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Triumph Malaysia

Triumph is back with an updated 2024 Tiger 900 range that boasts more power, enhanced capabilities, and improved comfort. The lineup now includes the Tiger 900 GT, GT Pro, and Rally Pro, all offering significant performance and feature upgrades.

Under the hood, the iconic three-cylinder engine of the Tiger 900 has undergone a major overhaul. This update results in a 13% boost in power, delivering a robust 108PS of peak power and an increased peak torque of 90Nm. The revised engine components also improve low-end tractability. The unique T-plane crank and offset firing intervals maintain the characteristic performance and sound of the Tiger 900 while delivering enhanced performance across the entire rev range and up to 9% better fuel efficiency.

The 2024 Tiger 900 range introduces advanced safety features, including improved braking for better control and reduced stopping distances. It also includes an emergency deceleration warning system that activates hazard lights during rapid braking and automatically deactivates them when you resume normal riding.

The new models feature prominent marker lights for better visibility at night and in adverse weather conditions. They are equipped with new 7″ TFT instruments with updated graphics and menus, along with a USB-C cockpit charger. My Triumph Bluetooth connectivity is now standard across all models.

The redesigned rider seat offers improved comfort for long-distance rides, with heated seats available on the GT Pro and Rally Pro models. All models feature a 20mm seat height adjustability, and there’s an option for a heated low rider seat, reducing the seat height by an additional 20mm. This results in a lower seat height as low as 800mm for GT models, enhancing accessibility.

A new damped handlebar mounting system enhances the ride’s comfort, while the Rally Pro’s enhanced handlebar position, positioned 15mm closer, facilitates a more agile ride, whether sitting or standing.

The 2024 Tiger 900 range receives a stylish makeover with new bodywork, giving each motorcycle a more aggressive and adventure-oriented appearance. The addition of contemporary paint schemes and graphics completes the refreshed look.

Triumph offers a wide selection of accessories for the new Tiger 900, including the Performance, Protection, Trekker, and Expedition kits, with more than 50 accessories in total. These kits provide various options to customize your ride.

The new Tiger 900 maintains its class-leading specifications, featuring:

  • Optimized cornering ABS and traction control with an IMU
  • Up to six riding modes, including Road, Rain, Sport, and Off-Road (with Rider Configurable for GT Pro and Rally Pro and Off-Road Pro for Rally Pro)
  • All-LED lighting
  • Triumph Shift Assist (GT Pro & Rally Pro)
  • Heated grips and seats (GT Pro & Rally Pro)
  • Illuminated switches
  • Tire pressure monitoring system (GT Pro & Rally Pro)
  • Brembo Stylema Monobloc brakes
  • Model-specific premium suspension tuned for maximum road and off-road capability

The Tiger 900’s engine, known for its distinctive T-plane crank and triple exhaust note, has been further improved. It now boasts 13% more power, reaching an impressive 108PS. This power increase is felt throughout the rev range, resulting in a more robust mid-range and improved acceleration. The Tiger 900 delivers a versatile performance, making it suitable for both low-speed city rides and high-speed touring, as well as technical off-road adventures.

Each model in the Tiger 900 range features specific suspension setups to cater to different rider needs. The GT comes with Marzocchi suspension, while the GT Pro offers electronically adjustable rear suspension. The Rally Pro is equipped with Showa suspension, providing versatility on all types of roads.

The range offers a balance between road handling and off-road capability, with the GT and GT Pro featuring cast alloy wheels and the Rally Pro using tubeless spoked wheels for pure off-road performance.

All three Tiger 900 models are equipped with Brembo Stylema brake calipers, ensuring effective stopping power and a responsive lever feel for controlled and smooth braking.

The 2024 Tiger 900 incorporates new active safety features to enhance visibility on the road. Optimized cornering ABS and Traction Control are standard, with multiple riding modes to suit various conditions. The GT Pro and Rally Pro models provide additional customization for riders. Triumph’s Slip and Assist clutch system offers a light clutch lever action to reduce rider fatigue.

The Pro models also feature the Triumph Shift Assist system, enabling clutch-less gear changes. My Triumph Connectivity System is standard on all Tiger 900 models, providing access to music, phone, and turn-by-turn navigation through a user-friendly 7″ TFT display.

Comfort is a priority with the redesigned seat, featuring 20mm adjustability and heated options on the Pro models. A damped handlebar mounting system and improved handlebar position contribute to a more comfortable and agile ride.

The Tiger 900 range embraces a bold and adventure-focused look with redesigned bodywork and striking paint schemes. Over 50 accessories and four accessory kits are available, including a new Akrapovič silencer for weight reduction and improved sound.

Triumph’s 2024 Tiger 900 range offers more power, enhanced capabilities, advanced safety features, and improved comfort, making it a formidable choice for riders seeking a versatile and adventure-ready motorcycle.

