Triumphrat

markbvt

Weather here in Vermont has finally been beautiful the past week, so on Saturday I extracted the Bonneville from my neighbor's messy garage, where it had spent the winter (the garage wasn't quite so messy when I put the bike in). Reinstalled the battery, and with less effort than it usually takes to start the Bonnie on a cold morning, I had it fired up and running. Took it out for a spin to work out the cobwebs, then Sunday I took it out for a longer ride.

At the end of last season and the beginning of this one, I was riding my Honda dual-sport a lot. And two weeks ago I got a Suzuki V-Strom 650, so I've been riding that a lot lately too (including a 650-mile round trip on Friday/Saturday). I like both of those bikes very much.

But once I was out on the open road on the Bonneville, I remembered how much I love that bike. It's just got personality and soul that the others lack. Every few miles elicits another, "God, I love this bike!"

I know I'm preaching to the choir when I say this, but Triumph got something so right with this bike to have it add up to more than the sum of its parts.

--mark

__________________
'11 Triumph Tiger 800 XC / '03 Honda XR650L / '01 Triumph Bonneville cafe

My ride reports: Missile silos, Labrador, twisties, and more

Bennington Triumph Bash, June 1-3, 2012

sweatmachine

welcome back! Good that she started right up for ya!

Interesting that you got a V-Strom, I've been thinking about one for the future. How do you find the power of the 650? Ever wish you got the 1000cc version? I've ridden 2 different Sv650s (both carb'd and FI'd) and liked them, but like you say they lack the soul of the bonnie. I haven't ridden an sv1000 but I've read they're powerful beasts.

__________________
"If you will it Dude, it is no dream"

904cc Custom Bonnie Cafe Fighter!

markbvt

The V-Strom 650 is a bit punchier than the Bonnie, and the bike handles awesome. I don't see any need for the 1000; the 650 is hard enough to keep near the speed limit. Plus it gets nearly 60mpg, which is a huge advantage when touring, which is what I bought it for.

(I considered setting up the Bonneville for touring, but at 6'4"/250, I'm just too big to spend all day on it without lots of breaks to stretch my legs and back.)

--mark

__________________
'11 Triumph Tiger 800 XC / '03 Honda XR650L / '01 Triumph Bonneville cafe

My ride reports: Missile silos, Labrador, twisties, and more

Bennington Triumph Bash, June 1-3, 2012

CAPTDON

All sounds good in syrup land!! Good thing no critters found a home in there during the COLD winter! Get out now & enjoy the ride!! There is nothing else like a Bonne!! Sounds like the winter didnt do any thing bad for her! ENJOY!!!

__________________
CAPT D

innominate

what sadistic fellows you yanks are. lockin your bonnie away durin the winter. i think it got down to the 40's this winter down here in the civilized south. i'm glad i rescued my bonnie from maine and brought her down here to a more respectable climate.

__________________
you can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning.

RonD

I know I'm preaching to the choir when I say this, but Triumph got something so right with this bike to have it add up to more than the sum of its parts.

well said and some people think of this as an entry bike ,but I have owned just about everything over the years and from experience this is no entry bike it can stand alone in any company.

__________________
Regards Ron
Hurricane pictured(Harry)

UraniumC

Hey Mark...

Weather here across the river in NH has turned beautiful as well.

Like you, I brought the Bonnie back to life this weekend for about 140 miles on Saturday. Started right up, a bit rough at first. Out on the road she ran just as sweet as could be. There is just something so right about this bike, far beyond what the specs call for.

It was disappointing to find a bit of rust on the wheels. Seems a common Bonnie problem, but I've got bicycles 10 years old in the same garage with no rust from the storage.

__________________
JC
2006 Goodwood: Progressive Front Springs, Works Black Tracker Shocks, TORS, Tach and, of course, Union Jack License Plate Bolts.
Formerly: VTX 1800C
"God must love stupid people; He made a lot of them."

CAPTDON

Try 1 of a kind! The rust is an on going problem w/ the Bonne's. Try Neverdull- it works wonders w/ a little elbo grease! Besides the rust- they i guess "Stand Alone"!! Will never part w/ mine!! It has something special that no other bike will ever have- totally unique & most recognized / revered bike ever made!!

__________________
CAPT D

BlueThrux

Ive never rescued my bike from the garage after winter. Im out on it unless its precipitating and and accumulating. 30 degrees is about my limit. I understand that other parts of the country dont permit year round riding. PA is no exception. I dont think my bike sits for more than a couple of weeks ever.

__________________
Elwood Blues: We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we are wearing sunglasses.
Jake Blues: Hit it.

markbvt

I would be only too happy to be able to say that as well, and usually I manage to get out on the Honda dual-sport at least once every 4-6 weeks in the winter. But this winter was so snowy that the roads were coated with ice and slush from mid-January through mid-March. That stuff is just too dangerous to ride on.

UraniumC, regarding the rust issue on the wheels, next winter just spray on a coat of WD40 before putting the bike into storage. It'll keep rust from forming, and it washes off easily in the spring.

--mark

__________________
'11 Triumph Tiger 800 XC / '03 Honda XR650L / '01 Triumph Bonneville cafe

My ride reports: Missile silos, Labrador, twisties, and more

Bennington Triumph Bash, June 1-3, 2012