My new old Bonnie

[kenthecarp]

Cool bike and the pic must have a story.  I like the budget bags.  Is that you in the pic?  Is this pic taken during an
epic adventure?  Details please

First rest stop after about 3hr. in the rain.
An early Fall ride down Rt.30 through the Adirondacks
Our destination was Rt.6 in the Susquehanna river valley.
We had heard it was one of Car&Driver's best rated drives.
There seemed to be a disproportionate number of other bikers that weekend, finally we asked what was up.
Everyone was going to Syracuse for "The Mile"
It seems like yesterday; the rain, the 100+ heat in the valley, Erhard's new Beemer braking down, the circus at the track and the long all night drive back to Montreal.

Gone back several times for the Mile, I must love rain.
Glad I had my Instamatic

Check out the Goof in the window?

[c_rex]

for what it's worth sideburns are back in style.  college kid across the street had some chops you wouldn't expect to see on such a wrinkle free face.   Anyhow- I agree that Capo has had a great ride (pun intended) with the two wheelers of history.  I've got a picture of me on one of my Dad's BSA's that is about the same era photo but I'm only 2-3 years old in it.  Got to get a picture of my son (who is 2 now) on my S4RS although my Dad already has a T120 for him in storage.  Also has one for my 6 year old daughter but she's not quite as keen on the idea.   

Everyone should throw a leg over one of these old bikes.  The last time I actually rode anywhere on mine I had hair but I'll always remember it.  The bike that is... hair is highly overrated.

[mtnrider]

I have a 1969 Bonneville that I completely restored many years ago and still ride regularly. I don't know of a forum like this one, but I would be happy to answer any questions you have. I know most of the places for parts and have done all the work on it so I also know the bike mechanically. They are very simple.  Feel free to email or PM. I can recommend so good reference books to help put it back to original.

BTW, brakes are easy to work on and can be made pretty good.

Get modern tires, the K81s are not great.

Starting  is just a matter of learning the trick, and a good ignition system. Real men kick start their bikes.

[akmnstr]

Real men kick start their bikes.

Amen

I will be in touch

[mtnrider]

I haven't used these guys; I just rebuilt the brakes on my own and they are fine, but I know others that have used them and they report that their work will result in drum brakes that have the stopping power of discs.

Check them out. If you need advice on where to find brake parts on your own, let me know.

http://www.vintagebrake.com/

[squidwood]

I have owned several of the old Triumphs, a 1970 t120R, a 1973 t00P (police), and a 1982 TR65 which is featured in Real Classic magazine issue #3. That was one of nine bikes that was assembled after Meriden closed by Chris Buckle at Roebuck Motorcycles. Triumph agreed to let him have the last nine if he brought enough parts to finish assembling them as they were flat out of parts and money.It was an extremely rare bike as there were none others ever made in that color scheme and spec.It is now owned by the man who owns the Ace Cafe in London.I went there last year after the TT to meet with him and see the bike .Bike was not there and he is a total dick. I think he likes bikes, but likes $ more.
My 1973 had the twin leading shoe 8 inch front brake so it was good. The 1970 T120R was totally rebuilt and in good shape.
Enjoy your Bonneville ,nothing is quite like riding them.
They were fast and handled well during their day as as recently as the early 1990's I used one as an every day bike!

[Carman]

Classic!!

but like you say things have changed it definately doesn't stop like the new ones, be careful!

[NekkedChic]

I do NOT mean to "thread jack" here at all and forgive me if that is just what I am doing, BUT this seemed too perfect locale to post a "question", or ask for feed back rather:

Hubbi is English and has owned small herds of bikes for years, of course including 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers and our newer Yammie 125 dirt bike, but he is PROUD owner of 1975 Bultaco Trials Bike, 06 Speed Triple and 07 Yamaha FJR1300-WHICH, in fact, is the subject of his current "torment" and purpose for my post....

He LUVS the old bikes, has ALWAYS goggled and talked about the ole Bonnie, but was recently seriously contemplating a 1970-sumthing RD400 (sorry, but this is an UGLY bike in my eyes) and then he took FJR to dealer, sat on NEW Bonnie T100 and now is so tormented about trading Yammie for it.  He is SOOO worried he will regret it. He luvs/uses Yammie for our small "tours" and cruising....hopes Bonnie can be all the Yammie is, BUT HE KNOWS it is no where near the speed demon, of course......

I told him follow his gut and heart-Think he is worried he will never have another big sport/touring bike as nice as Yammie-but reminded him, if not another "new one" like he is used to getting (spoiled), there are always deals on lightly used.....   
Anyone been in this spot-regret decision? Glad you did it? Is it jus plain CRAZY?? 

Tks and CONGRATS on UR "new", ole Bonnie-BEAUTIFUL bike (much nicer than RD400 and square tank on it lol).....

[akmnstr]

Anyone been in this spot-regret decision?

I think that many of us have.  Usually after I buy a bike I go through at least a few hours of thinking, "What the hell have I done."
It did happen after buying my new "old" Triumph.  I wondered why did I buy this old thing that has so many problems that a ride to
the Tasty Freeze turns into an epic adventure.  But, that passed, and I remembered why I wanted to get the bike to begin with. 

