You need this new Triumph.
I visited Peter Stevens today to book my Triumph 675 in for it’s first major service and decided to have a mooch round the showroom ostensibly to check out the new 765 Street Triple.
Forget the Bonneville and all it’s variations, the 765 Street Triple is the bike you need. Cosmetically there are lots of changes: new switch blocks, instruments, slightly rounded headlamps compared with the older models, the engine is matt black instead of gloss, upgraded fully adjustable suspension, the seat looks more like the Daytona, Brembos all round, a very cool looking pipe and the riding position is similar to the earlier model which I can describe as slightly committed with flat bars, so no aching wrists like some Japanese sporty bikes. Still got those horrible mirrors though.
I didn’t go for a test ride, by all accounts it’s faster and more powerful than the old 675, but they did let me sit on it and fiddle about a bit.
The model in the showroom was an R model as pictured and I would have bought one there and then were it not for the $17k on the road price. I think the top of the range RS model is the one to go for, it’s engine is to be used for Moto2 in 2019, understandably that’s the one the punters want, it also has proper mirrors and a quickshifter as standard.
Members who have seen my bike mutter about head down bum up etc. but they don’t know what they’re talking about. The 675 is the best handling bike I’ve ever owned and it goes like the proverbial.
I also learned that the area which used to be Harley Heaven is being converted to Triumph nirvana – they must be selling a few.
Lost in translation
I bought a clutch/stator/magneto puller recently from a business in Victoria. It’s made in that country which manufactures everything we buy in Australia these days. Can anyone figure out what the small print on the packaging means? The product inside the box worked very well, so can’t be faulted otherwise.
The Motorbike Book
I picked this up at my local Australia Post shop (aka. the post office) for $24.99. It’s a fairly large format hardback book which shows a visual history of motorcycles from the early days in the 19th century through to 2014. Chapters are dedicated to each decade with lots and lots of photos (1000+). There are detailed write-ups for the more important models and even a chapter on engines including Harley Davidson X8A, Lambretta LD150, BSA A10, Vincent Rapide and Yamaha YZF-R1. Scooters, mopeds and other tiddlers are also catered for. This book is an absolute bargain despite some minor errors which I noted while flicking through the pages. Published by Dorling Kindersley, UK. Highly recommended.