After lunch the clamouring journo crowd
lessened enough so that there was a
space for me to jump in the road test
for the
eed ri le . t s hard
to describe the excitement the new
bike imparts; design-wise it is simply
breathtaking. Sculpted, formed and
put together in perfect cohesion. It’s
exceptionally pretty in the Triumph White
and I covet it something rotten.
The usual Triumph triple squawk spurts
from the twin pipes on start up and the
new TFT display runs through its top end
display parameters, while the engine
settles into threatening purr as I fuss
around adjusting the Bike Set Up
screens. TTC on, ABS on
oad configuration,
and I select Sport in
the mapping, not
Track – there’ll be
enough thrills for
the road, I’m sure.
First impression
is immediately overtaken by the
superbly easy use of the quickshifter
and autoblipper, both up and down, with
perfect synchronicity and perfect minimal
engine revs. It’s genius to use. Quickly
enough we are off the motorway and
wending the scenic route through the
Whangamarino wetland areas, very quickly
in places, and with incredible ease of
power and drop-in cornering. As inviting,
and more, than the BMW R Nine T which
until now has set the benchmark (in my
opinion) for ease of drop in and delivery of
power to the rear throughout the arc.