Triumphrat

sheepshagger · 02-08-2006, 04:40 PM

Has anybody else noticed how many other bikes people seem to have in addition to the Tiger? Or are these bikes they have owned in the past? It's just that the Stripey one is more than enough bike for me, but I am starting to feel a little bit inadequate as I don't have half a dozen bikes in me garage... :???:

BaldEagle · 02-08-2006, 04:46 PM

I think most are what ave been owned previous. Either that or they get paid far too much money. :evil:

ipg · 02-08-2006, 04:52 PM

You can never own too many bikes. You really require one for every situation, well that's the argument I'm trying to convince the other half with. :-D :-D

Diego · 02-08-2006, 05:35 PM

I'm with you, ipg, one for every situation!

People often ask me why I need three or four bikes (depending on how many I actually have at the time), and they always seem to add: "You can only ride one at a time!" Well, I only wear one pair of underwear at a time, too, so by that reasoning I suppose I shouldn't have a second pair...or more?

But seriously, it's hard to tell sometimes whether people are listing past rides or only current ones. As a rule of thumb, the larger the list, the more likely some of them are historical rather than contemporary.

Mine are all current. I have a sentimental attachment to Bonnevilles, so there has to be one of those. I love the versatility of the Tiger, so there has to be one of those. You just can't find another bike that's more fun for multipurpose riding. (Hey, I could be like the old fellow whose obituary was in <u>Torque</u> a couple of years ago. He died at the age of seventy-something with 13 Hinckley Triumphs, all of them Tigers. I guess he just seriously loved Tigers!)

If I had to trim the stable, I'd have to keep those two.

I used to say any others I owned (and there have been a few) are sorta-optional. Now, however, the Speed Triple is increasingly making itself indispensible in the lineup too. Diego the Tiger is my faithful touring partner, which makes it a permanent family member, no matter what; but the lower, shorter, and lighter S3 becomes an extension of me in the same way my old Bonnevilles did, so it's quickly earning its own special place.

[ This message was edited by: Diego on 2006-02-08 15:49 ]

Sofalofa · 02-08-2006, 05:44 PM

don't worry all you poor people who only have one bike and don't even have a garage... you are not alone!

tcowjww · 02-08-2006, 06:56 PM

I'm with Diego on this one!

The GPz500S (EX500 in other markets) was my first bike, and is like an old friend to me. It got knocked over by an insured third party - their insurance paid up and let me buy it back for 100gbp. Well, after shelling out 300gbp on a new exhaust system and applying some fibreglass matting to various plastics, it was as good as new (well, nearly!). It's now my "winter bike" and is still very difficult to get bored of. Admittedly, it's run up to the redline daily, and the front tyre is triangled off (as opposed to squared off, due to naughty roundabout countersteering :hammer: ), but I'm never disappointed to get back on it - a vastly underrated bike.

The GPz1100 was a bike I always wanted to have owned. Handling is a little interesting, but straight-line acceleration is just silly. If anybody would like to make me an offer then please do, otherwise it's going on eBay when the weather gets a little nicer!

The ZZ-R600 (ZX600 in other markets) is as close to a sportsbike as I ever really want to get. It thrives on revs like a sportsbike, but is also surprisingly comfortable over distances as well. I really need to sell it because I ride all year round, and UK salt doesn't really mix with the steel Kawasaki use in their exhaust systems

But every time I take it out for a run, it suddenly becomes difficult to part with, again; it's quite addictive.

But the Tiger... Definitely my *main* bike. It just does it all. Ideally I want to get rid of the GPz1100 and the ZZ-R600. That way I can have the Tiger for 90% of my riding, and the GPz500 for the other 10% when the roads are either icy and I don't fancy the weight of the tiger, or when the roads are so salty that I don't want to risk getting the Tiger dissolved!

whoa · 02-08-2006, 08:59 PM

This has been a tough one for me. The Tiger was a great compromise bike for me. I really wanted the 955, and the Tiger frame is great for all types of riding.

Now that I've got the hots for a Thruxton trying to justify two bikes was tough. I know the Tiger can do all things I want to do, not sure about the Thruxton. Guess I'll find out. If its too bad, I'll go back and find an older Tiger.

Anthouse · 02-08-2006, 10:01 PM

I too feel inadequate compared to some of my riding friends, one who has around 25 motorcycles of all ages starting back about 1916. Riding certain ones is like going back in time. Another friend just refuses to get rid of any that he has ever owned and garages them all. The key word here is garage, meaning space. If I had more space I probably would have more bikes just because you can never have too many.
My 441, which might run with enough voodoo, is strictly nostalgic as I grew up with the same bike. My wife will not let me keep it in the living room even as cute as it is. The sidecar rig is a tipless toy for the winter. The Guzzi is semi retired with 108K. The GPZ I got a deal on and my wife can manage it. I wish I still had some of the bikes I used to own. I would have a stable full if I could afford it.
The Tiger is the alpha and gets a warm winter nest inside the shop while the others hibernate in an unheated shed as none of them are allowed inside the house. To the unafflicted, the TMB syndrome is a mystery. To the afflicted, it gives one a warm glow and a smile...

ChuckofTahoe · 02-08-2006, 11:03 PM

I am planning on adding a second bike maybe as soon as 2007. I plan to look the future Tiger if it come out in time and used models of the current Tiger.

I may also look at the Sprint ST and something like a Yamaha VFR. THough I think these latter two bikes maybe just a bit overkill as far as power and certainly the Yamaha would be a dark horse not being a Triumph.

I plan on keeping one bike in Reno and one bike in Tahoe during the winter. There are a few days that are ridable up in Tahoe. Right now the weather is fantastic and I could be riding every day (aside from a heavy frost in the mornings) but my Bonneville is down in Reno.

twinrider · 02-09-2006, 01:04 AM

I list the ones I own at a given time. Its not to brag, its just on the chance that someone might be curious about one of the others.
I don't know that having multiple bikes is a very smart thing, but it is kind of fun.