Sunday, March 1, 2015

Name of the Game

I've decided to change my blog title again... as in life, the only thing constant is change.

I started my blog as Troubadour on a Triumph, Brandy gave me the name 'Troubadour' as they would travel afar to tell stories of their adventures and sing song, I added 'on a Triumph' because I fell in love with Triumph motorcycles the moment I test rode and purchased my Triumph Sprint ST. Since then I've owned my Triumph Bonneville America, Brandy bought her Triumph Bonneville and there's my current Triumph Tiger. The last name change was to Troubadour on a Tiger, thinking I would always own a Triumph Tiger, no worries, I'm not selling Lucy.

However, a recent move by Triumph toward our smaller local shops has me questioning my loyalty. It seems that Triumph wants to market themselves much like another certain brand, with larger, brightly lit, sterile, boutique showrooms where they inventory more bikes, T-shirts and Motor Clothes Triumph gear.


FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Rod at Cycle Parts Triumph received the same notice as Hansen's, as did many other small shops across the country.







This is unfortunate and I'm sure a hard pill to swallow for these mom and pop shops. Rumor has it that Ducati may soon do the same.








I can appreciate the worldwide marketing plan behind "The Brand" and their non-conformist, uniform clothing line (although I am against leather); but Triumph has always been to me the other hundred year old motorcycle company. Triumph was everything that "The Brand" wasn't, every Triumph shop I've visited has been small, family run, service and repair type shop where you could sit on the bikes and talk to the owner about the weather, never feeling obligated to discuss finance rates, payment terms or fill out paperwork. I was never blinded by bright lights reflecting off acres of chrome, and either escorted through the showroom by a sales representative hovering over me from the moment I walk through the door or just blatantly ignored.

Will I buy another Triumph? Probably not, I'm disappointed in Triumph, they filled a niche and I hope they realize their mistake of money and profit over customer service and loyalty.  I'll frequent and support Cycle Parts, wishing them, Hansen's and other small shops well in their new venture.

A fork in the road

With Triumph going in one direction, I'm taking this opportunity to go the other.
My interests have changed and so will my blog. 


Love for the range

I still enjoy motorcycling and I love teaching new riders, I'll continue to write of our travels, adventures and rides; but I've always used my blog as a journal and limiting myself to motorcycle content, I feel it has limited my posts lately.


Poor, unsuspecting souls. Tomorrow is Traffic Interaction.












I'm no longer focusing on street riding, because well, that's a whole other rant altogether. 




I'm pursuing more solitary activities such as dual sport rides, hikes, mountain bike rides, off-roading in the Subaru and even reading.... gasp! I really like what Trobairitz has done with her blog, so I've changed the title of my blog to Troubadour's Treks and I'll be leaning more toward hiking and biking.



So if you don't mind reading about dirt, mud, forest hikes and mountain bikes, I hope you will please follow along.




- Troubadour

29 comments:

  1. Write about whatever makes you happy, that's all it counts. I'm disappointed to know this about Triumph.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am happy, not about Triumph, but happy nonetheless.

      Delete
  2. I agree with George -- write about what you care about or makes you happy.Without that it's hard to sustain the effort that goes into a blog. If it doesn't fit into your life it becomes impossible.

    Triumph -- I wonder if they're going to do the same thing to our local dealer? BMW certainly required a big space and section of the store devoted to the brand. It forced the dealer to abandon the Kawasaki brand, the only non-European line in the store. So I guess I'll have to wait and see if Ducati, Triumph, BMW and Vespa can play together under one roof.

    Steve Williams
    Scooter in the Sticks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I always felt obligated to keep my posts somewhat moto-related.

      I saw your recent video and noticed the bikes at your local dealer, they seem to be pretty small shop yet have a nice, varied selection of bikes.

      Delete
  3. I also would agree with George. A lot of blogs start out as a single topic and then the author sort of gets burned out. Lots of examples out there. We don't have a Triumph dealer in Fairbanks. One of the sales types from the big Harley-Honda-BMW dealer mentioned that they had looked into it but then decided that they didn't want to spread themselves too thin. Especially on the service side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I figured nobody would mind, I didn't want to restrict myself to moto-topics.

