Triumph Daytona 675 Rental Ride in Southern California
Posted on | December 30, 2011 | 2 Comments
This week, my family and I went to Southern California for Christmas and one of my gifts was a day of riding a rented Triumph Daytona 675 motorcycle.
In one word – AWESOME!
We rented the 2009 Triumph Daytona 675 (Red) from Racy Rentals and after a brief signing of documents and go over of the bike we were off. With my step-dad on his BMW F800GS and I on the Triumph Daytona 675 we headed east from Melrose Ave to Highway 2.
I took it easy on the first third of the Angeles Crest Highway (ACH) to get used to the bike and make sure the tires were warm. After that I started pushing (while staying within my and the bike’s limits). It was a lot of fun and man can that bike handle a corner. It has enough power high up in the rev range that caused me to really hold on because it slid me back in the seat.
I found these roads and this bike allowed me to focus on my weak points because the bike does what you expect it to 99% of the time. I discovered that I was much more comfortable turning right than left. Since I had just watched Twist of the Wrist II, I was armed with enough knowledge to make me dangerous. After paying attention to this I realized two things: I wasn’t locking in my lower body on left turns, like I do on right turns, and I was pulling with my right hand instead of pushing with my left to turn left.
Locking in my lower body made the greatest difference but focusing on both really improved my comfort and consistency on both left and right hand turns.
The ACH is a great mix of technical and fast paced turns. We went all the way to the closure of the road at the Highway 39 junction after 4 miles of snow and ice on the road. On the way down we took the Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road which was a very fast newly paved road which would be perfect for a liter bike.
We crossed over on the Angeles Forest Highway back to the ACH. We then made our way to Highway 39 which was the most technical of them all, especially at the top. An unfortunate miscommunication between me and my riding buddy caused us to miss out on some more roads but that would have sent me over the 200 mile limit anyway.
So back down the 39 we went and back to Racy Rentals with only 3 miles to spare on the 200 mile limit.
If any thing outside of my family makes me want to move back to California its California’s awesome motorcycle roads that are the best in the country.
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Triumph Holiday Advertisement
Posted on | December 22, 2011 | No Comments
I love this ad.
I don’t normally care for ads or how they look, but this one catches my eye every time and I love it. Yes, I am sure I’m biased because this is my current favorite bike but I think it is otherwise very well composed and provocative.
Renting a Triumph Daytona 675
Posted on | December 20, 2011 | No Comments
One week from today I will be astride a 2010 Triumph Daytona 675 riding in and out of the canyons north east of Los Angeles.
How awesome is that?!
We will be visiting my brother in Eagle Rock and my step-father and I will be taking a day to go on some potentially mind blowing motorcycle rides.
He will be on his BMW F800GS and I will be on a rented Daytona 675 from Racy Rentals. So far, Racy Rentals has been easy to work with and responsive to my inquiries.
This will be a very informative trip as I am seriously considering trading in my large and “comfortable” Yamaha FZ1 for a small and sporty 675R. Riding one for the whole day should enlighten me as to whether or not that is a good idea. I think it is, but we shall see.
Wish me luck and that the weather cooperates. I will return and report post-ride.
Thanks for reading and happy riding.
The last ride of the season
Posted on | December 8, 2011 | No Comments
Tonight’s 34°F 80MPH ride home may be my last of the season. During the second half of the ride I got the chills, twice, and I seem to remember that was about when I put the bike away last year too.
In addition it isn’t as much fun having to be so concerned about traction and such things. I most likely won’t ride tomorrow because I expect the rain water from yesterday to freeze tonight.
That being said, I’ll have to wash and winterize my bike soon, including removing my Ivan’s FCE. I am going to sell it and if I keep the bike pay for the ECUnleashed service in Connecticut.
Happy riding and thanks for reading.
CamelBak rain cover scare
Posted on | November 19, 2011 | 1 Comment
It felt like I ran over a one to two inch rock while going around a 70mph turn on the highway. I thought, “huh, I didn’t even see anything in the road.” It made me worry that I had spaced out for a second. But then I felt it again. That’s when I new something was up. I glanced back through my mirrors and also turned around a bit and noticed that my tail bag was showing it’s black material, no longer covered by my hi-viz yellow rain cover.
For a year now I have been using this CamelBak rain cover to cover my tail bag that I have semi-permanently mounted on my pillion seat. It’s worked out great. It keeps my bag and its contents dry and it provides a extra splash of color to aid in other drivers seeing me. It also rolls up nice and small if I don’t need it.
I guess I hadn’t put it on tight enough because the wind proved to be too much for it on my ride to work in the 40 degree weather. It had come off and got caught in my chain and quickly disintegrated with the exception of the elastic velcro closure. I got off on the next exit and inspected the damage. The elastic piece was stuck in my chain and there were bright yellow remnants in my rear wheel. I removed what I could see, rolled the bike forward to see the rest of the chain and after determining it was all clear, got back on the highway and headed to work.
Just a very minor mishap but a good reminder to be sure and secure all luggage and other accessories. The same day I ordered a replacement rain cover because it works well, it’s bright, and it’s only $10.
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