It doesn't matter what you ride. Watch this video and you'll learn a thing or two about riding your motorcycle, I guarantee it. Smooth lines, perfect setups, a wonderful pace and exquisite technique. I found myself sitting on my couch leaning left and right to see if I could keep up with him.... ;-)
Ride Report, West Virginia. Again!
At the top of Skyline Drive
What can I say? I love West Virginia. I never thought I'd say that, but when it comes to finding heavenly, twisty roads, I can't help it.
My husband and I went on a 5 day vacation from Philly to West Virginia a few weeks ago, leaving on Sunday and returning Thursday that week. Here are a few highlights!
Stopping somewhere in Washington DC by the Potomac on our way down.
When we left on Sunday, May 8th, we had a rather late start. I won't even bother to share the ride route. We pretty much slabbed drove through Washington DC and stopped briefly to take some pictures before heading into Arlington. Since we started so late we decided to stay the night just outside DC at the Hampton Inn Gainesville-Haymarket.
I'd highly recommend it, very motorcycle friendly, clean and just overall a very nice place to stay (I usually try to stay at smoke-free hotels, because I just can't stand the smell of smoking hotels). Unfortunately someone left the microwave on or something, and we had a 4:30am wake up call. Luckily, it only lasted about 20 minutes and we were able to get back to sleep. Zzzzzzz.
The weather was raining on and off Monday, so we headed out late and just decided to head south, towards the border of West Virginia and Virginia. Looking at the radar reports, we tried to go just below the storm paths so we could at least find some dry, twisty roads. Oh and along the way we found tasty Mexican food! Who knew there were delicious, authentic Mexican restaurants in Virginia? We stopped at La Michoacana Taqueria & Restaurant. Delicious!
So we headed out and we aimed for Waynesboro, VA. When we stopped to take a look at hotels, we found a room in Staunton, VA at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. It was beautiful, and we got their Stay 2 Nights and Save Promo.
Staunton is a really lovely town with a lot of history including an old train station and wonderfully preserved downtown.
Staunton at night. My husband sure knows how to take photos.
Easy parking at the hotel in their garage. I just love how these two look side by side.
So we decided to camp out in Staunton and just looked at the maps every day to figure out which way we thought we wanted to go.
Tuesday was our first day of explorations. The weather was crummy in the early morning so we waited until the rain passed a bit more before heading out. We found some fun scenery including a rickety bridge that you aren't supposed to ride across. So we didn't.
As we rode off, we found even more scenery, including some horses who didn't seem to mind as we pulled over to take photos next to them. I tried to coax them away from lunch but they just weren't interested. :(
I don't know how, but he manages to get the timing just right on these sometimes. I guess I was stretching...
I think the horse is looking at us like we're crazy.
One of the coolest things we saw a few times were abandoned buildings like this old service station. These photos just don't do this building justice. It was so pretty in person, eerie and stunning at the same time.
We didn't get to go inside, but I was able to get a photo through the windows.
Evan poses!
And another abandoned garage. Way creepier.
Since the weather wasn't that cooperative most of the time, we did some very simple routes, nothing fancy. But some of the best riding on this coast lives here:
Staunton to West Virginia and Back.
We were trying to find some cool covered bridges, but we only found this one which we weren't able to actually drive through. It was called Humpback Covered Bridge in Covington.
So all we could do was take selfies.
I highly recommend lunch in Marlinton at the Greenbrier Grill. Tasty, inexpensive and outdoor seating.
We took 39 back mostly, such a fantastic road. I'll warn you, these roads are twisty so should always take those easy if you're not immediately comfortable. I practically live to ride these roads, I just wish they were closer :(
My friend Tamela recommended Route 311, just south of Covington but unfortunately I somehow got us off track and never got to ride it. It also looked amazing.
The next day we played around 39 and 250 again. 250 is probably my favorite road on the East Coast so far.
Unfortunately we didn't get video of 250 because of the crappy weather that day, but in case you missed it, here's a short video my husband shot on his GoPro, Swivit Mount and Gimbal. We finally had some clearing weather and was able to get some beautiful shots while on 39 or 84, I can't remember which road this is. It's mixed in with some footage of Skyline drive as well, but there are bits and pieces of WVA in here.
Getting all the equipment ready to film. If you've never heard of Swivit.com, check them out. Their adjustable mount is unique, and was the first of its kind.