Fastbikes selaku pengedar Triumph Motorcycles di Malaysia melancarkan Triumph Tiger 900, hari ini.

Triumph Tiger – motosikal segmen ADV – menerima nafas baharu bagi tahun 2020 dengan enam varian diperkenalkan.

Triumph memperkenalkan Tiger 900, Tiger 900 GT, GT Low (dengan tempat duduk rendah) serta GT Pro, Tiger 900 Rally dan Rally Pro.

Model baharu ini menggantikan varian XRX dan XCX sebelum ini.

Penambahbaikan terbaru bagi keluarga Tiger adalah penggunaan enjin lebih besar, 900cc 3-silinder berbanding 800cc sebelum ini.

Meskipun menghasilkan 93.9hp pada 8,750rpm – sekitar angka sama dihasilkan model terdahulu – namun Triumph mendakwa nadi baharu ini menghasilkan tork lebih tinggi pada RPM rendah.

Model baharu ini turut dengan chasis serba baharu di samping kaliper Brembo Stylema – seperti yang terdapat pada Ducati Panigale V4 – yang turut didatangkan secara standard pada semua varian!

Bagaimanapun, perbezaan di antara kesemua model terarah kepada bahagian ‘suspension’ dengan Tiger 900 mendapat fork Marzocchi tidak laras dan penyerap hentakan dengan preload sementara Tiger GT didatangkan dengan fork boleh laras – compression dan rebound.

Varian GT Pro pula didatangkan dengan fork sama namun dengan sistem penyerap hentakan elektronik.

Sementara itu, model Rally dan Rally Pro dilengkapi dengan sistem penyerap hentakan Showa boleh laras sepenuhnya.

Pada masa sama, varian GT, GT Pro, Rally dan Rally Pro dilengkapi dengan paparan skrin TFT 7-inci dengan GT Pro dan Rally Pro didatangkan dengan sistem Triumph My Ride.

Ketika ini Fastbikes telah pun menerima lebih 20 tempahan bagi Tiger 900.

Antara ciri menarik lain:

  • Cornering ABS dan IMU (GT, GT Pro, Rally dan Rally Pro)
  • 6 mod tunggangan (Rain, Road, Sport, Rider, Off-Road, Off-Road Pro)
  • Quickshifter (GT Pro dan Rally Pro)
  • Lampu LED
  • USB Port
  • Tangki 20L

Berikut harga yang ditawarkan bagi kesemua varian:

  • Tiger 900 – RM63,900
  • Tiger 900 GT – RM74,900
  • Tiger 900 GT Low – RM74,900
  • Tiger 900 GT Pro – RM82,900
  • Tiger 900 Rally – RM78,900
  • Tiger 900 Rally Pro  – RM85,900

Jangan lupa ikuti kami di YouTube dan Instagram!

Beberapa bulan sejak Triumph Malaysia melancarkan Street Triple RS di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang, November lalu, kini tiba masa untuk Street Triple R membuat penampilan.

Triumph Street Triple R 2020 kini diperkenalkan dengan beberapa kemas kini terbaru terutamanya bahagian enjin dan gaya rekaan.

Selain daripada perubahan estetik, Street Triple kini didatangkan dengan enjin 765cc patuh Euro5 namun masih lagi menawarkan kuasa sama, 118hp pada 12,000rpm dan 77Nm pada 9,400rpm.

Chasis Street Triple sememangnya antara ciri utama yang paling mencuri tumpuan selain daripada tunggangan yang selesa dan penuh kawalan.

Bagi model 2020, Triumph mempertingkatkan lagi pengalaman tunggangan dengan kombinasi kaliper Brembo M4 Monoblock, fork Showa Big Piston dan penyerap hentakan belakang Showa.

Bukan itu sahaja, jentera baharu ini turut didatangkan – secara standard – dengan Triumph Shift Assist up and down quickhshifter.

Antara ciri baharu yang terdapat pada Street Triple R 2020:

  • ABS dan Traction Control
  • Lampu LED berkembar
  • Gaya sporty dan kontemporari
  • Warna dan grafik baharu
  • Slip on silencer Arrow

Menariknya, Triumph turut menawarkan pilihan Low Ride Height (LRH), tetapan tempat duduk serendah 780mm daripada tetapan standard, 825mm sebelum ini.

Triumph Tiger sentiasa ada tempat yang istimewa bagi MotoMalaya, sila KLIK SINI untuk tahu kenapa.

Kali ini, pengeluar motosikal Britain itu mengumumkan Triumph Tiger 900 akan dilancarkan pada bulan Disember ini.

Tiger 900 merupakan model yang dinaiktaraf daripada Tiger 800 yang akan dipasarkan khas bagi tahun 2020.

