Triumphrat

DennisVR · 11-30-2012, 05:05 PM

Wow, i didn't expect this many replies

I guess none of the concerns my friends have are valid or deal breakers. Great!

I do however read quite a few people suggesting to start smaller like 250cc. This is actually what i had i mind at first but after getting informed(there are lots of 250cc vs 600cc discussions on the internet) i decided against that and get something with a bit more hp and torque. The parallel twin looks perfect, not a high revving screamer which you constantly need to shift to get in the right rev range.

Regarding a rider's course: As my car driver's license doesn't allow me to drive a motorcycle i will need to get a motorcycle license. Today i passed the theory test

And now i need to follow an 8 hour practical training at a certified center before i can do my exam. After 6 hours i can obtain a temporary driver's license. Then it will be practice, practice, practice. Taking it slowly and not getting too courageous.

In the mean time i started to fall in love with a Thruxton. I realise the upright position of the Bonnie would be better for a beginner. But emotion is winning from reason in this case

The misses wasn't really keen on me getting a motorcycle, but once i showed the Bonnie and Thruxton she's actually excited and is considering to get a motorcycle license herself

I guess showing a friend's BMW 1000RR before showing a Bonnie did the trick

Thanks for the good advice, although i won't go the "smaller bike first"-route it has made me aware that i need to take things slowly.

SUPERCRUZ · 11-30-2012, 06:35 PM

When you say you used to ride a 50cc bike when you where 15 or 16, I hope you meant a 500cc; big difference. In any event, I cannot recommend strongly enough a basic rider course through the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). I rode motocross bikes when I was a teen but had never ridden a street bike. The MSF course with classroom and two days of rider training was excellent and gave me the skills and confidence to ride on the street. We rode 250cc Honda Rebels which I absolutely hated but it was fun to learn on these bikes none the less.

As for whether the Bonnie is a good first bike, I would agree. There are even some reviews on the internet that say the Bonnie is a perfect first bike albeit a bit powerful for first time riders. The Bonneville is a standard bike with good upright seating position. My recommendation would be to get a Base or SE vs the T100. The T100 is a bit heavy due to all the excess chrome but it is still very manageable. I think the Base model or SE with the smaller rims and tires and lower seating position is slightly lighter and more nimble overall and thus better for the first time rider. This is my opinion. Others may beg to differ. You could always go for on of the smaller 250cc bikes like the new Honda CB250R or the Kawasaki Ninja 300 but those bikes just do not do it for me.

Good luck and enjoy your new ride. I agree with others here that if you get the Bonneville, you need to ride within your limits.

Johnnystriple · 11-30-2012, 07:19 PM

I've been riding for the past 37 yrs. and have had countless bikes. I now have 3, one being a Street Triple. Yes the Bonnie is a heavier but I like the feel of the heft. I feels solid on the road at 60 mph and nimble around town. I did spend some extra money to get some extra hp though since I was used to the Striple. The Bonnie has become my main bike now.

Morris the Cat · 11-30-2012, 07:37 PM

Learn, practice and understand the concept of 'counter-steering'.

mydogiszen · 11-30-2012, 07:52 PM

I had a Bonnie, which I really liked. I nearly dropped it twice and managed to stop it hitting the road. Both were virtually stationary - only one had the engine running. It is a heavy bike to man-handle. But it is very easy to ride. I had been away from bikes for some years and so had to be respectful.

I would love it if Triumph would make it 20KG lighter, but, then it probably wouldn't feel like a Bonnie.

My next bike was a Sprint, which felt very light and agile under speed, but was incredibly heavy and a little top heavy - and you guessed it I dropped that one as well. Every time I have ever dropped a bike it has been only my fault.

What I would say to any returning rider is that you should not under-estimate the damage to your confidence of dropping your bike. It can make you fear U-turns and slow speed manoeuvres.

With hindsight, I wish I could have had something smaller and much lighter before the Bonnie. How about the Honda CRT250L? A good little dual purpose bike, which you can always keep in the back of your garage when you are ready for the Bonnie.

Moogs · 11-30-2012, 07:54 PM

Get what you want. You'll adapt to it. It may or may not excite you in 6 months or you may get wood every time you ride it. Don't listen to your friends, listen to your soul. Buy what moves you.

ruger · 11-30-2012, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan McGrath

Buy the Bonny, you won't regret it. Good looking, plenty fast, easy to maintain and will get you where you're going. ........

Plus, you'll get to hang around here with this bunch of nutcas-
um, gentlemen!

Magwitch · 12-01-2012, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve betts

Fair enough and true what you say, Magwitch. I will own my bias. I think powerful bikes (I put the Str 3 in that category) in the hands of inexperienced riders on the street greatly increases the chance of going into a corner too hot. "Pilot error", not other motor vehicles is the culprit in the vast majority of serious accidents involving novice riders. It's just too easy to make a mistake when your new bike goes from zero to Holy Sh*t in an eyeblink.

I've been riding for a long time with many miles on fast bikes and I consider myself a competent street rider. A couple of years ago I took a long test ride for fun on a Street Triple while my Duc was getting serviced. During that ride, I had a lapse in concentration and carried too much speed into a corner and crossed the center line, but fortunately there didn't happen to be anybody coming the other way.

We've had many spirited discussions on this forum that veer into the topic of individual rights, including the right to buy a bike way faster than your current skills can handle. I think that's a bad idea and I think a Bonneville approaches the power limit of what most new riders can safely deal with.

Sorry about my sarcastic response in my other post.

Fair enough, over here in the UK, we have "restrictions" for new riders, which only allow engines up to 33 bhp, which has to be adhered to.Larger engined bikes can be purchased, but a restrictor kit has to be fitted. As regards accident statistics, again over here, a vast amount of accidents involving motorcyclists are caused by other road users who pull out without looking, and quite often get away with the offence.
No offence taken as regards your previous comments, and safe riding.

Johnnystriple · 12-02-2012, 11:03 AM

I have always been in favor of hp restrictions here in the US for beginning riders. My son, who has never own a bike, got him one a couple of months ago, a GSXR1000, and it is scaring him and me to death. I wish we had the same restrictions that the Europeans have. I for one would vote for it.

Moogs · 12-02-2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnystriple

I have always been in favor of hp restrictions here in the US for beginning riders. My son, who has never own a bike, got him one a couple of months ago, a GSXR1000, and it is scaring him and me to death. I wish we had the same restrictions that the Europeans have. I for one would vote for it.

I wouldn't. Why didn't he test drive it or start smaller instead of a liter sport bike?

I started with an 800cc cruiser and at first it was a ton of power but quickly became manageable and too little.

These restrictions don't make sense.

Common sense does.

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