|
That is kind of what I wanted to hear fellas. Thank you your input. A nice smooth comfortable bike that will easily go 75 i what I'm looking for and the bonneville seems to fit that well. One last question, are there any known reliability issues?
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 03:10
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 28, 2024 05:04 |
|
|
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsKFsce5phw is the best review I've seen of it and has convinced me to not buy one over a CB1100.Nice Sweet Meat posted:To the guy that posted all the HP/Torque stuff: who cares? Motorcycles in this country have gone nuts. Every year the displacements get bigger, and for what? Track days? What if you don't care about that poo poo and don't want a drat car engine on your bike? If you don't like the feeling of 0 to 60 in under three seconds you are a boring soulless person.
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 03:35
|
|
|
Wendigee posted:That is kind of what I wanted to hear fellas. Thank you your input. Suzuki savage/S40 Vstar 650
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 03:47
|
|
|
Somewhat relevant, just noticed for 2014 there's a CB1100EX: Larger tank, better looking seat (imo), spoked wheels, six speed gearbox (instead of 5), and twin exhausts. It looks even better!
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 04:22
|
|
|
hayden. posted:If you don't like the feeling of 0 to 60 in under three seconds you are a boring soulless person. 
BlackMK4 fucked around with this message at 05:23 on Jan 20, 2014 |
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 05:12
|
|
|
Wendigee posted:That is kind of what I wanted to hear fellas. Thank you your input. Honestly a bonnie doesn't do 75 "easily". It'll do it, but its not going to be a great freeway cruiser. I was pretty let down by how heavy and slow it was when I got one as a loaner.
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 06:04
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:To the guy that posted all the HP/Torque stuff: who cares? Motorcycles in this country have gone nuts. Every year the displacements get bigger, and for what? Track days? What if you don't care about that poo poo and don't want a drat car engine on your bike? Maybe it's because we're so fat and our dicks are being subsumed by our gunts so we feel the need to compensate with these monsters. The bonny is a gentlemans bike, if you get it, you will like it. Yeah the acceleration is linear, but that's a good thing. My last bike was a 07 Ninja 500, and the jerky torque got me in trouble more often than not. I was glad when it got totalled. The OP said he thought the Bonneville was faster, I was just informing him. I guess I forgot to mention earlier I rented a Bonnie when I went to ride in California, it wasn't just slightly slower than modern day motorcycle it was surprisingly slow and heavy feeling. I've spent a few years cruising around on single cylinders and a GS500 so I don't mind slow bikes. However a brand new bike that costs and much as a Bonneville does shouldn't be that slow that's all. Here is a revelation, faster bikes are more fun and thinking so doesn't make you some crazy frat bro dick head. Nice jean cuffs.
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 06:55
|
|
|
I did a demo ride on a Bonneville as well and liked it plenty but as soon as I got on the highway I knew it wasn't what I wanted as my main bike. If you live somewhere where the top speed limit everywhere is 55 and people drive slow, like in Oregon, you'll be fine. Anything higher than that frankly sucks after too long. Z1000s and similar are much better since you're leaning forward. A UJM style bike is what I'd use if I were going to travel across the country on back roads and avoid highways.
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 07:53
|
|
|
hayden. posted:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsKFsce5phw is the best review I've seen of it and has convinced me to not buy one over a CB1100. This review is refreshingly honest, and he's totally right about the bike reviews falling all over themselves to lump praise on a mediocre bike. I recall Motorcyclist had the Bonneville somehow winning head-to-head comparisons because exhaust note was an important factor. It's a reliable, underpowered engine surrounded by an uncomfortable bike (as opposed to the original wild, leaky vibrato surrounded by an uncomfortable bike). Unless you change out the exhaust, front and rear suspension, and mess with the engine computer and intake, thus voiding the warranty. So you drop $10k for the bike, and then another $3-4k to make it comfortable and slightly less underpowered. Fantastic. E: also, UJM's Best M's. red19fire fucked around with this message at 09:22 on Jan 20, 2014 |
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 08:24
|
|
red19fire posted:E: also, UJM's Best M's. I agree. If it was feasible for me to maintain a 70s Honda 750Four, I would have done that instead. But my mechanic refuses to work on those, and I'm the worlds shittiest mechanic. Bonny has fuel injection disguised as throttle bodies. Dependable and safe, because after having my leg smashed by an old cager turning left, I AM boring and soulless, but at least I'm boring and soulless on 2 wheels.
