Triumphrat

petcock · 09-15-2009, 02:27 PM

I've had the Bonnie since 2004 and love, love, love it. I want more power, more handling, more modern engineering. I know that there are lot's of things that I can do to improve the Bonnie, but for the money, I'm wondering if I should trade her in. On the flipside, I don't want to lose the cool vintage cafe racer look either.

Speed Triples seem to be the best modern interpretation of the cafe racer of the 60's. While I love the vintage look, I'm wondering if it's time to get current.

What do you guys think?

Joemomma · 09-15-2009, 02:41 PM

This is kinda like asking a lion if he prefers tofu to wildebeest.
Ride one and see.

The riding position is a bit more committed, but you can always get bar risers or dif. bars if you want to remain more upright.

petcock · 09-15-2009, 02:48 PM

Joemama - the first thing I did was get rid of the high bars on the Bonneville. I didn't like the riding position at all at first. I like being a bit crouched over. That's one of the things I'm not sure I'll like about the S3.

I was sure I wanted a sprint until I rode one. It was OK, but it didn't blow my hair back. The problem is it's hard to take them out and ride like you want when you're on a demo.

I do like your lion analogy. I had a great dealer 10 minutes from my house but they folded. Now I've got to go an hour away.

Bitcrazed · 09-15-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene-O

I've had the Bonnie since 2004 and love, love, love it. I want more power, more handling, more modern engineering. I know that there are lot's of things that I can do to improve the Bonnie, but for the money, I'm wondering if I should trade her in. On the flipside, I don't want to lose the cool vintage cafe racer look either.

Speed Triples seem to be the best modern interpretation of the cafe racer of the 60's. While I love the vintage look, I'm wondering if it's time to get current.

What do you guys think?

I went back and forth on this too over the last year. I *LOVE* bonnies, having ridden several as a kid, but when it came to choosing a bike for today's roads, combined with the fact that a lot of my riding is either highway or lots of very-twisties, the bonnie would just end up struggling to excel at either.

A couple of weeks ago, I took the plunge and bought a barely used 2007 S3. Because I am returning to riding for the first time since I was a teenager, I was actually scared that I'd bought too much bike!!

I needn't have worried! If you're like me and want a bike that you can really grow into for some time to come, the S3 is perfect! It's extraordinarily well-mannered around town and in residential areas, cruises the highway like it owned the road and, if you want it to be, it can be a complete hooligan!!

I couldn't be happier with my S3 and am REALLY glad that I bought it over a bonnie ... although I DO still love them!

shane Liberty · 09-15-2009, 05:01 PM

I wouldn't consider my S3 to be a Cafe Racer as it 's designed to look exactly like a Streetfighter and that's the look that made it famous.

Have you taken out a Thruxton? I would bet my money on the Thruxton to be a modern version on the Cafe style. I have heard that the thruxton is much more sporty than the Bonne and a blast to ride. As for all out performance on a naked or standard Triumph, though, you simply cannot beat the Hooligan Fun of the Speed Triple. In my opinion, of course.

I have owned 15 motorcycles to date and the Speed Triple is second to none. My 2006 R6 was just as amazing, but for different reasons. It's really apples and oranges.

Bitcrazed · 09-15-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane Liberty

Have you taken out a Thruxton? I would bet my money on the Thruxton to be a modern version on the Cafe style. I have heard that the thruxton is much more sporty than the Bonne and a blast to ride.

Yeah, the Thruxton is a blast, but, essentially, it's a bonnie with a few cosmetics, dropped handlebars, uprated suspension and modified exhaust that turns out 69bhp.

The S3 on the other hand is *THE* quintessential naked hooligan bike throwing out 130+bhp and some magnificent handling capabilities ... whilst being more comfortable than a well worn sofa and better behaved around town than most other crotch rockets!

2bugeyez · 09-15-2009, 05:23 PM

A vintage twin is next on my list. I love their sound w/the right pipes! My current stable works well--
S3 for attacking the twists & turns. T-bird for laid back cruising w/the wife.

shane Liberty · 09-15-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitcrazed

Yeah, the Thruxton is a blast, but, essentially, it's a bonnie with a few cosmetics, dropped handlebars, uprated suspension and modified exhaust that turns out 69bhp.

The S3 on the other hand is *THE* quintessential naked hooligan bike throwing out 130+bhp and some magnificent handling capabilities ... whilst being more comfortable than a well worn sofa and better behaved around town than most other crotch rockets!

Yeah it's true that sportbikes are so much like a race machine in the department or ergonomics. I would never, however, say that the Triple out performs a Race Replica. It's a totally different animal all-together.

I ran my Speed Triple on L&L Motorsports Dyno recently. L&L is the company that helps with most Motorcycle Magazine's comparison tests when new models come out.

My triple was bone stock other than a set of Arrow Slip-ons. The bike was run during the day at sea level with 92.23 degree temperature and 35% humidty. Even with the high heat and the fact that I had a set of stock plugs that already had 8,000 miles on them the bike made 123.37rwhp and 75.03 ft. lbs. of torque. The best part was that the Triple made over 110rwhp at 2,200 RPMS and it's max at 8,500RPMS

Having that much getty up that early is really what makes this bike so fun. The torque curve is a straight line all the way up and is every bit worth the price.

Bitcrazed · 09-15-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane Liberty

The torque curve is a straight line all the way up and is every bit worth the price.

ROFL!

Couldn't agree more!!! That's one of the things I love about the S3 - it just seems to have endless power, almost regardless of what gear you're in, what speed you're at or what road conditions you're in, there's always a predictable amount of power on tap ... and yet it delivers its power in such a refined way ... until you choose to wring its little neck and make it scream!

Great info on the stats you saw from the Dyno - thanks for sharing.

Bitcrazed · 09-17-2009, 05:13 PM

Just wanted to drop a quick update into this thread:

My S3 had to go back into the shop AGAIN a couple of days ago ... actually, I had to PUSH it back to the shop (here's the saga).

While it was being mended, I borrowed their demo Bonneville and enjoyed driving it yesterday and today. The Bonnie really is a fun bike and it's fun to be able to twist the throttle without ending up in orbit! However, after just the last 2 days' riding I know that I'd soon be wanting something with a little more get up 'n' go under my butt.

This was reinforced when I got my (now, hopefully, mended) S3 back this afternoon: Just starting my S3 up gave me chills. 2 mins later I was on the highway grinning like an idiot!

Don't get me wrong - I am ***NOT*** a crazy rider. Most here would probably call me "slow", but the sheer thrill of the power dripping from the S3 whilst remaining refined, poised and confident is hard to explain.

Test ride an S3 if you've not before ... you'll either choose to stay with your Bonnie or trade her in for a beast!