So,
She's been here 3 days... I haven't been able to ride her as I have had a really bad ear infection. Blurred vision, pain, deafness etc etc (Going for the sympathy vote here!) but today I took a cloth, some polish and several hours of love and affection and I made her sparkle.
A decision (Thanks to all who responded to my other threads...) has been reached. She's gorgeous just as she is. No mods necessary, no tweaks, no chrome, no black pipes, nada, zip, zero...
One small exception - HedgeFundGeek's (Monsieur, Le Brother RAT) 8-Ball choke pull when it arrives - just to be quirky. A little english eccentricity methinks.
And a huge thank you to everyone on this forum for being so friendly. My other passion is Archery (Recurve) - boy, what a bunch of stuck up ar*eholes that forum contains.
Timeline:
Saturday 25/10 - stood in the kitchen and without thinking say out loud "I'd love another bike", wife responds "Well, why not you've got the money.."
Sunday 26/10 - Check Ebay and other web listings for potential options...
Monday 27/10 (Public holiday in the UK) - find 10+ serious contenders
Tuesday 28/10 - Discuss options with wife who offers wise words "I know a '76 Trident would be awesome but do you have time for a project?". Honest answer is "NO"
Wednesday 29/10 - Wife comments "Seriously, can you see yourself on Speed Triple? After all you're 47, and a bit thick in the middle...". Honest answer is "NO". But there's this 2001 plate Bonnie... Hmmm.
Thursday 30/10 - Buy Bonnie. Email wife at work to explain... Response is short. "Cool. But you don't take the kids on it, EVER!"
Friday 31/10 - Visit selling BMW dealer (Yeah, I know... but I do drive a 3 Series M Sport) and buy Bonnie with Mastercard - how cool is that? Visit Triumph dealer nearby to buy jacket. 14 year old daughter says that the Rivton is much better than the Retro. Guy in dealership realises that 40+ bloke with 14 year old girl is not a pervert but has a fat wallet and is now interested... boots, gloves and helmet follow
Visit doctor as sore ear is getting worse. Take photo of bike to pub (and yes, antibiotics and beer do mix, not very well I admit!) to show best mate the new toy... midnight, and drunk so Email same photo around the world to friends far and wide.
Saturday/Sunday 1,2/09 - excited but to sick to enjoy the moment fully.
Monday 3/09 - F*ck work (Ah, self employed so no sick pay) , stay in bed. Ear hurts, can't see in right eye, deaf and feeling very sorry for oneself.
Tuesday 4/09 - Can't be ar*ed to work again so join TriumphRAT.net... feel at home. Bike is delivered. Ride her 50 feet into garage. Awesome. Daughter is ecstatic despite not being allowed to ride - EVER according to previous negotiations. Wife takes one look "Wow, she's beautiful.Oh my god, we've got a new baby!"
Wednesday 5/09 - Mother and Father visit. Mother "Take care", Father "****, I want one!", Mother "Forget it, you're too old!"
Thursday 6/09 - Brother-in-law visits... "Man, that's a real bike, you are so lucky." - Yeah I am. I have a beautiful wife and now a Bonneville. Life is sweet. Collect 18 year old son from airport following a weeks partying in Ibiza before University (Leeds - to study law), "Is she here?" he asks... "Oh yes!"
Friday 7/09 - Ear infection is getting better, Many hours with the Chrome polish and I'm back in 1980 with my Dayton T100R. Wife returns from work and see's me in the garage - "Ah, bike widow again!" A name, Lucy 2 - maybe... The Daytona was called Lucy so seems appropriate. If anyone reads this and knows the location of a Daytona T100R UK Reg # LOB162P contact me.
Tomorrow is Saturday, we fly...
I just had to share with my new "family", I didn't realise how much I missed this.
To be continued...
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