New Year New Ride: Triumph America

Update: How to ride a motorcycle safely

Well I finally traded in my old motorcycle and got a new ride, a used Triumph America. Every bike has pros and cons. I really liked my old bike. That's why I put over 150,000 km on it. 

Yet realistically if I'm ever going to go on my three long rides across Canada and the US, I need something reliable with a few less km on it. I found a really good deal on one and I thought it was one of those situations where you have to seize the day. 

Ted Simon's first trip around the world on a motorcycle which he wrote a book about called Jupiter's Travels was on a Triumph. He published another book about it called Jupiter's Travels in Camera filled with pictures he took a long his journey. 

Elspeth Beard. Riding and camping. That's what it's all about.

Yesterday when I rode in to work in the morning it was one degree, dark, foggy and frosty. I thought great first day back on the motorcycle and there's black ice. It wasn't too bad but the road was wet and frosty so I took it easy. Today was minus one. 

I think I'll make a separate post about safe riding practices. I'm not a speed demon but I have ridden full seasons for many years and do have some experience with motorcycle safety. 

I've seen a lot of guys with mangled injuries from being hit on a motorcycle. Some things you can't avoid but you just have to assume no one can see you. Especially when it's dark out and raining. You also have to drive for the conditions. Racing around like an idiot on wet or frosty roads is unwise.

It's taking me a bit to get used to some of the minor differences with this bike and get a feel for it but I really like it. It's pretty old so it has a very vintage feel to it. I told the mechanic not to bother with the windshield and he said well at least take it with you. Then I saw it and thought that's not very invasive and decided to give it a try. 

I've never ridden a motorcycle with a faring or windshield. As I suspected, it's much smoother at higher speeds on the freeway. On my old bike as soon as you go over 100 K you're wrestling with the wind and the bike is all over the road.

This bike is very smooth. Going from 100 K to 120 K is not noticeable. On my other bikes it sure was. It doesn't sound as big and bad as my Boulevard with custom Cobra pipes but that's OK. This one is for road trips. It kinda sounds like a vespa or a sewing machine but it's not an invasive sound like a 2 stroke. 

You have to be double jointed to put the kickstand up when you're sitting on the bike but I'm getting used to that. Overall I really like it. I think the windscreen is perfect. My head is above it so I still get the wind on my face but it's very smooth on the freeway. As I get older that's kind of nice.

I'm getting readjusted to shifting with my toe again. I got really comfortable with the heel shifter on my previous bike. When I rode to work in the morning yesterday it was a bit cool on my face and legs. I use an open face helmet and when it's dark out I wear clear safety glasses instead of sunglasses.  

When it's raining or really cold out, I have a snap on face shield I use. Rain on your face after 80 K is irritating. The face shield is comfortable for the rain or cold. Today I used my face shield and rain pants as a wind break and at minus one it was comfortable.

I had one troll try to trash my new bike saying it's an under powered dog that won't make it up a hill let alone mountain. I'm wondering if that guy was on crack or just an idiot. All the reviews on this bike are awesome. It's a great bike for going on long rides because it is reliable.

Triumph is a reputable brand. They didn't try and copy Harley and make a V twin, they stuck with their own side by side design and it has proven to be very reliable. I've seen guys on the ferry to the Sunshine coast on Triumph Rockets. It's the side by side twin times three. Six cylinders in total for a weight to power ratio that's staggering. I don't need that much power.

I don't need 114 cubic inches. That's 1868 cc. 865 cc is fine for me. It's cheaper on gas and cheaper on insurance. If you're going on a long road trip being cheaper on gas is a good thing. 

This bike has an old school manual choke like a lawn mower. It works great. It starts in the cold no problem. This bike has a chain. For most people that's common. Chain or belt drive but all my motorcycles have been shaft drive. That's how I could ride in the snow. I lace rope on the tires like chains. When you drive or dry pavement the rope starts to come off. With a shaft drive that's no problem. With a chain, that's a big problem.

Parts of the rope as they come flying off could get stuck in the chain and damage the motorcycle. So I'm not going to ride in the snow on this bike. Been there, done that. This bike has a really nice paint job and I don't want to scratch it. 

Since it is my first experience with a chain on a motorcycle I asked the mechanic what kind of maintenance does it require. He asked if I ride in the rain and I was like yeah. That means you have to clean it more often since the water and dirt spraying up from the road will get in the chain.

He said you just get a motorcycle jack and lift the rear tire a few inches off the ground so it spins. Then you use a cleaner spray to clean it. Then when it's try you use a different spray to lubricate it. I asked about WD40 and he said the proper ones are better so I bought one of each from him. Just like your guns. You have to clean them and lubricate them.

Update: Day three my motorcycle wouldn't start. I was somewhat discouraged. It wouldn't even turn over and for some reason I couldn't push start it. 

I called the mechanic and he said it sounded like the solenoid and I wondered if I could bypass the solenoid to get the bike started so I could ride it in to get the solenoid replaced. Sure could. Once you know how to do it, it's easy.

Turns out my real problem was cold weather starting minus 4 and below. I bought a new battery with a few more cold cranking amps and it works fine but it also warmed up so I won't be able to see how it performs in the cold until next winter. I do like the feel of this bike. It's nice to be back on a motorcycle.