Topic: Thinking of trading the K3 for a Bonneville T100....

[grumpy]

I dunno...

My K3 has needed a top and bottom rebuild for almost 2 years now. It keeps getting put off for one reason or another. I'm seriously doubting I'll ever really find the time to do it right.   

Plus, after all the mods I've done (or want to do) to the K3 the Honda will look a lot like the T100. So rather than F up a classic Honda maybe I should just get one of these & be done with it

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/uk/2009_BonnevilleT100_10887.aspx

[bucky katt]

one of the most trouble free motorcycles i've ever seen. i worked as a triumph/bmw tech a few years back and the only problems i saw with the bonneville is if they had sat in the crate for too long, the carbs would have to be rebuilt as they didnt remove gas from the carbs before crating.

[grumpy]

Reliability is a big plus. Thanks for the insight.

It's weird; I've never owned a new bike (or car for that matter). I feel like a wanker for considering something new.
What's up with that?

[tbpmusic]

Man, what's not to like about that Triumph??

865 cc DOHC 360-degree twin, classic looks.......sort of like a giant CB450  -  yowza!!

Kind of pricey though.

[James360]

Test ride one tell us about it.

Moto guzzi has some classic style bikes one is a cafe version.

[andy750]

Moto guzzi has some classic style bikes one is a cafe version.

A fellow SOHC-er who had only ever owned a CB400 (for the last 35 yrs) bought a new cafe Moto Guzzi 2 weeks ago...he loves it! Cant ride it enough and wondered why he ever waited so long.

I got a 2003 VStrom before Christmas - first post-90s bike ever - its great and I ride it all the time. Kept the 2 CB750s I have though.

Question is if you can afford it why wouldnt you buy the new bike that you want? More important to ride than not (so dosent really matter the bike you get as long as you ride).

[Kframe]

I've had a T100 since '07, and I love it.
One thing most guys do is swap out the stock fork springs for Ikon's, and when the tires need changing switch to Avon Roadrides. 
I've done that and this bike is great on twisty Wisconsin river valley backroads, and you can tour cross country as well.
-K

[James360]

intersting triumph used 270 degree firing order on the scrambler version.
moto guzzi has a 2010 V7 clubman racer you might check out.

[grumpy]

OK - we have two thumbs up for the T100

I'm gonna go to the Triumph dealer... they have a standard Bonnie avail for test rides.

Those Guzzis just don't do it for me. Too... I dunno... muscular looking?

Ohhh, just got an idea... offload the K3, get a T100, and a Dream or Black Bomber to get my vintage vibe on  

Man, if I do this I'll have to unload a TON of Honda spares and tools, too.

[James360]

While your test riding lol pretend you can't make up your mind between
the bonneville or the 270 degree scrambler ride them both.Your easy chance to find out the difference even if you have to go to two dealers to do it.

It costs a lot of money for those converting 650 yamaha's to 270 degree
there must be some good reason for it.

You have spyed triumphs upgraded exhaust system's.

[Kframe]

Oh yeah, another thing...
Many people (not all) complain about the stock seat on the Bonneville as being too hard. 
I'm 180# and it only bothered me on rides over 3 hours, and then not bad. 
Still, I found a good deal on the Triumph solo seat (as seen in my avatar) and I've done 14 hour days on that with no problems.

Also, the stock exhaust is very quiet, some complain that it makes the bike sound like a sewing machine.  A very common mod is to install TORS, Triumph Off Road Silencers.
They look stock, but make the bike sound like the proper Meriden Bonneville's of the good ol' days.  Not too loud, but nice and rumbly.
-K

[James360]

Oh yeah, another thing...
Many people (not all) complain about the stock seat on the Bonneville as being too hard. 
I'm 180# and it only bothered me on rides over 3 hours, and then not bad. 
Still, I found a good deal on the Triumph solo seat (as seen in my avatar) and I've done 14 hour days on that with no problems.

Also, the stock exhaust is very quiet, some complain that it makes the bike sound like a sewing machine.  A very common mod is to install TORS, Triumph Off Road Silencers.
They look stock, but make the bike sound like the proper Meriden Bonneville's of the good ol' days.  Not too loud, but nice and rumbly.
-K

The triumph is pretty much number one on my list for a new bike, with the moto guzzi, sportser only other two i would consider.

