Triumphrat

HOPOIL · 04-16-2008

OK, there's 100 miles on the odometer now, after owning the bike for almost two full days.

Did anyone else have similar feelings:
? Why doesn't this motorcycle sound like a Triumph?
(I own a '78 Bonnie, and it 'sounds' like a Triumph)

? Why does a stock Bonneville come with mufflers so quiet that the valve train makes more noise than the exhaust note?
(the bike is beautiful to look at...start it up and it sounds like a sewing machine - or worse yet... that Yamaha Virago my wife had a year ago)

?and what's that lump across the back of my a**? Could the stock seat be more uncomfortable?

Now, I sure do appreciate the fact that I can lay my gloves across the handle bars when putting on my helmet and not having them vibrate off on to the ground, or for that matter, being able to really see things in my rear view mirrors instead of it being all giggly. I sure like hitting every gear and finding neutral.

But I sadly sat and wondered why I didn't have a 'new motorcycle owners' ear-to-ear grin after picking up the bike and riding it home.

After-market products are wonderful and they allow us to tweak our bikes as we see fit, I'm just a little bummed that it'll take seats and exhaust modifications (at minimum) to get me grinning like i do when i take that old Trumpet out for a spin.
[guess you can tell that I didn't get to 'test drive' a TBA before my wife and I bought it, eh?]

I'm willing to accept change, so I will in due course come to love this bike; just wishin' it gave me a better feeling straight outa the shop.