06-20-2026, 08:29 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-20-2026, 08:32 AM by Gone in 60.)
Ferris Gone's Day Off!
Friday was going to be a repeat of Thursday's riding for work. I had prepared for a long day in the saddle, at least 350 miles, making multiple runs between a hospital in Riverside and the blood research center in Van Nuys. I had been given a heads-up from the head researcher that they were going to keep us very busy on Friday. It would take two of us, leap-frogging the pick-ups to make it work. I had extra snacks and a few extra water bottles in my left side box for the day, and had planned out my mid-day gas stop, a Chevron station with a clean bathroom that has easy-off, easy-on freeway access to make it as short a stop as possible.
Bike loaded, gear on, first route plugged in to the routing app, and was just starting to roll out of the garage when the boss texted. The app would have pinged him to let him know I was rolling, so the text must be very important. Called him from the helmet to hear that power had gone out at the research center, all of their equipment was down, and it would take through the weekend to get it back up and running, so all pickups were cancelled for the day.
All of the sudden, Yello's "Oh Yeah" started playing in my head (look it up). I looked at the sky, no puffy clouds against azure, it was June Gloom, but it would clear up.
I felt some sense of responsibility. I spent the early morning detailing #4. She had worked tirelessly for me all week and had racked up over 1000 miles since I turned the key on Monday morning. My gear was ready for a bath too. Got that taken care of, while I thought about what I'd signed up for, but assumed I was going to have to pass on for the day. It was "Roadster Demo Day" at the local Triumph dealer. The Trident 800 was still swirling around in my mind since I saw the "unveiling" at the dealership a few months ago... I'm sure they repeated that unveiling at every dealer in the area at the time, but something about that bike hit me right in the "I want that" brain button.
I jumped on the CB as my work pants, jacket, gloves and Helite vest were drip-drying, and headed to the Triumph dealer. There were already a lot of guys there, and as I parked the CB, a guy on a V-Strom said "Man, that's a beautiful bike. I've never seen one. Brand new?" - "No, 2013 actually. Thank you, I do like to take care of her." I walked over to the sign-up tent while he was drooling on my red beauty.
The Trident 800 demo bike, in cement grey was pulling in, and the rider getting off had a smile from ear-to-ear. I had just gotten my name on the clip board when the demo rep said "She's free, why not take her out?" Don't have to ask me twice. The growl from the triple is freakin' awesome. Very comfortable, tractable power but plenty of it, and after a blast through their demo route which includes a bit of canyon riding and a return on a fast section of freeway, I had the "Yup, I want one" look. John, who had originally sold my Bonneville to its original owner, said "Let's go look at 'em." "Gee John, it's nice, but I don't think grey..." "Yeah, you want this red one."
Remember that public service message about drunk driving in the '70s when the guy slaps his wife in a drunken rage and staggers out to a Cordoba in the driveway while the wife yells "Don't take the car, you'll kill yourself!!!"? (Man, what happened, we used to have awesome PSAs) In about the same tone, as I was putting on my helmet to go to the Triumph dealer, Mrs. Gone yelled "Now don't go buying another motorcycle!"
Her message rattled around in my skull while I took in the red Trident. That is until I turned the price tag over on the handlebar and saw $12,400 before tax. I thanked John and said I'd think about it. Suddenly my CB1100 seemed absolutely perfect. And she is, as I rode to a few gear shops to try on boots, something I very realistically need more than another bike. I'm storing bikes in Mom's garage, a very sympathetic friend's garage... all temporarily until we can open up that magical company shop soon, and as Fleet Manager, I will rule over its domain and store my metal children.
A good day. And in about 30 minutes, I will ride the CB1100 to the Petersen for my shift. I am giddy. I got the shop inventory list late last night from my boss' assistant. She's not a movie car fan. On the list is a "Dark green Mustang fastback".
Friday was going to be a repeat of Thursday's riding for work. I had prepared for a long day in the saddle, at least 350 miles, making multiple runs between a hospital in Riverside and the blood research center in Van Nuys. I had been given a heads-up from the head researcher that they were going to keep us very busy on Friday. It would take two of us, leap-frogging the pick-ups to make it work. I had extra snacks and a few extra water bottles in my left side box for the day, and had planned out my mid-day gas stop, a Chevron station with a clean bathroom that has easy-off, easy-on freeway access to make it as short a stop as possible.
Bike loaded, gear on, first route plugged in to the routing app, and was just starting to roll out of the garage when the boss texted. The app would have pinged him to let him know I was rolling, so the text must be very important. Called him from the helmet to hear that power had gone out at the research center, all of their equipment was down, and it would take through the weekend to get it back up and running, so all pickups were cancelled for the day.
All of the sudden, Yello's "Oh Yeah" started playing in my head (look it up). I looked at the sky, no puffy clouds against azure, it was June Gloom, but it would clear up.
I felt some sense of responsibility. I spent the early morning detailing #4. She had worked tirelessly for me all week and had racked up over 1000 miles since I turned the key on Monday morning. My gear was ready for a bath too. Got that taken care of, while I thought about what I'd signed up for, but assumed I was going to have to pass on for the day. It was "Roadster Demo Day" at the local Triumph dealer. The Trident 800 was still swirling around in my mind since I saw the "unveiling" at the dealership a few months ago... I'm sure they repeated that unveiling at every dealer in the area at the time, but something about that bike hit me right in the "I want that" brain button.
I jumped on the CB as my work pants, jacket, gloves and Helite vest were drip-drying, and headed to the Triumph dealer. There were already a lot of guys there, and as I parked the CB, a guy on a V-Strom said "Man, that's a beautiful bike. I've never seen one. Brand new?" - "No, 2013 actually. Thank you, I do like to take care of her." I walked over to the sign-up tent while he was drooling on my red beauty.
The Trident 800 demo bike, in cement grey was pulling in, and the rider getting off had a smile from ear-to-ear. I had just gotten my name on the clip board when the demo rep said "She's free, why not take her out?" Don't have to ask me twice. The growl from the triple is freakin' awesome. Very comfortable, tractable power but plenty of it, and after a blast through their demo route which includes a bit of canyon riding and a return on a fast section of freeway, I had the "Yup, I want one" look. John, who had originally sold my Bonneville to its original owner, said "Let's go look at 'em." "Gee John, it's nice, but I don't think grey..." "Yeah, you want this red one."
Remember that public service message about drunk driving in the '70s when the guy slaps his wife in a drunken rage and staggers out to a Cordoba in the driveway while the wife yells "Don't take the car, you'll kill yourself!!!"? (Man, what happened, we used to have awesome PSAs) In about the same tone, as I was putting on my helmet to go to the Triumph dealer, Mrs. Gone yelled "Now don't go buying another motorcycle!"
Her message rattled around in my skull while I took in the red Trident. That is until I turned the price tag over on the handlebar and saw $12,400 before tax. I thanked John and said I'd think about it. Suddenly my CB1100 seemed absolutely perfect. And she is, as I rode to a few gear shops to try on boots, something I very realistically need more than another bike. I'm storing bikes in Mom's garage, a very sympathetic friend's garage... all temporarily until we can open up that magical company shop soon, and as Fleet Manager, I will rule over its domain and store my metal children.
A good day. And in about 30 minutes, I will ride the CB1100 to the Petersen for my shift. I am giddy. I got the shop inventory list late last night from my boss' assistant. She's not a movie car fan. On the list is a "Dark green Mustang fastback".
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.