Daydream believer

For about 10 years, a pre-unit Triumph TR6 has been my dream motorcycle. I first rode one when I went to see another bike at a classic motorcycle dealer near to where I was working. I wasn’t taken with the machine I’d gone to view, but, among the many machines on display, there was a stunning, 1959, pre-unit Triumph TR6 export model, with high level pipes and a beautiful ivory white over Aztec red painted petrol tank, along with those great mouth organ Triumph tank badges.

Generously, the dealer let me have a ride on the TR6; I immediately liked the riding position, as this is a bike you sit in, with low, wide handlebars. I took it up and down the road, getting faster and faster with each run. To be honest, I gave it some real welly, one reason being it was very expensive and if I was to somehow buy it, I wanted to know the engine was sound and the other reason being… Well, I just couldn’t help myself!

I don’t normally behave like this, but the Triumph was an absolute joy. It was light for its engine capacity, fast, torquey and the revs picked up quickly. I was hooked, smitten, a goner, helplessly infatuated. I loved everything about it. I hadn’t seen or ridden such a stunning motorcycle before.

Perhaps the dealer knew what he was doing, letting me have a go on the TR6. I generally try to avoid having a go on things I know I may want to buy, but this obsession was unexpected. When I took the Triumph back, I managed to negotiate £500 off the asking price, but I couldn’t get a high enough figure in part-exchange for my NorVelo to stretch to the Triumph’s price tag. The Triumph had recently been restored with a