2013 Triumph Tiger Explorer - Phantom Black on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Filling a void with an RD350LC

Last winter I managed to fill a void in my life when I stumbled on a very reasonably priced Yamaha RD350LC.  It was a tad scruffy, had the wrong exhausts but most importantly it was blue and white with all numbers matching.  I had the usual euphoria when the deal was done but I underestimated how much pleasure this particular purchase would continue to deliver another eight months down the line. The difference with this old bike is, instead of just taking it for the occasional ride I was talked into doing a full nut and bolt restoration.  Having never taking a bike apart completely before, initially it was quite daunting but I soon found the RD is easy to work on so it turned into a truly satisfying experience.  I’ve had some help from LC enthusiasts with the rebuild, however, the stripping, sourcing and organising was a total labour of love.  And call me sad but it has made me bond with this bike like no other which only adds to the feel good factor.  The bike cost £1800 and I’ve spent around £1000 but I reckon my mint Elsie is now worth a fair bit more.   I fancy rejuvenating a Fizzy  next time but there’s lots of other cheap 70’s and 80’s winter projects  out there so why not have a go yourself?

Triumph Sets Sales Record but Suffers First Operating Loss Since 2009

Triumph sold 52,089 motorcycles from its fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, setting a new company record for annual sales. At the same time, the company announced an operating loss of £95,000 (US$155,300), the company’s time in the red since 2009. Much of the operating loss was caused by foreign currency exchanges and the cost of starting up manufacturing facilities in Brazil and India.

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.