Triumphrat

HOPOIL

OK, there's 100 miles on the odometer now, after owning the bike for almost two full days.

Did anyone else have similar feelings:
? Why doesn't this motorcycle sound like a Triumph?
(I own a '78 Bonnie, and it 'sounds' like a Triumph)

? Why does a stock Bonneville come with mufflers so quiet that the valve train makes more noise than the exhaust note?
(the bike is beautiful to look at...start it up and it sounds like a sewing machine - or worse yet... that Yamaha Virago my wife had a year ago)

?and what's that lump across the back of my a**? Could the stock seat be more uncomfortable?

Now, I sure do appreciate the fact that I can lay my gloves across the handle bars when putting on my helmet and not having them vibrate off on to the ground, or for that matter, being able to really see things in my rear view mirrors instead of it being all giggly. I sure like hitting every gear and finding neutral.

But I sadly sat and wondered why I didn't have a 'new motorcycle owners' ear-to-ear grin after picking up the bike and riding it home.

After-market products are wonderful and they allow us to tweak our bikes as we see fit, I'm just a little bummed that it'll take seats and exhaust modifications (at minimum) to get me grinning like i do when i take that old Trumpet out for a spin.
[guess you can tell that I didn't get to 'test drive' a TBA before my wife and I bought it, eh?]

I'm willing to accept change, so I will in due course come to love this bike; just wishin' it gave me a better feeling straight outa the shop.

__________________
DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS

Let Us Live While We Live

JAXTRIUMPHGUY

Blame the E.P.A.

__________________
2005 Hinckley Bonnie

Primo

Do the bafflectomy, it takes all of an hour and really helps the sound like a motorcycle part.

HOPOIL

can the baffle-ectomy be performed with the pipes on?
see, I haven't gotten down on the ground yet to see just how she's all put together. (only looked on the ground to notice "no oil spots!")

just a quite DIY on the baffle-ectomy would be appreciated.


-thanks; HOPOIL

__________________
DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS

Let Us Live While We Live

ToeCutter66

Look for a set of used TORS on this bulletin board, get a set of risers from New Bonneville. The risers really made my stock seat seem comfortable.

__________________
Thanks,
Kevin

07 Bonnie Black

davidc

" I'm just a little bummed that it'll take seats and exhaust modifications (at minimum) to get me grinning like i do when i take that old Trumpet out for a spin."

I feel the real difference in your '78 and your '07 is this spin you speak of; you'll be able to take a hell of a lot longer spin on your '07.

Kem770

Didn't you know the TBA was quiet when you bought it? After my test ride I asked the dealer to install a set of Staintunes. I have since removed those and done a baffelectomy to my stock pipes. It sounds freaking great.

Your '07 must have a different seat than mine. I think the bike is very comfortable, but then my previous ride was a '99 Thunderbird Sport and it really sucked for comfort.

Kem

__________________
"It's in my skin, bitch." Dudley, "Wild Hogs"

KingOfFleece

Sure sounds like you bought the bike sight unseen. I don't think I've ever heard a new rider decribe the feeling, or lack thereof, like you did. OK. Bikes are adjustable to a degree and there are products available to make them fit if needed. Your shop should assist on this and it's not hard at all. Seat, bars, floorboards/different pegs, grips-all these move or are replaceable, Handlebars adjust, too. You get the idea. As for sound, ALL new bikes sound rather meek out of the box. As another mentioned, blame the EPA. NO manuf. can design for every body type. If you are that far away from the "standard" then you have a bit of work to do-but it's easy and the reward is a bike that fits you to a "T". If, after this is done yoyr Triumph still fails to give you the HUGE smile it gives us-well, it's time then to move to the dark side!

boxerman

"All new bikes sound rather meek out of the box"...I agree with this generally but there seems to be at least one exception. I'm not a Harley fan but my buddy has a stock '07 Sportster 1200 and it sounds pretty nice. The pipes it came with out of the box are not obnoxiously loud but they do have a nice mellow kind of a rumble and tone and you definitely hear them under throttle. Much nicer than a stock Bonnie. If Harley can do this and still comply with the law, I don't understand why Triumph cannot or does not.

BigChiefWoody

Your buddy has a Sportster? Cool...what does she look like?

__________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
-George Best