Rika: Triumph Legend 900TT

So, there I was at the Copdock Show, invited along by the Triumph Owners Club, with the new BF and riding a Dragstar Chopper. That was not going to work for long, was it? Chopper sold and Internet searched for a Triumph suitable for a short legged individual, there she was: A slightly retro customised, red Legend built in 1999. I thought she was perfect, but the BF had thoughts of comfortable travels without a moaning GF about stiff neck or cold hands.

The heated grips were lovely, but further conversations went along the lines of:

Me: You will only see me dead on a bike with hand guards.

BF: You'll regret it!

Trip to Wales in February he made me hand guards from 2l milk bottles - I now have hand guards!

Me: You will only see me dead on a bike with a wind screen

BF: ...

I now have a wind screen, as well as top box and paniers. I hate it when he's right! We had lovely comfortable trips to Germany, France, Guernsey and all sorts of rallies, though.

On one trip I almost killed her: World record attempt for largest number of female riders in Hinckley. Hotel rooms booked, two lovely riding companions all excited and then half way the red heating light came on. Fan did fine - initially - I was not giving up on that trip, loads of rest to cool down, fantastic event, way home the same, and I made it, just! BF checked the spark plugs ... wet, tasted... sweet, turned her over ... water shooting out like geysers. Head gasket gone and basically burnt out. 

The wonderful Tris from Grumpy Street motorcycles in Bury rebuilt her for me, and she hasn't missed a beat since. 

 

The Guernsey hill climb 

Andy T: Marmite - One of a kind

Marmite is a home built sidecar attached to a Triumph Explorer 1200 called Pops. It was found online, it was black, and you either loved or hated it - hence the name.

Woodsy's Workshop built the frame, it was lovingly painted, a wooden box fitted to the back to hold all the cuppa essentials, a brake for the sidecar was mounted, too, which made handling so much better, and more bits and bobs adjusted and fitted than I can tell here, making it unique in the world.

And then off it went: To rallies, to Germany, and quite often it collects some donations for charity in exchange for a photo in the sidecar. It creates many happy faces when parents and children climb all over it to find the best pose. 

It played a part in the Hope to Connect Cancer awareness event, and it went to the Jumbo Run where a group of 3-wheelers took disadvantaged children for day out to the Cadbury's Factory. It took an elderly bike enthusiast with dementia for a round trip for his birthday, it visited a care home to take it's residents and staff for a spin, and sometimes Pops even carries Santa with an elf in the sidecar to support Christmas charity events. 

At one point more transport space was needed, so, a trailer was added to the set-up. It of course needed a name and was aptly named 'Bovril'. It turned out to be the perfect solution for a bike that was customised for comfort and much loved, but got too heavy to handle. Happy days!