|
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 13:58
|
|
Z3n posted:Honestly a bonnie doesn't do 75 "easily". It'll do it, but its not going to be a great freeway cruiser. I was pretty let down by how heavy and slow it was when I got one as a loaner. It does 75 very easily. It does 100 without much effort, it just does it smoothly. I ride from Atlanta to Macon and back again between 80-90 the whole way, and except for the cold, it was way more comfortable than my Ninja 500. Nice Sweet Meat fucked around with this message at 14:38 on Jan 20, 2014 |
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 14:01
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:It does 75 very easily. It does 100 without much effort, it just does it smoothly. I ride from Atlanta to Macon and back again between 80-90 the whole way, and except for the cold, it was way more comfortable than my Ninja 500. Have you ridden any bikes besides your ninja 500 and your bonnie? Because yes, it will do 100mph, but that doesnt have much to do with how comfortable it's going to be at freeway speeds. More power and taller gearing does wonders for freeway riding. Despite the fact that it is an 800, it makes mediocre power and outweighs similar bikes like the sv650 by quite a bit. It's not a bad bike, just know that as a p-twin 800 it's not going to be a real great freeway cruise, like a bandit 1200, sport touring bike like a zzr1200, or anything like that. You buy a bonnie because you like the look, everything else about it is expectedly marginal.
|
|
#
?
Jan 20, 2014 17:17
|
|
|
Kinda surprised nobody here has even mentioned a Moto Guzzi considering how 1 comment can derail the pictured thread into 2 pages of nothing but Guzzi's (not that that's a bad thing). Seems to fit your retro styling needs. Performance is pretty similar to your 2 preferred options. In my opinion upright seating is over-rated for comfort, a little forward lean feels better to me. I would get a Street Triple. It's almost 100 pounds lighter than the bonnie, and you can try one out while you're at the dealer anyway. I don't know where you are but here's Pro Italia's spec sheet for the S3, you can navigate to the Bonnie and Guzzi's pretty easy to cheak the prices and HP figures http://www.proitalia.com/bike/2013/street-triple/ I know you're not about power but the first time you're about to get pinched off in a lane and need to get out of the way is that Bonnie going to do it for you? P.S. after re-reading this post I'm not judging or anything, I'm sure whatever you get you'll love, and we'll all still love to see the pics and hear about your first ride with it. Just trying to say weight and power improvements over the years are good things, not dick waving contests as some goons take it as.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 06:56
|
|
|
If you think the Bonneville is underpowered and slow don't even think about a Guzzi V7. I can't figure out what the hell this thread is supposed to be, is it CA's version of the Car Game or something?
