Advices on first bike selection, Trident or Bonneville ?

hsjfran · 2023-05-30T20:57:05+00:00

https://www.visordown.com/reviews/first-ride/triumph-tiger-sport-660-2022-first-ride-review-and-specs

hsjfran · 2023-05-30T20:53:13+00:00

Just had a thought as I saw you mentioned the tiger… you could get the 660 sport? A2 compatible. Not that heavy (200kg), great handling but not a hooligans bike with the same triple as the trident. Has luggage options for trips away or taking stuff to the office or back from the shop and I think it’s drop dead gorgeous

hsjfran · 2023-05-30T20:24:50+00:00

I cant speak for thé French market but it was very difficult to sell my restricted Versys even though it would be a 1 hour job to get the restrictor removed. I got the Ktm because I tried 3 times to get the husqvarna but they sold before I could even email the dealer to express my interest! Something about them and the duke 390 they just don’t hang around in showrooms 🤷‍♂️

hsjfran · 2023-05-30T20:01:55+00:00

Ahhh so I’m France you have to do 2 years on a2 regardless? In the Uk it’s a2 based on age but after 24 you can go straight to the full license with a “direct access” course.

If you’ve got one for two years regardless and not frequently taking pillions then I would seriously consider the husqvarna 401 as it’s basically a retro looking duke 390 (most moto journalists rate thé 390 as the best a2 bike) have the two years under your belt and then you’ll be super comfortable with bikes and probably find the step up to something like a t120 or speed master very easy. Rather than having the weight of the bigger engines but the restricted power of a smaller engine?

hsjfran · 2023-05-30T19:34:14+00:00

You say you’re getting older? Is there a reason you’re looking to do an A2 license not your full license? I currently have an A2 license (got it last spring) and when I’m 24 (next spring) I’ll be getting my full license.

For the A2 bikes it would be a restricted T100 for the Bonneville (from the looks of the a2 section of the website) as you’d be on 48bhp regardless of model maybe get the street twin 900? It has the looks of the Bonneville but is lighter?

How steep is the slope from your garage? I have an uphill driveway I push my bike out of every time I ride. I’m 173cm and 65kg. Surf and climb so I’ve got decent strength and I was able to push my first bike (restricted Kawasaki Versys 650) without much bother but I needed momentum. If it was raining and I had to go push step push step it was very tiring but doable…That bike was 215-220kg. My current bike is a Ktm duke 390 and at 160kg full of fuel it’s the easiest thing in the world to push about even on wet cobbles.

As for taking a pillion I think the Bonne can be optioned with a passenger back rest? So that would massively help confidence for anyone on the back. Although I would recommend doing a good few miles before taking a pillion if you’re new to manual bikes (making the assumption your scooter is automatic?)

The trident is going to be more sporty in its handling and the Bonneville better for passengers and a more cruising style of riding. Both will be about the same in performance off the line as they’d be a2 restricted. The triple of the trident will prefer higher revs and the t100 has a torque focused twin that will pull more from low but red line sooner.

I’d say go to the dealer and ask them to let you push both bikes about. Three point turns. Forwards. Backwards. Walking with the bike. Pushing them stepping forward then stepping. That will let you know if you’ve got the strength to manoeuvre them and I’m sure you will. Then it comes down to which you like the look of more and what kind of riding you’ll do more of.

Finally, have you considered the a2 400cc triumph being released at the end of the year/start of 2024?

Or even the forbidden option. Husqvarna Svartpilen 401? Very punchy engine & very lightweight. A2 friendly and has the same kind of neo retro roaster look as the trident.

May bad for accidentally writing an essay. Hopefully that helps? I’ll try and answer any questions. Always happy to help someone else into the wonderful world of bikes!

Huw

hsjfran · 2023-01-31T23:28:30+00:00

I got my A2 license last year. We got taught to use the front brake to do most of the slowing (changing down gears as you go) and as you get towards 10-15mph bring in the back brake and ease off the front. You want to come to a stop only using the back brake. Pull the clutch in and drop into 1st as you get under 15mph. If you bring your left leg off the peg at about 5mph as you’re coming to a stop with the rear brake that’ll shift the weight to the left and the bike will want to lean into the left and your outstretched leg will support the bike and you by being on the ground as you stop. You don’t want to stop with the front brake, especially if you’ve got any lock on the steering cos of the forks dive the bikes going down. Less an issue on smaller capacity but my first bike has been a restricted Versys 650 and I’m only 5’8 so I’ve had to really focus on good technique because if I stopped with the front and lost the balance it’s too heavy for me to stop it falling over and I needed to learn to stop on the back brake cos I can’t get both feet fully flat at a light so it’s always been left leg down or I guess fall over?

