2002 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE
A reader’s ride through gorgeous Wales.
Following an evening in the company of the esteemed editor of this publication, I found I was left with two things. First off, I had a dreadful hangover that took days to clear and the second was the realisation that I had made a commitment to submit an article on old Doris: my Triumph Speed Triple 955i, which has just attained classic status. Unsure how to go about this, I decided it may be enjoyable to take Doris on a little road trip through Wales, while telling you a little about our many years together. I bought her (all my bikes have been ladies) in 2005 from Roger Winterburn at Windy Corner Motorcycles, at that time a Triumph dealership. I traded in an earlier 885 Speed Triple as part of the deal. Many times I have wished I had hung onto that bike also, but then we all say that, don’t we? At the time, I was working as a CBT instructor and the more upright seating position fitted the bill perfectly: we gelled quickly and it was the beginning of a long and happy relationship. Over the years Doris stacked up quite a few trouble-free miles, in a steady fashion. But, following a drastic change in my personal life, I started spending a lot more time exploring the British Isles, in particular Wales. During this period I made a few alterations to the bike, due to getting older and the onset of arthritis. Handguards were fitted, along with heated grips: what a difference they made! She’s not been without her problems. The regulator/rectifier had to be swapped, Electrex World supplies pretty much everything you could wish for. I had the stator rewound by Westcountry Windings, another very helpful company. For any jobs I’ve been unable to do, or not felt confident about carrying
out, such as replacing the rear wheel bearing, I’ve been very fortunate in being able to call upon a trusted and valued friend, Bill Johnson, formerly of Castle Motorcycles in Ashby-de-la-zouch and owner of some pristine classics himself, to carry out the work. The most recent work has been the replacement of the frankly dreadful spongy front brake system with twin braided lines (thanks Bill), followed by the fitting of slightly higher bars, which required the fitting of a clutch cable from a 955i Tiger. This I obtained from Squaredeals for Triumph. Apart from this, Doris is little changed. So, to our little trip out… I decided it would be an enjoyable way to spend a weekend, loosely following the route of Glyndwr’s Way, a long distance footpath that loops through central Wales. Setting off on a chilly but bright Saturday morning, I made full use of the heated grips and the M54. I wanted to get over the border as soon as possible, so I could start my little adventure. Old Doris took the motorway miles in her stride (as she always does) sitting at a steady 4000rpm. After about 90 minutes I was taking a breather in Welshpool, parked up at the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway station, watching the flags fluttering in the sunshine. Now, the trip would really begin! Heading out of Welshpool, I made for Newtown and then took the road for Llandrindod Wells. After a few miles, I cut off over Red Lion Hill, in the general direction of Rhayader. Now I was in Glyndwr Country proper! At this point, I should explain a little about Owain Glyndwr. He was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. In 1400 he instigated the Welsh revolt against England’s King Henry IV.
Although the uprising was initially successful, eventually the greater resources of the English led to the suppression of the uprising. He twice ignored offers of pardon from the new King Henry V and despite the large rewards on offer for any who would give him up, he was never betrayed. On arrival at Rhayader, I went on to explore the Elan Valley, which holds four large reservoirs, with impressive dams. All this set against a background of rolling high country. The roads were a joy to travel on, though it’s wise to look out for the sheep and cattle that roam freely! Rhayader is a busy, friendly little town, with good facilities. There are several B&BS and plenty of pubs and restaurants. There is also a very good campsite, for those who wish to pitch up there. Unsurprisingly, I chose to spend my night in this little town. The Cornhill Inn is a good place to stay and The Triangle is a superb little restaurant, though booking is essential! Day two and clearing skies saw me on the road bright and early. I headed north, initially to Llanidloes and on to the little reservoir called Llyn Clywedog. It is well worth taking a little detour and following the road around the water, before heading over the mountain road to Machynlleth, passing as you do, a viewpoint dedicated to Wynford Vaughan Thomas, broadcaster, author and traveller. Machynlleth was Glyndwr’s seat of power. It was where the Parliament crowned him Prince of Wales. Today it is a bustling town, surrounded by some beautifully scenic roads that you really should try. Heading north, I passed through Corris, enjoying the twists and turns, while taking in the ever changing views. Eventually, to my left, I spotted the beautiful lake Tal-y-llyn. I succumbed and took a little break on the shoreline. Back on the road, I soon arrived at Cross Foxes. I turned right, heading in the direction of Dinas. This is a main and sometimes quite busy road, which takes you over the summit of a pass, (my ears always pop at this point). At Dinas I turned off left and followed the minor road through the village and eventually into ever more remote countryside. I was now on the road to Bwlch y Groes – The Pass of the Cross. This has, in the past, also been called Hellfire Pass. It was used to test the engines and brakes of cars in the early to mid-1900s. At the summit I sat and took in the view, the silence and the grandeur of the surrounding hills and mountains. Old Doris had made the climb without complaint and sat patiently waiting for me, bless her.
Old Clifton Suave’s 2002-model Speed Triple is a bona fide classic as are many of the Speed Triple family: just look at the prices they command. The first models were the modular 885cc (and a rare 750cc) Speed Triple, which first saw light of day in 1994. This ‘T309’ model of Speed Triple took part in a popular Speed Triple Challenge and the last of this first model trundled off the production lines in 1996. Colours were simple and striking: yellow or a very cool black. Weight was 209 kilos and power was just under 100bhp. Early models had Nissin on the calipers, while later ones had ‘Triumph’ on them, even if they were the Nissins. Updates were also made to the rear shock. Prices start around £3500. The next model variant was the T509 Speed Triple, using the 855cc motor in the T595 Daytona frame. The first models (Jan 1997) had drop bars but these were soon replaced by high bars from October onwards. Colours were (again) lurid and striking, including green, black and red. From 1998 the Daytona 955cc motor was fitted and from 2002 (the year Doris was made) the bike received more engine mods, a new exhaust and a new style twin-seat tail unit. Colours were retina shattering ‘nuclear red’, blue or Doris’ sombre but very cool black. £2000 gets you a rough one. We won’t go any further forward in the Speed Triple story (it leaves our 15-year limit), but these bikes do have a strong following and a kudos all their own. When you realise that plenty of crashed T595s/daytonas emerge from sheds as ‘Speed Triples’ (a bit like the old Powervalve Fs becoming Ns) you know they’re popular. Buyer beware! You may have noticed at this point, that I’ve hardly mentioned the Triple. The reason is simple. It does everything I ask without complaint or drama. The alterations that have been made, have been carried out with the aim of making it my perfect all round bike. After I’d taken in enough solitude I headed toward Lake Vyrnwy, over the wild and open upland, my only company being the sheep. Lake Vyrnwy is another beautiful sheet of water, set between rolling hills and with a dam at its eastern end, which carries a road: a perfect spot to grab a quick photo. After tearing myself away from Vyrnwy, I rode over the hills to Llangadfan and picked up the main road back to Welshpool, thereby ending the little adventure and leaving only the trek back to the East Midlands. I hope you’ve enjoyed the account of an enjoyable weekend. Personally, I’m looking forward to loading Doris up with my camping gear and heading back over to Machynlleth in a few weeks for the Mach2 bike festival, but that will have been and gone by the time my tale is in print. But I say this… go any time of the year, but go on two-wheels. Wales is a magical place to ride.
The Triumph Speed Triple: buying a genuine cool classic