Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

Why would you buy a Bonneville?

20K views 127 replies 80 participants last post by  GDCobra 
#1 ·
The suspension is craptastic, the seat is one better than a plank of wood, the pipes are neutered, and the brakes wear out faster than the oil. It's not a particularly fast bike, it doesn't come with any technology like a BMW would, there's no real tribe like a Harley has, and it's not priced like a Royal Enfield.

So what are we thinking? Why is this bike the one we buy...and keep? What does it actually do well?
 
#2 ·
Well I can tell you after just buying a modern, fuel injected bike that the Bonneville is a great ride.

The brand new bike has a lot of the same short-comings. Three or four of the ones you mentioned specifically.

Just shows that there is no "perfect" bike, especially without modifications.

So I guess for me it comes down to how it moves you, and I don't mean down the road. How it makes you feel. It just makes me happy. And, the Bonneville looks like what I think a bike should look like. Seven years later I still turn around to look at it as I walk away in a parking lot.

Other bikes will come and go...she will stay.
 
#3 ·
The style, the History, the sound, the robust construction, more than adequate performance for today's road conditions, the flat torque curve, the availability of after-market parts and plentiful supply of spares, the relatively long production run (14 years) that ensures all the bugs have been ironed out, the relative mechanical simplicity, but most of all, this bike makes me feel good and it even looks good just sitting in the garage. I can't explain why. This is something that lists of specs and clinical comparisons with other bikes can't quantify...

I often travel up and down our empty country and mountain roads at relatively low speeds in a high gear enjoying the engine purring contentedly under me and feel that life couldn't be better. If you possess a similarly unhurried approach to life and the road, these bikes are just the thing for you.

It's a bike that has to be bought with your heart, not just the brain. Simply put: Aristocracy without arrogance.
 
#118 ·
One of the best explanations I've read, Forchetto. I read somewhere once about the "Triumph look-back" or some such thing, where you get off and walk away from the bike, but then glance back to look at how beautiful it is. I always do that, even now, and I've owned mine for over 10 years.

Of course, the fact that Batman rode one adds even more to the allure! :)
 
#4 ·
I like my '06 T100 because it looks like bikes looked when I was in high school. ('74) It's fun to ride and it handles nice. Some of the issues mentioned are easily and relatively cheaply fixed. (suspension, ghetto mod on exhaust). Some are not real issues (seat).
I keep mine showroom clean and love looking at it. My other bikes aren't near as clean.
 
#5 ·
If Yamaha re released an air cooled 2 stroke 400 twin , Kawasaki a 750 2 stroke triple , any manufacturer something classic from their back catalogue , a simple bike anybody would stand a chance of being able to fix ( or think they could ) not requiring experience in electrickery or racer levels of riding competence ( instead of thinking we are all riding gods ) . Triumph almost did that and left it up to us to improve our bike to our own levels of beautification .
 
#6 ·
If kawi released something simular to their old 750 widow makers the rate of motorcycle fatalities would take a large jump .
 
  • Like
Reactions: OutsiderT100
#10 ·
I grew up seeing Triumphs on the street. I watched with envy as a little kid and when I was a teenager my parents always said no or just could not afford it. Marriage, kids, other obligations prevented me earlier in life to get one.

When I purchased my T100 I knew I made the right decision. Its the way I think a bike should look. Its so much fun to ride, either to work or on the weekend. It was a decision made from the heart. As other posters said it has so much history and the current model has a great track record. I had a Honda and a Yamaha prior and did not feel the same way about those bikes.

After a couple of modification, suspension, accessories, etc. it's even better. Just yesterday at a supermarket some older guy (probably my age) said, wow a Brit bike. Then the conversation turns to "I used to have a Trident and my brother had a BSA." Its annoying sometimes since it happens about every time I pull up to the pump but then I realize that they have the same affinity to the brand I do and its all good.
 
#16 ·
There are no perfect bikes. Never owned any bike that the stock seat wasn't horrid, the suspension not up to snuff, and didn't need a little aftermarket help to be tolerable.

The Triumph Bonneville is an Icon in the motoring world. Who that understands this wouldn't want to have one? This may actually be my last motorcycle...
 
#17 ·
The Bonnie was my first love wayyyyy back when I was 17 y/o. I bought my first one when I was 19 y/o.

After that I rode many other bikes, but I still wanted another Bonnie. So after the kids grew up and all that I bought a T100, that was back in 2005. Ten years later and another T100, I still love my Bonnie.

Besides the Bonnie meets all 3 of my requirements for a bike.

1) air-cooled

2) you can see the motor

3) reliable
 
#18 ·
Top 10!

