Jet Black Triumph Thunderbird Motorcycles, page #25

Moto blog

May Day Run: Toy Story 3 Street Triple

Every year on the first Bank holiday in May more than 25,000 bikers take to the A21 and ride to Hastings for what is Kent’s biggest bike meet. The official route starts at Locksbottom in London and follows the A21 all the way to the coastal town of Hastings. We picked up the 50 mile spectator-clad route about half way down and in our group of 5 took a casual poodle down.

A short film about Zen

This beautifully shot short film alludes to a phrase by Robert M Pirsig, the author of Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance: "If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed".  But is any Triumph single ever capable of producing a sensation of tranquility, even when it is 'right'? I suspect not...

848 Challenge rider profiles

The 2011 Ducati 848 Challenge is packed full of talent. Here are the riders who'll be pushing their 848 EVOs to the limit during the 8-round championship. Mark Andrew #22 Age 28 Hometown: Lincoln Occupation: Car Dealer Team Name: TBC Career History ·         started racing 1990 ·         Age 8 – sand racing, Mablethorpe ·         Age 16 – champion, Mablethorpe ·         Age 17 – Aprilia superteens ·         Age 18 – CB500 Cup competitor ·         Age 19 - 28 – British Superstock competitor ·         Age 28 – Thundersport Streetfighter A, 3rd in championship Aaron Brown #81 Age 27 Hometown: Nuneaton Occupation: Builder Website:  Team Name: T.B.C.

Watch: 2011 Speed Triple Dyno run

With the full factory fitted arrow system and map fitted it was time to give the Speed a run on a Dyno to see where the power is at. Over two runs the best results were as follows; Power at the crank : 130bhp & 75 ft.lbs torque Power at the gearbox : 124bhp & 72 ft.lbs torque Power at the wheel : 119bhp & 69 ft.lbs torque The bike has covered 4200 miles and is due its first proper service at 6000 so you would expect to see a reduction in power. Triumph claim on a brand new bike the Speed Triple at best puts out 135bhp and 82 ft.lbs torque at the crank with the cans fitted, effectively mine has lost 5bhp and 7ft.lbs of torque.

2011 Triumph Speed Triple / Daytona 675R Review – First Impressions

It’s moments like these that remind me how awesome my job is. These past two days I’ve had the pleasure of riding Triumph’s new Speed Triple and Daytona 675R through some of Southern California’s greatest roads and the region’s newest racetrack, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Get a taste for my first ride impressions after the jump.

Get your suspension set up, do it now!

Things are coming along nicely in the Speed Triple camp. I’ve finally removed my gaffa tapped heated jacket controls from the tank, and fitted a pair of Bridgestones sticky but durable BT-16’s. Last week a huge box full of R&G crash protection stuff arrived so that will be fitted at the weekend for peace of mind, just as well really because the Triumph now feels like a finely tuned scratcher thanks to a recent new discovery.

New Stuff: Bridgestone BT-016 Pro's

Well it was inevitable really, the gloriously sticky and not very durable Metzler Racetec K3's had seen their last mile on the Triumph. After being ripped through 2500 miles by the Speeds thumping 1050 Triple motor the rear had all but squared off. To replace them I’ve opted for Bridgestones new BT-16 Pro's because their previous incarnation had proved to offer supersport grip in the corners but also offer high mileage rates.

Big magnetic bags

Gone are the days of tank bags held down with flapping Velcro straps and frayed bungee ropes. This is Triumph’s official expandable 30ltr tank bag. It’s designed specifically to fit the 2011 Speed Triple and attaches by a simple strong integrated magnetic base.

Create My Triumph

As you would expect we rarely get a minute to ourselves at Visordown HQ but at lunch time we had a quick play with Triumph's virtual bike creator. You can choose your desired model and colour, then load it to the hilt with all the accessories your heart desires. At the end you can view your masterpiece, print or email it or save it as your desk top image.

2011 Triumph Speed Triple - Long term test bike

The 2011 Speed Triple is Triumph's latest overhaul of this iconic bike. It has a new frame, new suspension, new swingarm, wheels, bodywork, tank, new clocks, new headlights, in fact pretty much everything is new, everything except the engine that is! Many look at a bike's engine as its heart and soul.