So, I’d been mulling over getting a new ride for a while back then. My old bike was, well, let’s just say it was time for a change. I kept hearing whispers about these Triumphs, especially that triple engine. Curiosity got the better of me, as it usually does. You know how it is, you start looking, and then you can’t stop.
Found a 2011 model, a 675. Looked pretty sharp, not gonna lie. The moment I fired it up, that sound, man! Absolutely unique. Not like the inline-fours I was used to, and definitely not a twin. Something else. Different. Good different. That was the first thing that really grabbed me.
Out on the Road
Let me tell you, that engine was a peach. Loads of grunt pretty much everywhere. You didn’t always have to be screaming it to get going, which was nice for just cruising. Some folks said the Street Triple version was more ‘sensible’ for the road, more comfy for daily stuff. And yeah, this 675 was a pretty good all-rounder in its own way. You could potter around town on it, no big deal. But twist that throttle, and boy, it would wake up and go. Perfect for those Sunday morning blasts, you know? Just you and the road, clearing your head.
Handling was spot on too. Felt light, flickable. Always gave me a ton of confidence diving into corners. I wouldn’t say it was the most comfortable thing for super long hauls, mind you. Seats on these sportier things are rarely like your grandpa’s armchair. But for a few hours in the saddle? Totally fine. More than fine, actually; it was engaging.
Living With The Thing
Now, everyone always asks about reliability. Heard some stories here and there about older Triumphs, some good, some not so good. My experience? Honestly, it was pretty solid. I kept up with the basic maintenance, you know, oil changes, keeping the chain lubed, all that jazz. The usual stuff. It never really let me down in a big way.
Sure, some bits and bobs felt a bit… well, let’s just say they had character. But overall, the build quality seemed decent for what it was. It wasn’t like some bikes where you feel everything is just engineered to last forever with zero fuss, but it had soul, and it was dependable for me. I remember one time, the battery just decided to give up on me. Just like that. Middle of a chilly morning, of course. Classic, right? But that was probably more my fault for not keeping it on a tender during a particularly cold snap. Swapped it out, and she was good as gold again. Little things like that, you learn to expect with any machine that’s got a few miles on it.
That One Trip…
I actually took it on a pretty ambitious trip once. Way longer than I probably should have on that kind of bike, if I’m being honest. My mates thought I was off my rocker. ‘You’ll be crippled!’ they all said, laughing. And yeah, my backside was definitely lodging a formal complaint by the end of day two. No doubt about that.
But you know what? The bike itself just ate up the miles. Through winding mountain roads, some with amazing tarmac, others… well, less amazing. It never missed a beat. That’s when I really felt like I knew the bike, I think. When you push something, and yourself, and it just keeps on delivering. That’s a good feeling. That trip really cemented it for me.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. Finding a good independent mechanic who really knew these Triumphs well back then, especially outside the main dealer network, was a bit of a mission. Not like today where every other shop seems to work on European bikes. I ended up learning to do a lot more of the spanner work myself than I initially planned. Got the workshop manual, spent a fair few weekends with grease under my fingernails. It was a good learning experience, I guess. Made me appreciate the engineering, and yeah, the occasional frustrations, a bit more. You get to know the machine on a different level.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Looking back, that 2011 Triumph 675 was a fantastic machine for me. It had that raw edge, that character you don’t always find in bikes that try to be too polished. It wasn’t trying to be everything to everyone, but what it did, it did bloody well. That triple engine is just legendary, and for good reason. The sound, the power delivery – it was just fun.
It was one of those bikes that just made you want to get out and ride. Simple as that. They don’t make ’em quite like that anymore, do they? Everything’s getting so packed with electronics, so many rider aids. Sometimes I miss that more direct, more mechanical feel. It wasn’t perfect, no bike ever is. But it was memorable. And at the end of the day, that’s what counts, right? Gave me some great stories, that’s for sure.
