Triumphrat

Lifer · 11-16-2009, 10:07 AM

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.

lovecuba · 11-16-2009, 03:28 PM

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.

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!

Slinky · 11-16-2009, 03:34 PM

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.

Lifer · 11-16-2009, 04:48 PM

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

denny · 11-16-2009, 09:38 PM

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.

Slinky · 11-17-2009, 02:45 AM

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.

Jodel · 11-17-2009, 01:38 PM

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.

braindead0 · 11-17-2009, 02:25 PM

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.

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..

Slinky · 11-17-2009, 02:29 PM

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..

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.

braindead0 · 11-17-2009, 03:07 PM

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.

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 ;-)