Triumphrat

08-19-2005

Hi, I am absolutely in love with the look of the Bonneville but am unsure if it would be a good bike for me. I am a 25 year old girl and a beginner. I am 5'7" around 120 lbs. Would this bike be too heavy/ too much for me? Any advice would be really appreciated! Thanks!

dazco · 08-19-2005

you'll get varied opinions, but mine is this. I would consider a smaller bike as a starter for a few reasons. For one, a 450lb bike isn't huge, but for someone your size and completly inexperienced i'd rather see you go with something much lighter for now. It will also be easier to pass any driving tests, tho it would be better if you took a course instead, which in Ca will also make it un-necassary to take the DMV test which may be a bit hard for a beginner especially on a bonnie.

If you go with a smaller used bike you can ride it till you feel confident riding in the first place, then turn it over for a small or even no loss. One of the ladies here did just that with a honda rebel 250 and she seemed to think it was a good move. So IMO, it would be a VERY good idea to learn on a more managable bike first. The bonnie is a great bike and quite managable and easy to ride. But as serious as riding is i think you really should start smaller first. if however you do decide to go with a bonnie right off the bat, it's a MUST that you take a course. Bikes can be very dangerous if you arent fully aware of what can happen, and when you first start there are a lot of potential obsticles that are easily overlooked. Good luck whatever you do, and be careful !

[ This message was edited by: dazco on 2005-08-19 15:26 ]

GaryD · 08-19-2005

Do a year on a Honda 250, then get what you want. You'll get 99% of your money back on the Honda.

08-19-2005

Thanks for the advice. That was pretty much what i was thinking too. I am just being a bit impatient. You pretty much confirmed what i was thinking and I will definatly look into a smaller bike until i get more skilled.

stdbkrhwk · 08-19-2005

I agree with the smaller bike first theory but in your case maybe not the Rebel as it is a bit cramped and at 5'7" I think you would find it rather uncomfortable and actually a little harder to control easily. Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Alpha all have small starter bikes that would give you a bit more leg room.
My wife took the MSF course in July and bought a Rebel because that was what she took the course on and she was confident on it.
In three weeks time she was ready to move onto a Bonnie and absolutely loves it.
I might suggest that you take the course first and then, based on your experiences on the course, decide which way to go.
My wife feels that the Bonnie is actually easier to control and corner on than her Rebel was and because of the superb balance of the Bonnie doesn't even notice the weight difference.

Dave

Diego · 08-19-2005

I heartily endorse dazco's advice. (And Gary's, too, since I see he also managed to post while I was still slowly typing away.) In the long run, I think you'll do fine on a Bonneville, but I wouldn't recommend it at the beginning.

To tell the truth, I learned on a Bonneville myself, but there are some crucial differences. First, that was half a gazillion years ago, when Bonnies were significantly lighter than they are today. Second, I was significantly taller.

The Bonneville is still a very desirable bike, but I would recommend learning and passing your riding test on something lighter...a bike more like the ones they use for MSF riding courses (a good class to consider!). Experience plenty of real-world riding on an agile and forgiving machine for another year or so, then step up to the one you really want. There's no rush.

Hal9000 · 08-19-2005

I started out many years ago on a Triumph Bonnie. I was 19 years old, had never rode any motorcycle. I walked into a Triumph store, plunked down the money, and the salesman showed me how to start it, showed me where first gear was and said"goodbye". I rode for several blocks in first gear before getting the nerve to go into second. I've been riding ever since.

You can take the MSF course first. They supply smaller motorcycles to learn on. After the course you would be in a much better position to decide what's best for you. Whatever, have fun. Best of Luck.

Hal

08-19-2005

I think my dad would likely kill me if I just grabbed a bike and rode away with it without learning how to ride first but that certainly sounds like a fun way to learn if you survive it.

However, I think I might wanna learn on a smaller bike and on one that I wont be too bummed if i damage it in the process.

no-logic · 08-19-2005

I agree with the common concensus. Start small and take the course. Whatever path you choose, good luck, and welcome. It's great to see another woman interested in a Triumph. Trust me.....when you do get one, you will love it. :hihi:

08-19-2005

Sure, take your motorcycle course with the bikes they provide, but go with the Bonneville once you are licensed. Once you've tooled around on their 250's, you'll quickly get accustomed to them. You'll outgrow anything smaller than a Bonneville within about one month!

Besides, with the Bonneville Standard's engine, you've got nothing to worry about. The weight is very well balanced, good center of gravity. In other words, it's all totally manageable. As for your height/weight, the Bonneville is perfect for you.

Do you like horses? A sportbike is like an Arabian, big cruisers are like Percherons, and the Bonneville is similar to a Morgan. If you get a smaller bike, it will be like a pony.

Anyhow, best of luck whatever bike you go with.