Cranky Pete
Well-known member
I had the chance to ride these two bikes over the weekend.
The BMW has a torquey motor and tall first gear that makes it very quick off the line. The exhaust growl is surprisingly aggressive for a Beemer--very sexy. The seating position is on the sporty side, with high, rear-set pegs and a flat-ish handlebar. The suspension (as set) was quite firm, which made it great for the twisty Haliburton roads we were riding, but too harsh for Toronto's crappy pavement. This is definitely not a highway bike--the motor is quite buzzy over 120 km/hr and the lack of wind protection gets old fast.
Verdict: A very fun bike for country twisties or city riding, provided you sort the suspension. As a commuter, forget it.
The Triumph? Wow. It's a big tank of a bike, but surprisingly light on its feet and easy to maneuver at low speed. The big three-cylinder motor is very smooth and powerful. Passing is absolutely effortless. The suspension is firm but pliant. Couple that with the wide enduro-style bar and you can absolutely destroy twisty roads. Highway riding is a breeze--at 130 km/hr in 6th gear, the motor was spinning at 4000 rpm. And then you've got cruise control, heated grips, heated seat, a nice big windscreen, etc. etc.
The only negative was (oddly) the seat and the seating position. They've shaved down the sides of the seat to make it easier for shorties to get their feet on the ground. As a result, the seat's too narrow. I also found the pegs a tad high compared to my V-Strom. Add a higher aftermarket seat and this bike is gold.
Verdict: Killer touring or sport touring bike, able to cope with rough pavement and a bit of gravel. Very impressive.
The BMW has a torquey motor and tall first gear that makes it very quick off the line. The exhaust growl is surprisingly aggressive for a Beemer--very sexy. The seating position is on the sporty side, with high, rear-set pegs and a flat-ish handlebar. The suspension (as set) was quite firm, which made it great for the twisty Haliburton roads we were riding, but too harsh for Toronto's crappy pavement. This is definitely not a highway bike--the motor is quite buzzy over 120 km/hr and the lack of wind protection gets old fast.
Verdict: A very fun bike for country twisties or city riding, provided you sort the suspension. As a commuter, forget it.
The Triumph? Wow. It's a big tank of a bike, but surprisingly light on its feet and easy to maneuver at low speed. The big three-cylinder motor is very smooth and powerful. Passing is absolutely effortless. The suspension is firm but pliant. Couple that with the wide enduro-style bar and you can absolutely destroy twisty roads. Highway riding is a breeze--at 130 km/hr in 6th gear, the motor was spinning at 4000 rpm. And then you've got cruise control, heated grips, heated seat, a nice big windscreen, etc. etc.
The only negative was (oddly) the seat and the seating position. They've shaved down the sides of the seat to make it easier for shorties to get their feet on the ground. As a result, the seat's too narrow. I also found the pegs a tad high compared to my V-Strom. Add a higher aftermarket seat and this bike is gold.
Verdict: Killer touring or sport touring bike, able to cope with rough pavement and a bit of gravel. Very impressive.
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