I bought mine last month!
Top ten reasons are:
1. BMWs are too pricey.
2. Not enough local support for Moto Guzzi.
3. Harley? Been there. Never again.
4. Bonneville's ergonomics physically fit me like no other bike.
5. Great support online! (That's you guys!)
6. Local dealer.
7. Recommended by online motorcycle reviews.
8. Recommended by snooty local mechanic.
9. Price.
10. And yeah, it looks great, but looks aren't everything!
 
#20 · (Edited)
No doubts about that . Harley has the chick appeal , triumph well the bro appeal
one more example of the excellent marketing by HD of their bikes sound and vibrations
 
#22 ·
I see where you're going with this.

Let me answer that question with another question: If you could go down to a car dealer today and buy a 1955 Chevy, or a '64 Mustang, except with a modern, EFI engine, brakes, electrical system, etc, AND it cost no more than a comparable new car (say $25k), would you? I'll bet a lot of people would.

But you can't.

OTOH, you can buy a motorcycle that has the look, the sound, and the feel of a classic Roadster from the 1960's or 70's, only with an updated, leak-free engine and reliable electronics, and best of all, it's competitively priced.

All of the things that the Bonnie supposedly "lacks": A super-fast multi cylinder engine, racing handling, high tech this- and that - you are assuming that those things are of equal value to everyone, but of course they are not. The brakes are not as good as the ones on a Hayabusa but so what? They're better than the drum brakes that were on bikes in the 60's. Ditto for the engine power and the comfort of the seat, and if those things were good enough for people then, what has changed? Roads are still roads. Traffic is still traffic.

The reality, of course, and the true answer to the question is that for those of us in the Western world, at least, a motorcycle is not a "necessity." It is a toy, a recreational vehicle, IOW it is a purchase based more on emotion and feeling than "logic" or "need."

Back when I started riding in 1982, there were a lot of bikes we would call "standards" (the current marketing term seems to be "naked bikes" I guess because it sounds sexy.) This was back when motorcycles were expected to be a sort of jack-of-all-trades.

Sadly, it was only a few years later when motorcycling really exploded in popularity that the great schisms and divisions in the motorcycling world were created. And nowadays most manufacturers have wholly separate lines of cruisers, supersports, adventure bikes, etc. Specialization, IMO, seems to have killed much of the fun of motorcycling by making it too "serious."

Now you can't sell a "sport bike" unless it puts the rider into a hunched over crouch, surrounds him with swoopy plastic and rockets him along at 170mph. You can't sell a "cruiser" unless it's at least 1500ccs of rumbling V-twin (because in the cruiser world, a V twin is a motorcycle and a motorcycle is a V-twin. Anything else is....not a motorcycle. Something else that they are only vaguely aware of that is probably suspiciously foreign.) An "Adventure bike" must have at least 9" of clearance and big knobby tires, despite the fact that this behemoth weighs as much as a Volkswagen and if you paid less than $1500 for those aluminum side cases then for God's sake, send them back before you get chased out of the Gentleman Adventurers club and get your Grey Poupon mustard confiscated!

The "retro" craze seems to be a popular trend in motorcycling but I can't help but wonder if it's driven by a nostalgia for the times when motorcycling wasn't so specialized. When a motorcycle was just a motorcycle - two wheels and a motor and a tank and a big round headlight, and not much more - and not a "lifestyle statement."

That's my theory, at least.
 
