Plenty of things have occurred since the engine of Verbena, my beloved 2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050, seized up in February during a Sunday ride.
After a six-month crusade renting all-kind motorbikes, unsuccessfully trying to find another sport tourer that says “buy me”, I finally purchased a completely different bike that I was not sure if I was going to enjoy: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer.
For an enthusiastic sport-touring rider, adventure tourers may look both aggressive and elegant at the same time. An interesting option if you like riding long distances on tarmac and gravel, but might be a little bit boring if youโre more sporty than tourer.
Riding styles are so different and, after a few slips trespassing the edge of the rear tyre (a ridiculous 150/70 for a bike of its kind) while riding Mount Glorious, I realised this bike wasnโt made for me. I was desperately missing the sporty side.
As desperation and anxiety are not good advisors in terms of purchasing a motorbike, I ended up buying another Triumph Sprint ST 1050, a 2008 model, which unfortunately was involved in the accident I had in early June and is now waiting for damage assessment.
The Universe didnโt want me to ride a Sprint ST anymore, and I was upset about that.
But everything changed when I got a call from Joe, a good friend and chief mechanic from JMC Motorcycles: “Mar, I found an engine”. I couldnโt believe that, after half a year, Verbena was going to undergo her heart transplant.
“You can buy another motorbike for the same price”. Thatโs the argument I had with my overthinking mind. But I didnโt want another motorbike, and the emotional input of bringing Verbena back to life was stronger than ever.
Verbena came into my life right after starting my new life in Australia. I was so excited because, after taking the hard decision of putting Raceart.xyz through liquidation due to the pandemic, I managed to bring her home with my first savings in Australian dollars.
She has been my release and escape from reality when things were going really tough in my life, so I was not going to get rid of her.
Now sheโs back home, purring like a happy cat. I canโt wait to go for a ride with her, so Iโm taking my knee recovery very seriously to get back stronger than ever to the three things I most enjoy doing in this life: Riding, riding and riding.
