my speed three

Fender Eliminator

Wed, 30 May 2007 17:50:47 -0500

I just recently setup my bike with the Skyking fender eliminator. I am quite happy with how it looks, although I would like to do a better job of finishing off how the wiring is managed (see the third pic).

British Motorcycle Meet, Auburn MA

Sun, 28 May 2006 10:58:04 -0500

Ok, so I managed to blow it on the MassBIA spring meet... it ended up I had 3 other activities scheduled for that day as well. I do have a chance to redeem myself and head to annual British Motorcycle Meet in Auburn on June 4th.

I think this was one of the first all-British events I ever went to, albeit it just once in the past some 16+ years ago. Here's hoping that the weather holds out and and my schedule doesn't have any mystery surprises.

Mass BIA 16th Annual British Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet

Tue, 02 May 2006 14:41:22 -0500

Vanson Open House

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:19:28 -0500

Vanson Leathers is having an open house the last weekend of April. I usually find out about these things after the fact, but as I bought myself a new Jacket from them last year I must be on their mailing list and got a postcard for it. More info on the open house can be found here. My postcard also mentions "Bike contest with prizes, no entry fee - many categories" which I don't seem to see on their website anywhere.

Mass Brit Iron Association Fall Show

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 19:41:18 -0500

Today I took a nice ride out to Oxford, MA for the Massachusetts British Iron Association's Fall Swap Meet/Show.

Cool Nights

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 23:38:44 -0500

I was away on vacation for a couple of weeks (w/o the S3), so it has been a while since I have been on the bike. Tonight I did my new regular jaunt out into the "countryside" and back (about 40 miles round trip).

Man, once I got out of the city and into the wooded areas, my hands were starting to get cold. Definitely time to get myself a new set of gloves. Maybe it is just New England weather. Maybe it is because I have missed two weeks of riding, but it seems like I have missed some seasonal transition here. Brrrr.

High Beam Oddness

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 23:36:59 -0500

Tonight I went for a bit of a late night ride in some (relatively) rural areas nearby. As there are long stretches in the woods with twisty and hilly roads with no lighting, I decided to actually use my high beams for the first time.

It was quite a surprise to me when I flicked the switch on and the lights did not change. Lights were no different and no "your high beams are on" dumby light came on either.*click* *click* *click* *click* Nothing.

Safety Recall

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:56:27 -0500

Oh joy of joys... Baby's First Safety Recall...

N.H.T.S.A No. 05V - 276
Replacement of Coolant Hose

Affected VIN: Speed Triple Start of Production to VIN 234916
...

Basically looks like there is a potentially leaky coolant hose and losing coolant is bad m'kay. This no big surprise, as I already read about it on T595.net months ago... I was wondering when this would finally arrive.

Anyways, I really need to do more riding so I can get to my 500-mile service interval. I will life life dangerously and watch out for a soggy left boot in the meanwhile.

Fall Classic Motorcycle Show

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:50:18 -0500

Well, my Speed Triple isn't a classic, but I still enjoy classic (which to me means pre-1972) Triumphs... and BSAs... and sure Vincents too... and even the odd Norton. I yearn for a 68/69 Bonneville.

Anyways, I have missed a bunch of other Brit bike shows earlier in the year, so this one may be my last chance to catch one in the area this year. It is run by the Mass British Iron Assoc, who provide full info on their page. I never quite understand why these things are always in the middle of the sticks, but it is a good excuse to buzz through Worcester and stop at Coney Island Hotdog.

Bar-End Mirrors

Wed, 10 Aug 2005 19:52:20 -0500

Now with more blog!

Tue, 09 Aug 2005 19:24:10 -0500

I really haven't much of a clue about if (real) people actually follow any of this page.. but if any of you do, I have now set it up as a blog with my Movable Type install. What this means in the end is that I will now be able to (in theory) update this more readily more frequently.

My previous entries here have been re-entered at the apropriate dates.

Crumby Weather

Fri, 27 May 2005 00:00:00 -0500

It figures: You buy a new motorcycle and the weather goes to hell for a week. These past 5 days have been cold and rainy. The bike has not gone anywhere since its maiden voyage, which is rather depressing. I had been hoping to at least get 100 miles on it before the weekend started, so I would be able to happily ride in the next stage of the engine break in period. But no joy for me... just lots of rain and wind.

Luckily for me, just hours before all the seriously bad parts of weather came, there was a break in the wind and rain and my Bike Barn arrived. I was able to somewhat hastily (and with a few errors, I need to go back and hit some steps I missed) assemble it to protect the S3. I was loosing sleep the first night it was in place, which saw some major winds, but so far so good. Glad I got it when I did.

The New Bike

Sat, 21 May 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Today I picked up my own new 2005 Speed Triple (in black). The weather was pretty gloomy looking, so I didn't go terribly far (about 40 miles or so) on it's maiden ride.

Although the engine has to go through it's breaking in, so it didn't go anywhere beyong 4K RPMs, I can sense the serious power (and lovely sound) from the 1050cc triple. There is just no comparison to the other bikes I have ridden before... all of which have been carburated twins in the 500cc ('72 Triumph Daytona, a really sweet little bike) to 1340cc (Harley Springer Softail) range. Response to the throttle (both on and off) is amazingly crisp.