Difahamkan, Triumph akan memperkenalkan dua varian, Tiger 900 Rally dan Tiger 900 GT.

Ketika ini beberapa imej model baharu tersebut telah pun tersebar dan meskipun kurang jelas namun sedikit sebanyak memberi gambaran rupa baharu jentera adventure kegemaran kami.

Seperti Triumph Street Triple yang dilancarkan baru-baru ini, Tiger 900 turut didatangkan dengan lampu LED tirus.

Meskipun Triumph telah memperkenalkan pelbagai penambahbaikan bagi Tiger 800 2018 namun dijangkakan Tiger 900 akan turut dilengkapi dengan pelbagai sistem elektronik terkini.

Nantikan info rasmi mengenai Triumph Tiger 900 dan 900 GT sebaik dilancarkan pada 3 Disember ini.

Jika sebut tentang motosikal adventure, model yang sering akan menjadi bualan orang ramai adalah BMW GS dan GS Adventure, Honda Africa Twin dan KTM Adventure 1050.

Tetapi dalam buku MotoMalaya, motosikal adventure pilihan kami adalah Triumph Tiger 800 XRX dan XCX 2018.

Tatkala kebanyakan pengeluar lain berlumba-lumba dalam mengejar saiz dan kuasa, Triumph memastikan mereka tidak terkesan dengan perlumbaan itu sebaliknya enjin 800cc tiga silinder dengan penyejuk cecair, 12 injap, DOHC – yang menjana 95hp – sudah memadai untuk memberikan pengalaman tunggangan jarak jauh yang terbaik.

Julai lalu, MotoMalaya bersama-sama Triumph Malaysia dijemput menyertai pengembaraan dari Kuala Lumpur (KL) ke Koh Samui dan kembali ke tanah air dalam perjalanan yang memakan masa lima hari.

MotoMalaya telah diberikan Triumph Tiger 800 XCX sebagai pasangan utama sepanjang tempoh pengembaraan tersebut dan ternyata kami tergaman dengan prestasi keseluruhan jentera.

Teringat kembali kata-kata daripada sahabat di BikesRepublic apabila dimaklumkan bahawa MotoMalaya akan diberikan Tiger 800, “Once you tried the Tiger, every other bikes will feel like crap”.

Hakikatnya, artikel ini boleh diakhiri dengan kenyataan pendek tapi kompak itu namun keterujaan Tiger 800 tiada penghujungnya.

Perlu diingatkan jentera yang dipinjamkan itu merupakan model 2018 yang telah dikemas kini sekaligus memiliki lampu depan LED dengan keupayaan Daytime Running Light (DRL) dan cermin depan boleh laras.

Tetapi kami cukup gemar dengan paparan TFT-LCD berwarna yang diguna pakai. Mudah dibaca di waktu panas terik dan tampak cukup jelas ketika waktu malam.

Bagaimanapun, faktor utama yang membuatkan keseluruhan tunggangan ketika menempuh perjalanan 1,800KM itu kekal selesa dan tidak memenatkan adalah sistem cruise control yang ditawarkan pada Tiger 800 XCX dan XRX.

Hanya setkan kelajuan diingini – 161km/j kelajuan maksima dibenarkan ketika cruise control – dan perjalanan berjam-jam dari KL ke sempadan tidak lagi dihujani keluhan sebaliknya kagum dengan enjin yang menawarkan kestabilan tinggi.

Jika hendak mematikan sistem tersebut, penunggang hanya perlu menekan brek tangan dengan perlahan dan kembali mengawal kelajuan dengan pendikit seperti biasa.

Perlu diingatkan, Tiger 800 XCX dan XRX menawarkan pengalaman tunggangan berbeza tatkala XCX lebih terarah kepada off-road manakala XRX direka khas bagi penunggang yang gemar dengan tunggangan jarak jauh.

Sejujurnya, sesiapa pun akan mengatakan bahwa Triumph Tiger 800 XCX kelihatan jauh lebih ‘jahat’ berbanding XRX terutamanya dengan penggunaan rim ‘wire-spoked’ di tambah dengan enjin guard dan sebagainya.

Namun, melihat dari aspek praktikal, Tiger XRX berjaya melaksanakan tugas dengan baik dengan penggunaan rim ‘cast aluminium’ 19 inci depan dan 17 inci belakang.

Fork 43mm WP di bahagian depan dan penyerap hentakan Showa 180 mm yang terdapat pada XRX serta sistem ABS turut memastikan pengalaman sepanjang tunggangan kekal selesa. Dalam erti kata mudah, “Setakat lubang-lubang kecil di Malaysia dan Thailand, apa ada hal!”.

