Triumphrat

malc · 09-27-2005

My friend has fallen in love with a bonnie (black) it will be his first bike & has not rode 4 4years 76 GS750 before.

Ive a few questions

whats it like to live with?

difference between bonnie & t100 (I know engine size & a bit plusher)

would you recomended as a first bike?

new or second hand if second hand what to look for?

aftermarket bits available?

running cost & mpg?

Thanks people malc

Archimedes · 09-27-2005

Malc. If he's rode a GS750 before he'll have no problems. The Bonnie is a very forgiving bike and can be hot on the pace if you want it to be. 0-80 is fairly comfortable. After that the vibes set in a bit. It goes around curves like its on rails.

It's great to live with. No silly computer gizmos that prevent you from doing work on the engine or bike. The T100 can be a pest to keep clean in the English climate.

The T100 is a bit more flashy. Same engine, same frame etc. A blind man wouldn't know the difference. Just check the year for the engine size. The T100 also attracts attention so don't think of stopping outside an old folks home or you'll be there forever!

Go for second hand if he's not sure whether he'll be keeping it. That way you won't lose on deprecation. If he wants new make sure you hammer them down on a big discount.

Things to look for on second hand include the cam chain tensioner and condition of spokes and chrome parts.

Running costs? Dirt cheap. Aside from tax and insurance (low group) you only have the fuel and tyres etc to think about. petrol consumption can vary between 40 -50mpg. Oil is almost nil. Folks on here will tell you that they have done 10K without a top up.

There are now lots of aftermarket bits. You'll see a lot advertised on here plus e-bay, Norman Hyde, Junks Bolts. Many pattern parts are much, much cheaper than Triumph e.g. Rentech.

Hope that helps

Robert

Diego · 09-27-2005

> whats it like to live with?

It has always been a joy to me.

> difference between bonnie & t100 (I know engine size & a bit plusher)

Apart from the engine size on recent models, there's a tach on the T100, knee pads for the tank, more chrome, higher price...

Incidentally, the T100 is due for a price increase in 2006, from what I hear. Other models remain the same, according to my dealer.

> would you recomended as a first bike?

If a person has any kind of bike experience at all, yes. There are far worse possibilities.

> new or second hand if second hand what to look for?

For a first bike, I always recommend secondhand. Much less painful emotionally if (when) the rider makes a novice mistake and the bike sustains some damage.

If used, look for the usual things...is the service record complete; how promptly does it start from cold and do all the electrics work; any unusual wear on the tires, chain, sprockets; any evident body damage or rust or corrosion, etc. There's nothing particularly unique to look for on used Bonnevilles that I've ever heard.

Personally, though, I'd look for one without a lot of aftermarket stuff--it'll be more realistically priced, and there will be fewer unknowns that could jump up and bite the new owner later. He can add those things later once he decides the bike is really for him.

> aftermarket bits available?

Luggage, windscreens, exhaust mods, a few chrome bits, that sort of thing. Your Triumph dealer and the advertisers whose banners you see on this site can give you a lot more ideas.

> running cost & mpg?

Maintenance costs run lower than its big brothers in the Triumph family, especially now that the service intervals have been changed from 4000 to 6000 miles; older manuals still show 4k, but the change is retroactive to all year models of the Hinckley Bonneville. Fuel economy depends on riding habits, but can easily be 50mpg (US gallons). Insurance costs are also comparatively modest.

[ This message was edited by: Diego on 2005-09-27 17:59 ]

jsdc2005 · 09-27-2005

I can recommend it as a first bike - it is my first bike and it's very well within my comfort zone - plus room to grow.

You're apparently in the UK but here in the US, I got wildly disparate insurance quotes for the bonnie. Ended up with a reasonable one from a prominent company, but if he gets something weirdly high at first he should shop around before giving up and buying, say, a Honda.

[ This message was edited by: jsdc2005 on 2005-09-27 20:33 ]

Copper · 09-27-2005

I'm another one who bought a Bonnie for a first bike...No problems at all, rides great, well behaved, not ever going to get bored with it. As for maintenance, not much to do at all, hardly even have to adjust the chain!

If your buddy has ridden in the past, I would anticipate no problems for him with the Bonnie.

As for new vs used, its a tough call. These bikes are so well made that you don't really sacrifice any quality if you buy a used one as long as it has had even minimal maintanence......Mine was new though, and I think looking back on it, the odometer showing all those zeros, MY brand new bike, it was worth the extra couple thousand $$$s.

kdrake · 09-27-2005

This was my first after about 25 years. It is easy to handle, elicits comments everywhere, has good power, and is big enough to be "real", not something you will wish you could replace with more power or size after a few months. I get a steady 51 or 52 mpg. The thing could use a better headlight and taller gearing. The muffler seems to be getting slightly noisier now that the packing is settling. And now I know a small SUV can drive up on the rear wheel and not bend it. (See general forum).

dawgfan · 09-28-2005

Agreed.
I grew up riding dirt bikes since I was about 11 and had a dual-sport in college to get the good parking spots on campus and avoid the bus system (UGA campus is HUGE). Never had a road bike til' Saturday...

I just bought a 2005 Bonnie this past Saturday as my first road bike. I am personally the type of rider who has no desire to see 170 without a cage. I like being quick and just a wee bit loud but not speedy.

I love my Bonneville and the power feels good to me. I have not pushed much on my new tires or engine (obviously with break-in) but I will say that I can tell with time, some scuffing, and some more experience, the twisties are going to be a blast. I have a short run of about a quarter mile uphill with less than 100 feet of straight-away and I could go up and down this thing all day.. I do seem to prefer going up though for some reason.

The Bonnie is a great bike and I could not be more satisfied with my purchase.

TC