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| Hinckley Classic Triples 885cc Classic Styled T3's: Legend, Thunderbird, Thunderbird Sport & Adventurer. |
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11-16-2009, 11:07 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Member
Super Sidecars Favourite Bike: 1999 Triumph Legend
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Essen, Germany
Posts: 46 Other Motorcycle: 2009 Beverly Cruiser 500
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There is a big difference between a 99 Legend and 09 Bonneville SE
I took the Legend to get the 20,000 km service I was bitching about. They let me have a 2009 Bonneville SE to keep over night.
If I had ridden the 2009 Bonneville SE first, I might never have bought a Triumph!
What a disappointment!! I much prefer my Legend!
The seat is hard as a board... it was like sitting on wood. The reach is shorter and I sit more upright, which is not a bad thing since I have more control that way... but the gear shift is puny and light weight. In fact, the whole bike seems lighter and cheaper. I filled up with gas and it only took 8.?? liters after sitting on empty with the light burning. I kinda bumped the turn signal and thought it would easily break if you didn't watch out just putting the key in. Who in the world decided to put the key in such an inconvenient place?
I don't know... overall, I was not impressed and will never long for a T100 again.
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11-16-2009, 04:28 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Formula Extreme Favourite Bike: 1999 T'Bird Sport
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Rangiora, New Zealand
Posts: 894 Other Motorcycle: 2001 Sprint ST Extra Motorcycle: 1977 T140
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It's all
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifer
I took the Legend to get the 20,000 km service I was bitching about. They let me have a 2009 Bonneville SE to keep over night.
If I had ridden the 2009 Bonneville SE first, I might never have bought a Triumph!
What a disappointment!! I much prefer my Legend!
The seat is hard as a board... it was like sitting on wood. The reach is shorter and I sit more upright, which is not a bad thing since I have more control that way... but the gear shift is puny and light weight. In fact, the whole bike seems lighter and cheaper. I filled up with gas and it only took 8.?? liters after sitting on empty with the light burning. I kinda bumped the turn signal and thought it would easily break if you didn't watch out just putting the key in. Who in the world decided to put the key in such an inconvenient place?
I don't know... overall, I was not impressed and will never long for a T100 again.
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in the eye of the beholder! I have riding Pal's who absolutely love their late model twins, in fact I quite love them to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is only natural to 'prefer' your own machine but to compare the twin against the triple is like comparing apples with oranges, both taste good, but have different juice flowing through them!
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11-16-2009, 04:34 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Lifetime Premium
Site Supporter Pole Position Favourite Bike: 98 Thunderbird
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 4,097 Other Motorcycle: 03 Speedmaster
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I have a Thunderbird for 7 years, and bought a Bonneville SE a couple of weeks ago. I have to say I had my doubts about the build quality, but really once you get to look properly it is really pretty impressive. The bike seems well put together and well balanced.
I agree about the ignition switch position, but that is part of the whole retro thing- that's just where they sat in the old days.
The performance would probably be on a par with the triples (power-weight ratio) but the twins have much taller gearing so you have to ride them more on the torque. All in all I am very impressed with the Bonnie, and it takes a lot to impress me.
The only thing I have my doubts about is the efi and all those scary sensors, but they are the future so I guess we just have to have faith in all that stuff (but I would be happier with some old fashioned carbs)
ps the turn signals first appeared on the Thunderbird Sport.
__________________
98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master
Last edited by Slinky; 11-16-2009 at 04:55 PM.
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11-16-2009, 05:48 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Member
Super Sidecars Favourite Bike: 1999 Triumph Legend
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Essen, Germany
Posts: 46 Other Motorcycle: 2009 Beverly Cruiser 500
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I certainly didn't / don't mean to offend anyone who has one
It just kinda reminded me of the difference between furniture from IKEA and quarter cut oak
I wondered about the new models... even contemplated getting one... but I am more happy with what I have now that I have ridden a new one.
At this point, if they offered me a trade even steven, I'd turn them down
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11-16-2009, 10:38 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Lifetime Premium
Site Supporter Moto Grand Prix Favourite Bike: '98 Thunderbird Sport
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 2,584 Other Motorcycle: '06 Husqvarna TE 610 Extra Motorcycle: '95 TBird - Project
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I rode the new Bonneville several times during Demo event at Indy MotoGP in August. While I liked it and think it is better performing than the Carbed Bonnies with spoke wheels, I would not trade even for my TBS. It would be nice as an additional bike, but I would probably get more use out of something more like this.
__________________
Cheers,Denny
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11-17-2009, 03:45 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Lifetime Premium
Site Supporter Pole Position Favourite Bike: 98 Thunderbird
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 4,097 Other Motorcycle: 03 Speedmaster
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I wouldn't trade either. I took a test ride back in the spring, spoke numbers with the dealer on a trade in, then had to walk away. I could not see the Bonneville as a replacement for my Tbird. 6 months later I saved myself £1450 on the list price by buying a lightly used one, which made it easier to keep both.
__________________
98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master
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11-17-2009, 02:38 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Powerbike Favourite Bike: '04 Thunderbird
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 333 Other Motorcycle: 1998 Honda CBR1100XX
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I've had the opportunity to test ride most of Bonneville range. None of them, with the possible exception of the early (carb version) Thruxton really tempted me to add them to my 'stable'.
I do think they are good machines though and I can understand why people like the general characteristics.
I think they are a good choice if you want a lighter weight machine than the TBird with similar classic styling.
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11-17-2009, 03:25 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Formula Extreme Favourite Bike: '09 Sprint ST
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canton, Oh
Posts: 587 Other Motorcycle: '08 KLR 650
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slinky
I agree about the ignition switch position, but that is part of the whole retro thing- that's just where they sat in the old days.
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My '67 T100 SR had the ignition key in the left side cover (along with the rotary light switch). I wish they would have put it there..
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11-17-2009, 03:29 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Lifetime Premium
Site Supporter Pole Position Favourite Bike: 98 Thunderbird
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 4,097 Other Motorcycle: 03 Speedmaster
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braindead0
My '67 T100 SR had the ignition key in the left side cover (along with the rotary light switch). I wish they would have put it there..
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Did it? Perhaps I was thinking more of the 70's, when the ignition was on the left headlamp bracket and the light switch on the top of the headlamp.
Nowadays, you don't even get a light switch.
__________________
98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master
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11-17-2009, 04:07 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Formula Extreme Favourite Bike: '09 Sprint ST
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canton, Oh
Posts: 587 Other Motorcycle: '08 KLR 650
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slinky
Did it? Perhaps I was thinking more of the 70's, when the ignition was on the left headlamp bracket and the light switch on the top of the headlamp.
Nowadays, you don't even get a light switch.
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I think the T100SR was an oddball, when I used to get parts for it generally the first time I stopped at a particular shop I'd get a lot of looks when they asked for the S/N and I said: T100SRH44102 (I still remember it ;-). Everyone was familiar with the T100S and T100R, but not the SR. I think it was the R frame with a single carb.. or the other way around... So perhaps my particular model wasn't normal ;-)
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