I ALMOST pulled the trigger.........

I was on an errand to the south shore of Mass., when I went by the Triumph dealer for our area, so I stopped... 'just to look'. . There they were: bonnies, americas, speedmasters and the new cruiser, whose name I forgot (but it has VERY cool lines) . A triumph is the only one of the new bikes I would consider owning. I'm too old for a crotch rocket, just don't want to be another Harley owner and the metric harley clones are great ... but..... I like brit bikes!

everything was so shiny and new.... everything has electric starts, you just do routine maintenance and GO.......so I'm thinking "I could get a pretty penny for the Strunzo (formerly 71 basketcase) .......and pretty much pay for half a brand new bike"......... My checkbook was making noises in my back pocket" go ahead.... take the leap!" Even the little voice in my head that usually says" your wife will be mad" was quiet! My 56 year old knee was saying" I hate kick starting that beast" .....it seemed like all the stars were lining up...... But I had my grandkids with me and I could tell the salesman was a little concerned about ice cream sticky fingers schmoodging up all that chrome. So I left: checkbook intact.

......the next day,(yesterday) I pulled Strunzo out of the shed, topped off the oil ......did a quick pre-flight check and then headed out to the end of Cape Cod on some absolutely gorgeous twisty (as long as you watch for beach sand perilously deposited on inside off camber turns) roads, glorious day and early enough that the traffic wasn't a factor. I ticked off around 90 miles......... And that's when it hit me:

I LIKE the wrenching part.... I LIKE that when I stop for gas or a snack there is an inevitable crowd saying "OOHHH..... WHAT's THAT????.....I like the feeling I get when Strunzo is purring like a kitten and I know that it's doing so because I built it, and not just wrote a check... I like when the Harley guys give me a thumbs up....... I love Strunzo! 8) Besides, I just scored a BSA lighning for my son... we'd look stupid riding : him on an old classic and me on a new Trumpet :roll:

kfh

Amen brother.

Get a good used "new" Bonnie for about 1/2 the price of a new one, and you can happily wrench on it and answer all the same questions from looky-Lou's as if it were a '69.

check out the tiger, awesome bike man.

Gavin, you're not helping! :lol: ... I sat on that bad boy........it's very cool looking. great lines.

I build custom stringed instruments.... I'll sell off a few of them to get the down payment together for a new(er) triumph.....and leave Strunzo in his shed

now your talking....and when you need to add some new bits to the bike, you'll have no downtime!

I'd like one of the new Triumphs as soon as I can figure out how to make them shift on the correct side. Im surprised (maybe) that someone hasn't come out with some rearsets that can crossover.

Been there as well. Sometimes I think how nice it would be to just push the start button and be off. I was passed by a guy on a new Tri while riding my 70 Bonnie. Zoom and he was gone. I was amazed. I have resisted the urge to try a new one out as it may launch me into a new era. I would probably have one by now but I do not see the half off that is referred to. It seems everyone wants around $7k regardless of the year and miles. For gods sake when I looked at them they were $7k for a new one. I do have all the brochures though. Just like I saved all the 70 Triumph brochures. I just mentioned to someone the other day we should be buying up all the take off parts from the guys that modify their new bikes. They just about give the stuff away. Alas, I won't be around when everyone is looking for those NOS parts.

aceaceca said:

Been there as well. Sometimes I think how nice it would be to just push the start button and be off. I was passed by a guy on a new Tri while riding my 70 Bonnie. Zoom and he was gone. I was amazed. I have resisted the urge to try a new one out as it may launch me into a new era. I would probably have one by now but I do not see the half off that is referred to. It seems everyone wants around $7k regardless of the year and miles. For gods sake when I looked at them they were $7k for a new one. I do have all the brochures though. Just like I saved all the 70 Triumph brochures. I just mentioned to someone the other day we should be buying up all the take off parts from the guys that modify their new bikes. They just about give the stuff away. Alas, I won't be around when everyone is looking for those NOS parts.

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Your 70 has nearly as much horsepower and considerable less weight. You should be able to keep up at least in a straight line. No?

3 years ago, I went into the local Triumph shop to look at the new Bonneville. After a lot of research and test rides, I ended up with a new Triumph:


2006 '1050 Speed Triple' click 'view image' to see the whole bike

Yes, it shifts on the left, 1 down - 5 up
Yes, it has a button
No, it does not leak oil

It also has a nearly identical riding position to the Norton, except for the pegs. If I had the Norman Hyde-style rearsets, hands, feet and butt would all be within an inch of the Roadster. Its also about double the horsepower (130HP, 77 Ft/Lb torque). Aside from a stator, the only maintenance has been fluids, tires, and a new chain/sprockets.

