[Talus]

Hi all,

I enjoy spending time on motorcycle forums, reading up and seeing what's going on in the motorcycle world. I am a Triumph man myself, I just bought a Speed Triple a few weeks ago, but I have had a lust for a Duc for years. I've ridden a number of Ducatis and, wow, how intoxicating it can be. When funds allow for a second pony in the garage, it'll be Duc.

So for now, I'll just be lurking. Hopefully someday I'll start a thread to introduce my 899.

Safe riding all. Cheers.

 

[899Rider]

Welcome to the forums Talus!

What have you owned in the past in terms of two wheelers?

Any pictures of your speed triple?

 

[S.I.U.]

Welcome to the forum. I hope the amount of 899's you'll see popping up on here won't have you regretting your Triumph purchase

Happy lurking!

 

[Talus]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm relatively new to riding. Started in 2009 at 27 years old. But, I've put well over 20,000 miles altogether over the few years..and I've been out of the country teaching in Honduras for the past two years. So overall, I've done a decent amount of riding.

My first bike was a 1987 Harley Sportster 1100. 4-speed. It was a craigslist find in 2009.

The day I bought it:

After taking it apart to paint the engine and polish the aluminum bits.

Then I sold it in 2010 and bought a Triumph 675 Street Triple. I swapped out the forks for Daytona units, put an Ohlins shock on, full exhaust, velocity stacks and all of the crash protection and cosmetics. Did all of the work myself.

Gotta love gas prices in Connecticut:

A couple of years ago I transformed 1/2 of the garage space into a motorcycle workshop. I don't trust anyone else to work on my bikes.

This is my new baby. I am picking it up over Christmas break when I'm back in the States. Still in Honduras for another month. These are the pics from the previous owner. 2011 Speed Triple SE. Last batch of the round headlights before they switched.

 

[Talus]

Welcome to the forum. I hope the amount of 899's you'll see popping up on here won't have you regretting your Triumph purchase

Happy lurking!

Ducatis are IMO probably the most beautiful bikes out there, all the way back to the 916. But, the 1050 triple has been the best street bike engine I've sampled yet. The thing makes 70ftlbs of torque from under 3k rpms, so you just twist and go. I've ridden a 2014 Mutlistrada S, 2011 Streetfighter with full termis and a few other Ducs, and even though they sound 100000x better than the triple, they are a little fussy about being in the right gear, chugging along, etc. I'm not lazy, but in comparison, the 1050 just suits my riding style.

Having said that, my next bike will be a Duc. No questions about it. It'll be a few years most likely, and I'll be keeping a keen eye on the 899. That Panigale is sooo sexy.

 

[899admin]

Gosh your street triple looks clean. How did you find the transition over from the sportster? Would you ever go back?

Till this day I still have an obsession with the 999. Ducatis are just something else and when you ride one it just makes you realize what you're missing. One day I plan to add a 999 to my collection but for now the focus is getting the 899

Nice pics btw.

 

[Talus]

Gosh your street triple looks clean. How did you find the transition over from the sportster? Would you ever go back?

Till this day I still have an obsession with the 999. Ducatis are just something else and when you ride one it just makes you realize what you're missing. One day I plan to add a 999 to my collection but for now the focus is getting the 899

Nice pics btw.

Thanks. To say that I'm OCD with keeping my bikes clean is a bit of an understatement. But, I did ride them in all kinds of weather. The 675 pics are from shorty before I sold it, with 14k miles on it. My goal was to put 20k on the clock before leaving for Honduras, but some RR/stator issues had it laid up for a few weeks.

I remember my first ride on the 675. I couldn't stop laughing, because it was so responsive and light in comparison with the old carbed HD. It really was incredible. I do miss that HD. It was my first bike and I toured Massachusetts for days and days on it.

What I did notice right away was that my riding style changed. I was happy to fart along at 40mph on the Harley. On the Street Triple, and subsequently every bike I've ridden since, 40mph feels like I'm crawling. I am no racer, and I don't drive recklessly on the streets, but there is definitely a difference between riding a cruiser and a sportbike. Sometimes I wish that I still had the Sportster, just to be able to look at it and say that it was my first motorcycle. But it wasn't comfortable, it leaked oil no matter how many times I changed the gaskets, and it was only a 4 speed which made it a very limited traveler. I like going out for 2-4 hour rides at a clip.

I hope you get your 999. It's a beautiful bike.

 

[899Rider]

I remember my first ride on the 675. I couldn't stop laughing, because it was so responsive and light in comparison with the old carbed HD. It really was incredible. I do miss that HD. It was my first bike and I toured Massachusetts for days and days on it.

What I did notice right away was that my riding style changed. I was happy to fart along at 40mph on the Harley. On the Street Triple, and subsequently every bike I've ridden since, 40mph feels like I'm crawling. I am no racer, and I don't drive recklessly on the streets, but there is definitely a difference between riding a cruiser and a sportbike. Sometimes I wish that I still had the Sportster, just to be able to look at it and say that it was my first motorcycle. But it wasn't comfortable, it leaked oil no matter how many times I changed the gaskets, and it was only a 4 speed which made it a very limited traveler. I like going out for 2-4 hour rides at a clip.

I hope you get your 999. It's a beautiful bike.

I can agree to the difference in style and feel. It would be boring to just cruise on the highway with sportbike. I am no racer on the public streets either but sometimes the speed limit just doesn't cut it. So jealous of the guys who get to venture the Autobahn. A cruiser type is so heavy you don't want to fight it, all you would want to do is to relax and let it carry you. I will most likely end up with one later on...

 

[Talus]

I can agree to the difference in style and feel. It would be boring to just cruise on the highway with sportbike. I am no racer on the public streets either but sometimes the speed limit just doesn't cut it. So jealous of the guys who get to venture the Autobahn. A cruiser type is so heavy you don't want to fight it, all you would want to do is to relax and let it carry you. I will most likely end up with one later on...

Here in Honduras there are no rules of the road. I overtake Police, blowing by at whatever speed I want. It's bliss. No speed traps either. Nothing like that exists.

There is a strip of road, roughly 75 miles of brand new road cutting through the mountains. It connects my city to the capital. All 2 lanes, super big sweepers. Aaaggghhh...if only I had a proper sportbike and not my 250 Honda dirtbike.

 

[snake shake]

i love the double bug eyes on the street triple. Theres a red one like that parked across the street from my office everyday

Don't just lurk, participate man, we're all riders. Some of us won;t be getting the 899 until well into next year, someone us may even be waiting for them to pop up used

Its a great forum, knowledgeable and quite fun as well!

welcome aboard!