Triumphrat

cookies · 07-22-2005

Time for reflection.

I had given the initial purchase lots of thought back in bleak and wet January before putting down the deposit and looking at a six month wait for the Rocket....... (and by the way having to pay nearly double the price our American brothers pay for the same privilege!!!)

Rode a Harley Fat Boy in Thailand, and had hired a Heritage Classic in the States for a while, so I had some idea of the nature of the beast. These seemed agricultural to me when faced with the tight Irish twists and bends of our roads here.

I have owned lots of bikes in the past.
I spent a weekend with brother-in-laws Honda VFR 800 and 999 Ducati. Great bikes, but boy am I too old to do continuous push-ups on a bike, whilst bent over to the maximum and knees crying for a stretch, whilst being kicked up the arse and in the bollocks for hours at a time, however much fun they are to ride.

The big Beemer or a Pan European (oh yes, and a very close call with a Hayabusa in a showroom) were the only real alternatives for me. They are great bikes, but I am not impressed with being "smooth", having heated grips or an MP3 player or cuddly toy. I have a decent car for when it is lashing it down!!

Thank god for Triumph! It is absolutely the right choice. I have something that makes me smile. It’s something with "soul", something "special". It’s a "keeper".

I have had so much sheer fun on it. So has my family.
It is a fantastic rush. Riding the rocket is just continual fun and joy.
There is something special about it. I have had people stop and get out of their car at red traffic lights to come and look at it. Even truck drivers stick their thumbs up when they pull up along side the bike. It causes crowds to flock in town. People rubberneck as I drive up the road. I had to lift kids on to it for a sit-on for ages at my daughter's school. It is as good to drive as it looks. It handles well; it is a blast in a straight line. It really earns the respect it needs to be ridden properly.

This is my first Triumph. I am glad I have joined the family!