Today's Bonneville is a good bike, but it is not the equivalent of what a '70 Bonnie was in 1970. The modern Triumph that captures the Bonnie spirit I think is the Street Triple. The Speed Triple is the modern Trident.

I have a 1995 thunderbird, I bought it new for most of the reasons you have mentioned. It is a very nice bike and has run reliably for me. For some reason I just prefer riding my older bike (74 Commando). I hate to sound corny but my older bike just has more soul.
Kber45

Bought a "new" bonnie 3 years ago. It did everything well. Sold it after 12 months. It didn't have any character. (soul)
I think only older motor cycle riders would understand.
Graeme.

I am glad there is no Triumph dealer close by. I can't even use the electric start argument as six of my seven bikes have electric start. I do really like the idea of a fuel injection electric start twin with the looks of the old bikes I loved as a kid. If they can get that lump out of the gas tank...

The wife bought a 2000 Legend, a very good example of the retro Triumph, modernized. I have my 74 Commando. I can drive either anytime I want. I almost never drive the Triumph. It's all about soul and character. The Commando just feels right!

It do put a smile on your face, don't it?

I saw a new Triumph Rocket Three for the first time this weekend. Goodness what an overweight, oversized, over-styled machine. it's actually a car that runs on two wheels! If it fell over, you'd have to call a tow truck to get it upright again. Sure as hell not for me!

The original Triumph and BSA triples were quite competitive with the Commando back around 1967/68. Norton sales suffered when they hit the street. Of course they were still kick-started, as Joseph Lucas and his brethren could't figure out how to make an electric starter for a motorcycle.

It's curious that Triumph called the new bike the Rocket Three, as that's was the BSA version of the original triple was called. Triumph called theirs the Trident.

My Commando performs equal or better in every aspect , and uses much less gas doing it .
Plus the added pleasure to know that every bolt and nut is put inthere by myself .

Click to expand...

Also... I'm beginning to think that I may be riding a reliable machine! Since it's first breath after it's long slumber it's started on the 1'st or second kick, hasn't left me on the side of the road, and seems to be getting better with time. I was out this a.m. cruising around in the misty cape cod morning. barely a car on the road, the sun coming up and Strunzo purring like a panther sleeping off it's last kill. I HAVE to stop grinning because the bugs are ruining my teeth!

finally, knowing how every nut and bolt goes together makes the idea of being stranded on the side of the road less scary.

Strunzo stays: If I do jump on a new-ish bonnie, it will be in addition to rather than in place of the Norton!

kfh

frankdamp said:

I saw a new Triumph Rocket Three for the first time this weekend. Goodness what an overweight, oversized, over-styled machine. it's actually a car that runs on two wheels! If it fell over, you'd have to call a tow truck to get it upright again. Sure as hell not for me!

It's curious that Triumph called the new bike the Rocket Three, as that's was the BSA version of the original triple was called. Triumph called theirs the Trident.

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Hinckley Triumph used the Trident name on 750 and 900cc triples in the '90s. They went with Rocket 3 for their big tourer because they had the rights to the name. I don't know the particulars, but Buell has used 'Lightning' and 'Thunderbolt', and Honda used 'Hurricane'. Maybe Triumph wanted to make sure they retained the 'Rocket' name.

Granted, the Rocket 3 is a big bike, but at just over 700 lbs it is lighter than a Harley Heritage Softail or Honda VTX 1800, the market the Rocket is aimed at. No need to change gears on the Interstate, either. Over 140 ft lbs of torque at just over 2000 RPM.

Triumph released a video on the Rocket 3 a couple of years ago. You can still find on YouTube, Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEuzxC4eGc

I reckon Hardly Ridables XR1200 looks quite neat from a mild distance, exhaust dam ugly though.

If you can afford both of them, why not have 'em both? Granted, the new Bonnie doesn't have the soul of the original, but it starts every time, doesn't leak, and sure looks good compared to modern crotch rockets that look like an alien insect getting ready to mate with its rear all hiked up.

I would twenty times rather ride a classic Norton, BSA, or Triumph than any modern bike, but sometimes it's nice not to have to "fettle" before you can get on the road.