Triumphrat

jfenton · 06-26-2007

I am torn between the cruisers and the T100. Any thoughts from your cruiser owners? All the T100 guys love their bonnies and swear by them. I am concerned about highway riding on one though. Any of you ride both and can tell me which one is better for highway rides?

Geoff · 06-26-2007

No one can tell you that but you. Convince the dealer you are a serious buyer and ride them both
G

TrOjAnUK · 06-26-2007

I was also torn between these 2, took both out for a 2 hour test ride and must say the Speedmaster won my heart.

My wife rides with me most of the time and the Bonny was not as comfortable 2 up, the Speedy is a big old lump, it feels like its there.. it is there.

Are you comming from another type of bike?

TrOjAn

jfenton · 06-26-2007

No this is my first bike, which is why it is so hard to decide. Not sure how much 2 up I will be doing, maybe a little, but I will mostly be doing highway riding.

dazco · 06-26-2007

You're gonna get biased answers from each owner, but i'll do my best to remain neutral.

The bonnies engines are 360 degree, the cruisers 270. The advantages and dis-advantages are as follows according to what i have read. 360 sounds more traditional Triumph. 270 is said to sound slightly towards the HD sound, tho IMO not really very much so. The 270 also supposedly gives better tire grip in turns which is why they use 270's for flat trackers.

The bonnies have better top end power. Hit 5k RPM's and over and the HP is there. The cruisers have the torque, especially at low RPMs. The cruisers are also geared higher.

The bonnie is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase. Makes them more "flickable" in tight turns. The cruisers are longer due to a different frame and raked front and the advantage is that they are stable as a rock at speed and even wind doesn't affect them to any notable degree. Freeway cruising at 85-90 is like being on rails. Solid as a rock. I never owned a bike so stable before. I also feel the cruisers are probably as good or better in the sweepers even tho overall the bonnies are the winners in the twisties. But those long sweepers really show the cruiser's stability IMO. I'm sure there will be some bonnie owners that will want to take me on with that point, but thats MO in any case.

Now for the personal or BIASED stuff. :-D For me the advantages are many. I don't feel that there are any trade-offs except at low speed maneuvering and tight turns, which i'm sure the bonnies are worlds better at.That and high RPM HP. Anything else goes to the cruisers for me. I can't tell you how much i love the solid stable ride these things give. No other bike i've owned was anything like it, and i doubt you'll find better w/o going to a much heavier bike. The torque is addicting, and it's IMO a much more usable way to design a motor because it's what you need 95% of the time. That is of course unless you are a person who spends a lot of time winding the bike out. Overall i feel the cruisers are a sorta jack of all trades where the bonnies seem more suited for shorter rides and twisties. I just love the speedmaster ! It does everything well and never leaves me feeling it's inadequate in any way aside from absolute power, which is a moot point because the bonnies are in the same ballpark there.

Geoff · 06-26-2007

So, as you see, its a very simple question that the whole thing boils down to.
Do you want to ride a cruiser?
Or, would you rather smoke some dude who's riding a cruiser?
:hihi: G

wenzel850 · 06-26-2007

jfenton,

I rode my T100 almost 3000 miles on the interstates and the bike performed like the champ it is. It kept up with the Harley and Road Star that I was with, and didn't struggle to do it either. In fact the Harley rider kept saying how impressed he was with my bike.

My bike only has a fly-screen and no saddlebags. I'm in the process of buying a windshield and bags, I learned that they are needed for any long touring.

I see alot of long trips in the future for this bike and wouldn't trade it for a cruiser. That's my opinion take it for what it's worth.

The T100 also handles like a dream in the corners so you can have the best of both worlds.

speedblastr · 06-26-2007

G.....I can't believe that you would say something like that. I can't hardly believe my eyes.Hmmmmph! :kck: Speedmaster:I like the look and the ride so I can kick back take in the sights also I'm not sitting at a 90 degree angle (fwd.ctrls)and it'll still run with the best of em'.

[ This message was edited by: speedblastr on 2007-06-26 14:35 ]

jfenton · 06-26-2007

Man, my buying experience is becoming frustrating.....I just need to convince my wife to let me get two bikes.

wenzel850 · 06-26-2007

jfenton,

That is the answer, good luck