Utah Riders Association of Triumph is a club dedicated to Triumph motorcycles and the enjoyment of riding! If you’re a Triumph owner, or have an interest in them, you should join us.
When I was a kid I loved all things with wheels. Particularly, I rode my bicycle everywhere. I would have loved to have a motorcycle but my parents wouldn’t allow that. In retrospect, that probably wasn’t a bad thing because I did some crazy things as a kid. In 2008, I decided to buy my first motorcycle, a BMW G650GS. Putt-putt-putt, beep-beep, Putt-putt-putt, beep-beep. That’s all my wife heard as I rode it up and down the road behind our house over and over again. I was in love with riding.
A few years (and bikes) later I purchased my first Triumph: a 2006 Sprint ST 1050. The famous triple. What a great motor! It had obnoxious D&D pipes, blue projectors, and other farkles. As fast and fun as the Sprint was, I missed the off road capability of some of my previous bikes. Luckily, Triumph had just jumped in the mid-weight GS game with the Tiger 800XC. The growl of the triple with reasonable off-road capability had me sold. It gained the newest spot in my garage. Since then, I’ve had a 2015 Tiger 800XCx and now my new favorite: 2020 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Riding has become one of my main passions (outside of skiing) and is a great activity me and my wife (and hopefully soon my daughter) can enjoy together. I am so glad that I can be part of this great club! I look forward to meeting new people who share my passion and the great times we will have!
The first motorcycle I rode was a mid-1960’s Honda Dream 150. I remember the fun and freedom I felt and I wanted more. The first bike I bought was a 1975 Yamaha XS 360, a great beginner bike that took me up and down the Pacific Coast Highway and all over the S.F. Bay Area. It had a kick starter and electric starter. An odd but fantastic feature was a self cancelling turn signal. Owning a business and raising two kids cut into my riding time for many years. In 2004, I got back into riding and bought a 2003 Suzuki SV 650, put 60,000 miles on it. An incredible bike in the canyons, around town and on the long open road with trips to Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. My current bikes include a 2008 Triumph Bonneville T100, 2002 BMW R1150R , 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350. All three bikes are incredible in their own way. I have never had a bad ride on a bike thrilling in the minimalist nature of a motorcycle—an engine and some basic controls—and being “out there” in all types of weather. Speed and throwing the bike into a corner is always exhilarating. It could be in East Canyon or Big Sur on the California Coast.
I have been a fan of British bikes and cars since the 1960’s. After a long career in the medical manufacturing industry, I was able to retire early a few years ago. I became a corner marshal at the Miller Motorsports Park and my passion for motorsports was rekindled. I purchased a 1960 Austin Healey Sprite which is a lot of fun. Several of my friends were bike people and kept talking about the “smile factor” involved in motorcycling. This plus working the AMA road races and the World Superbike races, led me to Triumph motorcycles.
My first Triumph was a jet black 2010 Bonneville which I equipped with a 2 into 1 Arrow exhaust system. This was a great bike and I hated to give it up but I lusted for a Thruxton. Late in 2013, I bought a Brooklands green 2013 Thruxton. I belong to the Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club, The Utah British Bike Club, the Sports Car Club of America, the Bonneville Austin Healey Club and the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. I’m happy to be involved with the Utah Riders Association of Triumph and look forward to making many new friends and participating in many fun events.
I grew up riding a 50cc dirt bike all over the mountains of North Idaho. When I moved from Idaho to California, I quit riding. My brother always owned and raced motorcycles which kept me interested and riding occasionally. I owned a Yamaha 750 in college for a time but got rid of it when I started travelling and deploying all over the world in my Army career.
In 2016 I had the urge to get back into riding. I was perusing a local motorcycle shop when I saw a 2012 Bonneville. I loved the retro look of the bike and made an impulse buy. I started riding again and fell in love with the activity all over again.
My brother is really into dual sport riding and encouraged me to get an adventure bike. I compromised by buying a 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE. This bike will go anywhere and has only increased my need for speed and more seat time. I found the URAT in 2020 and joined the club. Riding with the group has only increased my riding skill. As a club member, I really enjoy the camaraderie and shared love of Triumph Motorcycles. In 2023 I wanted to contribute more to the club by volunteering as a club officer.
I grew up in Oregon and my first motorcycle was a minibike when I was five years old. We had a big group of friends and family that went camping and dirt bike riding almost every weekend and for every vacation until I moved away at 18. We also raced motocross at Woodland MX Park in Washington. Several of my close friends in the group went Semi Pro and Pro and we would go to Washougal to watch their races. It was hard to keep up with them, but I it made me a better rider and pushed me to improve my skills. As a second career, my parents opened a Yamaha dealership in Sandpoint Idaho in the 1990, and we started riding a lot of 4wheelers and snowmobiles. The sold the dealership and retired permanently about 5 years ago.
My first street bike was a 1999 Triumph Thunderbird, and have since had a Bonneville, and now ride a Triumph Tiger. We started riding with this club in 2019 and have really enjoyed exploring the amazing riding in Utah. Our yearly trips are such great fun with amazing people. Riding with the club has improved my street bike skills and look forward to more off pavement riding with my tiger. In 2023, I became the Utah Riders Association of Triumph’s Secretary and look forward to meeting more riders and helping organize our future rides.
In Memoriam
Jeff and one of his many bikes
Club Ambassador – Jeff Thurmond
The summer after my second year in college I had a job as a gas station attendant, back when someone would actually come out to your car and pump the gas and clean the windshield. The assistant manager had a re-painted 650cc Triumph Trophy; said it was a 1961. He gave me a ride one day and I was instantly in love. Having survived the Lucas electrics of a TR-3 and MGA, I bought the Triumph motorcycle from him a few weeks later and passed my motorcycle license on a borrowed Cushman scooter since the Triumph scared me the first few weeks I had it.
I learned later the motorcycle Steve McQueen rode in the Great Escape was also a 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy decked out to emulate a BMW R75. The next year I sold the Triumph and got a used Bultaco. Clearly I knew nothing about motorcycles as evidenced by getting a Spanish build off-road bike. I had only fallen a couple of times on the Triumph Trophy and being in Salt Lake City with lots of hills and mountains, I wanted to learn to ride off-road. I spent more time on the ground than on the Bultaco and learned that I had zero off-road ability. Sold it the end of that summer and got a used Triumph Trophy the next year.
Over the years I moved a few times and it seemed there was always a motorcycle in my life. Riding a motorcycle became a part of my life and who I am. I still have no off-road skills but that has not dampened my enjoyment of pavement riding. I am glad I moved back to the Salt Lake area as the roads here are wonderful with little traffic. I clearly have a passion for riding and know that sanity and mental freedom is achieved on two wheels.
Utah Riders Association of Triumph is a club dedicated to Triumph motorcycles and the enjoyment of riding! If you’re a Triumph owner, or have an interest in them, you should join us.
