Like everyone else, we love old or neo-vintage motorcycles, and since we have a few in our garage here at La Gentlemen's Factory, we'd like to have even more, and especially more powerful ones! We have to admit our bikes are mopeds; no matter how pretty or sexy they are, they lack power. To love vintage motorcycles, you don't have to be addicted to speed; that's a misconception, and as far as I'm concerned, I like being given a kick in the ass. My father always told me a good kick in the ass gets you moving...
So which one to choose to spice up the ride between home and the bistro?
Ducati Scrambler, Yamaha SRC 950, BMW Nine-T, Honda, Honda 1100 CB, Moto-Guzzi V9...
Not having sufficiently tested all these motorcycles yet, I'm going to tell you about the one we just tested with real enthusiasm.
For this, I went to see our comrades at Triumph Lille to borrow a custom Thruxton 1200 R. This is no ordinary custom; it's the one from Guillaume, the boss of the dealership, so be careful, no messing around.
After dropping a 3000 euro deposit that will ruin my credit card for the weekend, I can finally get the keys. (It's true that we're known for breaking bikes or dropping them because it looks cooler in photos!). Junior, who provided the bike, even warned me "no burnouts" the tires are new!
Leaving Triumph that evening, the story got off to a bad start because I grabbed the first helmet lying on the office shelf without paying attention to the black blackout visor of my NEXX Devon, so there was no question of playing the clown in the périphérique traffic barely able to see. Leaving the motorcycle village, I caught my reflection in the window of an equipment supplier selling plastic trinkets and I found that this bike had a crazy look, the customization was discreet and chic, I was no longer the same man... does it never have that effect on you?
I started to accelerate just to see (we all do that) and then I got the smile, my breathing and voice echoing in my full-face helmet. You really feel the difference between the old generation and it brings you back to sensations you forget because you get used to speed very quickly, especially on bikes that don't exceed 60 HP. The liquid-cooled parallel twin (head and cylinders) reacts to the tickling of the throttle grip, the Triumph leaps like a cat splashed with water (that's not nice!). It's well-designed, harmonious, the eyes feast as they wander over the entire line, authenticity respected right down to the fake beards that hide the injectors, you barely see the radiator... I know I'm not supposed to, but I slide on the side stand, taking the grand boulevards above the speed limit (don't tell me you've never done that). I'm not in sport mode and I realize it in third gear, the bike "revs out" and it reminds me that I left a deposit and I then see the Triumph boss's scowling face. I calm down, yet the Thruxton is equipped with a lighter crankshaft and a specific airbox compared to its sister, the Bonnie. The same goes for its double-throttle injection with a specific profile, the twin delivers 97 hp at 6,750 rpm and 11.2 da.Nm of torque at 4,950 rpm in its original configuration. But this one has more than 100 hp, the gruff sounding exhaust must be partly responsible for this surge of "power". Tomorrow on the road we'll switch to sport mode to let the Hinkley beast express itself.
Six in the morning, it's freezing, really freezing, but we are determined, so we hit the road towards Reims, heading for the Gueux circuit. Samy gets to ride the Thruxton, Louis, a friend who works at DXR, follows us on a Nine-T Racer, he's also testing things (helmets, gloves, jackets). As for me, well, I'm in the truck with an old Ducati and clothes for our day's photoshoot.
In the rising morning, the countryside is covered in a blanket of mist, only the taillights of the two motorcycles twirl in the opalescent color of a sunless day. During the pee stops, I gather Samy's impressions of the bike, we drink steaming coffees, especially them, I don't need to paint you a picture... Their candies stick to the wrappers :).
Samy doesn't appreciate the riding position, however, he acknowledges the comfort and impeccable road holding of this bike, and we owe that to the fully adjustable Öhlins twin shocks with separate hydraulic reservoirs. The steering gear features an adjustable Showa 43 mm inverted fork with piston type, the bike is precise, it inspires confidence.
Traction control off.... Hello sport mode, here's the bike without a safety net. On a section of the old Gueux circuit, I take the opportunity to go full throttle, damn it goes, I had forgotten this pleasant sensation of power, the adrenaline that gives you this acquittal to tame speed. Okay, the truth is I'm not a rider and I don't intend to lose my 3000 euros trying to put my knee down on a bike I don't know well enough, but I think this bike can allow inexperienced riders a certain form of audacity. It's precise, agile thanks to its frame, its wheelbase and its 160 rear tire. For the rest of the test, I rely on the sensations we felt while testing this machine because riding old bikes or customs daily, all modern machines seem comfortable, precise and powerful. But frankly, it's beautiful and it delivers, we are all three unanimous.
Samy enjoyed it and I love the photos we took that day, even though there wasn't a hint of sun, but no matter, the dress code for the day was black. The matte black of the Thruxton, the carbon of the Ruby helmet, and of course the Loubard leather jacket. Everything was perfect and I enjoyed myself as much as Samy and Louis, who were revving the engines while I was lying on the floor of the van with the Nikon glued to my right eye.
I can't tell you about the Nine-T because I haven't had the opportunity to ride it, but these two bikes seem similar in terms of handling. As far as I'm concerned, and I don't think I'm alone, you always end up picking the prettiest girl at a ball, and the prettiest one to dance with is the Triumph.
Well, I got my deposit back and I can admit it now.... We didn't always keep our promise to Triumph Lille, but who knows, besides us and the speed camera on the D944 "La Neuvilette"!
Article + Photos: Laurent Scavone
Useful information:
See this customization and many others at Triumph Lille: http://www.triumphlille.fr
Test ride a Triumph wherever you live: http://france.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/bikes/test-ride
Samy's look:
Gentlemen's Factory Loubard Leather Motorcycle Jacket
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Triumph Thruxton 1200 R // Triumph Lille[/caption]
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Loubard Leather Gentlemen's Factory + Ruby Castel helmet[/caption]
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Loubard Leather Gentlemen's Factory[/caption]
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Triumph Thruxton 1200 R // Triumph Lille + Loubard Leather[/caption]
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Test ride of the Triumph Thruxton 1200 R by Gentlemen's Factory.[/caption]
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Triumph Thruxton 1200 R // Triumph Lille[/caption]
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Nine-T Racer[/caption]
