Triumphrat

pabonne · 08-05-2008, 01:15 AM

Maybe this has been discussed already and I missed it, but here's a shot of an '09 Bonne SE that came off the Demo truck at my local dealer last weekend:

Kirkus51 · 08-05-2008, 01:31 AM

like the look of the bike, but there's not enough things new about it to make me trade in my 07 for it. Mostly because I'm just getting it dialed in. Although tubeless tires are appealing.

:

Sal Paradise · 08-05-2008, 06:53 AM

I like it. Reminds me of the Bonny's I saw in the early 80's when I was a youngin' . Back then we were all looking for Ninja's but still I remember those last (or so I thought) Bonnevilles.

pabonne · 08-05-2008, 08:18 PM

17" mags
"non-bluing" headers
FI
new rotors
upswept mufflers
new bars
bobbed F/R fenders
lower seat
(same bulbous lights

I don't know, looks like a great commuter (and I've got nothing against any of those mods) but where's this thing headed? A CB750? A Bandit? God forbid...a Versys?? The Bonne is supposed to define retro. No?

They moved the plant to Thailand but I think they may have left the soul in GB.

maybe I'm beating a dead horse.

road dog · 08-05-2008, 08:32 PM

I like it... well, I like it better than their new cruiser at least.

BlitzPig · 08-05-2008, 08:53 PM

It works for me. If the allow wheels were available when I bought my Black model I would have been on it real fast.

This version is yet further proof that for the last 50 years (off and on) the Bonneville has been an honest, good handling, standard motorcycle, and it has changed with the times. Or would you all like a return to drum brakes and kick start?

I know I wouldn't.

Beemie · 08-05-2008, 10:35 PM

I don't like the mags; bikes need spokes to look retro.

I do like the mufflers; the big reason I don't own a new Bonnie yet was that weird little zig zag exhaust pipe bend around the footrest. That's gone with the SE.

FI can be a good thing except there will be no tweaking by novices. But if it's running good, I like it. It might lead to more power....thinking how the vettes have vastly improved with the implementation of computers.

gritkisser · 08-05-2008, 10:46 PM

I love the look. Good starting place for customizing.

ohiorider · 08-05-2008, 11:21 PM

I like tubeless tires. However, I like looking at my 2003 T100 with spokes. OK .... if I was riding in the middle of Wyoming and had a flat, I'd rather have tubeless tires and a repair kit. But I still like the looks of the wires. Ahhhhh, I'm so confused! Gotta remember, I can't see the wheels when I'm riding the bike, so they must be there for other people to look at.

Bob

killian101 · 08-06-2008, 12:23 PM

From what i can tell...almost everything on the 09's should be backwards compatible with most bonnies.