Old Steve
9th November 2011, 19:33
I've been stopping off at Bayride, Tauranga, to check out the second hand bikes on the roadside for some time now, and lately there has been a nicely kitted out Triumph Sprint ST 1050 fitted with panniers and a double top box. OK, it's not a cruiser but looked a nice sports/tourer. So Kevin says, "Take it for a ride, this is a special bike it won't be on sale for long."
So I took the bike for a ride at lunchtime. And what a surprise it was. I think it was best that Kevin did take the panniers and top box off before I went for my ride. So what did I find?
I'm too old and lack the inside leg length to ride a sports bike. I had trouble swinging my leg over the seat, don't know how I would have got on the bike if the top box had been fitted. And when seated, I was only able to touch the ground with the tips of my toes and didn't feel confident on the bike at rest or coming up to light controlled intersections or give way signs where I might have to stop and put my feet on the ground. Also I think that the slight lean forward position on the Sprint doesn't exactly suit me.
But, and isn't there always a "but"? What a fantastic riding experience I got once onto Takitimu Drive! I'm used to GLORIA, my 250 cc cruiser, so it was exhilarating to feel the acceleration coming from just a small roll of the throttle. The bike felt lovely and stable as it's speed picked up, though I felt perched up higher than on GLORIA - in fact I was perched up higher than on GLORIA. The narrower bars weren't a problem, though I did find the mirrors gave a reduced view of what was rapidly being left behind. The bike's speed was deceptive. After riding out on the new Lakes bypass road, I turned around at the Pyes Pa roundabout and came back the same way. Looking down at the speedo I was surprised at the speed I was doing, I could easily lose my license in days if I owned this bike. Riding on the open road is fantastic on this bike. And the fuel tank just sits there saying, "Squeeze me with your knees!" The person who designed the fuel tank is a pure sculptor.
But, and isn't there always a "but"? The roads I was riding back on led back to town, give way signs, traffic lights, and my feet barely able to touch the ground. OK, OK, I would be able to reduce the suspension height to improve the placement of my feet on the ground. I don't think reducing the suspension height would make it easier throwing my leg across the seat and I wouldn't be able to mount the bike at all if the top box was fitted. And using this bike as a tourer would be one reason I would consider it.
So I had to take this bike for a ride just to actually find out that it wasn't really the bike for me. The ride was fantastic, but I couldn't accept the suspension height, the easy way I could collect speeding tickets, and the difficulty of actually getting on the bike. I think if I do ever move to a larger bike, it'll have a smaller engine and a lower seat height. A mid-size cruiser in fact. Now there's a nice looking Triumph America at Bayride .....
So I took the bike for a ride at lunchtime. And what a surprise it was. I think it was best that Kevin did take the panniers and top box off before I went for my ride. So what did I find?
I'm too old and lack the inside leg length to ride a sports bike. I had trouble swinging my leg over the seat, don't know how I would have got on the bike if the top box had been fitted. And when seated, I was only able to touch the ground with the tips of my toes and didn't feel confident on the bike at rest or coming up to light controlled intersections or give way signs where I might have to stop and put my feet on the ground. Also I think that the slight lean forward position on the Sprint doesn't exactly suit me.
But, and isn't there always a "but"? What a fantastic riding experience I got once onto Takitimu Drive! I'm used to GLORIA, my 250 cc cruiser, so it was exhilarating to feel the acceleration coming from just a small roll of the throttle. The bike felt lovely and stable as it's speed picked up, though I felt perched up higher than on GLORIA - in fact I was perched up higher than on GLORIA. The narrower bars weren't a problem, though I did find the mirrors gave a reduced view of what was rapidly being left behind. The bike's speed was deceptive. After riding out on the new Lakes bypass road, I turned around at the Pyes Pa roundabout and came back the same way. Looking down at the speedo I was surprised at the speed I was doing, I could easily lose my license in days if I owned this bike. Riding on the open road is fantastic on this bike. And the fuel tank just sits there saying, "Squeeze me with your knees!" The person who designed the fuel tank is a pure sculptor.
But, and isn't there always a "but"? The roads I was riding back on led back to town, give way signs, traffic lights, and my feet barely able to touch the ground. OK, OK, I would be able to reduce the suspension height to improve the placement of my feet on the ground. I don't think reducing the suspension height would make it easier throwing my leg across the seat and I wouldn't be able to mount the bike at all if the top box was fitted. And using this bike as a tourer would be one reason I would consider it.
So I had to take this bike for a ride just to actually find out that it wasn't really the bike for me. The ride was fantastic, but I couldn't accept the suspension height, the easy way I could collect speeding tickets, and the difficulty of actually getting on the bike. I think if I do ever move to a larger bike, it'll have a smaller engine and a lower seat height. A mid-size cruiser in fact. Now there's a nice looking Triumph America at Bayride .....