[stevekensington]

Hi everyone. The last time I was on I bike, the gearshift and footbrake were on the opposite sides. Only had one other bike: a well used 1970 Triumph TR6R 650 Black that I got in 81 and tried with limited success to keep running until about 89.

After that bike died I thought I was done. Till last year about this time I caught myself staring at a parked black and red T-100 and realized (i) that it was brand new, (ii) that they must be making them again (yeah it took me a few years to tumble to that) and (iii) that there must be dealerships to help keep them running. Hmm. Which led me to this forum where I've been lurking and learning ever since. Decided to wait for the EFI, put some cash aside and tell no one...

So I finally bought a new 2009 T-100 Green/White. Spouse is not exactly thrilled but I don't think a classic, sedate (right?) motorcycle is too much to ask out of life. She gets $8K (Shsss!) for whatever she wants.

Last weekend took it for my first spin -- first ride in 20 years. I thought once around China Camp from the dealership in downtown San Rafael should be a good 20 miles or so. Heh. Lucas Valley Road, Nicasio, Point Reyes Station, Stinson Beach, Mt. Tam, Muir Beach... 75 miles of twisties on God's own motorcycle roads with the hills as green as Ireland (for two weeks anyway, then the fires start.)

At the end I was as relaxed as I have ever been, except for that one time on intravenous sedation. The only glitch was that I kept trying to footbrake using my left foot and shift with my right... gotta rewire some neurons there.

And the fifth gear - the one that I kept looking for on the 1970 but which did not then exist. Scared myself &^*~less on the highway. And I was thinking maybe a 19-tooth sprocket? Uh no; not for a long time; way down the list. Instead of screwing with the gears, at these speeds, I gotta upgrade the gear I'm wearing. Seriously. (half helmet, what was i thinking?)

It's still mostly stock but I'll get pics up this weekend. Western bars installed, grab bar installed, NH Togas on order (Hey Norman, get your production line in gear already; it's spring and you got a 6-week back-order delay for Togas??!) Also on order: forest green fly screen (from madss), Napolean bar ends and red LEDs for the tach and speedo (from new bonneville), the NH gear indicator thing (from NH.) That oughta keep me busy for a while.

Cheers all; look forward to seeing you Bay Area folks out on the roads.

Steve K

 

[stevekensington]

Thanks

for the kind words of welcome, everyone.

Paul F: talk about parallels! I too was keeping my bike at Hattar waiting for the togas to come (and the wife to calm down), but forget it, come Saturday I'm riding it home regardless. We must have crossed paths over the last two weekends but I don't recall anyone messing with another bonnie.

They said last Saturday that one other guy had ordered Togas as well, and if they put on yours this week... I can't hardly wait. My 70 had Togas, and the sound of that bike is what I loved as much as anything about it.

Let us know how the remap works with your Togas, ok, assuming that's what you do. I've been debating that issue with the guys there and they come down pretty strong on the side of doing the remap. Having done some riding on the stock pipes I'll have a basis for comparison.

The bonnie black is just classic bad-ass; should be the official bike of hard-core Raider fans. My 650 was all black. Love all the color combos but the green got me the most. And, as I told the spouse, the kids have been insisting that from now on we all have to buy only green vehicles, right?