my carbon fibre hat. The next day I spent figuring out the menus, doing loops on a gnarly section of road near Paremoremo, trying to figure out how to utilise the menus to improve perfection, and I admit freely that it would take some time aboard to improve on what is delivered from the preset modes. But a day on the track is the best answer to that. While it’ s a pleasurable commute, under that is the solid fact that this is a seriously powerful bike. Mere mortals like me are given a glimpse of what the riding gods feel, but it’ s a thrill that needs to be taken cautiously and judiciously.
Can you commute on it? Yes, of course. Could you tour it? Well, if you asked me to deliver it to Christchurch, I wouldn’ t say no, but that’ s not its focus( we do know that Triumph’ s National Sales Manager has toured both Islands on his every year – Ed). It is primarily a sport machine with power, finesse, and thrill delivered to the rider – and the track calls, hard.
THE SKINNY I thought long about the nature of this bike, and I reckon it’ s a kind of Australia. A continent-sized island of treasures you can mine, both beautiful‘ outside’, not ashamed to have fun with huge beating red hearts, long histories and all modern refinements – plus there’ s a touch of the brash, keeping everyone honest. So, yes, a kind of Australia. As an offering in the New Zealand naked sportbike segment, I think there is little to match it in style, ability, delivery, tech, nimbleness, cornering ability and value for money. It is, simply, as I said in the beginning … exceptional. What would I change? I wanted heated grips. That’ s it. Maybe an Akrapovic Titanium silencer as an optional extra, but out of the box, it’ s joy on wheels.
42 KIWI RIDER