[Yes, all I'm talking about these days is my motorcycle. I'm sure it'll pass eventually...]
This morning, while I was stopped at the light at Huron and 144th, a stoner/meth head in one of those ridiculous Volkwagen Rabbit pickups filled with all manner of junk pulled up into the left turn lane and we have the following converstaion:
S/MH: Hey DUDE! Right on! It’s not a Harley!
Me: Ha! That’s right.
S/MH: Harleys suck!!
Me: Hahaha!
S/MH: That’s cool. I like the Triumph.
Me: Well, thanks.
So there you have it, Triumph motorcycles: Harley-hating meth head approved.
Oh, and for the two of you who ride bikes in my area and might read this, the new northern extension of Sheridan is a short, but sweet ride up to Hwy 7.
Image002.jpg
Originally uploaded by Jake Sutton.
Took Betty, the Bonnie Black (which is in dire need of a bath, hence the title), for a quick ride this afternoon. On this ride, we passed the 300 mark, which means we’re finally past the official engine break-in period. W00t!
My buddy Erik and I went for a nice long ride today with me on Betty the Bonnie Black and Erik on his 1980 Honda 250 dual-sport, which probably made us an interesting pair. We rode for a bit more than 60 miles all told, putting my milage up to 276. That means I’m only 24 miles away from the end of the “break-in” period for the engine, which means I can stop worrying about varying the RPMs and just ride the thing.
We even ended up on some gravel roads and the Bonnie did just fine, though I certainly didn’t test it. I just kept the speed down and did my best to go straight. 
We made a gas stop near Longmont and a couple Harley guys (Christian Riders, I think…) gave the Bonneville a long hard - and seemingly approving - look. But then one of them came in the store to remind me I had left the key in the ON position and my light was on, so I lost all my cool there…
Then after stopping by Erik’s house, I ended up at the Huron/120th light with a couple of Harley dudes and they loved the bike:
Harley Guy #1 to Harley Guy #2: “Hey, check it out… Triumph!”
HG1 to me: “How do you like that?” Me: “I love it!”
HG2 to me: “What year is it?” Me: “Brand new - 2006.” HG2: “Noooo SHIT?! Cool!”
Though certainly not a long ride by any stretch of the imagination, it’s the longest one I’ve had so far. My back’s a bit stiff, I have a blister on my throttle hand under my Order of the Engineer ring, and the arid Colorado air has dried me right up. My new schmancy Triumph gear did alright: my jacket was well vented and comfy and my gloves were nice and cool, though they pressed on my knuckles quite a bit. Just a little breaking in due there, I hope.
Rode the Bonnie Black into work today. All went well. (Yippee!)
[BTW: The Wife thinks the bike's name is "Betty" -- as in "Black Betty", the badass Leadbelly song. I mostly know the version by a band called Ram Jam, which took over Boston Bruins broadcasts in the 90s thanks to Cam Neely naming it as his favorite song.]
Bonnie Black Right
Originally uploaded by Jake Sutton.
For those of you who asked, here’s an update on the old Honda CL-350.
As for the Bonnie, you can keep tabs on my relationship with the new bike by watching my “bonnieblack” tag on Flickr.
As of this Thursday, I will be the very proud owner of one gorgeous 2006 Triumph Bonneville Black.
This is, with the exception of some crazy chopper I’ll never have, my dream bike. I mean, if it’s good enough for Steve McQueen, right?
I can’t wait to ride it (first around the neighborhood, then to the coffee shop, then to work, and so on…). I also look forward to tricking it out with some of these sweetass accessories from Triumph’s new sixty8 line.
Mad props to Erik for convincing Matthew at Foothills BMW/Triumph (with whom I could talk for days!) to shave a few dollars off the deal (I suck at negotiating…) and for being general moral support. And for getting me started on riding bikes in the first place!
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