Triumphrat

Like so many others on the internet, I have an indescribably silly notion that complete strangers could be vaguely interested in the ramblings of some bod with an interest similar to theirs. Of course this could all horribly backfire and I will have Hello magazine at the door tomorrow morning papping away as I open the door in my underwear looking like the cat slept on my face. Which it probably did.

Unlikely though. The paparazzi, not the cat.

I have been mostly not riding a Suzuki SV 650S for the last three years. Well you could hardly call 2804 miles from new actually being a biker can you? "We'eell," I mutter to myself, "the last three were bad summers, y'know, terrible weather here in old Blighty, don't want to get the bike too wet it being a Suzuki and all. Oh and no wet weather gear to speak of really and having to get the bike out of the garage all the time and off the stand, well, just no time see?"

"All utter bollocks" (Ooh, am I allowed to type that? Sorry mods if not!) I hear my inner bulls**t detector cry. They carry on; "You are just a complete chicken when it comes to riding that bike. It is way more talented than you are and you know it!"

Have to say I agree. With myself. I know. Weird, but what you gonna do.

Luckily I am not burdened by too large an ego when it comes to motorcycling - I would be dead if I had been - so seriously questioning what bike I could get to replace the SV was the next step in my cunning plan. It was so cunning that up until this point I didn't realise it was a plan.

Before passing the test I had longed after a Speed Triple, all brute strength and happy wheelieness. However the other half (a real spouse, not my imaginary friend) did in fact veto this. In beautiful peachy pink hindsight, a good idea, at the time, much stamping of foot and scweeming and scweeming until I was sick. Still didn't get it though...

However the point of this was the Triumph itch was still needing to be taken out with a rasp. The other half (further referred to as the OH) then suggested the Bonneville as a possible replacement for the SV. As they know me quite well (should bloody hope so after more than 20 years!) they know my penchant for British 'stuff', for retro looking things and for 'going my own way' (prize to who can guess whose advertising tag line that is!).

So with a light heart, off we skipped to a Triumph dealer...which I will tell you about next time.

Toodle- pip.

Ace-T