Goodbye Fazer, Hello Bonnie
This weekend, I said goodbye to the Yamaha Fazer 600 that I have had for a few years, and hello to a new Triumph Bonneville. Over recent times, I have not ridden the Fazer much. There are many reasons - weekends away and wanting to fly planes when the weather has been suitable for going on the bike being amoungst them. But also I have not felt entirely comfortable on the Fazer. It is not a sports bike, but riding it does require being crouched over the fuel tank, and lifting your head up to see where you are going. Also, it is very revvy - meaning that the slightest touch on the throttle means the speed of the bike changes quickly - which is not entirely comfortable.
A few weeks ago, I rode the Fazer to Saffron Walden, and then came back via Dunmow and stopped off at the Triumph dealer. I had a test ride on a Bonneville and loved it. Whilst the bike has a bigger engine than the Fazer (almost 900cc rather than the Fazer's 600cc) it felt much more relaxing to ride. More upright and less gear changes! After thinking about it for a week or so, I decided that I was not likely to ride the Fazer much again, and therefore I should either give up big bikes and just stick with the scooter to the station, or I should go for the Bonnie. It was not a hard choice.
Fortunately, the weather managed to dry up for a few hours yesterday, and so I was able to take the Fazer for a final photo before trading it in, and picking up a new gold Bonnie - which had its first photo just down the road from where I had last pictured the Fazer. Teresa had a (very) brief ride on the back of it yesterday afternoon, and this morning I took it for a ride to Audley End and back.
