A solid chassis
The dual cradle steel frame must withstand a full load of over 500 kilos, hence the extremely sturdy suspensions, 43-millimeter fork, twin shocks and three full-size discs.

While only preload can be adjusted at the rear, the suspension is well up to the task when riding with a passenger and luggage. The fork and shock absorbers worked their smooth magic on the beautiful French roads, with enough travel to soak up bumps and potholes admittedly less serious than the ones we see on this side of the Atlantic.

Near Vichy, on the National 7, the main link between Paris and the Mediterranean.

Room for everybody
The riding position of the R3 Touring places all the controls and levers well within reach. Of course, the mass and size of the bike will accommodate the bulkier blokes (6+ feet, 115+ kilos). If you prefer a lighter bike, Triumph also offers the new Thunderbird (1,600 cc) or the even lighter Bonneville and America models.

The riding position on the R3 is similar to that of Harley-Davidson Touring models with their mid-mounted floorboards (meaning your legs and back are upright). The hands fall naturally on the handlebars, while the neck-high (For me) windscreen offers adequate protection against the elements, except for violent crosswinds that cause some serious turbulence and take a toll on the neck and head.

The compact display panel features basic lights and dials -- there is no tachometer -- while the (non-adjustable) brake and clutch levers require only moderate pressure from the rider.

Relaxed, comfortable, exciting riding experience
In the city, the R3 never lets you forget how big and heavy it is, then becomes quite agile and responsive beyond 100 km/h. The gearbox is pleasant to work with thanks to nicely calibrated gear ratios; you can easily make do with fifth gear from 60 to 160 km/h. As my 2,000-km road trip progressed, the engine and tranny on the brand-new R3 tester loosened up nicely, allowing me to perform smooth upshifts without using the clutch.

The brakes inspire confidence, especially when you call on the massive rear disc to assist the two front ones. I worked the brakes hard on mountain roads, and there was no fade or drop in retardation, a good thing when pushing the bike or riding two-up with baggage.

The dials and indicator lights cover the main functions, and are easy to read.