2012 Triumph Tiger Xc 800 Abs on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Speed Triple gets mean

I headed up the M1 this week to the Triumph Factory in Hinckley. The Speed Triple was due its 12000 mile major service and the workshop also had some new shiny bits to add to the bike for me. Service intervals are every 6000 miles which is more than bearable but the major service will cost you around £450.

2015 Triumph 250 Preview

With all the new motorcycles Triumph presented earlier this month at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, we were hoping to see the company’s new 250cc models. Unfortunately, the new small-displacement Triumph models (which made our list of Top 10 Motorcycles to Watch For at EICMA) were not yet ready to be revealed, though Triumph did offer us a glimpse of what to expect, with a sketch of its 250 sportbike. At Milan, the company referred to the sportbike as “Triumph’s New 250″, though it will get a proper name when it’s officially, presented as a 2015 model, likely at next year’s EICMA show or at Intermot in Cologne, Germany.

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?