With the Swivit, he was able to get shots like this one, because you can move the camera on the fly. (We were going maybe 15mph, and there was zero traffic!)
I don't know why but we decided to slab it back from Staunton to Philly on Thursday. Although we had an early start, we took the scenic route up Skyline Drive. Since the hubby had never ridden through it before, we thought we'd take a look! Twas foggy on and off. If you watch the video, the tunnel is at the end.
After a bit of fog, we finally got to some clear parts of the mountain. And yes, the speed limit is 35mph. We were following the limits pretty closely, but it was a very quiet day on Skyline so we were lucky enough to have little or not traffic at times. And no performance awards :)
The coolest stop we made was at Fort Johnson. Such a cool, crazy story from the Civil War. I didn't get to climb the entire trail, but I did get to the first tier. Since moving to an older city such as Philadelphia, I am fascinated and constantly amazed by the history that I encounter everywhere I go. Virginia was no exception. So crazy to think that a war was fought on this mountain, where we now stand and take scenic photos.
Steps to the first level of trenches.
A long line of trench!
We even met some fellow motorcyclists who were passing through.
And then we had to say goodbye!
We used our Sena SMH10R's to communicate with eachother the entire week and they performed quite well. I used the Garmin quite a bit, along with my music and I forgot to recharge it one night so it died after a second full day. Just by habit, we recharge our headsets every night but you really don't have to. You should be able to get 2 full days; although we don't have our channels open the entire time. We go back and forth between chatting or keeping the channel open for 10-15 minutes, then back to our own music while I listen for Garmin directions at the same time.
If you're curious as to how that all worked for me, read my review of the Garmin Zumo 390LM here.
Until next time, West Virginia.... until next time.....
Video of Riding Motorcycles in (West) Virginia
Last week, me and my husband went for a fabulous vacation down South to Virginia / West Virginia. A ride report is coming soon. In the meantime, check out this short video of one of our afternoon rides through the mountains.
Wish I could take credit for the amazing video editing, sound production, camera work and post production. All the credit goes to my husband, founder and CTO of this company.
Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for a ride report.
Bike Review 2012 Triumph Street Triple R
Goldie in front of sunflowers, somewhere in Maryland. Thanks Maryland!
4/29/2020: Updated with a few more thoughts!
As you may have noticed from my most recent social media posts, I am in LOVE with my new-to-me motorbike. It's the best one I've owned and ridden so far.
Background
Before I start, I want to give you background info. It's good to know where the reviewer is coming from, so you can get a handle on what his/her experience is on bikes in general:
5'3", 130lbs. 28.5" true inseam
Most recent rides: '06 SV650, '03 SV650S (both stock)
My bike ownership history; none of my bikes have been lowered because I value my ground clearance and lean angle
All the bikes I've ever ridden but not necessarily owned
So as you can see, this isn't a first bike for me. I would also NEVER recommend this is as a first bike. I'm not saying it can't be done, because some of you are reading this and have already purchased one as your first. What you didn't realize is this bike is not just a 675cc, it's a 675cc triple with 105 hp! That's 30+ horsepower over other 650cc bikes (ninja 650, sv650, fz6, etc).
The curb weight is 416lbs (likely 400, since I changed the exhaust which weighed 17lbs), and the center gravity is quite low (but the height isn’t) since the tank is rather skinny on top. This was my beef with the husband's sPeed Triple. Although I really love that bike it's too topheavy for my taste and as a result I was on my tiptoes and one flat left which even for me doesn't make me feel as good as I do on mine.
Tiptoed on the Speed Triple. Not that I couldn’t ride one all the time, it’s just super annoying to deal with something at the extreme level of height.
I purchased this beauty from good ole' Craigslist with just 4,995 miles on it, which is where I purchased my last SV. Although I was looking at various dealerships, I never saw one that I could afford. I guess it was just meant to be, because I found this one in early February. However, I didn't have the money to pay for it until late March! Lucky me.
Past vs. Present
I often see the question of comparison between this bike and the ever popular SV650/SV650S. Having been a previous owner of both models, I can absolutely tell you without a doubt that this bike triumphs anything the SV line ever offered for me.
The additional cost of which took me about 6 months to save up for. But it was worth every.stinking.penny.
