Your letters and fab first bikes
Going the distance
In response to Dave Johnston’s letter on tyre life (MCN April 7), it would be interesting to know what sort of riding he does. I ride a Honda Pan European both for leisure and pleasure as well as conducting advanced training, with IAM RoadSmart and ERS. Whenever possible I avoid using straight roads for too long, thus I am using most of the tyre most of the time rather than squaring it off. My Battlax T31s will always give me 8000 to 9000 miles, that’s not bad for a bike weighing over a third of a ton. Geoff Pretty, email
Why does Rossi bother? Poor old Valentino, it’s getting embarrassing to watch now he’s been relegated to a satellite team. Maybe it’s time to retire because he has practically no chance of winning another championship with all the younger riders on the grid nowadays, probably not even a podium let alone a race win. Shame as he was superb in his heyday. Phil Hadley, email
Ready to intercept
Not my first bike but my latest bike and thought I would share this photo with you: Saturday morning wash off at sunrise, what better way to start the weekend with my Royal Enfield Interceptor?
Dave Church, email
Long live the MT-07!
I had to comment on the Trident v MT-07 test (MCN, April 7). I bought
an MT-07 last September and have been more than happy with it. The first thing that shocked me was the fuel consumption: 44mpg on your test? Seriously? On my last tank full, I got 68mpg. As for the Trident, the opinion of everyone I have spoken to is that it’s one of the ugliest bikes on the market, and as for its practicality, what can it carry? I have full 37 litre Givi panniers and topbox for my MT. As for the Trident ‘leaving the MT for dead’, I doubt that on public roads and you don’t have to thrash the revs to make the MT pull like a train. We’ll have to see how the sales work out to see which the public feel is the best, but I think I know the answer.
Steve Purves, Preston
Still a rocket ship
Very surprised at the lukewarm reception to the new Busa in certain quarters. I think it is a great evolution, not revolution, in the same manner as Porsche do with their coupes. Everything is better apart from a 7bhp Euro5 reduction that will be impossible to detect on the road. Even MCN’s Michael Neeves thinks it’s faster than a Gen 2 version on the drag strip whilst ragging a brand new one with only 656 miles on the clock (what are you like, honestly). Put 20k of running on the motors bores and then it will really be a rocket ship. Love it. Tim Wild, email
Not ready to go electric
The prototype battery powered Triumph would seem to be the best that can be achieved with current battery technology, and certainly looks the part, but the expected power and range gives a somewhat optimistic impression of its capabilities. No doubt for short runs, very few bikes could match it with continuous high torque, limited only by the available traction, and not much more weight
than a petrol equivalent. For longer runs, the inevitable range limitations would mean that battery management rather than performance would become the main objective. John Hardaker, Lancs
Come on, give us a nod
I’ve always been proud to be part of the two-wheel community and felt like no matter what your background we’re all the same whilst biking and there for each other. I have always loved the nod as you pass another biker or a wave/thumbs-up. It’s always given me a sense of connection. On a recent trip to the Peak District with my brother and some pals from our base in Stockport we must have passed 100-150 bikes and I nodded and waved or gave a thumbs-up to everyone I passed but at least 75% never even acknowledged me/us. What a shame, especially during the current climate when we are all meant to be supportive. Corcky, Stockport
Bikers are proper gents
A huge thank you to the motorcyclists my horse and I met on Brogden Lane, Barnoldswick on Easter Sunday. My horse is young and wasn’t happy about meeting them. They turned their bikes off and with that still not pleasing the horse, one of the lovely riders got off their bike and helped me by, leading my horse past. Thank you very much for your kindness. Emma, email
My cash not good enough? Over the winter I purchased a Triumph Speed Triple 955i, a lovely bike with just 15,000 miles and full Triumph service history. To get it ready for some post lockdown fun, I contacted my local Triumph dealer to book it in for a major service, but was a bit surprised to be told they couldn’t do it. Apparently, they only service Triumph bikes up to 10 years old. They tried to be helpful by recommending an independent specialist to do the work for me but it seems very odd. Phil Allman, email