Triumphrat

Deacon · 01-05-2008, 07:42 PM

I had not owned a motorcycle since 1976. My bikes were:
1968 Suzuki 80CC
19?? Triumph 250
1970 Honda 450CL
1969 Honda 750
1972 Honda 750
1976 Honda GL 1000
Last April I bought a Harley FXD Dyna Superglide. Not a touring bike with bags but just the cheapest frame with the biggest engine they offered. I was very disappointed with the performance from day one.Hit the throttle and it felt awesome for 2800 rpms and then it flattened out and died.My bike weighed 680lbs and had 1600CC.
I had the dealer install a 1800CC screaming eagle kit with heads, cams,etc.
The bike is now respectable. Not a super bike but an American piece of Iron that would run 12.5 @105.5 MPH in the 1/4 mile. It is faster than most cars from a stop light.
It has fuel injection and an esoteric computer tuning that the dealer can only do on a computer. Every change you make you need to take it to the dealer for a Dynotune tweak. It is so esoteric that the dealer will not give a copy of the computer tune and keeps it at the dealership.
ENTER THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE:
Change your pipes--- rejet your carbs in the driveway
Remove your airbox--rejet again.
Change anything and tune it yourself.
My Harley is so loud (vance and Hines Straight shots with quiet baffe no less!!), that I feel guilty starting it up before 1 in the afternoon.
My Harley feels like a corporate motorcycle where everything is pre-defined by what they allow.
When I brought my Bonnie home I felt I went back in time 35 years. It was mine to tinker, tune and abominate anyway I wanted. No computer no secret fuel maps, lock codes, and dealer only tampering in set ways.
I had Carbs, plugs, coils,exhaust,intake mufflers, and I could swap them till the cows came home and in my own Garage.
I feel that this is the last Motorcycle in our lifetime that we will have the opportunity to do this with.
It is a thrill to ride it with stock exhaust and know that I am still running carbs . At this point I am not even concerned about performance. That will come later. But for now it just tickles me to own the best kept secret of the new Millenium.
And Al gore can kiss my red hot exhaust tips because this is the coldest winter I can recall.

mikeinva · 01-05-2008, 09:23 PM

i agree our bonnies are time machines I think they made them just for us old farts as a last stand for us .

Hedge · 01-05-2008, 09:57 PM

Well put Deacon! Now just get rid of that Hog and turn to the dark side completely!

jd_t100 · 01-05-2008, 10:00 PM

I'm 38 and too young to remember the glory days of Triumph. I loved all bikes British and American bikes growing up. When it came to choosing this bike I liked the way it handled in the city (I tried the HD Sportster). I love retro & custom bikes so my choice was on respectable handling and cool looks. It also has more credibility than the Jap cruisers. May be I'm an old fart at heart! Cheers.

sweatmachine · 01-06-2008, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeinva

i agree our bonnies are time machines I think they made them just for us old farts as a last stand for us .

old farts? I'm 27! I love these "simple" machines. They have more soul and simplicity than anything else new out there.

Kramocker · 01-06-2008, 04:50 AM

Deacon,

I think you hit on many of the high points of owning a Bonneville. These bikes are wonderful to look at and wonderful to ride, easy and endless mods, and not every lawyer, doctor, hair dresser and mid life crisis geezer (OMG-I think I might fall into that category I have a Z06 beside my Bonnie) has one. I gotta go with Hedge on this one; dump the Milwaukee iron and commit to the Union Jack. You know what they say, "Once you go Jack, you never go back".

Cheers,

SK

ohiorider · 01-06-2008, 07:05 AM

All you dudes and dudettes under 40 are getting a taste of what lots of us OF's enjoyed back in the 60's and 70's. Those of us approaching/who have reached retirement are having the pleasure of doing it all over again.

What could be better?

Bob

Buckeye71 · 01-06-2008, 08:51 AM

Well said Deacon and most of us picked up new bonnevilles and thruxtons for the very same reasons you mentioned. You are not alone my friend.

begenius · 01-06-2008, 12:02 PM

so happened with me my friends!
i am 41 and always liked the good old motor stuff!!
my best years at 18 -25 was customize -wrench and do bobbing a great 1937 BSA M20 war dog!
after a Vespa PX 200-also nice city all around scoot--a dump -clinical-awfull computerized --but super performance Kawa Z750....and one day at December saw at a dealer ....THE BIKE!!! A beautifull yellow Thruxton!
it was love at first site!
I knew that i have to give away that JAP in line4 -thing...and go for it.After a month ,my thruxton came to my garage.I am as happy as the first day i ride my BSA chopp,but with reliability and heritage of a Legend Bike.
I am not selling this bike watever will happen-till my last day on earth!
thanks Triumph for make that great time machine!!

Eugene
Hellas

RKPrick · 01-06-2008, 12:16 PM

After being away from "Jack" since 79, riding Harleys since, I've always wanted to get back to "Jack".... It took years, but, I finally found "the one" a 79 Bonnie 750 Special, 2nd owner, not licensed (ridden) in 10 years and about an 8 - 8/12 out of 10. Bought it and am having it looked over (family member, master Tech for 30+ yrs) before I go to Florida (from PA) to retrieve it.
I won't sell my Road King, it's going thru a major "re-model" and will be the ride for our trip to CO. and beyond in June.
These things truly are incredible, parts are available, the gas goes thru a carb, they have built in "Valves need adjusment" incicators (vibrating bars and pegs)...... I can't wait!
Bill