Triumphrat

Beyote · 04-24-2008

How hard is it to cafe' a Bonnie to basically a nice Thruxton?

zimmerbahn · 04-24-2008

Beyote,

Did you remove the AI on your Bonnie? If not, do that first.

Next, buy some Norman Hyde "ACE" bars. This is by far the best bang for your buck and will do the most to get you into "cafe" mode. They are reasonably priced, and they mount right onto your existing risers. The only thing you will have to do is drill out the "locating/safety pin" hole in the new bars, and swap all the related hardware over. It is a relatively simple process.

Nice loud pipes would be next on the list. Bikes that sound like sewing machines are hazardous to your health. A proper loud bike is hazardous to everyone else's peace... which is good for your health! Do a little research for brands and look. I've seen cafe bikes with both upswept and straight-line pipes. I like'm both. I don't know if they make upswept pipes for a new Bonnie, but I imagine someone does. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that.

Then, swap out your bench seat for a solo seat. Check to make sure the solo versions will fit to the Bonnie. I'm fairly sure they do, but couldn't guarantee it.

What year and color is your Bonnie? I am considering swapping out my '04 Thruxton (black and chequered) for a solid silver Bonnie color. This would include tank, side panels, and possibly the seat, but like I said, I don't know if a stock Bonnie seat and a Thruxton solo-seat are interchangable.

I'm sure others will have other suggestions too, so I'll head out.

Let me know if you're interested in the swap.

Kind Regards,

-Zim

ozbon · 04-24-2008

If you got the time and money there's no problems, here's mine.
ace bars, staintune pipes, Raask rear sets, bar end mirrors, cafe seat & tail section, thruxton needles, jets 42 & 115, lucas style tail light, mini indicators, etc, etc.

cafetbird · 04-24-2008

Cafe is a look - it really has little to do with performance. On the orginal cafe racers, the kids didn't have much money, but they wanted to made their daily rides look like a race bike from the day. Take a look at pics of 50's and 60's race bikes for cosmetic inspiration. It does not require you to spend a lot of money, but you'll need to get a little dirty.

They key is lightening. As much as you can, take your stock parts and modify them. Bob the fenders, front and rear, remove parts that are not needed, like the rear pegs. On the genuine article, the indicators would be removed, but trimming down the stalks or going with aftermarket mini indicators is a nice option. Gut your stock pipes. On a proper cafe, you need lower bars - race type like clubmans or drag bars. Rear sets give you the racer posture. Bar end mirrors are very trick, are really make the look.

WHATEVER YOU DO, BE UNIQUE. Make the style of the bike your own. Too many folks on here these days are going out and making all the same mods. True cafe racers are as unique as they come - not canned out of parts available off a web site or some cafe racer catalog.

TCL · 04-24-2008

Here's mine with stock pipes a now with dominators. Fairly cafe without destroying a perfectly good new bike. I wish I had 2 so that I could chop up the second as I want and now worry about not being able to put the parts back on. I still have to keep room on the back for my lady if we decide to get cafe, er coffee.

Beyote · 04-24-2008

Man you Trumpet Guys (and Gals) are AWESOME.

Such quick and valid responses. I must thank you.

The Bonnie is a 2005. I don't have her yet. I am trying, as my wife is in love with the Thruxton and no other brand or bike. But if I may create her mind's eye of her version of a Cafe' bike, then it might turn out well.

Right now, most of my money is going into the lovely lady you see. The pic I have included. She is my Cafe Duc.

My wife wants a Cafe Trumpet. LOL.
TCL,.. that thing is gorgeous and probably right up her alley!!

I love the 50s style of Ozbon's as well.

Beautiful.

I am just testing the water to see if I am getting in trouble to try and cafe a Bonnie like a Thruxton or what parts are avail and interchangable.

sweatmachine · 04-24-2008

Nice Duc, I love the duet of open pipes and open clutch covers!

Beyote · 04-24-2008

It's an old pic, she now has a rear rotor and the pipes are getting slashed.

There is so much work that has to go into her still.

And to look at getting a Triumph will take some dedication.

Thank you though.

neuroboy74 · 04-25-2008

in response to the original question. . . pretty much everything is interchangeable except the handle bars. . . bonnie has brackets and the thrux has clip ons. here's what i've done to my '05 bonneville black:

--stock bars for "ace" bars
--stock pipes for d&d's
--stock seat for thruxton seat with cowl (more useful for taking a passenger than the single seat)
--stock gas cap for the monza-style one
--stock shocks for thruxton-length kyb's (off of a kawi zrx--search "zrex zrx shocks" on the board and you'll find my pics)
--stock mirrors for crg-style bar ends
--added knee pads (make a *big* difference for me)
--86'd the air injector

to do list:
--relo the indicators by buying a stock thrux bracket for $20
--maybe relocate the ignition and change the headlight bracket (there's an almost free way to do it described elsewhere on the board)
--i'd love to get rear-sets but i'll be da*ned if i'm gonna pay $400 to do it

that's pretty much all i want to do. i've decided i don't want to bob the fenders, i like them how they are.

Bonafide · 04-25-2008

In the long run, it's way cheaper to trick out a Thrux but it's more fun to Cafe a Bonnie.