» Insurance
» Sponsors
Ricor ShocksSoupy's PerformanceCommonwealth MotorcyclesTrident-Exhausts.comBritish Motorcycle GearEPG MotoTriumphPerformanceUSAMotorcycle.com
» Sponsors

Member's Restoration & Rebuild Projects Details of member's own projects.

GoFreeCreditReport
Please Visit our Site Sponsors Page

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-09-2009, 04:33 AM   #1 (permalink)
Senior Member
SuperStock
Favourite Bike: Bonnie
 
BrianM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NZ
Posts: 214
Other Motorcycle: Moto Guzzi V11 Sport
Extra Motorcycle: Wife's '68 Bonnie
New project. What do you make of this?

Picked up this Bonnie from a lady at work who's had it 22 years. She said it's a 'bitsa' in that it's a 68 bike with a 73 five speed motor. Started easily and ran well. Thinking it's going to be my first nuts and bolts rebuild. What do you think?



I'm not concerned with absolute originality as much as I am with just having a nice old Bonnie. Paid $4,200 NZ for it (about $2,800 US).

Last edited by BrianM : 08-09-2009 at 04:35 AM.
BrianM is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 

Old 08-09-2009, 05:01 AM   #2 (permalink)
Senior Member
Formula Extreme
Favourite Bike: 1982 TR65 Thunderbird
 
epynt1050's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 545
Other Motorcycle: 08 Street Triple
Extra Motorcycle: 07 tiger
Looks like the lady is correct although the forks are 71 on - not 68 and the rear suspension units are Hagons (late Girling copies).
epynt1050 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 11:49 AM   #3 (permalink)
Super Moderator
Site Supporter
Team Owner
Favourite Bike: Triumph Bonneville
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Laredo, Texas
Posts: 5,555
Other Motorcycle: Britiron
I think that if the bike is running decently, you got a good deal.

However, as is always the case, that is just the "down payment"!

Will you be turning this into a total rebuild thread? Do you intend to source an earlier style front end to revert back to the original look? (there is no "wrong" answer to that last question).

It might be just me, but I think the "sausage on a stick" original Burgess style mufflers complete a Bonnie's look.
__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photo album
What are the Greatest Bikes in the World? Enter & vote!
GrandPaulZ is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 06:16 PM   #4 (permalink)
Senior Member
SuperStock
Favourite Bike: Bonnie
 
BrianM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NZ
Posts: 214
Other Motorcycle: Moto Guzzi V11 Sport
Extra Motorcycle: Wife's '68 Bonnie
Thanks for the replies.

I'm going to do this restoration (maybe that's not the right word as it won't be restored to its original spec.) for my wife. She can choose the bars, colour etc. and it won't matter to me if they're wrong for the year. I actually think it's worth remembering that people would've personalised their bikes back then too so a 'stock' bike isn't necessarily something you'd have seen that many of. Also, to be honest, I don't think I would enjoy the process as much if I was concerned about having the wrong this that or the other (no disrespect to those who scour the globe for that elusive part).

I do appreciate the info. regarding the forks etc. as it'll make chasing down parts a lot easier and more accurate. If you don't mind I'll post a few more pics to see what else might be worth knowing about it.

Many thanks.
BrianM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 06:46 PM   #5 (permalink)
Super Moderator
Site Supporter
Team Owner
Favourite Bike: Triumph Bonneville
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Laredo, Texas
Posts: 5,555
Other Motorcycle: Britiron
Before you go too far, take an afternoon to get her out in some wide open spaces to get the feel for kickstarting the bike, take-offs, leaning into turns, etc.

If she can't kickstart it on her own, it won't be something she looks forward to in the long run.
__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photo album
What are the Greatest Bikes in the World? Enter & vote!
GrandPaulZ is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2009, 04:04 AM   #6 (permalink)
Member
Grand Prix 125
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 37
Other Motorcycle: 06 Scrambler
Extra Motorcycle: HD 37E, 51 Speed Twin
nice score! a tradeMe find?
kngkong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2009, 04:32 AM   #7 (permalink)
Senior Member
SuperStock
Favourite Bike: Bonnie
 
BrianM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NZ
Posts: 214
Other Motorcycle: Moto Guzzi V11 Sport
Extra Motorcycle: Wife's '68 Bonnie
Good tip regarding the kick start but we always go out together so it doesn't matter if she can't kick it over.

Wasn't on TradeMe actually (though just sold my Harley on TradeMe as it happens). She works at the same place as me and we just got talking about bikes one day. She mentioned selling it to fund a trike build she's got underway.
BrianM is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Don't make fun of me. Bloodycow Daytona675 Forum 4 01-20-2009 11:49 PM
make a 500, a 650 triumphtrick Maintenance & Workshop Talk 1 12-29-2008 06:44 AM
Make a wish but... Catenaccio Biker Hang-Out 46 09-03-2008 04:28 PM
do they make one??? triple with cheese Speed Triple Forum 0 09-17-2007 09:54 AM
Boy oh boy..make it go away soon! Spooner Hinckley Classic Triples 9 03-10-2005 04:21 AM

Motorcycle News, Videos and Reviews
Harley Davidson Suzuki GSXR Ducati Forum Kawasaki Forum Sportbikes Forum
V-Rod Forum GSXR Forum Ducati Monster Vulcan Forums Triumph Forum
Harley Forum Suzuki SV Honda 600RR Kawasaki ZX Forum Triumph 675
Buell Forum Yamaha R1 Honda 1000RR Kawasaki ZX-10R Can Am Spyder
KTM Forum Yamaha R6 Honda Fury Forums Kawasaki KLR 650 Aprilia Forum
Victory Forums YZF-R6 Forum Honda Goldwing Kawasaki Versys BMW S1000RR Forum

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.2