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 12:24
|
|
|
Snowdens Secret posted:If you think the Bonneville is underpowered and slow don't even think about a Guzzi V7. Something I can contribute!! I did a test ride on a V7 last year before I bought my Striple. The V7 could be the most boring motorcycle I've ever ridden. It's light and does everything adequate, but utterly and completely soulless and horrible to ride from a "I do this poo poo for fun" perspective. For comparison: My old KLR650 (which I hate more than anything on this earth) was a factor of one hundred times more interesting. The V7 has no power band (shut the gently caress up about 50 HP, My KLR had like 35) worth playing with, has no particular handling or braking characteristics worth mentioning. It's pretty quiet but it does sound like a V-Twin, which some people seem to get freedom boners over. Beyond looks it just isn't interesting. It's the motorcycle equivalent of one of those pretty girls that think they don't have to be interesting because daddy bought them fake tits for their 18th birthday. loving pretty bike though.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 13:26
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:To the guy that posted all the HP/Torque stuff: who cares? Motorcycles in this country have gone nuts. Every year the displacements get bigger, and for what? Track days? What if you don't care about that poo poo and don't want a drat car engine on your bike? Maybe it's because we're so fat and our dicks are being subsumed by our gunts so we feel the need to compensate with these monsters. The bonny is a gentlemans bike, if you get it, you will like it. Yeah the acceleration is linear, but that's a good thing. My last bike was a 07 Ninja 500, and the jerky torque got me in trouble more often than not. I was glad when it got totalled. What planet do you live on that a ninja 500 makes too much torque? I'm not trying to be a dick, but come on, I had one for 2 years as my first bike and it was a smooth and sedate (boring) bike the entire time. I rented a pair of Bonnies for me and the ladyfriend one weekend, a thruxton and a standard and we found them to be pretty heavy and slow. If you want a nice highway ride, look for something with a little more power that isnt so much of a pig.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 14:20
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:To the guy that posted all the HP/Torque stuff: who cares? Motorcycles in this country have gone nuts. Every year the displacements get bigger, and for what? Track days? What if you don't care about that poo poo and don't want a drat car engine on your bike? Maybe it's because we're so fat and our dicks are being subsumed by our gunts so we feel the need to compensate with these monsters. The bonny is a gentlemans bike, if you get it, you will like it. Yeah the acceleration is linear, but that's a good thing. My last bike was a 07 Ninja 500, and the jerky torque got me in trouble more often than not. I was glad when it got totalled. Exhibit A: British bike in its natural state; being towed somewhere while a grumpy dude smokes about it.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 15:50
|
|
|
I had a 919. I found the seat to be a torture rack. I have to ride 30-60 minutes to even find a bend in the road in Florida so comfort is important to me. My rear end was killing me by the time I got to the "curves". I sold it and bought a used 2013 Thruxton with Arrow exhaust already installed by the PO. I like the Thruxton more. I'm nearly 40 though, so maybe it's an older guy thing? You can tune the Triumph's with free software, and cheap cable from ebay. http://www.tuneecu.com/ Bike does 100mph without much issue. I have no complaints cruising at 70-80. I think for the price it's a good bike. It's not perfect, but priced correctly for what it is, unlike the Honda CB IMO. poo poo cell phone pic of my bike from a few months ago. 
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 16:29
|
|
|
The Bonnie / Thruxton are air-cooled Twins. There's only so much push you're going to get out of an air-cooled Twin these days with modern emissions standards. So they're heavy and slow, but they're not really in the same class as a Street Triple, they're more competing with like a Harley Sportster. Which also isn't a popular bike in CA, but is (or can be) a perfectly fine ride if that's what you're looking for. Are you going to have 3 second 0-60s? No. Are you going to quiver in terror about cars running you over because your engine can't pull a greasy string from a cat's rear end? No. Maybe with the Guzzi. Sure the suspensions are doodoo, it's bargain bin stuff with dual shocks in the back. It's not much money or effort to redo. Most any of the other standards mentioned in this thread (919, older Z1000, old Bandits, etc) didn't come with particularly great suspension new, and now they're 10+ years old and that poo poo will be worn out anyway, so one way or another you're either getting crap suspenders or dropping money on a refresh. Buddy of mine has a GSX-R front end on his Bonnie, I need to grab some pics of it sometime but that's one way of dealing with it. There's also a ton of Triumph branded / aftermarket stuff for the platform so if you want to rig up a tourer or break your back cafe'ing it up the options are there. Zooming the list pulls up a couple Bonnevilles near me, late model low miles around the $5k range, which seems reasonable enough considering no one puts poo poo on Craigslist around here in the dead of winter without stupid pointless high prices on it. That being said if you go to cycle-ergo.com and dick around, you'll find that there's very little difference in actual riding position between a Bonnie and something like a Ninja 650.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 16:58
