It seems spring has come and is gone already. Either that or time flies when you are busy riding, busy at work, busy researching for blog posts, and also spending some time abroad in this mix. But I’ve managed to put more than 2,000 miles between the Triumph and the Ducati this year already! The Yamaha has not been touched yet, though. Will it ever?

The Triumph gains space in my riding time – Easter Sunday Ride – 4/20/2014

I’ve spent more time with the Triumph Tiger this year than the last two years, when I was obfuscated by the Ducati fever. But things are settling down now, and I had a chance to re-discover the qualities of the 800XC on road and off-pavement. That doesn’t mean that I have lost my passion for riding the Ducati, that seems impossible to be extinguished.

Short tour to Cottage Grove and Wine Country. May 3rd, 2014

Riding the Ducati is always something special.  There is something about the sound and the vibrations from that V-Twin.  And of course, the performance, which is night and day when compared to the Triumph.

The Ducati at the Aufderheide rd., May 25, 2014

It’s a funky looking bike. Shaped from a mix of motard, touring, and enduro styles. But it works best as a sport-touring bike. And when you don’t push it hard it can deliver an astonishing fuel economy for the performance vehicle that it is. For example, on a recent trip to Auderhaude Rd and then up the Cascades to Sisters, I filled the tank in Sisters.  On my way back home, the bike delivered an average consumption of 53.3 mpg, at an average of 59 mph, from Sisters back home. Yes, it was downhill. Still, better than a Prius, which I consider the benchmark for fuel consumption.

Environmentally friendly performance motorcycle? The rose bushes in my back yard were in full bloom! May 25th, 2014

The Ducati can actually deliver better fuel economy than the Triumph Tiger, at same level of riding speeds.

But the Triumph is a much more relaxed motorcycle.  It is the easiest motorcycle to ride, from all motorcycles I’ve had so far. Acceleration, braking, clutch and transmission, everything is smooth and gradual.

Alpine Road on my way to the Coast. June 1st, 2014

Its biggest downfall is the windscreen.  It really needs to be changed or tweaked or something, and I don’t know why I haven’t done something about it yet.  It generates loud buffeting at any speed above 45 mph.

I took it on June 1st to the Cycle Parts’ Ona Beach lunch.  Thanks, Rod, the hamburger was so good I had no chance but get on the line again for more! While there, someone with a Yellow Ducati SF848 showed up.  Good to refresh my memories about that bike.

Excellent attendance at Cycle Parts’ Ona Beach lunch – a total of 68 motorcycles/riders were there. Including someone with a Yellow SF848

The newest bike there was a KTM Super Duke 1290.  This thing looks and sounds serious.

KTM SuperDuke 1290

KTM is finding their way into the street bike market. They even modified their big enduros giving them more street flavor with their 1190 Adventure bikes. Now they are taking the SuperDuke to a new performance level. What’s next? I bet they will have something to take them back to their main vocation… what about a mid-size V-Twin rally type, real enduro bike? They would not vacate the spot they left behind after closing the 950/990 Adventure line.

With these thoughts in mind I went back home from that trip to Ona Beach and stopped at the Heceta Lighthouse, it’s always there, like an old friend.

The Tiger and the Heceta Lighthouse.

That’s it for now.

Coming soon: The Tiger’s impressive and aggressive performance on dirt on a trip to the Steens. On the other side of the equation there were mosquitoes and grass seeds (allergies!) as well.

Coming Soon! An Impressive performance by the Triumph Tiger, as well as a major shortfall.

Has the Triumph managed to push the Yamaha away from the shed? Stay Tuned!

And thanks for reading.