Ya know when you go see the eye doctor and he's flippin those lens around faster than a 2 yro on Jolt Cola, "better ... worse .. no change. One, Two ... how bout now?" My mind is pretty quick, but never seem to be able to stay up with those guys. It's like they already know my perscription and now they're going thru the motions to make it look like they're earning their money ... ok, I digress ...
When the Bonnies first came out, I remember getting all excited about getting one, but the color choices were not very exciting to me. That initial response I had from reading about them kinda dwindled for a couple years or two - ya know - life gathers your attention and you lose focus on dreaming ...
One day I was thumbin thru a cycle rag (not sure with one) and there was an article on the Bonnies once again but this time it was one of them Orange and cream T100s. Holy retro Batman! That's me - that's IT! Within no time I was pulling both doors open at the same time at the Triumph dealership. "Let me see ... let me feel ... ahhhh yes, come to poppa." Sure enough, there sat a Orange/Cream T100 on the floor, BUT ... I had a change in breathing patterns along with a head-snap as I walked past this Silver Bonnie the dealer was using for a Demo Bike. It was low and mean .. and the neutral silver really blended with the bike. I asked why it looked so much different than the T100, "oh - it has Mbars and Preds already on it." Ok, here's a conflict I wasnt expecting. How much? The silver (mean looking) Bonnie was $1500 cheaper and had that cafe look already happening. The salesman recognized what I was REALLY wanting and tried to sell me on a yellow Thruxton. The brakes, the alum wheels, the clip ons, blah blah blah. How much? *cough* what?!? Ya know what, I'll take this silver one. If I ever want color - I'll have it sprayed.
I was REALLY happy with my purchase. I felt I got a good deal and the bike already looks better than stock. Then I meet Thrux-ton-up and Scott03Bonnie. As JCW pulls up on his gun-metal grey tricked out Trux-a-bonnie. I was coming off my bike like it was spring loaded. What the heck is THAT? I didnt see that on the showroom floor. Is that stock? Where'd ya get that?!? What is this!?!? Needless to say, the cafe bug bit quickly and delivered a large dose of poison. But, I was still wanting a Tang/Opal bike. So I surfed eBay and found a used tank in nice shape. Bought it more than a year ago and left it sitting on the parts shelf all this time. I'm gonna do it (I kept tellin myself) but the silver bike just came together so well that I didnt want to mess with it's mojo.
Oh well ... been a 1 1/2yrs since I bought the Silver Bonnie - 11k miles of pure bliss on the silver bullet. Got bored with a day off from work and got busy. Pulled that Tang/Opal tank off the shelf, along with a fiberglass front fender that's been sitting next to it for about as long and start pulling things apart. I couldnt be happier with the end result. I still have a cafe'd Bonnie - but with a dash of old skool lookin color. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the red piping on the MAS seat. That's the only thing bothering me with the change ... well, that and the tank pads. With or without?? ... *humph*.
Before ...
After ....
Lookin Good!
Linear Mode
