Yesterday I rode over to the local Triumph dealer to see the new
(ie, Hinckley) Bonnevilles, and there they all were -- standard Bonnie,
T100, Thruxton, Scrambler as well as the America and Speedmaster.

Throwing in a statement here: if Triumph, in their wisdom, decided
to come out with an updated T120 with its problems corrected I'd have
a deposit in faster than you can say Pounds, Shillings and Pence.

Since that's unlikely to happen any time soon I've been working
on reconciling myself to what the formerly lightweight, nimble
Bonneville has become in its latest reincarnation.

Which is big. And heavy. Well, maybe big and heavy is better in
a British roadster. I don't know because I haven't tried one yet,
although the salesman offered a test ride on their demo T100.

Thing is, I hadn't decided between the Bonneville and the America.
Even on the standard Bonnie I had to lean forward to an uncomfortable
position reaching the bars (I can't remember my BSA being like that).
If the bars were 3-4" back they would be perfect, but that means cable
and wire surgery.

The America has some advantages, but it's even more massive,
and of course the cruiser riding position is all wrong for me.
Triumph seems to be doing their best to make it look like a Harley,
for instance the chromed rear fender support bracket.

If I chose the America I'd have to raise the seat and relocate the pegs.
The left side is ok, but there's a massive metal plate on the right,
covering the chain and blocking access to the frame member I'd need
to mount a peg bracket.

Then there are issues with fuel injection; the America has it now
and the Bonneville and variants will next year.

The longer I stood there looking at them all the more I appreciated
my S40, which feels to me like the perfect weight for a 650
(350 lbs dry); it's nimble and fun to ride; the only problem being
the cruiser layout. I'll try modifying it for a more comfortable
riding position and leave the Bonneville for the future.

Sean_Q_

"Bob Mann" <bobm... at (no spam) mtsremove.net> wrote in message

news:pMHfk.4428$CT4.182 at (no spam) newsfe08.iad...

"Ed Cregger" <ecreg... at (no spam) bellsouff.net> wrote in
news:g5md30$fi0$1 at (no spam) registered.motzarella.org:

I want a bike without fairings and other junk. I want a bike with a
steering head rake angle of 25 degrees or less. I want a V-twin or a
four-cylinder inline engine with electric start and a kick starter. I
want to be able to turn off the goddamned headlight when the
inclination strikes me.

You just described a 1984 FXR. (maybe a slightly over 25 degree steering
head)

Actually, he just described a Suzuki Bandit. Either a 650 if torque isn't
overly important or the 1250 if it is. Cheap as chips and excellent value
for money. They're just about unburstable too.

"Sean_Q_" <nospam at (no spam) no.sapm> wrote in message
news:j7yfk.8878$nD.2343 at (no spam) pd7urf1no...
Yesterday I rode over to the local Triumph dealer to see the new
(ie, Hinckley) Bonnevilles, and there they all were -- standard Bonnie,
T100, Thruxton, Scrambler as well as the America and Speedmaster.

Throwing in a statement here: if Triumph, in their wisdom, decided
to come out with an updated T120 with its problems corrected I'd have
a deposit in faster than you can say Pounds, Shillings and Pence.

Since that's unlikely to happen any time soon I've been working
on reconciling myself to what the formerly lightweight, nimble
Bonneville has become in its latest reincarnation.

Which is big. And heavy. Well, maybe big and heavy is better in
a British roadster. I don't know because I haven't tried one yet,
although the salesman offered a test ride on their demo T100.

Thing is, I hadn't decided between the Bonneville and the America.
Even on the standard Bonnie I had to lean forward to an uncomfortable
position reaching the bars (I can't remember my BSA being like that).
If the bars were 3-4" back they would be perfect, but that means cable
and wire surgery.

The America has some advantages, but it's even more massive,
and of course the cruiser riding position is all wrong for me.
Triumph seems to be doing their best to make it look like a Harley,
for instance the chromed rear fender support bracket.

If I chose the America I'd have to raise the seat and relocate the pegs.
The left side is ok, but there's a massive metal plate on the right,
covering the chain and blocking access to the frame member I'd need
to mount a peg bracket.

Then there are issues with fuel injection; the America has it now
and the Bonneville and variants will next year.

The longer I stood there looking at them all the more I appreciated
my S40, which feels to me like the perfect weight for a 650
(350 lbs dry); it's nimble and fun to ride; the only problem being
the cruiser layout. I'll try modifying it for a more comfortable
riding position and leave the Bonneville for the future.

