Triumphrat

06-02-2007

Well I’m thinking of trading in one of my bikes for a Bonnie and have few questions. I’m trying to decide between the Bonnie dark and the Scrambler. A long time ago I used to have a 2000 Adventurer. Hence my nickname. Yes I wish I never sold it.

First the salesman told me you can only put a centre stand on the Scrambler. Is that true? The Triumph web site has it listed as an accessory for both. I hate chain maintenance with no centre stand. Well actually I don’t like chain maintenance at all but a centre stand makes it a lot easier.

I noticed the scrambler makes less torque but it peaks at a lower rpm. Does this mean it is quicker light to light (city traffic) than the regular version? How does it ride at 70 on the freeway? 99% of my riding is commuting to work most of which is “go as fast as you can” freeway. This last time I test rode a Bonnie was about five years ago and it seemed a little buzzy to me at freeway speeds. I've gotten really spoiled by this Mean Streak I have. It is solid as a rock and smooth as silk on the freeway. Unfortunately it weighs a ton and is quite cumbersome in the city.

What kind of gas mileage can I expect? Motorcycles are just cheap transportation for me; they must get good gas mileage. I like the Bonnie because, other than Harley, they are the only standards left anymore that don’t look like out of a science fiction comic book. And then there’s I’ve always wanted one since I was a kid (long time ago).

TIA

Mike
04 Mean Streak
05 FXDI
Scootsdale AZ

tccox · 06-02-2007

Salesman is wrong . I'm installing one on my 2007 Bonnie T100 today. LOTs of folks have installed the centerstand kit on their Bonneville

Gas milage , Well only had my Bonnie for three weeks but I'm averaging about 49 MPG.

Never ridden a scrambler so cant answer your other questions.

rstover · 06-02-2007

Yes, the Bonnie will take a center stand.

I believe the Scrambler motor is set up with a 270 degree crank, whereas the Bonnie fires both cylinders at once. If I have this wrong someone else will correct me.

I just finished my first road trip on the Bonnie and, yes, there is a little buzziness at 75-80, which made me wish it had one more gear on top. However, there are a couple threads in here somewhere describing changing the drive sprocket to get more speed at lower rpm. There's a bit of trade-off on low-end pick up but, if you don't go overboard, you can probably get the right balance between the two.

I will say, though, the Bonnie handles the twisties very well, and is great fun!

The dealers here allow test drives, which I would recommend you try to do in your neck of the woods.

Good luck!
Roger

CAPTDON · 06-02-2007

IMO get a sears jack- more functional than a center stand & cheaper! The Bonne (fr what I have read & know somewhat) is better handling on the street - hence scrambler. Mine handles like a gazelle. Unless you are going 80+ the "buzziness" will not be bad. Milage is decent @ 45+-.
2+ years & it has been maintenance free- like a Honda only nicer of course. The appearance thing isanother issue. You cant ride a Triumph hard & put it to bed wet! A good comuter if you want. Just keep an eye on the chrome etc.. Do a weekly once over & you should love it. If you need gas- try to get it on the way HOME from work- the Bonne's tend to draw a crowd @ times @ gas stations etc..If you go that route- welcome from us all. You wont be sorry.

lindsayt · 06-02-2007

I get between 40 and 50 mpg depending on how I'm riding. On the Interstate, holding a steady 80 mph, I get very nearly 50 mpg. In town it's more like 43 or 45. Riding like a hooligan at varying high speeds, it's more in the 40 range.

The centerstand is *definitely* available and highly recommended. It's overpriced at $200+; you might consider bargaining to get it included with the bike.

I consider the bike to be silky-smooth at 80 mph on the freeway; but then my "ass dyno" was tuned on 2-stroke scooters, so a washing machine wouldn't seem particularly rough. Coming from an exceptionally smooth bike, it might seem buzzy - the counterbalancers were tuned to leave in just a little vibration to remind you you're on a Triumph!

Minor correction to rstover - you're basically correct about the engines, but on the Bonneville though the pistons rise and fall together, they fire on alternate cycles (L cylinder's power stroke occurs with the R cylinder's intake stroke and vice-versa). It's 360 degrees between cylinders firing; on the Scrambler it's 270 degrees from L to R, then 540 degrees from R to L.

Can't comment on the Scrambler as I haven't ridden one. I assume it would be a real blast around town though...

oldguymx · 06-02-2007

CaptDon do you have extra large saddlebags to carry that Sears jack along on trips?? I have bike jacks at home but on the road the center stand is a valuable part that I would certainly miss

CAPTDON · 06-02-2007

No but I NEVER changed a tire on the road either! The center stand is good for SOME garage work. Not much use on the road cept parking. Some have said not real useful there either? Soft tar & BOOM. Fix a flat is your o nthe road tire semi repair. Good till you get to a shop. Dont know what it would do for ya on the road? :???:

oldguymx · 06-02-2007

Quote:

On 2007-06-02 19:25, CAPTDON wrote:
Dont know what it would do for ya on the road? :???:

Mostly just giving you a hard time Don
I have done a chain lube on the road a couple weeks ago because we rode some very dusty conditions immediately after getting into areas of standing water that the chain was running through. In the old days I did tire repairs but that was in the days of tubed tires where the tubes blew more then actual tire problems.
They actually are a great way to take the weight off and use less space during winter storage.
All that said for true working on the bike nothing like a jack that can raise it to standing height to save your back- someything I have learned from wrenching MX bikes

tccox · 06-02-2007

First day I rode my new Bonnie to work discovered a sheet rock screw in rear tyre. So there I am bike at work and flat rear tyre. IF I'd had the centerstand installed it would have been a simple matter of removing rear wheel, carrying to dealer and having it fixed. NO centerstand and I had to pay a tow service $130 to carry it to a dealer. In addition any kind of long trip you're gonna need to service the chain. A centerstand is an ESSENTIAL farkle for the Bonnie

Oh, and our 07 Bonnies STILL have tubed tyres

[ This message was edited by: tccox on 2007-06-02 20:21 ]

MS_Kid · 06-02-2007

All Bonnie replies--so speaking as a Scrambler rider w/no Bonnie experience: the Scrambler sits taller and comes with knobby-type tires. If you like acceleration, its there, but hard to get in trouble in the HP sense. I get 45-55mpg if I'm easy on throttle. Does the interstate fine at 75-80 mph, above that (which it will go), vibration sets in (most likely tires). When my treads are up, I'm gonna mount street (Bonnie) tires. Good accelearation, fun in turns, 65mph seems like 80mph...fun.