Service at Hermy's

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?