I certainly enjoyed the 6 years I spent on both of my last SVs, but I'm sooooo much happier on this beast. Many folks will tell you that an upgraded suspension on the SV makes it a worthy ride.
True, I could've spent ~$1,500 and upgraded the stock suspension.
But, after spending ~1,000 miles on my husband's Triumph (including an overnight ride to Port Jervis) I knew I wanted one of my own!
Here are a few of the things that I have gained from upgrading to my Triumph:
More power (30% increase from ~70hp to ~100hp) at the same weight as an SV! I can feel it mostly when getting on the freeway, at approximately 50-60mph, acceleration up to 70-80mph is quicker and faster
Smoother throttle response especially when rolling off the throttle. The SV throttle is twitchy as hell when you roll on or off, since it lunges quickly if you don't roll off softly.
Suspension. Fully adjustable, although it's set up for a heavier man, it still feels much smoother and more stable going over bumps. The rebound is far slower, so it doesn't bounce up and down so much. (I’ve since upgraded Goldie with a custom Ohlins TTX Shock with a softer spring to accommodate a better range of adjustment for my weight of 130lbs)
Seat and Height. Much better for long distance, my flat butt is much happier after a 300+ mile day of riding. My version came with the optional sport seat, which is slightly more elevated and raises my butt a little higher which does make the bike a bit taller than standard Street Triples with the regular seat (which is flatter and not angled as much)
Goldie in 2020 with upgraded Ohlins Shock and lighter, smaller Competition Werkes Exhaust
Going from a V-Twin to a 3-Cylinder engine is definitely different as well. This bike needs to rev at higher rpm's so I need to work on delayed shifting since I'm still used to shifting at lower rpm's. Since it redlines at 14,000, it's definitely an adjustment for me to wait a little longer before the upshift. One cool feature is the gear shift indicator lights. Since I can't take a picture of this while riding, I drew a yellow arrow where the gear shift indicator lights (green, yellow, red) will show up depending on how you program them. I find this to be tremendously helpful as I get used to the way this engine powers up. I can also program them to light up at specific rpms for each color.
Height
I know many of you may be wondering about height. Well if you've read any of my past articles in the Too Short To Ride section of my blog, you know that I just don't care that the seat height on this bike is 31.7". For me, it's a lightweight bike at ~400lbs so it doesn't feel as tall (but I’m also not a beginner, so this is where the line will be drawn for you if you’re shorter).
The nice thing is that it doesn't feel top heavy to me, and the tank isn't very wide on top. No wider than where the turn signal and engine cut off switch sit on the handlebars. I have to emphasize that I've been through really annoying top heavy bikes like the Z750s and am completely used to this feeling.
But it feels just like the SV in terms of weight. I can't really tell the difference. The biggest difference is the Ohlins Shock. Since it’s a softer spring weight, depending on how I change the rebound and compression, my height can change from ~0.25-0.5”. (For track days, I try to adjust it so it’s as stiff as possible.)
Since my husband bought his sPeed Triple last summer, I had been taking it for day rides and even a quick overnight to NY. That bike has the same seat height as mine, but since the seat is sloped a bit, it forces me up on my tiptoes. Whereas my bike lets me plant two balls of my feet where I'm most comfortable. The engine is also larger too, so the overall weight is ~470lbs.
It's amazing how light a bike can feel after you've been riding something heavier and taller.
lifted insoles from Amazon
Since then, I've also added these insoles from Amazon to my Boots. Luckily my boots are a half size too big, so they fit in really well. As you can see the full insole comes with 2 add'l pieces for the heel. You don't have to wear all of them. In fact I only wear the main insole and one of the extensions. Although they don't make both of my feet flat they simply allow me to put my left foot down flat without shifting my butt off the side, a little more convenient. Click here to read my short tips.
Twisties
As far as throwing her into corners, it definitely feels more solid and planted. One thing that really drove me to get this bike was that I didn't want to sacrifice the flickability of getting the SV650S into a corner. I feel like the STR drops quickly without me having to do very much work. I definitely need to spend more time with her in the twisties to improve my timing when it comes to entry speed and leaning but it feels so familiar and easy to work with.
Goldie and I have done 5? track days together. Most recently in Fall 2018 with CLASS.
I upgraded the stock tires to Michelin Power RS and couldn’t be happier. The first time I did a track day with them was with Superbike School and they were absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend those for a mix of street riding, track and sport touring.
