex gloves and the waterproof Alpinestars Joey shoes.  Glad I brought all the rain gear but 90+ degrees at home and I'm missing it?

I left Parrenporth at 8:00am taking B roads as long as possible since the majority of today's miles will be on the motorway. The area reminds me a lot of the Oregon coast. Sand beaches and rocky cliffs topped with rolling hills covered in tall grasses.

The motorway for the first 3 hours was like driving to Portland from Seattle. Nothing particularly note worthy. Not ugly by any means but no wow factor either to the point where I didn't bother mounting let alone turn on the GoPro to record any of it.  Though looking back I'm sure the constant rain had some effect on my enthusiasm.

That all changed the minute the signs started mentioning "The Lakes." Referring to what has to be one of the most beautiful landscapes you could ever have the fortune to encounter, I immediately pulled to the side of the road, mounted the camera and started filming. Absolutely breath taking and I even had a short break in the incessant rain to enjoy it.  Anyone visiting the UK needs to make time for the Lakes District.

As I neared the end of the lakes I started getting tired until I saw the first sign telling me I was approaching Scotland. It woke me right up. I have dreamed about visiting this place and never imaged that my first glimpse would be on board a motorcycle let alone a Triumph.  Dispuie the cold and rain,this kind of riding reminds me of why I fell in love with motorcycles (and scooters of course) in the first place.   I can't wait to explore more starting tomorrow with the trek to John o' Groats which should provide a nice change of pace in that much of it will be B roads twisting through the highlands. Who knows, maybe I will find some trails and dirt roads to put the Tiger through its paces?  I'll do my best at least to catch a glimpse of Nessy as I ride along the length of Loch Ness.

For now, here is today's video!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsd-GLDfcvE

2013 Triumph Street Triple R Quick Look

2013 Triumph Street Triple R

If you are looking for a bike who’s sole intent is to bring out your inner hooliganism and be exciting in nearly every situation, the newly redesigned Street Triple for 2013 is worth a second look.

Initial Impressions:

Up close, the updated styling blends the previous unmistakable cues of the Street Triple into an updated package that is worthy of the name. Probably the biggest noticeable difference in styling is the low slung exhaust, a new design feature that has not been incorporated before into this model. The intent of GP style exhaust is to lower the center of gravity and allow for even more extreme flickability. The clutch and steering offer a light feeling and like generations past, the clear open view over the twin headlamps provide the same reminiscence of Street Triple tradition.

Performance:

It was immediately apparent that Triumph had done their homework in the fueling department because when I was navigating out of a busy parking lot, I had no problems controlling the bike at slow speeds while applying small throttle inputs. When it comes to power, the proven design of the inline three has never shown so brightly before. Even from low rpm’s, the linear torque curve was apparent and in the low end, predictable power was everywhere. Once in the mid range, the ferocious intake roar combined with the explosive performance is like none other and matches the bike’s character perfectly. You simply cannot get enough of what a gem this engine truly is. I did not encounter any false neutrals and going through each cog provided a positive engagement. The powerful twin caliper Nissin front brakes allow for one or two finger stoppies, yet, offer a smooth transition at the very beginning stage of engagement.

Handling:

Often times, manufactures will get so caught up about the intended purpose or the particular design of a bike that sometimes other aspects will be forgotten. This is not so with 2013 Street Triple. What I noticed and enjoyed the most about the redesign was how well engineered everything felt, there was really not one aspect of the bike that felt to me as though it was lacking. Carving twisties is where the Street Triple really feels most at home but still handles highway blasts at ease albeit the lack of wind protection. One of the other key new features is the increased rake of the steering. This allows for mentally fast turn turn-in and side-to-side transitions. Even over rough surfaces, the bike still remains stable and confident. When laid over, there was a lot of stability with no surprises which always left me with a confident feeling. There was plenty of feedback and the settings seemed to adapt well to most situations. Like previous generations past, the bike provides a very compact feeling under the rider which is one of the unique experiences while aboard a Street. Under hard acceleration the front remained stable and compliant without a notion of getting twitchy.

How Does The Street Triple Make One Feel?:

As soon as you swing your leg over, you may as well hand off your license to the local authorities. It doesn’t matter if it’s Aunt Marie or Tom Cruise, the Street Triple will turn any unsuspecting victim into a hooligan and make you want to do things you never thought before. This is what the Street Triple is all about. Unlike many motorcycles that need to be in a designated environment to really shine for their intended use (ie; sport bikes = race tracks), the Street Triple can be enjoyed in all situations. Whether you’re tooling around town, on the track or carving up your favorite twisties, the Street simply provides the same exciting experience no matter the situation. This is because of its comfortable upright riding position, responsive engine that has character at all rpm’s, compact feeling, light weight and powerful brakes. If you’re looking for one of the most exhilarating experiences that a motorcycle can offer on the street without breaking the bank, look no further.

Likes:

• Meaty powerband & linear torque curve
• Important styling cues of generations past incorporated
• Well engineered all around

Dislikes:

• Some vibes felt through the bar
• Tickets?