Berbeza dengan XCX yang didatangkan dengan tempat duduk berketinggian 840mm hingga 860mm, XRX lebih memaafkan untuk penunggang yang gayat dengan ketinggian sekitar 810mm hingga 830mm. Pada pendapat kami, ketinggian tempat duduk ini sudah cukup memadai.

Bagi kami di MotoMalaya, tiada cara yang lebih baik untuk menguji kemampuan sebuah motosikal adventure selain daripada menempuh perjalanan daripada Kuala Lumpur ke Koh Samui dan kembali ke tanah air dalam perjalanan yang memakan lebih 1,800km dan tidak sekalipun Triumph Tiger 800 XRX ini mengecewakan.

 

  • Jeremais Israel is set to rock GIVI Rimba Raid at Janda Baik 2019 on the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE.

  • Jeremais was a works HRC rider in the Dakar Rally.

  • The Scrambler 1200 XE had finished fifth overall at the recent Mexican 1000 Rally.

Chilean Dakar Rally and off-road racer, Jeremais Israel is set to rock GIVI Rimba Raid at Janda Baik 2019 on the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE.

The rider was present at Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia this morning to receive the bike and prep it. He will be using the #09 number plate in the race. Jeremais was specially flown in by GIVI to compete in Rimba Raid. He will also conduct a special off-road riding clinic tomorrow morning at Ukay Perdana.

The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is a true-blood off-road bike, dressed up in the classic Bonneville body. It’s inspired by the TR6 Trophy ridden by Steve McQueen and his stuntman Bud Ekins to a number of wins in the Baja 1000 Rally.

It features long-travel fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension, cross-spoke wheels, engine crash bars, under-engine skid plate, bark-buster style hand protectors as standard. The electronics are also geared towards off-road performance, although the bike rides pretty well over paved roads, too.

British stunt rider Ernie Vigil had proven the bike’s toughness and ability to duke it out with 450cc dirtbikes in the Mexican 1000 Rally recently. He finished fifth overall on a bog-stock bike.

Jeremais will also be riding a fully stock bike in GIVI Rimba Raid.

PICTURE GALLERY

Triumph Malaysia menerusi Fastbikes Sdn Bhd, memperkenalkan dua model baharu sempena ulangtahun ke-60 jenama Bonneville.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond dan Bonneville T120 Ace Limited Edition telah diperkenalkan dalam satu majlis pelancaran yang diadakan ketika sambutan rumah terbuka Fastbikes di Petaling Jaya, hari ini.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond

Tahun 2019 merupakan tarikh keramat bagi jenama Triumph apabila meraikan sambutan 60 tahun jentera ikonik Bonneville Twin dengan edisi sulung dikeluarkan pada tahun 1959.

Hanya 900 model dihasilkan bagi T120 Diamond dengan hanya empat model dibawa masuk ke Triumph Malaysia setakat ini.

Antara ciri menarik yang terdapat pada Bonneville T120 Diamond:

  • Rekaan Snowdonia White dan Aluminium Silver ‘Union Flag’
  • Logo Triumph krom di tangki
  • Pelindung enjin krom
  • Pelindung rantai krom
  • Setiap model T120 Diamond didatangkan dengan sijil bernombor yang ditandatangani oleh Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Triumph, Nick Bloor.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace

Jentera yang menggabungkan rekaan moden dan klasik ini tampak lebih garang dengan perwatakan berbeza dari T120 Diamond.

Pilihan warna Matt Storm Grey dengan rekaan logo Ace Cafe dan perincian ‘Head Down-Hold On’ membuatkan keseluruhan rupa T120 Ace Edition lebih menonjol.

Dengan hanya 1400 unit ditawarkan di seluruh dunia, pelanggan turut akan mendapat sijil bernombor yang telah ditandatangani oleh Nick Bloor.

 

Kedua-dua jentera ini digerakkan dengan enjin parallel-twin 1200cc dengan 8 valve single overhead cam yang menghasilkan 80hp pada 6,550rpm yang digerakkan dengan transmisi enam kelajuan.

Minggu lalu, Triumph Amerika Syarikat telah mengarahkan lebih 12,000 unit motosikal mereka dipanggil semula susulan masalah pendawaian, kali ini pengeluar motosikal Britain itu bertindak memanggil lebih 1,000 unit di India susulan masalah sama.

Di India, Triumph menggesa pemilik model Bonneville T100 dan T120, Street Twin dan Street Scrambler untuk membawa motosikal mereka menjalani pemeriksaan bagi mengesan masalah pendawaian.

Setiap pemilik akan dihubungi Triumph bagi sesi baik pulih secara percuma.

Triumph melaporkan bahawa sistem pendawaian motosikal boleh mengalami kerosakan apabila sering bergesel dengan kabel klac lalu menyebabkan masalah elektrikal.

Difahamkan, selain daripada 12,000 unit di AS dan 1,000 di India, lebih 68,686 motosikal Triumph telah terkesan dengan masalah ini di seluruh dunia.