Sean_Q_

------------

Which brings up an interesting point. (rant - actually)

Why would anyone think that the present cruiser riding layout is
comfortable? I know, I know. You have to be high as a kite in order to numb
yourself down to the point where you feel no pain at all. Then, looking cool
(matter of opinion) is more important than how you actually feel while
riding. That's assuming that you could feel something.

My cruiser is so damned uncomfortable to ride that it stays parked in the
garage. It would have been sold long ago, if someone was willing to buy it,
which they aren't.

My sister rides a Yamaha V-Star 650 as much as 50+ miles in a day. She

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:08:10 -0400, "Ed Cregger"
ecregger at (no spam) bellsouff.net> wrote:


"Sean_Q_" <nospam at (no spam) no.sapm> wrote in message
news:j7yfk.8878$nD.2343 at (no spam) pd7urf1no...
Yesterday I rode over to the local Triumph dealer to see the new
(ie, Hinckley) Bonnevilles, and there they all were -- standard Bonnie,
T100, Thruxton, Scrambler as well as the America and Speedmaster.

Throwing in a statement here: if Triumph, in their wisdom, decided
to come out with an updated T120 with its problems corrected I'd have
a deposit in faster than you can say Pounds, Shillings and Pence.

Since that's unlikely to happen any time soon I've been working
on reconciling myself to what the formerly lightweight, nimble
Bonneville has become in its latest reincarnation.

Which is big. And heavy. Well, maybe big and heavy is better in
a British roadster. I don't know because I haven't tried one yet,
although the salesman offered a test ride on their demo T100.

Thing is, I hadn't decided between the Bonneville and the America.
Even on the standard Bonnie I had to lean forward to an uncomfortable
position reaching the bars (I can't remember my BSA being like that).
If the bars were 3-4" back they would be perfect, but that means cable
and wire surgery.

The America has some advantages, but it's even more massive,
and of course the cruiser riding position is all wrong for me.
Triumph seems to be doing their best to make it look like a Harley,
for instance the chromed rear fender support bracket.

If I chose the America I'd have to raise the seat and relocate the pegs.
The left side is ok, but there's a massive metal plate on the right,
covering the chain and blocking access to the frame member I'd need
to mount a peg bracket.

Then there are issues with fuel injection; the America has it now
and the Bonneville and variants will next year.

The longer I stood there looking at them all the more I appreciated
my S40, which feels to me like the perfect weight for a 650
(350 lbs dry); it's nimble and fun to ride; the only problem being
the cruiser layout. I'll try modifying it for a more comfortable
riding position and leave the Bonneville for the future.

Sean_Q_

------------

Which brings up an interesting point. (rant - actually)

Why would anyone think that the present cruiser riding layout is
comfortable? I know, I know. You have to be high as a kite in order to numb
yourself down to the point where you feel no pain at all. Then, looking cool
(matter of opinion) is more important than how you actually feel while
riding. That's assuming that you could feel something.

My cruiser is so damned uncomfortable to ride that it stays parked in the
garage. It would have been sold long ago, if someone was willing to buy it,
which they aren't.

My sister rides a Yamaha V-Star 650 as much as 50+ miles in a day. She
says it fits her. I think having a seat that sweeps up at the back to
support your back is critical for a cruiser.

Robert

Since that's unlikely to happen any time soon I've been working
on reconciling myself to what the formerly lightweight, nimble
Bonneville has become in its latest reincarnation.

Which is big. And heavy.

Except *maybe* the Scrambler, on looks alone.

Apologies for the loss of service for a week - I've been sailing down
the Nile in Egypt, looking at all the tombs and temples. Marvellous.

This is reeky TOG, should've included a map

Beav <beavis.original at (no spam) ntlwoxorld.com> wrote:

Apologies for the loss of service for a week - I've been sailing down
the Nile in Egypt, looking at all the tombs and temples. Marvellous.

This is reeky TOG, should've included a map :)

All the Septics need to know is that it's in goddamn Araby-land, where
the devil resides. Most of 'em couldn't find it on the map if it was
neon-lit.

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:24:07 +0100, totallydeadmailbox at (no spam) yahoo.co.uk
(The Older Gentleman) wrote:

Beav <beavis.original at (no spam) ntlwoxorld.com> wrote:

Apologies for the loss of service for a week - I've been sailing down
the Nile in Egypt, looking at all the tombs and temples. Marvellous.

This is reeky TOG, should've included a map :)

All the Septics need to know is that it's in goddamn Araby-land, where
the devil resides. Most of 'em couldn't find it on the map if it was
neon-lit.

That's what Google Maps is for. Incidentally, Google has street views
in Paris now.

Robert