Long Distance
This is Not a touring bike. But, some of us aren't ready to call it a day and buy an F700Gs. Frankly, I don't know if I'll ever be ready for that. I'm still in love with twisty riding, and I can't imagine being as happy on a touring bike in my size. I also would be sad to lose the *power*. Once again my husband is right, it's very hard to drop back down to something less powerful when you're used to 100+ hp.
For now I'm making it work for me. The biggest impact for me is the lack of windscreen. Although to be fair, the SV650S barely had one anyhow. As with any bike lacking a windscreen or fairing, prepare to be whipped around a bit and with a strong headwind.
It was especially tiring when I rode for 3 hours on the highway in the pouring rain (150 miles) in 2015. That was NOT fun. I was exhausted when I got to my hotel that afternoon, it felt like I'd ridden all day in 100 degree heat.
At least my booty is more comfortable. The seat is a vast improvement over the SV stock seats. Holy smokes, I can ride a good half day (~200miles) without going numb. Granted, I have a very flat one so that definitely doesn't help. But, this seat is noticeably more comfortable most likely because of how much wider it is. Overall I can do about 350miles a day and feel pretty good on the stock seat.
Our first time together on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2015. Kriega US 10-20 Packs. I don’t camp, so if you do enjoy that type of riding then these aren’t going to give you that kind of storage. I like comfy beds and hot showers at the end of a long day. :D
With the Kriega Packs loaded on the rear, I've got 40 liters of space. This is plenty of room for me on a 4-6 day trip. But I try to pack light and never camp. I love big, comfy beds and hot showers, what can I say?If you're planning on camping, you'll probably need a Givi top box as well. And I never travel far without a tankbag to give me just that extra bit of storage space.
I would also add that overall mileage on this bike isn't that much less than the SV650. I think my record on the SV was 200miles on a tank before it was fully dry. On this one, I can do about 180. I haven't pushed it to the edge but I got 170 miles with ~3/4 gallon left. The tank size is virtually the same, but sadly fuel economy goes down with the extra power.
For even more comfort in colder temps, I've used Oxford Heaterz Premium Grips and Koso Heated Grips a lead to wear my WarmnSafe 65W Heated liner. A quick warning about changing handgrips . You'll have to shave down the throttle tube (it's plastic) so the grips can fit over the handgrip. You only have to do this on the throttle side. There's plenty of power for these two accessories, but I'm not sure how much additional power is available for fancier headlights or turn signals which might be future upgrades.
UPGRADES
The following is a list of upgrades that I’ve added so far:
Ram Fork Stem Mount; I’ve used a Garmin Zumo 390 (using the included cradle) and my iPhone X (using the small and large x-grips)
Rizoma Veloce Mirrors (sold each); these also required the Side Mount Mirror Adapters SKU 1278562
Rizoma Action Turn Signals (sold each)
SW Motech Crash Bars - unfortunately these are discontinued; I had to order mine directly from Twisted Throttle and they don’t carry them anymore.
WISHLIST
And here are the ones I still want to add:
Sargent seat or similar comfort seat
Rear Axle Sliders
Rizoma Turn Signal Fork Mount Adapter + Action Turn Signals for the Front
I love my new bike, I can't express that enough. If you're looking for an upgrade from a sub500cc bike prepare for something that isn't quite what you're expecting with the additional power from this deceptive "middleweight".
But if you've decided to end your relationship with your SV650 / Ninja 650 / FZ6, then it might just be exactly what you're looking for.
Update!
Unfortunately, a month after I wrote my review, I totaled Goldie 1.0. But the really really good news is that I was able to acquire an identical Goldie 2.0 which is the exact same bike, same year, same color. The pictures of me on the Dragon above and doing my track day is with Goldie 2.0.
I wanted to mention that in August 2015, I was able to drop 18lbs of weight from the bike by adding a Competition Werkes low mount exhaust:
2012_triumph_streettriple_competitionwerkes gp cobra black
I also removed the rear footpeg mounts and subsequently have a lighter bike along with a much cooler butt! Those high mount exhausts were blowing so much hot air on my thighs/butt, they were killing me. After just 5 minutes of engine warmup, they would be blowing so much height underneath my seat. Not so bad in the Fall/Winter but miserable in the Summer. I felt a huge difference in warmer weather and it's far more comfortable to ride with especially on longer trips. I highly recommend it!