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia telah melancarkan lima model baharu bagi rangkaian klasik moden yang terdiri daripada Street Twin, Street Scrambler, Scrambler XC, Scrambler XE dan Speed Twin.

Street Twin – yang diperkenalkan buat kali pertama pada 2016 – yang mencatat penjualan tinggi selaku motosikal klasik moden kini menawarkan lebih kuasa, spesifikasi dan peralatan lebih tinggi serta penunggangan yang lebih selesa.

Enjin Bonneville 900cc yang digunapakai sebelum ini telah dinaiktaraf sekaligus membekalkan kuasa 95PS @ 7,500rpm manakala tork pada 80NM @ 3,800rpm.

Model terbaru ini turut menampilkan Mod Tunggangan Road dan Rain yang baharu selain daripada TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) dan Kawalan Cengkamana Boleh Laras.

Sejak diperkenalkan pada tahun 2017, Street Scrambler muncul antara jentera paling digemari ekoran memiliki gaya lasak dan versatil.

Enjin Street Scrambler kali ini memberikan kuasa 65PS @ 7,500rpm – 18 peratus lebih tinggi berbanding model sebelum ini.

Bagi memberikan kepuasan kepada pemilik, model kali ini turut didatangkan dengan kaliper brek Brembo terbaru selain daripada teknologi ABS boleh laras!

Triumph Malaysia turut memperkenalkan Scrambler 1200 XC dan XE yang direka khas untuk tunggangan di atas jalan raya dan tanah.

Sekali imbas, kedua-dua model ini kelihatan seakan-akan sama namun hakikatnya, model XE dilengkapi dengan keupayaan motosikal lasak yang lebih tinggi.

Bagi memastikan kedua-dua jentera menghasilkan prestasi mantap, Triumph telah menjalinkan kerjasama bersama Ohlins.

Lebih menarik, kedua-dua model menghasilan 90PS @ 7,400rpm – 38 peratus lebih tinggi berbanding Street Scramber 2019!

Selain itu, XE dan XC turut dilengkapi teknologi, TFT generasi kedua, 6 mod tunggangan, Optimised Cornering ABS (model XE sahaja), Optimised Traction Control (XE sahaja) Inertial Measurement Unit (XE sahaja), sistem kawalan GoPro bersepadu (pertama di dunia) dan sistem navigasi bersepadu!

Dipendekkan cerita, reka bentuk mungkin kelihatan retro dan klasik tetapi kedua-dua model ini tidak ketinggalan daripada ciri-ciri inovatif!

Paling mencuri tumpuan dalam pelancaran kali ini adalah model Speed Twin 2019. Dipertontonkan buat julung kali di Malaysia, Speed Twin merupakan petanda aras bagi sesebuah ‘custom roadster’. Casis yang ringan dan sistem suspensi yang baharu memberikan tunggangan yang lebih ergonomik dan selesa.

Speed Twin digerakkan dengan kuasa 1200cc Bonneville yang telah diberikan sentuhan talaan Thruxton sekaligus menghasilkan 97PS @ 6,750rpm, hampir 50 peratus kuasa lebih tinggi berbanding model 2018.

 

 

 

  • We continue with the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure – Day 2 with more historic and important landmarks.

  • Westminster Abbey should be high on everyone’s list should you fancy history.

  • Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament are the landmarks no one should miss.

It was another short jaunt from St. James’s Park to Westminster Abbey. All these sites were set up close to Buckingham Palace.

Seeing it all in pictures was nothing compared to the first-hand experience of being there yourself. The sights, the sounds, the cool air, the sunshine, the people and everything else contribute an immersive experience none could forget.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Yes, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church, but I don’t have a fixation for anything goth. Nevertheless, it is where monarchs, royalties, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens and Stephen Hawking (among other luminaries) are interned (buried). It was also the site in a number of famous movies.

But first, who was Sir Isaac Newton?

You’ve probably learned in school about the guy who discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head. That guy was Sir Isaac Newton. However, the part about an apple knocking Sir Newton’s noggin was a myth. Truth was, he sat under a tree and wondered why apples always drop perpendicularly to the ground, instead of sideways or upwards.

There are stronger connotations to why I venerate Sir Isaac Newton. I love the subjects of physics and motion, besides history and astronomy. The first two are innately connected with how engines and motorcycles work. In fact, an engine’s torque is measured (among other units) in “Nm,” as in Newton-metre. Additionally, there are Newton’s three laws of motion.

 

It was Newton who gave us the laws of universal gravity, laws of motion, calculus, among many more which he published in the groundbreaking book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica– better known as just “Principia.” It was one of the most important works in the history of science, marking the epoch of a great revolution in physics.