      I hope Triumph doesn't forget where they came from or their customers who pulled them from the ashes.

      Delete
  4. Good for you evolving your interests, I think I still quite a few motorcycle posts left In , but then I do tend to diverge a lot with food and other stuff. I need to rediscover my fitness side because my body is getting achey and more sedentary. Think of going back to Tai Chi Chih and getting my joints moving. I'm happy to follow on your adventures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'll still post motorcycle content, but it may be more dual sport and dirt than street.

      You may rediscover your fitness side sooner than you think, I find myself a bit out of shape and out of breath teaching the first few range sessions of the new season.

      Delete
  5. I hate to hear stories like what is happening with Triumph. All to common it seems when a company starts to think too highly of itself.

    I’m happy for any content bloggers like to post. Okay the mechanical stuff kind of bores me, but otherwise… and bikes/hikes, you already know I love that stuff. :) Besides, you (and Trobairitz) are local, so I’ve already gleaned a few gems for my bucket list that I hadn’t discovered myself. Motorcycles brought a bunch of us together in the blogosphere, but I think the camaraderie has grown beyond that one single interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kari, we too enjoy reading of your bikes and hikes only to go check them out ourselves. I agree and appreciate the camaraderie and friendships formed through the blogosphere.

      Delete
  6. It's you blog so you are empowered!

    All the best from Triumphland Motorrad Island.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nikos, oh and could you possibly stop by Triumph and give them a stern talking to?

      Delete
  7. Like the others have said, it's your blog, make of it as you will....

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  8. I am curious to hear more from your treks. Pedal powered, motorised or otherwise. Bring it on!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mate it is your blog after all and you can write what ever the hell pleases you. If mountain bikes floats your boat all the more power to you, you can write about both types of riding.
    Best to write what you feel is good otherwise your will get sick of it and it will eventually get boring and stale and feel like a chore then you will give it up.
    You have a good blog keep up the good job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Chiller tek, I did get bored with motorcycles and my blog went stale. I look forward to new adventures this season and writing more.

      Delete
  10. I think this is a smart move. I started my blog as a reaction to forum- exhaustion, but I discovered there isn't much variation in my riding especially in the Keys.
    You live a full rich life in a place worth hearing about. Take lots of pictures of all of it. It is all thought provoking.
    As to Triumph, I love my Bonneville and I would rather ride than drive. But aside from the Bonneville, Triumph builds nothing I could use, and I don't like cruisers. And corporate greed infects all of them, Vespa and their boutiques and exclusive deals etc...I am more drawn to old bikes and the old bike culture...luckily I have no disposable income!
    Go forth and write.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'll take more photos of my treks for blog fodder.

      Old bikes huh? I got one basket case in the garage/backyard that needs some disposable income thrown at it.

      Delete
  11. That same contempt for their customers and the "grubbiness" of the industry is part of what drove me away from motorcycles.
    I find the mountain bikes to be pure, needing (almost) no bling parts to make the "faster". You want to go faster? It is simply up to you. Enjoy the ride, without the BS.
    Welcome to the other side. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. P.S. Lose the bell. Bells aren't cool....mkay?

      Delete
    2. Fine, I'll lose the bell.... and the reflectors.

      Delete
  12. Nah, Bells are cool. Peter Sagan had one on his bike in the Tour De France. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Take that Flyboy!!! Bluekat says bells are cool and that's cool with me.

      Delete
    2. Lol. He is just yanking your chai....I mean bell. ;)

      Delete
  13. Just wait until I get you hooked on trials riding... LOL...
    I just need to learn to stop and take some pictures for evidence.. of one sort or another....

    FATBIKE in less than 3 days.....

    ReplyDelete
  14. I enjoy reading a variety of content, and always love your pics. That fork in the road is awesome. And I will always remember you as the guy who introduced me to those giant marshmallows they grow in Oregon. I look forward to continuing the Trek with you.

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  15. my, and what a large fork in the road that is! ;) the pic, meaning. hehe...
    bravo! change is fabulous and im right there with you! can't wait to see what it brings! :)

    ReplyDelete

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