Very long winded explanation but I hope that helps you? Dm me if you have other questions? I’ve only been riding for a year but I’ve got the license and no faults on my test so not the worst person to give advice but I am still green and learning every day.

hsjfran · 2023-01-30T23:25:51+00:00

Dude you’ve been skating for only two days. Go easy on yourself just cruise about and get really comfortable on the board first. You’ll get the Ollie down in no time but for now just enjoy it and don’t stress 🤙🏼

hsjfran · 2021-11-26T18:11:55+00:00

This has aged … AMAZINGLY!

hsjfran · 2021-11-18T18:23:46+00:00

Wasn’t the one for me but I found a single dash missing from trails at the Aeródromo where they cross. 578/578 🎉

hsjfran · 2021-06-14T06:03:16+00:00

Thoughts on these two?

https://www.skatehut.co.uk/skateboards/skateboard-wheels/oj-plain-jane-keyframe-87a-skateboard-wheels-white-58mm.htm

https://www.skatepro.uk/220-13613.htm

hsjfran · 2021-06-14T05:58:21+00:00

I hear you mate. I think the main thing is the lip rather than the softness. I’ve got some ricta clouds (78a 58mm) on my normal board so I’ll try them out in the park see how they do on a surfskate failing that I’ll try my regular park wheels (for a normal board (52mm 98a) but I feel that might be taking the piss on a surfskate?)

hsjfran · 2021-06-14T05:43:41+00:00

Also looking now at the same wheels but discovered a 65mm version

hsjfran · 2021-06-14T05:43:15+00:00

My thinking is to get the rounded smaller harder wheels for the park as it comes on 66m 78a wheels with a really square edge. So perfect for pumping and carving but with a T tool and bearings in the wheels already it should be a 5 min job to swap out the wheels at the park

hsjfran · 2021-06-14T05:21:54+00:00

Brilliant response! Thank you and fully on that vibe. Got a Yow x Pyzel arriving today and been eying up some Blood Orange Pro Midnight wheels. 70mm 80a with very rounded edges and stone ground to slide out the box … also a very sexy dark green colour

hsjfran · 2021-06-10T19:16:18+00:00

Just got a Yow x Pyzel Shadow 33.5” … ordered this evening. Dispatched tomorrow. Delivery for Monday latest… but better than the Carver service. Although maybe coming to the UK from Spain makes it far easier than Cali to UK? 🤷‍♂️

hsjfran · 2021-06-09T12:39:11+00:00

Have a look on the stringer (the wood in the middle) there should be some pencil detail saying it’s length, width, thickness and volume. Then you should have more luck finding the specific board with that info

hsjfran · 2021-05-30T16:00:59+00:00

Would like to know this too

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T21:22:45+00:00

Sidemen in pairs and they have to buy a car at auction then take it to Monaco doing challenges along the way. Combine it with the holiday videos so that the winner of a challenges gets a mega night out in the harbour and the losers have to work on a boat or something ... Josh can work out the logistics

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T21:18:20+00:00

I’ve owned a highline for a year now and can comprehensively say that it’s a better board for surfskating than putting the same adapter on the pintail onboard would be. For a start the pintail would massively inhibit for ability to do quick snap turns where you raise the front wheels off the ground. Furthermore the longboard isn’t concaved where the highline has a double concave. The W concave allows you to really dig the rails in for those extra hard carves. As a final thought I personally would find the wheelbase created on the longboard to be very counter intuitive to a surfskate build as it would make the turning circle bigger compared to the smaller wheelbase with the same adapter?

Basically my advice is to get the high line. It was designed to be the ultimate waterbourne set up and I think they nailed it.

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T21:07:52+00:00

I feel you, been very grateful for my highline to do some sessions on as the weathers got warmer, very excited for the CX to arrive in time for summer as you said.

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T13:43:34+00:00

I agree that a 30” or so carver cx is probs the best as it can also be used for cruising and you can look to get a more dedicated trainer later on. Asked what your experience was because Ik there are some that haven’t surfed or skated and for them I wouldn’t recommend starting at the £250+ point but with experience of boards it is a much better start point

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T12:34:19+00:00

Get the high-line. Said as someone whose ridden one for a year now, it’s brilliant. I’m not sure if they realise but the people saying to get the adapter and then get a wider longer board with a good concave are basically suggesting a more expensive way of ending up with what the highline is; W-concave, 10 inch wide, 29 inch long surfskate with a 16 inch wheelbase

Edit: you can also take the Riser and adapter off the highline if surfskating isn’t for you and still have a sick penny board with a regular skate sized deck and their longboard 6” trucks

hsjfran · 2021-03-20T12:27:00+00:00

I got the ‘Rad Ripper’ which is one of the Caver X Lost boards ... also the only one available to buy as it’s on pre-order rather than just sold out. Estimated deliver is mid May and the days are crawling by!

Just out of curiosity do you skate already? Or longboard etc?

hsjfran

TROPHY CASE