Triumphrat

Calliway · 12-12-2012, 11:31 PM

The Thruxton is a variation of the Bonneville as been said. They make far more Bonnies than Thruxtons. You can cafe a Bonneville with clip ons not problem. Here is mine (Blue) and my friends (green) He has woodcraft clip ons and I used sleeved Thruxton clip ons.

I agree...clip ons all the way.

Phaseshift · 12-13-2012, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calliway

The Thruxton is a variation of the Bonneville as been said. They make far more Bonnies than Thruxtons. You can cafe a Bonneville with clip ons not problem. Here is mine (Blue) and my friends (green) He has woodcraft clip ons and I used sleeved Thruxton clip ons.

I agree...clip ons all the way.

wow! are you serious!? Okay do you have a thread of all your mods? What year is your bonnie? I want to know more!

I feel like I can find a bonnie way cheaper than I would a thruxton and then do cafe mods for it.

I've read somewhere in a thread that putting on clip ons on the bonnie will hurt your back if you don't replace the rearsets to match the clip ons as well, is there any truth to that?

asp125 · 12-13-2012, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaseshift

...
I've read somewhere in a thread that putting on clip ons on the bonnie will hurt your back if you don't replace the rearsets to match the clip ons as well, is there any truth to that?

I was on vacation recently and we rented a 2012 Thruxton and a T100. The rearsets of the Thruxton are definitely set back more than the ones on the Bonnie. I suppose changing them would depend on how flexible your hips and lower back is.

SolCalBonnie · 12-13-2012, 12:55 AM

My Work in Progress she's a 04 Bonnie w/Thruxton exhaust and rear sets. Love my riding position with my M bars and gonna keep the bench seat for haulin the lil women around. She requested a sissy bar but I prefer she just hold on tight

Maybe a grab rail?

Winters a comin and here's my Cafe Parts Wish List:

Dunstall cafe quarter cafe fairing
D9 instrument bracket w/tach and ignition
Monza gas cap
Emgo Dunstall silencers
And the piece de la resistance... Tank painted with a black, gray and white Union Jack

That's my version of a cafe racer.

x_david_x · 12-13-2012, 07:24 AM

I feel the guys with clip ons are making it sound easier than it is. You can do it, yes, but its not the quick and cheap 30 min/$85 job that swapping the bars out is. If you are looking for the simplest way to get the thruxton look that's it.

I've not done a clip on conversion, but maybe the guys that have can shed some light on what's involved and the cost?

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Calliway · 12-13-2012, 10:45 AM

It depends on how you do it. I picked up used Thruxton clip ons for 30 bucks of here. I went to the hardware store and picked up some 1" aluminium tubing and sleeved them up for Bonnie controls. I bought headlight ears from Dime City and got rid of the Bonneville ones and lowered my headlight. You don't have to do that though. If you saw an inch off the factory ears you lower the headlight enough for your clip ons to fit under the tree and don't need to move your key.

So far I am at $40.00 for a basic clip on conversion... You can forgo clip ons and go old school with Ace bars as well which I did for a long time and actually quite like the look. When my back was black and gold I had the ace bars on it. Cheap and easy mod to get the riding position of clip ons with the vintage look.

On my bike with the ignition relocation, regulator relocation, headlight ears, clip ons and mirrors I was at $125.00 and two hours of work.

Rear sets: I am over 6'2" and with the lowered bars, rear sets were almost a must for long rides. I have the LSL sets on mine.

Phaseshift, build thread on my bike: http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-talk...s-edition.html

mikeinva · 12-13-2012, 12:24 PM

ether can be a cafe looking bike nether is much racer lol

steve betts · 12-13-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeinva

ether can be a cafe looking bike nether is much racer lol

Quite right, Mike. There's a lot of posers out there. You can't make a Bonneville a cafe racer just by swapping the bars out. It takes a lot more. You have to actually sew an "Ace Cafe" patch onto your distressed jacket and ride briskly to a Starbucks.

alfacliff · 12-13-2012, 01:58 PM

if looks are more imporant, do what you want. I have a bonnie, and my son has a thruxton. he is starting to complain about his elbows and wrists afgter medium rides. I chose my bonnie after trying quite a few bikes for comfort. I like the bonnie. I ride more than my son. To me, if it fits, it is great, no mater what it looks like. if a bike is uncomfortable for you, dont get it.
Cliff

Chewbaca · 12-13-2012, 03:42 PM

I think the Bonneville gets closer to the "cafe racer" look of the Thruxton.

The T100, is a classic looking bike. To me, this is the furthest Bonnie from a cafe racer. A very cool bike, but all the racey styling cues are absent.

The Bonnie SE and Bonnie black are definitely much closer. Both sportier, but the SE has the lowest seat height of the line. Sporty looks, but standard ergos. A seat cowl and FEK, and you're practically there!

Last (and my favorite), the Thruxton. First, I don't know if this is true of the newer models but when mine was produced, it did have a slight hp advantage. Clip-ons or clubmans, swept exhaust, bar-end mirrors, seat cowl, racing stripe...For some that may seem a little "poser-ish" but to my eyes, it looks brilliant!