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First stop was the local Triumph / Ducati outlet, mainly to have a look at the new "little" Triumphs. The Scrambler version doesn't really qualify as little (!) and has a bit of an odd stance in my eyes - the front end is quite high, but the tank looks to be slopeing down at the front. The road version was suprisingly compact, but didn't feel cramped once aboard. The rear suspension felt very "plush" at rest. Finish looked pretty good, though the demo bike was suffering from the road conditions and a lot of interest (it gets ridden a lot, apparently). We were offered to opportunity to take it for a spin, but as we were car-bound this trip that had to be deferred. It was pointed out that demand was outstripping supply ATM & were given an August delivery date "if we ordered yesterday" - £200 refundable deposit would secure a place in the que. Also suggested that the current price point was likey to be of limited duration if experience with other Triumph models anything to go by (quoted the case of the 660 Trident, launched at well under £7K & now over £8K). Wandered around the Ducati half of the showroom, but nothing of interest to me there. The same dealer has a second outlet nearby with Kawasaki & BSA, but parking is awkward there & the two marques don't currently interest me, so gave that one a miss.
2 minutes down the road is the main Honda dealer - lots of stock (new and used) but nothing to raise any interest. There were staff about, but interacting with mere prospective customers less important to them than having lunch.
2 minutes down the road from there is the BMW dealer (used to be Allen Jefferies - now Vertu), but BMW don't make anything I am interested in at the moment, so didn't bother. Totally ignored last time I went in there anyway.
Then on to Keighley for what used to be Colin Appleyards (now just Appleyards after they sold out the motorcyle side to Moto GB to concentrate on Suzuki cars). Only went into the "new" showroom here, which has Voge, Benelli, CF Moto, Mondial & Royal Enfield (and some scooters & assorted anonymous small stuff). The Chinese brands really seem to have come on in leaps and bounds finish-wise since I last looked & their pricing is very competitive. Suprised to see that they had a couple of the new RE Himalayans in stock - only came in yesterday, apparently, and both already sold (pre-orders). Demonstrator due very soon. I did get to have a sit one one & found it a big improvement WRT space - I felt very constrained by the tank cutouts & seat arrangement on the original, to the detriment of comfort. A suprisingly big bike in the flesh, but with a suprisingly good fit & finish - no exageration to say that it gave nothing away to the Hondas I had just left & in many ways the design was a lot more cohesive than many of the current Hondas. The two in the showroom were a matt sand colour & very glossy pale grey with blue highlights. Their other shworoom (the original Colin Appleyards premises) only had Suzuki & off road stuff - modern Suzukis are not of interest & I don't do off road any more, so didn't bother struggling to park there either.
Finally nearer home to Infinity Motorcycles, who only sell clothing. Ended up with an Oxford Monreal 4.0 jacket to replace the leaky Moto Guzzi item that had it's last outing on Wednesday. Tried on several Oxford & Alpine Stars jackets & this one felt to fit the best.
Getting a bit breezy here now.
Nigel B.
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