Talking the torque

If you had to choose, what would you go for – a bike with big torque, or a massive top end? It’s a tough call to make, and in an ideal world you’d find enough loose change down the back of the sofa to treat yourself to two machines (one of each type) and a crate of beer while you’re at it. But, as many of us have learned over the years, life isn’t perfect… so what’s it gonna be? On a track, lots of ponies is more often what you want, but on a road, with your mates and a million hairpins to blast between, torquey motors have so much more to offer. I say this having just had my mind refreshed of the joys of torque on the launch of Yamaha’s new MT-10. It might have gained a few bhp up top, but the real headline is the gains it’s made in its low and mid-range performance. If you’ve ridden one, you might have thought it was already arm-wrenchingly bonkers enough, but Yamaha thought differently and I’m glad it has cranked up the chaos. Torquey bikes are absolute belters in my opinion, as they often possess an element of edginess that is tantalisingly addictive. That’s why we ride bikes, isn’t it, for the buzz? For that short, sharp hit of adrenaline that can only be matched by the likes of a fighter jet... and just imagine how much sofa coinage you’d need for one of them. Yep, torque is king in my book, not just for the bottom-end performance but the character of a punchy motor too; they tend to be more tactile, pulsing and lively, and, if wasn’t for rider aids, less forgiving. It's amazing how motors can be calibrated for torque or top end, as per the MT-10, and also Triumph’s new Tiger 1200 that I’ve blasted around on this month. The triple motor is largely similar to that of the Speed Triple 1200, but like the Yamaha, it features a 270-degree crank (or T-Plane, as Triumph calls it). The result sees an uneven firing order and a tasty 130Nm of naughtiness that whetted my appetite to the max on its launch, as you’ll be able to read in a few pages' time. When did adventure bikes become so bad-ass? I, for one, am not complaining. With legislation getting more stringent by the hour, torquey bikes like these are truly worth celebrating.

Enjoy the mag,