OH my lawd – the most unexpected thing has happened, I’ve fallen in love again! Whilst I’ve never subscribed to the school of thought that says there’s just one perfect someone for everyone – after all a girl likes to keep her options open! – but if anyone had asked me I’d have said the end of the most meaningful relationship I’ve ever had meant I was destined to go through the motions – each new partner tolerated and treated to a mere shadow of the love I’d once shared!
But how wrong I was… meet my latest love, Silvano – truly a silver streak of handsome beauty in the shape of a Triumph Sprint ST 955i 😉
“EHHHH?” I can hear the bewildered cries from you lot now! “What happened to undying love for Buz the FZ6s, what about the sensible options of the CBF 1000, the Bandit 1200 or even the Fazer Thou?” AND I hear you add ” what about your strict criteria that it had to be a bikini fairing, a sit-up bike, etc etc etc?”
Well love is like that – no matter what your head says your heart may tend to lead you astray lol! Actually it’s not as mad as you think. Firstly I did stick to plan and take out two of the bikes I was considering – the Bandit 1200 and the CBF1000 courtesy of On Yer Bike near Bicester.
I’m not going to talk about the riding experiences as there are clearly some issues with me left over from my accident, so let’s concentrate on the actual bikes – although I will just add a big thank you to my riding companion who babysat me throughout the test rides, helping to cut down any nervousness!
The Bandit proved a disappointment to me – from the start I found it too high (although was willing to discount that as knew it could be lowered) but it was also too heavy, felt very jerky in the gears and above all left me freezing from the wind chill factor!!! So I tried a wildcard with a lot more fairing – the Honda VFR 800 (not V-tech mode) from Flitwick Motorcycles. That was a strange kettle of fish – the strangest vibrations ever experienced outside the bedroom might be the best way to describe it! Very sturdy yet handled like a barge but the defining stroke was the seat postion. Even allowing for the swelling from the accident the pain in the lower back was too much so I was relieved to hand back the keys.
The CBF Honda was the complete opposite – I got off the bike, walked up to Mark and said “Apart from feeling you’re sitting in a watchtower as it’s so upright and high – it’s perfect. I’m totally confident with it, it turns when you even think it, it responds immediately to a flick of the wrist and it stops on a dime. It’s just like my Fazer but got more oomph”. Well why the long face he asked me? I almost sobbed as I said: “I can’t stand it – I really really wanted to like it but I was soooo bored, it didn’t make me smile once”.
And that ladies and gentlemen is when I realised that I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and opt for pure sensibility just yet. That I love biking not just because I can or to get from A to B but because I love the manner of the journey too 🙂
In the suggestions that several of you made to my poll, there was one of a Sprint ST 955 and a GSX650f so I dutifully looked around to try one of each…. and that’s when it happened!
I ambled out of On Yer Triumph in Aston Clinton,the sister to On Yer Bike, on a 2004 ST and three mins down the road could feel the smile on my face growing 🙂 An hour later and I was still smiling – even though I didn’t like the gear change lever position, could hardly reach the front brake and wasn’t entirely sure about the seating position either!
A few hours later I was back again to try it for a second time – and knew without a doubt that those things were fixable and that this bike would challenge me, make me scream my head off in annoyance, laugh out loud with joy and take me to a new level of biking as we worked our way through my advanced training 🙂
With panniers, a Scottoiler, a gel seat, a touring screen and those magnificent R&G crash bungs already on the bike, I certainly got everything I need to start straight out of the gate. So my thanks to you all for your input – I would never have thought about this bike if it hadn’t been suggested to me as a result of my post and I am even more delighted that I didn’t choose to settle. Whilst the CBF1000 is certainly a smoother ride and well within my capabilities, it would always have been merely tolerated. Instead I’ve picked a bike that not only is my equal but no doubt has a few surprises under those wheels too – just how a relationship should be to avoid going stale lol! (And yes I did have to name him – a bike with personality cannot go through life without a name!)
Lil Miss Bump rides again – I pick him up next week so please do keep reading the posts to find out how Silvano and I get on!
Ride safe 🙂 🙂
A bird's eye view to biking! 
Hurrah – I did think you’d like a Trumpet (Triumph)… that or a v-twin, something entertaining as well as proficient.
It will probably require a bit more TLC than the Yamahahaha, but then you’re in the safe hands of the Flitwick boys who’re no strangers to Triumph… so, get out there and start enjoying the weather 🙂
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Hooraaah many thanks – I have no idea what twins, fours or whatever they have makes the difference! all i know is i love it lol!