#70 · (Edited)
...a motorcycle was just a motorcycle - two wheels and a motor and a tank and a big round headlight, and not much more...
Why did I Buy a Bonnie? I had a 14 year hiatus from bikes. Family responsibilities. My choice, and one I'm glad I did take. However, when I returned to bikes, everything had changed. Most bikes had an alien, insect form, or gave impression that it would unfold into a robot on the occasional Saturday morning. Either that, or way cruiser-ish.
My first bike choice, was a HD '48. But boy they're pricey. Even used. My only other choice, a Bonnie. Mostly because it was relatable and affordable.
The first bike I ever 'fell in love with' was Yamaha's little SRX-6. Had one that was race-built. This bike lacked nothing. Impressed upon me what a properly built single was capable of. Thus began a love-affair with singles.
If someone, anyone, would build a 60+ horse aircooled reliable big single, traditionally road-styled, relatively light bike with good road-manners, I'd have been window-licking their store-front every morning waiting for them to open in order to hand them my money.
Favorite bikes hand's-down are the Manx Norton singles. But they're a little too impractical to really ride anywhere or daily, not unlike a Velocette, (which I also covet) especially in congested traffic. And then there's parts allocation and costs. Not to mention the emotional damage that will occur if it goes down or is taken. (And if it is taken, I will find you, and I will... *ahem.*)
So exactly what is available? That I like? Hmm.
There's the R.E. Conti GT. Great lookin'. Too expensive for what you get though. If it reliably possessed heaps more power one would be sharing a stall with my Sporty as I type. (Still keeping eyes out for an inexpensive used one. Be fun around town.)
Yamaha's SR-youwanthowmuchforthat!?!-400? (cue Grumpy-cat) No. ThankyouverymuchYamijustwhatwereyouthinking?
Honda? As cool as it is, the CBR250/300 is just too... little. C'mon Big Red, 650/700 ala' GB500. IDC if it is water-cooled. Wish I could have afforded a GB in the day. Oh well.
Suzuki. Outside of dirtbikes, do they even know what a single is anymore? I mean, this was the company that built the DR Big for cry-aye... Now it's all 'Haya this-n-'busa that.'
Kawi. Well, I guess I could buy another KLR650. But why? My old one still works. Slow as it is and liquid cooled, it will. not. die. Not a roadie anyway. Good commuters.
So that leaves me with... twins.
HD's own, now no longer US bound, XR1200R. I like these. Sitting on them reminds me of my old VF700 Interceptor. But slower. Not fussy to own a daily-driver that's essentially a discontinued niche model either. Parts start to increase. Also the afore-mentioned '48. Low miles used they still fetch quite the price. Usually as much as a new Thrux.
Victory kept showing promise with the Judge. Great motor, but still too 'Ness-ie' for my tastes. At least it had a round headlight.
'New' Norton's 961 racer is The Hotness™. Forbidden-Secks-on-wheels Hotness. Love the bike. But at over 20k USD The ™ Hotness... cools a shade. Apparently I'm also a cheapskate as well. So no Hotness for me.
Love the Guzzi V7 Racer. For a mass-production bike it's jaw-droppingly visually stunning. I've seen 'em. Don't know where you get 'em though. Like the Norton, UPS will be your favorite parts-guy.
The new Ducs? I want to like the Scrambler series. I really do. But they're too... edgy. Or maybe I'm just too. damn. picky. Or old. Or not. I'm edgy, but more in the 'TSA agent will pick you out of the line' edgy than cool edgy. Think Barney Fife meets Tommy Chong.

The only bikes left that are even close to comparable to my old SRX-6 that have everyday reliability, durability, nationwide parts availability, fits my criteria and is affordable, is the Bonnie series. I was prepared to pick up a new previous-year Mag-wheel Bonnie to start. An 'M'-bar, Thrux seat cowl, fender eliminator, little signals, rear-sets and I'd be good.
Turns out I didn't even have to cafe' one. Adopted a pristine sub-1000 mile with mods, used Thrux.
It was a plus that I like old Brit-bikes, which the SRX was tribute toward, and all that made this decision easy. I could have bought a CB1100 for a pretty good price, but it just didn't speak to me. As nice a bike that it is, and it is, I don't think I would be happy with it. It'd be like having a toaster.
The whole Bonnie lineup are just great, solid, unpretentious little bikes with character.
I didn't buy it to make happy the neighbors or other riders. Just me. And it does that quite well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scot66
#25 ·
I bought my Thruxton based 100% on how it looked. I didn't look at specs, I didn't care about reliability, didn't even look up fuel economy (I'm still not 100% what my fuel economy is. Maybe 40ish-mpg.) and don't regret a thing. Just look at it! If it doesn't speak to you then it's not the bike for you. But sometimes it does and you just can't accept anything else!
 
#27 ·
Back in 1999 my girlfriend at the time saw that big, glossy Harley catalog and pointed to the Wide Glide. Well, I went out and got that Wide Glide and I still wonder "why?" The Harley is long gone and not missed, but luckily I married the girlfriend!

UJMrider puts it so well. I just want to sit straight up, feel alert, and know that I am in control of my motorcycle. The Harley fought me every mile in that regard. I personally think that they are dangerous by design.
 
#28 ·
As a kid, always drooled over British bikes. When able to, I walked into the nearest Triumph dealer and bought my Bonnie without ever even sitting on it. I knewthis was the bike I needed/wanted.
I was right, too!
-Sparky
 
#30 ·
I bought a bike (350 Yamaha if I remember correctly) from a neighbor when I was 15. I slept on it and then took it back to him the next day because I didn't even have my drivers license yet and it kind of intimidated me. Years later my crazy cousin was hurt bad on a motorcycle and I swore I'd never get one- too dangerous. Mid 40s I begin noticing these super cool looking motorcycles all over LA and for the first time I though to myself "not that I every would, but If I were ever to get a motorcycle, it would be one of those". Turn 50 and decide to stop living in fear and start to do some of those things that I have always said I would do 'someday', but not before it's really got too late to do them. Read and learned everything I could about the Bonnie. Pulled up every photo of a modded Bonnie I could find online, and that's all I could think of month after month. Finally pulled the trigger on a '13 with 300 miles on the clock and have LOVED life ever since. Like others, I just love looking at it, cleaning it, taking good care of it, and especially riding it. Now that I check out every type of bike that drives by, nothing even remotely comes close to turning my head like the Bonnie always did.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top