Jessica, my 1996 Triumph Adventurer
This is the only picture of Jessica I have so far. I just took many on my NY-FL trip and will post them and a brief account of the trip shortly.

Harley Davidson may be the American King of the Road, but since the 50s and 60s Triumph has held a mystique among a certain group of bikers who swear by the Brits. Unfortunately, Triumph went out of businessess in the early 80s. The rights to the name were sold from one hand to the other until John Bloor got his hands on it. He re-opened Triumph in 1990 releasing a series of racing bikes which were true to the spirit of the direction in which Triumph was headed. In 1995 Triumph released a classically styled cruiser called the Thunderbird, a resurrection of Marlon Brando's chosen mount in "The Wild One." The following year, physical modifications to the T-Bird spawned the Adventurer. A much more detailed Triumph history is available at Ian Chadwick's site, for those interested.

Jessica is a 1996, 900cc Adventurer. She has served me faithfully over the past nine months, logging 10,000 miles on trips to upstate NY (Some of the US' most beautiful scenery), Philadelphia, Chicago, New Hampshire and daily use in the wilds of Manhattan and Brooklyn (punishing, at best). Most pleasantly surprising is the fact that she doesn't suffer the infamous "Triumph problems" of her ancestors. The motorcycle press has been very impressed with the Adventurer. You can read the reviews in Cycle News or Canadian Biker for more information.

I have become interested in motorcycling as a hobby. There are many internet resources on bikes. If you're interested in buying a motorcycle, I would suggest that the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) be the mandatory first step in your quest to get on the road. The vehicle is inherently dangerous, yet the exhileration far outweighs the dangers. If you educate yourself through courses like the MSF, your ability to actively minimize your risks will put you in a far better position to enjoy the thrill of the open road. Also, the following sites offer much information on motorcycles and motorcycling: