Motorcycles - More Recent
Some years later after a change of job, I was sat in a particularly bad traffic jam when a motorbike passed me.
In what seemed like a blinding flash I suddenly realised that a motorbike would make far more sense than a car. Having been on bikes in my teens and being too idle to take my test, I set about taking my test locally. The training leading upto my test was nothing if not thorough and totally enjoyable. It was obvious to me then that not only were the instructors enthusiasts but so were the pupils. Once the test was in the bag I wasted no time in buying my first 'real' bike, a Suzuki GS500e.
Right is a photo of the "new" bike. This was magic! What a difference from all those years ago. This bike had real acceleration and the real bonus was it also had brakes and lights that worked! Well I was well and truly hooked now and enjoying every minute of it. Any excuse for a trip out on the bike and I haven't looked back since. Rain or shine I'm on the motorbike. It's got so bad that I hate driving the car now. The GS500e is probably an ideal machine for commuting. It is light, can easily negotiate the traffic and is cheap to insure and run. Mine would return 60mpg consistently. The only drawback with the GS was lack of power when riding two up. So time to move up.
It's strange how things change with time. When I was in my teens, a 500cc bike was a big machine. Today though, a '500' is probably the smaller end of the motorcycle average. If you park a '500' alongside an average motorcycle (if such a thing exists), the '500' really does look small.
Honda Transalp.
I bought this bike in May 2001 and it was the first new vehicle purchase I have ever made. It's a very underrated bike not seen that often in the UK but very popular in the rest of Europe. This particular bike was a parallel import from Holland.The only modifications I found absolutely essential were the official Honda centrestand. £135 for the privilege of something that should have been fitted as standard, and an overlay / replacement speedo facia to convert from km/h to mph. The bike was used every day to commute to work and in addition, weather permitting, was often used for day trips and tours etc,including a day trip to France in Oct 2001 to visit Le Mont St Michel. The Transalp was the smallest of the bikes, on this tour and on the autoroutes with two up, did struggle to keep up.
The Transalp was first introduced in 1987 and was updated in 2000 and subsequently. Although very different from its original form, it nevertheless still retains that distinctive Transalp look. Looking back at that bike now, it is very apparent to me that it is / was very much a 'Marmite' bike.
Well, here she is, or rather was, the Tiger 900. This bike seemed to be a logical step on from the Honda Transalp. This time I didn't buy new, this bike being just a year old with 3500 miles on the clock. Barely run in! The Tiger is no light weight at around 215 kg (dry) but to compensate does have a wonderfully smooth and torquey 885cc in line triple engine. This was the first bike I have owned that had a fuel injected engine, and I have to say that I was well impressed. I liked the styling of the Tiger which won't be to everyones taste.
Unfortunately the Tiger and I came a cropper on some oil one Christmas eve. I didn't come out of it too well but the Tiger came off the worst - It was written off. I was gutted, I loved that bike.
Tiger 955i:
Once over the trauma, i was determined to get back on 2 wheels and not only that but to do it on another Tiger.
Despite all the suggestions to get some sensible transport with 4 wheels, I really missed being on two wheels, and I especially missed my Tiger. The solution was obvious, so enter Tigger number two, but this time a 2002 955i. What a stonking bike! I thought the 885i engine was good, but the 955i is a real peach. With increased power, its super torquey engine is a real pleasure. It just wants to go and the Triumph race can really makes the Tiger sound as it should without being too loud.
All I have to do now is ride it and enjoy it and we certainly did that.
25000 miles further on we've done Germany and France and the only hint of a problem was the odd occasion in slow traffic of overheating and blowing a bit of coolant out of the header tank. Looked like Tiger piss to me! This was cured with a new radiator cap.
A stonking bike which I loved riding but Triumph put the cat amongst the pigeons by releasing the new Tiger 1050. Well it would be rude not to take a test ride!
Tiger 1050:
Well this Tiger was completely different a more road focussed touring bike for sure and with the same (although larger) full of character triple engine. We did well touring in France, Wales etc, but the pillion position was a bit lofty and exposed. However, after 3 years I found the rear brake was prone to seizure and corrosion and I really found those projector headlamps useless. Then Triumph released the new Tiger 800!!
Tiger 800:
Triumph went back to what I considered to be proper 'Tiger' styling for the 800 and made what I still regard a good looking bike. This was a nice 'riders' bike with a bit less oomph than than the 1050 but no worse a bike for that. In addition it was lighter than the 1050 and that was a welcome bonus. There has to be a 'but' though, doesn't there? For me and my wife it was a little cramped for for two up touring with panniers, top box etc. The bike could cope with it but long trips weren't as comfy as I'd hoped.
Don't worry though, Triumph were ready to relieve me of more of my hard earned.
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