Triumphrat

BeastInBlack · 01-21-2008

After using my bonnie for everything for over a year, including winter riding on those horrid salty roads, I decided she shouldnt have to endure all those unenjoyable pointless highway miles so last year I decided to buy a kawasaki EX500 to use in foul weather & work, in the end one of the pistons decided to stop pumping, so then I got a little suzuki bandit 400 to do the same honours, and got fed up with it!

Then after looking around I found a honda 'seven fifty', with a hydraulic valve lash, looked at the specs, and gave it a test ride, it seemed to be identical to my tuned bonnie in every way except grunt and passion. Dont get me wrong the bonneville will always be my grin factor and ideal fun bike, but I believe I have now found her perfect companion. here she is:

Its just great now to have a choice when I go out for a ride, instead of having a really nice bike and a mundane tool beside it. Why bother having two different styles of bike, when you can have two that can do everything, and share the miles between them!

HiVel · 01-21-2008

I have my perfect Honda too=it is called an Odyssey. Love my Triumphs!!

gonzo'st100 · 01-21-2008

That is one beautiful Honda.
Enjoy it!

Bottle_Fed · 01-21-2008

Clean bike! I would like to get a '83 GS 1100e. It's something about the early to mid eighties bikes lowered and cafed.

Greg

chedd · 01-21-2008

I was looking for a CB750 [they stopped bringing them to Oz some time ago] but decided to spoil my self and get the brand new Bonnie. No regrets thats for sure, but some times when I see a clean CB like youre's I do wonder.
Nice ride mate.

BeastInBlack · 01-21-2008

Thing is it has only done 11,000 miles, so its not even due for its first main service yet. It has a '94 plate compared to my bonnie that has done 18000 in 3 years. The owner before the one I bought it off had done 600 miles in 8 years. Apparently this caused the overflow tube which goes down in the pipe in the fuel tank to corrode due to the gas going off, and it could only be filled 75% full before the fuel started leaking through the overflow tube. The guy I bought it off got a new tank for it, although it is dark red rather than grey, although that doesnt bother me as this is going to be my workhorse, plus the fact it cost a little bit less due to that. The photo was taken a couple of weeks ago with its original tank.

Personally I like the multi colour look, plus the price was reasonable for its slight issue. It rides like a dream (even if it lacks the raw passion of a parallel twin) but already have a bike that does that so cant complain! Although I could get by with just my triumph, it really isnt that much more expensive riding both, just a bit extra tax, due to them being very simple machines, plus it makes the service intervals alot less often. Dunno how relevent it is to this forum but oh well! I have a sneaky feeling I now own two bikes I will probably run into the ground.

Pauljo · 01-21-2008

That looks like a nice find. I've had a few Hondas. They've never let me down. They've never connected with my heart really either. But for your stated purpose, it's the "never let me down" part that matters.

buellv · 01-21-2008

excellent looking bike.....congratulations! REX

BeastInBlack · 01-21-2008

Actually in the UK the seven fifties are more exclusive than the triumph bonneville, at least where I live anyway. Its great not to own a harley or a crotch rocket. Both of these bikes are very easy to ride as well in any road going situation. Never used to be a fan of jap fours but they have their strengths especially when it comes to work/highway riding.

sweatmachine · 01-21-2008

I had a Nighthawk 750 (as we/they call them in the states) back in High School. It's basically the same bike as yours. Lots of fun back then, and the girlies liked it. I was the only dude riding one to high school so I felt 10' tall and bulletproof.

Enjoy!