|
|
|
Snowdens Secret posted:That being said if you go to cycle-ergo.com and dick around, you'll find that there's very little difference in actual riding position between a Bonnie and something like a Ninja 650. This is really the core of it. There are more powerful, lighter, more reliable bikes out there for less. And saying "Well you'll have to refresh the suspension" still rather misses the point - the suspension on a stock bonnie is totally poo poo, and you'll need to either do something like a GSX-R swap (which I'd love to see pictures of) and get some aftermarket shocks on the back, and that's probably 2-ish grand worth of work, and then you're still dealing with narrow tires that you can't get modern rubber for, vs. a Ninja 650 which also has poo poo suspension, but you can spend a few hundred bucks on some emulators, slap a ZX-whatever rear shock on, and get something decent for under 500 bucks, and it can be fitted with modern rubber. And they'll do 120 mph, which means they're just that much less stressed about doing 75. It's not that the bonnie is a bad bike - it's that it's best quality is it's look. It loses out to many cheaper, more reliable, lighter weight, etc. options in every category but "looks like a brit bike that you can probably trust to start".
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 19:23
|
|
|
As the owner of a retro styled bike I can attest it took me years to get the suspension sorted out on my bike and I had the benefit of my bike having the same geometery as a modern Ducati. I had to swap the forks from Monster S4r and had to buy new shocks. Which brings me to my point if you like the Bonneville why not find a used GT1000, I love mine, looks kinda old but is basically a modern bike. Engine is the DS1000 unit Ducati has slapped in a million diff bikes and for an Italian motor is fairly reliable. Will cruise all day on the highway if you have the neck muscle for it. The prices are getting a bit silly but they're great bikes. Here let me make a case for one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8g9PxW1bs   
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 22:58
|
|
BlackLaser posted:I had a 919. I found the seat to be a torture rack. I have to ride 30-60 minutes to even find a bend in the road in Florida so comfort is important to me. My rear end was killing me by the time I got to the "curves". I sold it and bought a used 2013 Thruxton with Arrow exhaust already installed by the PO. I like the Thruxton more. I'm nearly 40 though, so maybe it's an older guy thing? You can tune the Triumph's with free software, and cheap cable from ebay. http://www.tuneecu.com/ Bike does 100mph without much issue. I have no complaints cruising at 70-80. I think for the price it's a good bike. It's not perfect, but priced correctly for what it is, unlike the Honda CB IMO. Am 44, love my 09 bonny se, am a boring man, can confirm.
|
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 23:21
|
|
Jim Silly-Balls posted:Exhibit A: British bike in its natural state; being towed somewhere while a grumpy dude smokes about it. Hehe, that was the day I bought it. I was getting it off the trailer when my wifey took a pic. Not that it's relevant at all, but I've lost 20 lbs since that pic was taken. Am a grumpy dude who smokes about it, though. That bike is crazy reliable (so far). Starts every time, first try, even at around 32 degrees F. Fuel injected (which is new to me), and has a two position choke. You know how it is, you love your bike the most out of all others.
|
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 23:25
|
|
Z3n posted:Have you ridden any bikes besides your ninja 500 and your bonnie? Because yes, it will do 100mph, but that doesnt have much to do with how comfortable it's going to be at freeway speeds. More power and taller gearing does wonders for freeway riding. The Ninja was the first/last "sport bike" I ever owned. I grew up riding a 78 Honda 175 dirtbike (86-89) then I didn't get another bike until 2006, which was a 89 Honda CM400T. I've ridden a lot of bikes in Mexico and India, where the highest displacement is around 250 usually. I ride mostly in Atlanta, surface and highway, so I don't need a lot of power. I'm also 44 so I don't really get wanting anything with crazy torque or speed. The bonny suits me down to the ground. I got hit by a 70 year old left turning cager back in May. Shattered my left leg, had to get titanium, etc etc. So I'm way more cautious than I used to be. I guess that's part of my bias.