Financed by Astronomer Royal Edmond Halley (remember this name), Principia was published in 1687. We came to understand the motions of the planets, comets and other celestial bodies.

Without Newton’s work, we wouldn’t have satellite communications and GPS because we wouldn’t be able to keep satellites orbit. Worse, we won’t be watching MotoGP “live” on weekends (plus all the football matches). In fact, scientists and engineers today still use Newton’s formulas to send spacecrafts into space and the orbits of other planets.

It was he who created the first practical reflecting telescope, so much so the type is often referred to as the “Newtonian.” He also discovered that a prism separates white light into the colours of the spectrum and continued to research the subject. His findings were published in another book called “Opticks” in 1704.

This was why he’s oft regarded as the “father” of modern physics.

Newton passed away in his sleep in London on 20 March 1727 (NS 31 March 1737) aged 84 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Back to Westminster Abbey, the site was established in 960 (1,058 years ago) when King Edgar installed a community of Benedictine monks. It was then expanded and extended by various monarchs through the centuries.

Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and later British monarchs had been performed at Westminster Abbey. There were also 16 royal weddings since 1100. Princess Diana’s funeral service was held here in 1997.

I got goosebumps as I walked in the yard, while looking at all those huge centuries-old stones that were used to build it. Immense buttresses supported the walls. Visitors entered through the magnificent North Entrance façade which is decorated with tracery, arcading and figurative carvings.

The ticket counter’s in the narthex. Entrance fee for a single adult is £22, inclusive of an audiobook and guided tour. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed, and I had a schedule to adhere to. I decided that Sir Isaac Newton’s tomb is one compelling reason to revisit London.

BIG BEN

It’s amazing when you do some of research. I never knew that “Big Ben” is in fact the name of the largest of five bells in the clock tower. The tower’s name was simply the “Clock Tower” before being renamed as Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Did you know that? I didn’t.

Did you know that the main bell, officially known as the “Great Bell” and “Big Ben” to us, was installed in the tower’s belfry in 1858 (160 years ago)? At 2.9m high, 2.74m in diameter and weighing 13.76 tonne (13,760kg), it was the largest and heaviest bell in the British Isles until the 17-tonne (17,000kg) “Great Paul” bell was cast for the St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1881.

Apart from that, do you know the musical chime of alarm clocks? (Please click on the link below to listen.) It had originated from the four Quarter Bells in the tower.

I used to listen to the BBC radio broadcasts with my late-Dad. The channel always used the tolling of Big Ben to mark 12 midnight, Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT). The practice began in 1923!

(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

The movement of the four-faced clock was designed by horologist Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, a Astronomer Royal (remember these names. They will show up again). What makes the clocks tick? A pendulum! Yes, like those in grandfather clocks. And like all old clocks it needs to be wound three times a week. The process takes 1½   hours.

The clock was the largest and most accurate when it was completed in 1859. It was so accurate that removing or adding a penny adjusted the clock by 0.4 seconds.

The clock’s mechanism – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Big Ben was hit by a bomb one occasion and an anti-aircraft shell during WWII, but it kept working and ringing. It was taken as one of the symbols of British defiance and stoicism during the war.

Big Ben is probably the most famous landmark of London. There’s no doubt every one of us has seen it in a movie or on TV.

However, it’s covered in scaffolding since 2017 for a four-year refurbishing project and the bell silenced. The works will also add a lift inside the tower. The renovation costs add up to£61 million as of September 2017.

Was I disappointed for not being able to view Big Ben? I was at first, but I knew the restoration will sustain the building for ages to come.

THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER A.K.A. HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

“Big Ben” is located at the northern end of The Palace of Westminster, better known as Houses of Parliament. The two structures are so famous that almost everyone on earth would recognize them as part of the City of London.

 

It is called Houses of Parliament because the House of Commons and House of Lords convened there.

The first royal palace was built on the site in 1016 and served as the primary residence for the Kings of England until a fire destroyed much of it in 1512. The Parliament of England had been meeting there since the 13thcentury but used the palace full-time afterwards.

Another fire broke out in 1834, destroying both Houses of Parliament and most buildings in the palace complex. The job to rebuild the site was awarded after reviewing 97 proposals. Work began in 1840 and was only completed in 1876. This was when the building acquired its current Gothic architecture.

The Blitz (German air bombing) in WWII hit the Palace of Westminster on fourteen separate occasions.

The building is old and in need of urgent restoration. There were reports of the ceiling dropping onto MP’s desks. Consequently, MP’s voted in 2016 to vacate the building in 2022.

Walking up close past the building was quite another experience compared to looking at it in pictures. Pictures all but show the outlines and little else. I was totally in awe while standing right in front of a structure that I’ve seen thousands of times in books and visual media. There are so many intricate details that need to be experienced. It was an imposing structure, as well. Of course, it had been a residence for the King, after all.

The Houses of Parliament has seen some serious cases of security breaches. As such, like Big Ben, tours are only allowed for British nationals who had obtained an authorization letter from their MP’s.

 

INTERMISSION

We’ll take another break here because the last part of Day 2 is another long article as it covers The Imperial War Museum London, a River Thames ferry ride and the Tower Bridge.

Please click here for the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure Day 1 and here for Day 2 (Part 1).

  • Kemunculan motosikal Triumph Scrambler 1200 telah digembar-gemburkan sejak dari pelancaran versi 900cc lagi.
  • Kini, Triumph telah hadir dengan video usikan yang baharu.
  • Motosikal baharu ini akan dilancarkan pada 24 Oktober 2018.

(more…)

  • The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black is a blacked-out modern retro.

  • Smooth power and predictable handling are its best traits.

  • Unintimidating, easy and fun to ride.

I’ve many biker friends who name their bikes. The majority being guys, their bikes are almost invariably lady’s names: Suzy, Hunny, Becky, Mimi, etc. etc. Some guys named their bikes with masculine names like Butch, The Rock, etc. However, it had never vexed me to name the few bikes I’ve owned, for some reason. Nope. Not even the Ducati 916SP I once had.

Maybe my bikes have never appealed to me beyond the machines they were.

So here came the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black, all blacked-out with a flat black fuel tank, black headlamp nacelle, black fork stanchions, black front fender, black rims, black peashooter exhausts, black engine covers, black side panels, black bench seat, black shock springs, black rear fender. Black, black, black. The only non-black parts were the throttle body shrouds, wheels’ wire spokes, bezel of the blocks, fuel cap.

The colour scheme actually harks back to the days of custom bikes when owners did away with the chrome and polished bits for something more sinister in appearance. Or more punk, if you will. Like the Sex Pistols vs. the early Beatles.

Getting on the T100 Black tells you how simple bikes were back then. Low seat height, narrow profile, handlebar not too wide and not too narrow, upright seating position, comfortable reach to the handlebar, comfortable positioning of the footpegs.

Just like any Triumph, the T100 Black fired up with a soulful vroom and settled down into a smooth idle. Blipping the throttle had some engine vibration through, just enough to let you know it’s alive.

Looking downwards, your gaze meets a pair of beautifully appointed gauges. Unlike those on other Bonnevilles, the T100 Black’s are black-faced, surrounded by silver counters and finished off with chrome bezels. Those bezels are awesomely beautiful especially at night when you ride past one light source after another. The LCD, numbers and needles glow softly (soft, not dim) without blasting photons into your retinas.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black felt special as soon as the clutch went out. Again, the throttle take-up was so direct, so smooth, so linear.

Before I go on, please think of something smooth. Butter, margarine, cheese, cream, etc. It doesn’t have to be dairy products, of course.

Okay, let’s move on.

The 900cc HT (for High Torque), liquid-cooled, parallel-Twin engine has a crankshaft spaced at 270o to mimic a 90o V-Twin’s firing order. It pulled the gears so smoothly… that a vision of a glass-smooth lake flashed through my mind. And this was just out of Triumph Motorcycle Malaysia’s showroom. From zero all the way to the top, there wasn’t a single step in the rev range. The bike didn’t stutter or surge at low speeds, either.

Nonetheless, the bike did rush forward when I snapped open the throttle and it pulled hard but it didn’t feel like a dog going after the GDex delivery man.

The suspension was plush enough without experiencing a speedboat ride on land, while stiff enough to have the bike turn quickly to my commands. Just as with other Triumphs, the twin rear shocks and forks were so well calibrated.

I remembered that I still had articles to write that afternoon, but I thought what the heck, let’s just ride a few kilometres further. I kept going from one place to another, the heart telling the brain, just a few more kilometres.

To cut the story short, I got home three and half hours later after riding it around without any destination in mind.

Why? Because it was such a joy to ride the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black. Half of that “trip” was through rush hour traffic, it even rained on me, but I didn’t care. It was pure riding joy. There a giddy excitement to it, like when I took delivery of the very first motorcycle I owned, exactly 30 years ago.

The handlebar is wide enough for good leverage, but it’s also at the correct width allowing you to filter through traffic. If the kapchai in front of you could get through, so could you. Plus, the low seat height made it easy to put a foot down.

Coupled with the light and smooth action clutch, and especially the smooth throttle and engine power delivery, heavy taffic didn’t actually register until I had to recount my experience for this review. The engine’s torque peaks at 3230 RPM, which equals to lots of pulling power to blast past other vehicles quickly to a soul-stirring vroom.

Conversely, I’ve test bikes that had overly heavy clutch pull and snatchy throttle in traffic. If that’s not bad enough, add in brakes that felt so wooden they might as well have been made of wood, and suspension that sent your liver through your mouth when you hit a bump. They did nothing but caused me curse and swear everytime I rode them.

Not so with the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black; it was just a pleasant experience.

Another factor which contributed to the fun was the brakes. The T100 Black may be a classic looking bike, but that front brake is a floating disc. I had a car cut across my lane at one time. Firm pressure on the levers had the bike slowing down immediately. The front brake lever didn’t come to the bar or pulse when ABS activated, instead it became stiffer meaning you could keep on adding brake pressure. It’s really helpful, allowing you to live to offend the offending driver with an offensive gesture in return. (I didn’t do this – it’s a test bike!)

Besides that, the bike is equipped with traction control. It’s always great to have this safety net.

One day, I got on and just started riding. I couldn’t remember what triggered it, but it may have had something to do with someone listed as “Puan Harimau” (Tigress) in my phone. I ended up in Tanjung Malim before I even realized.

I remembered singing aloud to my favourite songs playing through the Bluetooth headset (mostly Judas Priest tunes – they’re British after all). Wind blast was surprisingly bearable. But I was amazed that engine was virtually vibration free at a steady throttle and coming alive when you accelerate or decelerate. At a steady 110 to 130 km/h, a nice, purring vroom accompanies you.

Approaching an F 800 R cruising along, I the rider glancing into his mirror. My first instinct was, “Here we go again.” My right wrist was at the ready and gunned it at the same time he gunned his. He put his head down and so did I. In a flash, I was past him with my left hand waving to him at the side. I saw his head following me through and I glanced at the speedo. 180 km/h and still pulling. I backed off immediately.

Think the Triumph Bonneville T100 “classic bike” can’t run? Think again. Note that I was in sixth gear and didn’t downshift. It was all a throttle roll-on action.

It was a hot, hot day but I was smiling when I rolled into Tanjung Malim. I was whistling happy tunes when I maneuvered the bike around for photographs. A local guy saw the bike and asked if he could take pictures of it. Another guy spoke to me while I was shooting and invited me over to his sundry shop for a drink, on him. He wanted to talk more about the T100 Black away from the sun, he said.

On the return trip, I ignored the signboards pointing towards the highway and stuck to the old trunk road instead. I don’t normally do this on a hot afternoon, mind you.

The T100 Black was a natural on these roads (it felt natural on any road, anyway), whether it was straight or less so. I took it really easy, never going beyond 100 km/h just to savour that beautiful engine, throttle and suspension while enjoying the scenery. I discovered that the engine wasn’t only smooth on acceleration but on deceleration too. It felt like it had a slipper clutch, although it didn’t. Oddly, it was smoother that bikes with slipper clutches.

And hey! I even spotted a glass-smooth lake on the way. Déjà vu.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 bike makes you want to just ride and ride. In fact, one could end up being a motorcycle vagabond, travelling from town to town. It’s just so fun and effortlessly easy to ride that you forget about everything else in the world, yourself included. 100% pleasure, 0% pressure.

I know a few owners who had logged thousands of kilometres, riding to far and away places on their Bonnies. Who knows I might just drop everything one day and decide to ride to nowhere, similar to how Forrest Gump just ran and ran.

I’ve decided to name a bike. The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black has so much character, so much soul it may as well be alive. Well, it did make me feel great to be alive.

I ran through a few names with the word “Black” in them. “Black Beauty” was used by Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia and it was a great name which truly reflects the bike. I thought of “Black Widow,” not the spider but the actress who plays that character but hey, that’s a bit clichéd, isn’t it?

I decided on Black Knight©©©. Black armor on a black (iron) horse.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 8 valves, parallel-Twin, 270o crankshaft
Compression ratio 10.5 : 1
Bore X Stroke 84.6 mm X 80.0 mm
Displacement 899 cc
Fuel system Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection
Maximum power 94 bhp (40.5kW) @ 5900 RPM
Maximum torque 70 Nm @ 3230 RPM
TRANSMISSION  
Clutch Wet, multi-plate assist clutch
Gearbox 5-speed
CHASSIS
Front suspension KYB 41 mm telescopic forks, 120 mm travel
Rear suspension KYB twin shocks preload adjustment, 120 mm travel
Front brakes Single 310 mm floating disc, Nissin two-piston sliding caliper
Rear brake Single 255 mm disc, Nissin two-piston sliding caliper
ABS ABS standard, front and rear
Front tyre 100/90-R18
Rear tyre 150/70-R17
FRAME & DIMENSIONS
Frame Tubular steel trellis frame
Swingarm Two-sided tubular steel
Trail 104 mm
Rake 25.5o
Wheelbase 1450 mm
Seat height 790 mm
Dry weight 213 kg
Fuel capacity 14.5 litres

 

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