Girlie Motorcycle Blog

The ’05 Speed Triple doesn’t have much room in the tail section. That means minimal opportunity to do much bolting or bracketing. Couple that with the exhaust cans that extend wide on the sides and you are really limited in your tail luggage options.

For the past few years, I’ve been using a Famsa 22 liter tail bag. It’s base is held to the pillion seat by rubberized straps. The Famsa is not waterproof and requires a rain fly. It has proven to be a terrific bag. I’ve been able to pack a good amount of stuff in that bag when we hit the road.

If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

So why abandon my fabulous textile tailbag, you ask? Well… no real reason, really. Just because.

I fully confess that my purchase of the $32 Sears motorcycle trunk was an impulse buy.  I have often thought that having lockable, waterproof storage on the Triple would make the bike even more ideal for me. The dirt cheap Sears box pushed me one step closer to that dream.

The only hurdle that stood in my way over the years was coming up with an effective, sturdy and safe way to mount the box on the bike.

In Search of a Nice Rack

I’d like to introduce you to 2 words that hindered my top box lovin’: slim and pickins. There aren’t many aftermarket luggage box solutions for my model year.

SW-Motech does make a plate to mount a top box onto the ’05 Speed Triple. And it does indeed look like a lovely, elegant solution. But, I’ve balked at the idea of using it because (right or wrong) it just seems like the weight of the box and it’s contents would be so far back on the subframe. A post on Triumphrat detailing a broken subframe served to further feed my fear. So, I’ve just avoided going that route.

The SWMotech rack for 2008 and later Speed Triple models features a different design.

A Top Box Rack with Love in the Stitches

Having kind friends that can weld is a beautiful thing. My dear friend Quacka (of RE-5 fame) hooked me up with a luggage bracket made out of some square tubing that he just happened to have laying around the garage.

He popped the never used passenger pegs out and used their space as a mounting point. The second brace uses the bolt that holds the exhaust to the subframe. The weight of the box and mounting plate hovers more over the pillion seat as opposed to far behind it. 4 bolts and less than 5 minutes gets the rack on and off.

The box is not so far back that I’m (right or wrong) worried about it levering against the subframe. I figure if a person is able to sit in that space and rest their feet on the pegs, then my little little black box can too.  And I’m happy to report that I can easily swing my leg over the bike without kicking the box.

All in all – I’m a happy (and lucky!) girl. Now I just need to go somewhere!

What is it?
According to the event founder at Motoress.com:

Sounds good to me!

In my life as a motorcyclist, I have seen big changes in the availability of quality riding gear, public perception and just the sheer number of women riders on the road. Making your voice heard and your presence known in the world is a good thing.

While my riding so far today has only consisted of commuting to work, it was a nice way to start the day. It was smooth sailing under clear blue skies here on Long Island.

Though I did see a good handful of other riders on the roads this morning, none of them happened to be women. I felt like the girlie riding ambassador of my section of the LIE. So, I did a 60mph stand-up wheelie and waved to the sluggish traffic. I kid. Just seeing if you’re listening.

The Triple Goes to Work

On Sunday morning I rolled out of the driveway heading out to meet up with some of the gang from ADVrider for a  street ride. This was the first time in many weeks that I took the Speed Triple out. I’d been riding the DRZ for the last few weeks.

I love my Speed Triple immensely and actually missed riding her quite a bit. I was looking forward to getting it out for a shakedown. The first thing that I noticed was how heavy the bike felt to roll around in the driveway. For the first time, the always nimble Triple felt a little porky.  As I saddled up and got ready to head out, the seat felt so wide and comfortable! Helllllooo, old friend! It is really quite amazing how quickly your perception of  the size and weight of a motorcycle can change.

After meeting up with the last of the guys at 10:30 and a few minutes of tire kicking, we set off. We were a motley crew: 1 Triumph, 1 Ducati, 1 Husqvarna, 2 Kawasakis, 1 KTM and 1 Harley Davidson. Quite a mixed bag of marques but they all played nice together as we snaked our way through sandy lanes. We weaved our way around the east end of Long Island and finally stopped for lunch at the fabulously olde tymey Cornonet Cafe in Greenport. Friends, food and motorcycles. Does it get any better?

We hopped the ferry to Shelter Island and took in some of the sights. As I cruised along I saw about 100 places I would like to stop and take photos of one day. The sculptor John Chamberlain had a studio on Shelter Island. I’d love to find out that he’s still creating work there. One more thing to add to the To-Do List: Go back to explore.

I really like riding with everyone I’ve met on ADV. There is a really cool, laid back vibe that I appreciate. Each person brings unique and interesting knowledge to the table. Love that. Looking forward to the next time…

It’s no secret that I totally heart Triumph motorcycles. SuckerPunch Sally’s Fender Thruxton is no exception. The aged cream colored paint, Union Jack and wrapped exhaust give it a deliciously retro rockin’ look. I wish I could have heard it start up. What do you think – sweet or not so much?

For More Information: SuckerPunch Sallys

This post is nothing without you: What were your favorite riding moments of 2009?