Out on the freeway what does your triumph do on rpms at both 60 and 70 ?
I bought a new 83 model kawasaki 750 LTD twin it turned to much rpm out on the freeway for my taste.

[Sam Green Racing]

Ask them for a test ride on a Thruxton.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/thruxton04101800.html

Sam.

[Kframe]

Ask them for a test ride on a Thruxton.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/thruxton04101800.html

Sam.

The Thruxton is a great bike as well.  It really depends on what riding position one prefers, as the Thruxton is basically a Bonneville with clip-ons and rear sets. 
I've got a goofy neck, and a slightly bum shoulder, and that position doesn't suit me for more than an hour.  And when I ride, I like to be gone all day.
-K

[Kframe]

The triumph is pretty much number one on my list for a new bike, with the moto guzzi, sportser only other two i would consider.

Out on the freeway what does your triumph do on rpms at both 60 and 70 ?
I bought a new 83 model kawasaki 750 LTD twin it turned to much rpm out on the freeway for my taste.

I'm usually going along at 4500 rpm at about 70.  Same at 60 because I'm usually still in 4th at 60.  These engines make their power best between 4000-6000.  Redline is 7000.

Some guys on the Triumph forums have switched to a 19 tooth front sprocket instead of the stock 18, for a bit lower rev's at highway speeds, at the expense of off the line jackrabbit acceleration.  I haven't found it necessary.  I think some of it is that some people hear the engine noise at 4500-5000 rpm and think they're hurting their engines, which they're not.  Some of that I think is due to the fact that most Accord's and Camry's and the like run at about 3000-3800 rpm at 70ish mph and we're used to hearing that tone from the inline four.  That's just a guess though.

Here's a couple more pics.


One of my fav's, I love that sign!


You can kind of see my A/F gauge on the left handlebar in this one.


You can see I've swapped out the stock mirrors for Napoleons (bar ends).


This is up in Ontario, along Lake Superior.  All loaded up for touring.

Overall I'm very pleased I bought a Bonneville.  It suits my riding style, it looks great, I always get older guys complimenting it at gas stations while recalling the one they had back in the day, and it's not just another boring V-twin me-too cruiser.

-K

[grumpy]

Very cool!
So yours still has carbs, right? They went to injection last year IIRC.

I think I want a green one 

[James360]

The triumph is pretty much number one on my list for a new bike, with the moto guzzi, sportser only other two i would consider.

Out on the freeway what does your triumph do on rpms at both 60 and 70 ?
I bought a new 83 model kawasaki 750 LTD twin it turned to much rpm out on the freeway for my taste.

I'm usually going along at 4500 rpm at about 70.  Same at 60 because I'm usually still in 4th at 60.  These engines make their power best between 4000-6000.  Redline is 7000.

Some guys on the Triumph forums have switched to a 19 tooth front sprocket instead of the stock 18, for a bit lower rev's at highway speeds, at the expense of off the line jackrabbit acceleration.  I haven't found it necessary.  I think some of it is that some people hear the engine noise at 4500-5000 rpm and think they're hurting their engines, which they're not.  Some of that I think is due to the fact that most Accord's and Camry's and the like run at about 3000-3800 rpm at 70ish mph and we're used to hearing that tone from the inline four.  That's just a guess though.

Here's a couple more pics.


One of my fav's, I love that sign!


You can kind of see my A/F gauge on the left handlebar in this one.


You can see I've swapped out the stock mirrors for Napoleons (bar ends).


This is up in Ontario, along Lake Superior.  All loaded up for touring.

Overall I'm very pleased I bought a Bonneville.  It suits my riding style, it looks great, I always get older guys complimenting it at gas stations while recalling the one they had back in the day, and it's not just another boring V-twin me-too cruiser.

-K

I really wish triumph or someone would make a tripple in the classic style simular to what triumph, BSA came out with in 70. To me a four cylinder the engine gets to wide and i owned a new 79 six cylinder kawasaki. I've ridden three harleys one of them a 1200 sportster, harley's extremely undersquare long stroke engines just rev way to slow for my taste. When i was younger the
BMW twin and moto guzzi were what i considered as ugly a bike as you could buy the guzzi has grown on me some.

[Kframe]

Very cool!
So yours still has carbs, right? They went to injection last year IIRC.

