So, I had to take the bike up to Hermy’s for its 24000 miles service. I ran it up on Tuesday in the 90+ degree heat
and exchanged it for a service loaner bike.
This is a program at Hermy’s that I really appreciate. As long as you make the appt in advance, they
give you a loaner bike to get you home.
It really saves a lot of hassle with dropping off, getting a ride home,
picking up, etc. It really makes the
service call a lot easier.
The loaner bike was a Triumph Bonneville T 100. This is a two cylinder 850 with classic
styling, a straight up street bike. Not
a bad choice for a loaner for me given my short stature (I could almost flat
foot it) and disinclination to be buying up (loaners are a great op to turn a hard
core potential client into a buyer of an upgrade).
The Bonnie was a kinda fun little bike, light weight, sorta
nimble, with a very classic retro style.
I thought it would be a fun ride home and back. And it was, up to a point. I guess I’ve been spoiled. The Bonnie didn’t have a lotta shwoop compared
to my R bike. And it wasn’t as smooth
over the bumps; and it wasn’t as stable; and it wasn’t as clean in the corners;
and the seat wasn’t as comfortable, etc.
OK, I have been spoiled. It was a fun little bike for a 45 minute
ride. Unfortunately, it was an hour each
way to Hermy’s. And, really, it felt
like riding a sewing machine. Yup, I’m
spoiled.
When I went back to pick up my bike today, I told Darryl
that riding the Triumph gave me a greatly enhanced respect for German engineering. He suggested that I should “stop drinking the
Kool Aid”. If riding an R bike equates
to “drinking the Kool Aid” then it’s too late for me.
Getting on my R to head home put a big smile back on my
face. I don’t want to dis anyone’s ride,
but have I mentioned today, I really LOVE my bike?
MPG: 51
Overall Trip:
