Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

My Twin Bonnevilles

13K views 67 replies 26 participants last post by  c0ldf1ame  
#1 ·
Hi Guys, just wanted to share

Earlier this year I bought a salvaged Bonneville missing its front end as a resto mod project to keep me entertained this year. My initial idea was just to slap a gsxr front end on it and get it going, eventually I came to realize there was a little bit more missing and more damage than I expected.

Image


Image


while that project is still going, another opportunity arose and I ended up buying a 2nd bonneville from a friend. I transferred a lot of the parts I bought for the black bonnie to the new one.

Image


Image


Right now the white one is basically just a bunch of bolt on LSL parts, I'm basically just trying to get rid of all the chrome.

I plan to eventually upgrade the forks and getting a full exhaust system for this bike, but right now it needs a tune the most.

I'll try to update progress on both builds as I go

other bikes

Image


my old sv650 before I sold it after getting the white bonnie

Image


my long term project, a basket case cb360, not even sure how to start this one yet
 
#2 ·
Image


not much changes so far, I received a new head for the black bonneville, off of a 2013 thruxton. I am not exactly sure if its going to be a direct fit but I figure at least the housing should be identical (fingers crossed). Once I get some free time I'll look into dropping the engine and getting the head off so I can replace it with the non cracked unit. Mean while I scored some ohlin's for the white one. The ride is much improved on the rear, now I feel like I need to change out the forks to balance it out.

Image
 
#4 ·
i figure if I can't get the 360 going, I can always use it as some sort of decoration :grin2:

Image


some updates to the white bonnie. Initially I bought a motoscope mini for the black bike, and since that project isn't going anywhere just yet, I thought to myself, why not install it on the white bike. So I wired everything up and put it on. When I go to turn on the bike, all I got was a loud click. I then hastily reinstalled the stock gauges back on thinking maybe the motoscope mini was wired wrong or not compatible with my year. Tried to turn the bike on again, and nothing but a click. I thought I had broken the bike :crying: After fudging around for a while though, I figured out it was actually the battery. My mechanic checked it out and turned out the battery was at less than half capacity. I promptly ordered a shorai from amazon. Installed that and tried the motogadget again. Now the bike starts up with no problems.

Next I had to figure out a mounting solution. I previously ordered a set of handlebar mounts for the motogadget. Turned out that they were made for 1 inch handlebars, which wouldn't have been a problem except I'm using a rizoma 29mm to 22mm conical bar on the bike. So I had to go order a mounting plate. There was non that directly fitted triumph modern classics, so I ordered a generic one that I had to then machine myself to adapt it for the bonnie. A trip to my local hobbie shop solved the problem.

Image


I guess you can call this "fabrication" haha. Its pretty crappy compared to CNCed peices that you can buy, but works pretty well. I'm thinking eventually I'll paint it black and hopefully it'll look better. ANYWAYS next up, I had to relocate the ignition. Originally the bike came with SW motech crash bars and a dual gauge setup with the ignition mounted on the gauge plate. I had to move the ignition since I wanted to clean up that area, so on goes a relocation bracket which means I have to get rid of the crash bars. Shame, they were starting to grow on me. At the same time I didn't like the motone rectifier relocator that I had before, so I got a nice piece from motodemic that moves the horn away from the front of the oil coolers.

Image


Image
 
#7 · (Edited)
thanks! I want to try making a battery tray so I can delete the airbox eventually, hopefully it'll come out somewhat clean.

dropped the bike off with Adrian at Canyon Motorcycles a while ago and got it back today. All I can say is working with Adrian has been an amazing experience. He was very communicative over the whole process and very detailed in both working on the bike and going over things with me. He also gave me some recommendations and ideas for the future. Anyways here are the goods.

Image


since the bike was originally an SE, I wanted to keep the cast wheels look. Also I wanted to continue to run tubeless tires, so I opted for his cast wheels. The bike is now running 120 fronts and 190 rears.

Image


The new suspension is amazing, the bike feels completely transformed. I did end up going over budget quite a bit but I feel pretty satisfied with the results. The bike now sits a little bit higher overall and bigger and sportier. I haven't had a chance for a spirited ride yet but just from putting around on the street the ride feels improved in every way. Originally I wanted to keep it pretty casual as a standard bike, but now I feel like I want to lower the front end a bit more and throw some clipons on there for a full cafe racer treatment. The suspension also raised the bike quite a bit, so now I need to swap to the longer kickstand from the black bike.

Speaking of which. All the SE running gear will go on the black bike for now. I am taking off the GSXR front and planning on putting that on something else.
 
#8 ·
I'm very much a traditionalist, being older and gotten my start with the Honda CBs of the 70s, and I generally 'don't get it' when some people do all kinds of mods that turn a beautiful classic looking bike into a bastardly machine. But I never knock someone for making themselves happy.

I do have to say that what you've done is beautiful, tasteful, functional, and generally amazing. You didn't really go the route everyone else has gone, you even went much better.
Triumph should take note of your creation!
 
#10 ·
Motorcycle Classics did a complete series on restoring a CB 360 last year and sold the bike at this years Las Vegas auction. They may have the articles on line. May give you heads-up for what to watch for. Good luck.
 