I think I want a green one 

Yep, mines a carby.
I specifically sought out an '07 for that reason.  The '08's were also carbureted but had a larger, more bulbous, tank that has room inside for the fuel pump that debuted in 2009.

Those Goodwood Green ones are gorgeous. 

Standard Bonneville


And in T100 trim:


You can't go wrong.
 
-K

[Kframe]

I really wish triumph or someone would make a tripple in the classic style simular to what triumph, BSA came out with in 70. To me a four cylinder the engine gets to wide and i owned a new 79 six cylinder kawasaki. I've ridden three harleys one of them a 1200 sportster, harley's extremely undersquare long stroke engines just rev way to slow for my taste. When i was younger the
BMW twin and moto guzzi were what i considered as ugly a bike as you could buy the guzzi has grown on me some.

From 1995-2004 Triumph made a Thunderbird triple (not to be confused with the 1600cc twin in 2010) that had a ~900cc engine.
These come up every once in awhile, but not all that often as the owners tend to love them.

Here's a pic from google. 
I don't really dig the picture, they look much better and well-proportioned in person.



-K

[James360]

I remember the thunderbird about as ugly as my 79 KZ1300 without the power.

[Kframe]

James, yeah, the Tbird is, well, interesting looking. Part of me thinks it looks pretty cool, but from certain angles things just look like they just don't go together right.
Like a cartoon version of a bike - not as bad as the Rocket III, or the Victory Vision.
Sorry if anyone is a big fan, but they just look odd to me.
On the flipside though, the Bonneville just looks sleek in my opinion.

-K

[rhos1355]

Test rode a T100 a year and a half ago. I don't know if they're exactly the same for the US market. But I almost fell asleep within the first 20 minutes!! Boring with a capital B. Furthermore I mentioned the fact that the exhausts were a little on the "quiet" side when I got back to the dealership, and the salesman said that hey, you can get aftermarket exhausts that are a lot louder. For £500!! Well why don't they fit them on in the first place?? Cue deep sucking of air through clenched teeth; "ooohh, can't do that sor, can't do that. Against new legislation, tha knows"
Friggin legislation.

[grumpy]

Yep, mines a carby.
I specifically sought out an '07 for that reason.  

So you went looking for one without FI? How come?

...almost fell asleep within the first 20 minutes!! Boring with a capital B.

How was it boring? Too slow? Too quiet? Sluggish handling?

[Kframe]

Test rode a T100 a year and a half ago. I don't know if they're exactly the same for the US market. But I almost fell asleep within the first 20 minutes!! Boring with a capital B. Furthermore I mentioned the fact that the exhausts were a little on the "quiet" side when I got back to the dealership, and the salesman said that hey, you can get aftermarket exhausts that are a lot louder. For £500!! Well why don't they fit them on in the first place?? Cue deep sucking of air through clenched teeth; "ooohh, can't do that sor, can't do that. Against new legislation, tha knows"
Friggin legislation.

As I mentioned before, yes, the stock exhaust is pretty quiet, thank the EPA for that, not Triumph.  Sound, aka "noise pollution" is heavily regulated.  And I don't know what £500 is in $, but I got my TORS fitted at the dealer for about $350.  Not at all out of line with replacement silencers in general. 

Boring?  Are you kidding?     Stock, the Bonneville/Thruxton have quarter mile times in the high 13's to 14.  I've had my Bonneville up to 115mph by GPS, and it is very quick off the line and nimble in the corners.   
If you're used to riding a crotchrocket, well then sure maybe it's too tame for your tastes, but if it seemed underpowered you must have been lugging it.  Get the rev's up in the 4-5K range and the Bonne is a blast.

But, to each his own.  (Even if you're wrong.    )
-K

[Kframe]

Yep, mines a carby.
I specifically sought out an '07 for that reason.  

So you went looking for one without FI? How come?
.....

A couple reasons which mainly come down to personal preference. 
I didn't want the first year of EFI which was 2009 (in case the system was buggy, which is turns out hasn't been), I was ready to buy in 2007 when the 2008's had just come out, the 2008 had the bigger tank but no EFI (which I don't like the looks of as much).
And, I like to tinker, which is easy for the home mechanic to do on a carb.  With EFI you can get a Power Commander or Tuneboy and "tinker" with your PC, but that's not what I wanted.

All in all though, the EFI Bonneville's are great too, and I certainly wouldn't be unhappy if that's what I ended up with. 
-K