On the new Bonnies.  I saw one just yesterday.  A red one.   I thought, damn that looks good and it must be nice to have a bonnie that starts,
stops, and has the shifter and rear brakes on the proper sides. 

I'm sure he will miss the Yamaha if he buys the Triumph.  I still miss my first bike, a piece of crap 69 Suzuki T500 smoker that I sold 25 years ago.  But, we move on.  I would pass on this advice, choosing a bike is much like choosing your mate.  If you base your pick only on looks, you'll
soon be dissatisfied.  But, then, it is much easier to trade in the wrong bike. 

[oldjackbob]

One of the best from those years, I worked on this bike at Daytona owned (I think he still has it) by Doc Storm of Grand Prarie TX.

I bought my '75 850 Norton Commando Roadster from Doc Storm (I still live 8.3 miles from his shop). I loved that bike -- it was a joy to ride, and easy to maintain -- I could easily balance the carbs with only basic hand tools. 

Rode that bike for years with no problems, except that it kept frying batteries, and the electric start never worked (well, it worked for the first few months). I finally just yanked the battery and ran the bike straight off the generator -- it had a 12 volt system firing the plugs through 6-volt coils, and it never failed to fire on the first kick (it did require a tickle of the Amals if not yet warmed up).

My brother had one, too -- he's still got it, and he's putting a 950 kit in it.   [moto]

[DoubleEagle]

Back in the day ( 1969 ) , I had a BSA Mark 2 Siptfire Special,  (white and red tank).

Most of the guys I rode w/ were Triumph Bonneville riders and I wanted the fastest Brit bike of our bunch so I got a 1967 BSA slightly used.

We had so much fun w/ those bikes and thought they were so fast . I had mine rejetted and Velocity stacks on the Carbs but when I think back to the leaking oil and the timing chains that seemed to go bad in no time .

Well ,we still had a ball on those old bikes but if I were to ride my screaming Beeser now and then get on my 1098 R it would be like driving my 1967 Triumph TR4A/ irs and driving my last Porsche Carrera S.   A world a part ...but it would be fun to have one just for kicks . 

p.s.  Very nice bike by the way ! It's a Beaut.   You might want to check out the "Motorcycle Classics " Magazine at a fairly large News Stand. The ads in the magazine are geared to your era bike. Dolph

[Capo]

I bought my '75 850 Norton Commando Roadster from Doc Storm (I still live 8.3 miles from his shop). I loved that bike -- it was a joy to ride, and easy to maintain -- I could easily balance the carbs with only basic hand tools. 

Rode that bike for years with no problems, except that it kept frying batteries, and the electric start never worked (well, it worked for the first few months). I finally just yanked the battery and ran the bike straight off the generator -- it had a 12 volt system firing the plugs through 6-volt coils, and it never failed to fire on the first kick (it did require a tickle of the Amals if not yet warmed up).

My brother had one, too -- he's still got it, and he's putting a 950 kit in it.   [moto]

I took Ken Storm over to the TT in 1970, havn't spoken to him in a long long time I wonder if he is still around.

[NekkedChic]

I think that many of us have.  Usually after I buy a bike I go through at least a few hours of thinking, "What the hell have I done."
It did happen after buying my new "old" Triumph.  I wondered why did I buy this old thing that has so many problems that a ride to
the Tasty Freeze turns into an epic adventure.  But, that passed, and I remembered why I wanted to get the bike to begin with. 

On the new Bonnies.  I saw one just yesterday.  A red one.   I thought, damn that looks good and it must be nice to have a bonnie that starts,
stops, and has the shifter and rear brakes on the proper sides. 

I'm sure he will miss the Yamaha if he buys the Triumph.  I still miss my first bike, a piece of crap 69 Suzuki T500 smoker that I sold 25 years ago.  But, we move on.  I would pass on this advice, choosing a bike is much like choosing your mate.  If you base your pick only on looks, you'll
soon be dissatisfied.  But, then, it is much easier to trade in the wrong bike. 

Tks for input/advice etc...I KNOW U R happi with the Bonnie-she IS a BEAUT fer sure! 
Hubbi took plunge-I rode with him to dealer on FJR, did straight swap (ouch, but oh well) we rode home on 08 Bonnie T100 and whatta NICE ride for me too!  The FJR is NOT missed-was about his 5/6th bike, and the Bonnie has brought him down more to my "noob" speed, even on my Monster LOL  Keepin up with his Speed Triple is still a chore for me 

NOT to jack this thread, but thought would share the news and post some neat pix he got of the new "new" Bonnie, in early am last week with a fellow admirer.

[timmer357]

akmnstr, did triumphrat turn out to be okay for you?  I have only had my Triumph for 2 months after crashing my s2r1k and have found that site to be pretty good.  Not as clean (free of adds and fast) like here, but it is good.  Here is the bike that replaced my s2r...I know it is new and has no vintage coolness, but it sure gets a lot of attention going down the road [moto]

[leftcoastduc]

Very beautiful bike and like a new lover you will discover her quirkks and work around them akmnstr. And she'll look great in the living room.Very cool indeed.