A mature-aged “newbie” has scored the ride of his short riding life as one of 12 lucky winners around the world in the Triumph Motorcycles “Rides America” Facebook competition held from December to March.
Peter Clifford of Sydney says he has never won a significant prize before and didn’t believe it when he was contacted as the Australian winner along with 11 others in the worldwide competition.
The lucky dozen will get an eight-day tour on a Triumph Thunderbird LT 1700 through Las Vegas, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire and a memorable trip down the famous Route 66.
“I have been to the US before but it’s been 14 years since visiting Las Vegas,” says Peter, aged 60. “I started riding when I turned 60 as I was finally sensible enough. Did my learners with my daughter’s boyfriend.”
Peter on his Triumph Street TripleHis first bike was a Yamaha Virago 400 but he now owns his “ultimate bike”, a Triumph Street Triple he has customised as a tribute to Steve McQueen in The Great Escape with special military green paint and extras.
Peter lives near the Old Pac and has been riding to work in Sydney but has now retired and plans many longer, recreational rides. “This is my first year of retirement after 40 years of high school teaching so the timing of the win is perfect. Looking forward to the big 1700cc cruiser as part of my full bike experience. They say when the bike bug bites, it bits hard and it’s so true, but great fun.”
Peter recently took the opportunity to visit his local dealer, Procycles Hornsby, to try out the new Thunderbird LT for size in preparation for his US trip.
The new Thunderbird LT 1700cc is a luxury cruiser with windscreen, ride and pillion floor boards, riding lights, pillion backrest and pad, and quickly-detachable leather panniers. Despite all the pillion luxuries, Peter will do the US trip solo.