#15 ·
they're ohlins fg434 forks, andreani makes a kit for it with new triples to fit on our bikes, Canyon Motorcycles can get you the kit. The forks are fully adjustable, I like them because they're a little bit different than the usual upside down forks that you see out there. They're a little bit longer than I like so I think I'm going to drop them a little bit. The kit is designed for the 19inch T100 wheels
 
#16 ·
Image


A little update on the black bike. I picked up yet another bonneville over a few weeks ago (Should rename my thread, My Triple bonnevilles). This one had front end damage, over 40k on the clock and is a carbed bike.

The good thing is the frame itself is straight, the engine runs really strong, and also it still has a clean title attached. The bad thing is its apparently been sitting in a yard for a year or so, and all the hardware looks corroded as hell.

SOOO I will be parting out the salvaged black bike, and depending on if I like the carbed engine or not maybe swap the EFI engine and electronics over to the carbed bike.

Image


Over the weekend I swapped over the gsxr front end, the clutch and throttle cables to the carbed bike. Everything works now except the front brakes, which I need new lines for. Also the headlight and brake light. Which I think the problem lies in the handswitch itself. Next I need to address the super rusty chain, and I think the rear rim might be slightly off.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Image

just a small update to the white bike :grin2:

Image

sideview

I still need to replace the mirrors. I think next I'm going to address the exhaust and brake calipers. Also will get the tank painted eventually. It rides amazing now thanks to new cams and a TTP tune. For these wondering, yes there is some affect from crosswinds, but mostly at higher speeds and so far seems to be still pretty controllable while riding.
 
#18 ·
Image


bought some new toys, the headlight will go on the white bike, the Hagons are 310mm (10mm lower than SE length) and go on the black bike. Originally I bought a set of Tthruxton length Ohlins shocks, after mounting them, I decided I don't need two bikes with almost exact same suspension setups and decided to go low with the black bike to make it a more relaxed ride.

Image


here is the black bike with the Hagons on. I like it a lot, especially with the squared out seat. I think I can probably go even lower on it. I have a SE side rail and kickstand that I can throw on since now the bike is standing a little bit too upright while parked.

Image


Image


I also put on a D9 bracket for the gauge cluster and ignition to accommodate the lack of a ignition mount with the gsxr front end. The quality and workmanship is really good.

Currently the front gsxr wheel is a junk wheel that can't go over 45mph, its ok for riding around town but I can't freeway the bike. Also I'm running a TT wide wheel on the back with a 190 rear tire, which is a little bit wider than what I want for this bike. I have plans to swap to a f3 rear wheel and run a 160 tire eventually.

Also broke the rear tail light by accident when i was removing the fender. I like the stock rear fender on this bike, are there setups I can use to change just the rear light but keep the fender?
 
#19 ·
Image


took a while but finally got my front wheel back from the powder coaters. Got new Bridgestone tires and galfer disks. I ended up getting a carbon gsxr fender and probolt hardware to finish off the front end. Also took the opportunity to swap out the brake pads. The new wheel has no wobble and I can run on the freeway now!

Image


Image


also fitted a cbr f3 wheel to the rear with a 160 tire, and changed out the chain to a EK white chain.

Image


here are both my bikes parked together.

So after I pulled my bike out of the shop to get the new tires fitted. Literally less than a mile away down the street, some lady pulled out on front of me and caused me to dump the bike. :mad: luckily it was relatively slow speed and both the bike and I escaped only minorly injured. I bumped my elbow on the ground and had to get a new helmet, and the bike got some road rash on the crashbars (works excellent btw) and broke a shifter. I promptly rode back to the shop and had the mechanic fixed me up.

Image


the new shifter fits the build quite well i'd say

Image


took the bike out the next day for a ride on angeles crest. here is the black bike next to my old SV that my friend is now riding. Pleased to say the blackbike rode like a champ! Although lacking a little bit on power since I tweaked the gearing for highway speeds.

Image


twas a good day
 
#22 ·
nice bikes! they look like they would be awesome on a trip! My white one looked very similar to yours when I first got it =)

Any plans to powder coat the rear wheel to match?
I purposefully wanted it different colors, I'm getting a 2-1 left exit exhaust in soon so you would be able to see the green sprocket hub better on the rear.
 
#27 ·
Very nice. I like the night look of you and the bike. I would like to see those shots repeated with a more 'urban street look' with storefronts or cafés in the background and then it would be more interesting.
 
#31 ·
Image


wanted to try something more different for the black bike, and saw a cool bike on instagram with a rectangle headlight, so got the ideal to order one of these 5x7 truck lights as a replacement headlight. Turns out no one makes a headlight bucket in this shape for the bike! (Marketing opportunity anyone?) I ordered a bunch of different lights to try out and finally just got the inner bezel and drilled some holes on the side of the bucket to mount it. Its not ideal but will have to do for now.

Also some lady pulled out on front of me a few weeks ago and forced me to dump the bike, luckily its low speed but my almost immaculate tors got scuffed. I bit the bullet and ordered the weslake exhaust from that website in australia and had it shipped over. Man is this thing LOUD. I might try to fit a custom can at the end with a baffle to help out the sound a bit. Its running like crap right now because I still need to rejet the carbs but will get that taken care of soon. Also noticed my rear wheel alignment is majorly off! When I lifted the bike to lube the chain I noticed it wasnt spinning freely, looked closer and the wheel is tilted to one side like it has camber in a car! I'm hoping its a easy fix, will probably throw the TT wheel and 190 tire back on the rear at this point.

Image