Triumphrat

pjvenda · 10-09-2009, 12:56 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on upgrading my Virago 535 in a few months. I've been having a hard time deciding between a bunch of cruisers, but of that bunch, the speedmaster takes one safe top-3 position. However I am concerned about the size/weight of the beast.

I'm a relatively short 1.6m (5"3') and skinny 60Kg (9.5st) rider so I'm concerned about my ability to handle the bike. When comparing a sportster, a bonneville and a speedmaster, the latter looks absolutely huge!! I am yet to sit on one, but I feel I will be leaning forward and stretching my arms and legs just to reach the handlebars and pegs... The bonnie is fine (I've sat on one and the owner even said: "go on try it"... but I had to say no) and the sportster is ok too.

Any short skinny riders care to share their views on this?

Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Pedro.

JimF51 · 10-09-2009, 05:17 PM

Hey Pedro, welcome. I'm not short and skinny, but my daughter is, she's the same height as you.

Background.. I'm 5'10" and when I tried the Bonnie, the Speedy and the America, the Bonnie fit fine and the America fit fine, but the Speedy bars felt too much of a reach. I went with the America, for the better passenger comfort (or I would have gotten a Bonnie) and even then, I've put bar risers on it, to make the reach a bit closer.

My wife, at 5'7", really felt the bars on the Speedy were too far fwd, and my daughter could only reach bars and pegs by sitting as far fwd on the seat as possible, and couldn't flat foot both feet.

I'd look at the America or Bonnie, for bar reach and ride comfort. My previous bike was a Sporty, and until I put a after market seat and shocks on it, it was good for about one hour of riding between breaks. I've upgraded my seat but still have stock suspension and can go 3 to 4 hours at a time.

Good luck.

TriumphLance · 10-10-2009, 12:50 AM

Hello Pedro - as Jim said, the bars on the Speedmaster don't go as far back as the America - I tried both bikes, and the America was a better fit for me, and was the deciding factor for me on which one to choose. I have heard that the reach on the Speedie can be modified with risers, however.

I am 5'8" so a bit taller than you, but my legs are relatively short for my height. The only problem that I have had on my America, and I suspect the same for the Speedie, is the reach for the side stand. I can do it, but Triumph places the side stand forward on these bikes, more so than the Sportster. You may not have that problem, if your legs are fairly long.

The Speedmaster is such a nice bike - I would just get on one, and see how you fit both leg-wise and reach to the bars-wise.

JimF51 · 10-10-2009, 11:27 AM

Regarding the side stand, it is a long reach, and I sometimes have to hook it a 2nd time to get it back. A fix, however, would be to install a center stand, which is available and just bolts on.

pjvenda · 10-11-2009, 04:51 PM

Thanks guys for the insights. It is unfortunate that the speedmaster could be out of my league.

I prefer the speedmaster for a few reasons: the potentially better braking power, the blacked-out components, the rev-counter... but if I fit the america and not the speedmaster, then I will seriously consider it.

Nonetheless, I need to pop down to the dealer soon. Hopefully the sun wll shile again in Oxford this week (yea, right!) and I will have a few minutes to have a good look at the bikes. I may even try and book a test-ride.

Would it be difficult to get the dealer to replace the handlebars on a speedmaster for the america model?

Cheers,
Pedro.

TriumphLance · 10-11-2009, 10:02 PM

Pedro, most people that I have read on this forum seem to have addressed this issue by getting risers for the Speedmaster bars, which will help pull them back, and that may be a solution for you. I'm not sure if the bars can be swapped, so hopefully someone on here who has done that can comment. And, you can get the tach for the America - I did that, which fits into the unused section on the control area.

I too liked the Speedmaster look, so at one time I was thinking about getting the gunslinger seat from the Speedie and putting it on the America. So, other than the blacked out look of the Speedie, I would have more of the look of that bike with the comfort (for me) of the America.

Hopefully the weather in your area is good for a test ride.

pjvenda · 10-22-2009, 08:55 AM

Me again.

I've been looking very closely at a 2007 Speedmaster, a new America and some Bonnevilles (including SEs) and I can't believe the bikes look so different in terms of riding position! [the sidestand on the bonnie seems much easier to use too!]

I reckon I would have no problems at all riding a T100 or even easier an SE home. But the speedmaster still feels HUGE. I am yet to sit on one and the dealer talked about a test ride on a Bonneville "if you are serious about buying" - which does not help a lot.

Well... I want a test ride *to* take a decision *on a Speedmaster/America*!! But I reckon as the cold season comes in they are short on demo bikes...

Anyway, I found a bunch of mods that might help me in the future such as Norman Hyde's relocation kit for the pegs and some handlebar risers (as someone very well suggested).

I am frustrated.
Thanks for the tips, everyone. I will proudly post something if/when I buy.

Cheers,
Pedro.

TriumphLance · 10-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Excellent Pedro! Looking forward to your future report!

Mick-H · 10-23-2009, 02:33 PM

You can also buy a low profile seat that will lower you by at least an inch.
If you can't get a test ride sorted, your welcome to try my 05 speedy out, I'm in Bolton so not very close but the offer is their.

pjvenda · 10-23-2009, 07:04 PM

Thanks Mick for the generous and honest offer. Indeed you live a bit offside for my near future travelling plans, but it's much appreciated anyway!

Cheers,
Pedro.