Triumphrat

jfenton · 06-22-2007

I am a first time motorcycle buyer, l am really liking the 07 bonnies! I just have some questions. How comfortable are they for 2-3 hours rides, as compared to a cruiser style? How is the power? How do they hold up, maintanence? Are triumph replacement parts expensive? Basically I am looking for any insight anyone can give me. Also are these bike ok for two people, my wife, to ride on comfortably? I am stuck between the looks of the bonnie and the feel of a cruiser style bike, but I have never had a motorcycle and I don't think dealers let you test ride. Thanks for the help.

2112 · 06-22-2007

The simple truth is she is not the best choice
for 2-up distance touring but with aftermarket support
it could be made into what you want.
Doing so would also drastically change the Bonnie's
personna to the point I don't think it would
be visualy appealing anymore, at least to me.
These are my honest opions on you're question.

sponger · 06-22-2007

Some dealers will allow test rides, some don't. You should be able to find someone who can't let you demo one.

I find the cruiser style bikes more comfortable for long rides. I kind of think of the Bonnie as a cross between a sports bike and a cruiser (though I've never owned a sports bike). Stock, the Bonnie will probably not be very comfortable for long rides (over an hour or more).

It should have plenty of power for 2 up riding. Seems to be a strong enough power plant even though it is just under 900cc (or 800 in the case of my 790).

I can't speak to the durability/reliability issues first hand but they seem to be as reliable as the next bike from what I read. As for costs of parts, it doesn't seem the parts are that much more expensive than any other brand of bike. Not as many after market choices or options as some other brands though. Seems to be a difficult time finding a replacement wheel that will fit the Bonnie (cast or Aluminum billet).

Overall though, they seem to be a decent bike for the price, even if you need some "required" mods to get it the way you want it.

Greg

jfenton · 06-22-2007

Thanks for the replies so far. It's a tough choice, since I like the old school look of the bonnie. Sponer, you have an 06 bonnie, do you ride it for longer rides at all? Does anyone make front foot pegs for it, so you can put your legs out when you are on the highway? Are the optional seats a better choice to 2 up riding?

Airboss · 06-22-2007

Have you seen the King/Queen seat that Triumph offers? I think that with this addition 2-up riding would be much more comfortable.

mecscc · 06-22-2007

Personally, I think the upright ergos of the Bonnie is FAR more comfortable for a long ride than a cruiser. And I know few people who actually ride for two or three hours without ever getting off, unless they are making time on an interstate, and even then, most will stop before 2 hours. Most say that they ride for endless hours without stoping, but then I end up riding with them and they are always stopping here and there for this an that, and not counting that as a stop.

The Bonnie is fine for touring. I do it all the time, thousands of miles a year. For two up riding I would get the King and Queen seat if you intend to ride two up for more than an hour or so at a time. The bench seat is hard, but will break in over time. I like the bench seat for riding the twisties and so I have both and change them depending on what I am doing.

There is a great myth that cruisers are comfortable for long rides. It is just a myth. Cruisers were, from the beginning, designed for slow speed poking around in urban and suburban environments.

All the great touring bikes still have upright or slightly forward postures. That keeps your spine straight, and happy. A cruiser bends your back and keeps your legs out front that further extends the "U" curvature of your spine.

With the K&Q seat two up riding, for long distances, is comfortable.

One other myth is that you have to have a lot of displacement for touring, or even for going fast. Neither is true. There is both ample torque and power in a 8-900cc bike. Until we went crazy with our "bigger means better" concepts (very American, isn't it?) a "big" bike was something over 400ccs and the great touring bikes of the 60s were all smaller than todays Bonnie.

If you like the "feel" of a cruiser and have never had a motorcycle I am assuming that you get that from sitting on them in a showroom. That is a whole lot different than sitting on one all day at 70mph.

Maintenance is easy. They are almost indestructable (and some of the things folks here say they do to them proves that!). Parts are expensive, and so are parts for every other brand.

Best bet would be to find someone near you who has one and have them take you for a spin. Better yet, take the MSF course, learn to ride, buy a smaller bike, like a used UJM 400-550cc, and learn to ride it; THEN buy a Bonnie. This last opinion is not popular here, so you can ignore it. You'll be a much better rider if you don't, but if you are anxious to buy you CAN learn on a Bonnie, AFTER you take the MSF course and learn the basics on a little 250 cc bike that they will insist you use, and that they supply.

Good luck.

MONTE

jfenton · 06-22-2007

Thanks again for the great respones. I am taking the MSF course in a few weeks. Then I am getting a bike. My friends is also getting a bike and he seems to think the more laid out cruiser style is more comfortable, and some people are telling him that too. I wonder if it is just cause in the showroom it feels good to sit on a bike like that.

Any comments on how smooth the ride is on a bonnie? My friend is also convinced a shaft drive is the way to go and liquid cooled. Any thoughts on that?

TB-T100 · 06-22-2007

I just got my bike three months ago. It is my first bike (have had a sleeping license for 18yrs), and have absolutely no regrets.

Have done 4400 kms since. Regularily ride for two-three hours at a time - on stock seat. Hope to take it for a longer ride during vacation time (2500kms in ten days).

Great bike!

markbvt · 06-22-2007

Listen to everything Monte said above.

Cruiser-style bikes are comfortable to sit on for a few minutes in a showroom, but standard-style bikes like the Bonneville are (in my opinion at least) way more confidence-inspiring to ride due to ease of handling with a more upright or slightly-forward position. And I find an upright or forward position to be more comfortable too. I regularly go for 200+ mile rides on my Bonneville and have no comfort issues. (Also bear in mind that you'll never be riding for more than an hour and a half or two hours without stopping, because you only have about three gallons of gas before you hit reserve.)

Ignore your friend regarding shaft drive. Chains are easy to deal with -- just squirt a little chain lube on every few hundred miles and make a minor (and very easy) adjustment if the chain gets a little loose.

Finally, I would strongly recommend that you NOT put your wife on the back of the bike until you've got a few thousand miles of experience under your belt and feel completely comfortable riding on your own. (In my opinion, you'd be best off getting her to take the MSF class with you and get her own bike.)

--mark

[ This message was edited by: markbvt on 2007-06-22 13:53 ]

doctorjay · 06-22-2007

JF, there are as many different opinions as there are bikes and then multiply that by 100....so, make up your mind. Go check out different bikes. We all decided on a Bonneville for alot of reasons. Some then took their's and made it a cafe racer and some a nostalgic cruiser. Just like with cars, different srokes for different folks. Now, that being said, the Bonnie is as fantastic a motorcycles as exists. The power, ride, versitility, and just plain fun are superb. It works in every condition....local riding, travel, twisties, cruising, etc. We love it but we can't say you will.....but never, ever count out a Triumph......