A couple of months ago I had a fall and fractured my right shoulder in two places. This was probably one of the most painful experiences of my 73 years on the planet. The consequences was my arm permanently in a sling, and having to sleep on my back with a pillow support for my arm/shoulder, there was been no driving/riding for six weeks. As my wife doesn’t drive we were isolated at home. We had our shopping delivered and relied on my son’s to ferry me to and from hospital; it was so frustrating. It is difficult to explain how difficult I found this time without our car and the freedom it provides.
Anyway, I was given the all clear from the consultant to start driving after 7 weeks, but I’m still unable to ride my bike, It is going to be a couple more weeks to get the necessary strength back in my shoulder to be able to manage the bike.
The accident has prompted a great deal of internal thoughts on my ability to continued riding and the bike I can do it on. I have sadly come to the decision that my Tiger 900 GT Pro is just to big for me and if I’m going to continue I’m going to have to find something lighter, smaller and more manageable.
I have spent a significant amount of my time since the accident thinking about what I will do when I can ride again and therefore looking for an alternative bike. Having been a triumph owner for many years and having had many from their extensive range I started looking for a Triumph. I still wanted something that would provide a similar performance to the Tiger. The 400’s didn’t appeal and I had already had a 660 sport, so I looked at the new Trident 800. I spent many hours watching YouTube video reviews and comparisons to the Triumph. It soon became obvious that there were many different naked bikes in this middle weight class. All the major manufactures had an offering in the class and eventually I whittled it down to the Trident 800 or the CB750.
So last week I went to Bill Smith’s motorcycle dealership, which is local to me. They have Triumph, Royal Enfield, BSA, Honda and some Chinese bikes at their showroom.
I was particularly interested in the Trident 800 and the Honda CB750 Hornet. I started with the Triumph and my heart said buy it, it is such a beautiful looking bike. I sat on it and whilst the seat height is similar to the Tiger it felt tall for me and very similar to the Thruxton I’d had. I then went across the yard to the Honda showroom and sat on the CB750. With a seat height of 795cm and a much lower weight it felt really comfortable and I felt very planted. It had the added benefit of the Honda e-clutch. I had watched lot’s of videos about this automated function/quick shifter and clearly it would provide the solution to the arthritis in my left hand, which is only going to get worse and not any better.
I have owned many different bikes from numerous manufactures, but never a Honda. So it was now decision time. I set off for home with both the pro’s and con’s of the two bikes going through my head. I spent the next couple of days thinking about which bike to go for and eventually decided on the Honda. My heart had said buy the Trident but my head said it has to be the Honda, so I have put the deposit down and should get the bike on the 1st July.
I’m hoping that I won’t regret my decision, only time will tell. Anyway I have really enjoyed my Triumph bikes and the Triumph community this forum and the many great friends I have made.
At least you are on the mend now. Have you spoken to Dilly? He had a Honda with the automatic clutch I think so he can maybe give you some feedback.
