New to riding? Best you break yourself in easily...

A friend of mine found himself, rather unexpectedly, the owner of a
Triumph Thunderbird.

He's never ridden a bike, but he has pillioned behind me a few years ago
[1] and he's crashed a few cars, so he seems well suited.

Plan was simple enough; direct access (3 lessons), test, collect the
bike and ride it home. Only complication was that the bike hadn't been
run since it was put in a barn 4 years ago, and that barn was just
outside Frankfurt.

Hmmm.

Anyway, he borrowed the Zed a couple of times to practice his U-turns
for the test, and having passed that last week, borrowed it again for a
couple of hours to take his girlfriend out on the back so his first
attempt at carrying a pillion wasn't just outside Frankfurt.

He had a bit of a nose around in my garage for "a spare number plate"
too, as it might be a good idea to a) have a number plate and b) not one
local to the country you're in.

I think he's getting the hang of it.

On Thursday evening, the two of them got on a plane and went to
Frankfurt.

Friday morning was spent picking the bike up from a dealer who had
(thankfully) been charged with fixing a fork seal and putting new tyres
on. This proved awfully convenient too, as there were loads of number
plates there too, so one of those was, err, acquired.

Friday afternoon was spend using felt-tipped pens and crayons to colour
in the part of the plate the demonstrated that it's taxed/insured or
whatever.

And Saturday, 11 am, he sets off for Gloucestershire.

4pm or thereabouts, I get a call. When he stopped, turned off the bike
and took out the key, the starter motor was engaged and turning like a
mad thing. "Gyyyyyyyyp! What do I do?" "Ring me back in 10".

Pip was tasked to text me Molly's mobile number, and Molly was sent a
text asking where the main fuse was [3].

No reply [4]

Call comes, and he decides that he's just going to head for Calais and
see how it goes.

8 Hours after leaving Frankfurt he makes it to Calais and the starter
problem has gone.

Getting off of the ferry the staff suggest that the weather's too bad
for riding, but my mate has 10 hours and 3 lessons of riding experience
behind him so there's no way he's letting the weather spoil his fun.

And so it is, that the next text I get is at 1.30 this morning to
announce his safe arrival in Gloucestershire. He went through the centre
of London rather than use the M25 to give him a break from the high
winds.

Bearing in mind last night's weather, the problems on the way, and the
fact that I was amazed that he made it through the test without anyone
getting hurt, I think he's earned his spurs.

So, it now needs a wash, a check of the starter, an MOT, registering,
insurance etc and he'll be ready to hit the road



[1] When after one incident [2] I ordered him off of the bike and had a
totally theatrical tantrum in his direction
[2] In the middle of an emergency stop, he stood up and put his arms out
Titanic stylee for a laugh
[3] Though there's nothing in my went items folder so perhaps I failed
[4] May be related to [3]

 

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

(Snip)

I like and admire this man enormously. Please buy him a beer from me.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in
Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Gyp wrote

Give it until he buys a gps, he'll be singing a different tune then.

 

All the way through, I was thinking "This is a wind-up. It'll turn out to
be Champ."

 

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

With a Triumph?

Be serious, man.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in
Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that he is Scottish.

 

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

Oh.

Damn.

Ah well. Tell him "well done" anyway.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in
Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Serious? This is the man who gaily advises us that he potters about in the
kitchen, singing "Do You Take It In The Ass?" to himself.

 

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

Good point. But even then, surely he's not camp enough to own a Triumph.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in
Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel says...

Bitch

 

Some are born to Triumphs, some acquire Triumphs. I thought the guy in the
anecdote had one thrust upon 'im. Anyway, the tale was being told by an out
Harley owner, so it's hard to judge.

 

snip extended tale of mid life crisis derring do !

Mid life crisis what mid life crisis ?

Has this gentlemen recently had a significant birthday by any chance ?