READER’S RIDE
After years of test riding bikes, Robert Cochrane
has finally settled on one… for now.
Words & Photos: Robert Cochrane
F
or a couple of years I worked closely with
the Triumph NZ team as they were the major
sponsor of Triumph Classic Festival at
Hampton Downs and the MV Agusta Classic at
Taupo. As part of my sponsorship, marketing and
promotions role at the event, I got to ride a few of
the new machines as part of their demo day
promotions at the events. By race day my work
was all done apart from checking all the invited
sponsors and trade stall sponsors were all set up
and happy on the day.
So, when your major sponsor tells you to ride
the new bikes to ensure you are familiar with
the brands for your ongoing media articles, I
wasn’t going to argue. And with Moto Guzzi,
Aprilia, MV Agusta and Triumph there was
plenty to choose from.
At the Taupo event I felt like I had arrived in
heaven, as did the sales people from the key
dealers. They had to lead a 30km loop ride
through a range of tasty sweepers with demo
riders tucked in behind. The MV Agusta 675 triple
was just scintillatingly divine, that triple exhaust
howl set the hair on my arms to attention. I wasn’t
as comfortable on the 800 Brutale as the front
wheel kept floating in thin air, but what a hoon
machine it was.
The Tiger 800s in 2014 were just so smooth and
comfortable, but I couldn’t quite adjust to the
adventure front tyre, but very impressive all the
same. The Bonneville T100 was quite relaxed and
smooth, I was very impressed. And the following
year the Guzzi Stone was my first choice for the
type of riding I felt I wanted to do in the future,
84 KIWI RIDER