It takes a bike swap...

....to make you notice the difference.

Yesterday, I took the Street Trip into work. Today, the Ducati. And on
the sweeping curves that make up the M25/A21 intersection, I couldn't
help noticing how much more 'planted' the Duke felt.

Don't get me wrong: the Trumf handles brilliantly. It's also much more
nimble than the Ducati, turns faster (much faster) and in speed terms
rips the tyres off the Ducati.

And yet....

....it just lacks that incredible feeling of solidity in fast bends. That
sensation of utter steadiness: that it'd take a bomb to knock you off
course. Horses for courses: changing lines on the Ducati isn't as easy
as it is on the Triumph, but I'm so glad I didn't sell it.

It delivers fabulous satisfaction, even now, after 12 years. The Triumph
has a charisma the Ducati lacks, and the Ducati can just as easily turn
the tables.

Incidentally, if anyone here hasn't yet ridden a Street Triple, try to
do so. All the press coverage is right: it's a truly fabulous bike,
despite its overall lack of cubes. Hooligan monster.

 

Have done that trip several times recently, on both my K and SS. What is
the lowest speed on either bike you use through that lh sweeper?

 

That's just how it felt when I rode a Hailwood Replica in 1981.

 

I had a Hailwood Rep, & yes, solid as a rock, but changing direction at
speed took almost as much effort as pulling the clutch in. It's not
rocket science though, just different geometry. I've played with the
rear ride height quite a bit on the MV, & it's amazing how much
difference even a 1mm change makes.

 

I have tried the two versions.
If I ever have the means then I will have the 'R' as an addition to the
sprint

Never ridden a Ducati of any description though...

 

Dunno about lowest. The Duke and the Trumf can both take the M25->A21
sweeper at 65-70 and the A21->M25 one at 90.

The K is 5-10mph slower in both cases. The Subaru is as quick as the
Ducati and Triumph.

 

I did consider the R version. Another £500 for better suspension and
better brakes. The Standard Trip brakes are fine. The better suspension
was tempting but I decided just to take the standard bike and upgrade
the suspension when it got tired.

And the engines are the same, of course, so no power advantage.

 

It's a 120/60-17. Same as an early 600 Bandit. Rear is a 160/60, so
slightly narrower than the 900SS.

 

Wow, they sound like seriously mismatched profiles.

 

Worth knowing. But it's got a brand new pair of Azaros on it right
now, so experiments will have to wait for a couple of years.

 

You reckon? I'm happy with them. The bike steers slowly, yes, but
that's the geometry, really.

 

A 120/60 front is a very low, flat profile - 72mm. Most modern bikes
use 120/70 (84mm). Otoh, a 160/60 rear is a very tall profile - a few
mm lower than the common 180/55 but 20mm narrower. So on the surface,
it looks like you've got a very flat, slow steering front tyre & a very
pointy, fast steering back tyre.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Krusty

You're failing to take account of the profile-lowering effect of having
TOG's arse planted above the tyre.

Any lower profile and he'd be running on the [1]rim.

[1] Wheel, not arse. Just for clarification.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

That's pretty much it, actually, yes. But if fitting a 170 front means
farting around with the mudguard, I'll leave it as is.

 

And you can **** right off, Mister Anorexic.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "TOG@Toil"

Pass me the landing net, someone. I think I may have broken the British
record.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Welcome to my world :-/

 

Jesus, you must have used an industrial winch as a fishing rod.

 

<Adds name to death list>

 

Is there room on the list after all the prostitutes you killed in the
70s?