|
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 23:35
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:The Ninja was the first/last "sport bike" I ever owned. I grew up riding a 78 Honda 175 dirtbike (86-89) then I didn't get another bike until 2006, which was a 89 Honda CM400T. I've ridden a lot of bikes in Mexico and India, where the highest displacement is around 250 usually. I ride mostly in Atlanta, surface and highway, so I don't need a lot of power. I'm also 44 so I don't really get wanting anything with crazy torque or speed. The bonny suits me down to the ground. You should see if you can take a spin on a sport touring bike or some other more powerful standard...it only goes as fast as you make it go, honestly, and freeway manners are really determined by power and gearing. Personally, avoiding that sort of thing is exactly why I ride a supersport with a handlebar on it. Excellent brakes, excellent suspension, light and maneuverable, with enough power to easily dispatch anything I can run into and to cruise at 75mph with a bunch of power to spare.
|
|
#
?
Jan 21, 2014 23:44
|
|
|
Snowdens Secret posted:If you think the Bonneville is underpowered and slow don't even think about a Guzzi V7. Oh yea I totally wasn't trying to say that, but giving the OP another option in his genre. It's the thread where your friend tells you he wants to buy a new Versa but you're like "omg why would want that when you can get a used E36 M3?!?!"
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 02:07
|
|
|
A Sportster 1200 is a solid bike that will do 75 without trouble. Many available, parts are easy to get, 45deg vtwin is objectively the best config.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 02:57
|
|
clutchpuck posted:A Sportster 1200 is a solid bike that will do 75 without trouble. Many available, parts are easy to get, 45deg vtwin is objectively the best config. Yeah, but it's a loving harley. ew.
|
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 03:55
|
|
|
Take a Sportster 1200 and put mid controls and a sensible bar on it and you've got, well, you've got what you'd get with a stock Bonneville. A fine bike if that's what you're looking for (which I said before) but you've still got a slow, heavy bike with crap suspension, crap brakes, mediocre seat etc to sort if you want speed or comfort. There is plenty of aftermarket to support that. I guess you get ~Harley cachet~ but most people here would count that a net negative. I love the way the Duc GT1000 looks but their pricing really is getting stupid. Monsters on the other hand can get you the ergos and most of the retro look a lot easier and cheaper.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 08:26
|
|
|
Something to remember about monsters is that despite the bar, the ergos are still quite aggressive...sit on one and you'll see.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 16:15
|
|
|
Nice Sweet Meat posted:Yeah, but it's a loving harley. ew. Oh yeah, I didn't think about that. Bummer.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 19:57
|
|
|
clutchpuck posted:A Sportster 1200 is a solid bike that will do 75 without trouble. Many available, parts are easy to get, 45deg vtwin is objectively the best config.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 20:17
|
|
|
The 60 degree V ain't bad either
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 20:36
|
|
|
Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:You are objectively wrong. 90 degree v-twin is the best engine. I6 is the best engine.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 20:43
|
|
|
I4 engine is the best bike engine and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. Don't test me. I'll roll 2D6 damage on you so quick you won't know what happened.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 21:04
|
|
|
Bugdrvr posted:I4 engine is the best bike engine and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. Don't test me. I'll roll 2D6 damage on you so quick you won't know what happened. I'll throw a D4 so fast it'll make a small but visible divot in your skin!
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 21:08
|
|
|
V4 end of story http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/street-track/42079-bike-magazine-investigates-v4-perfect-motorcycle-engine.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J_GLPvsSKg&t=149s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWquuqz23Pc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFwS_CQHjqk&t=78s
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 21:31
|
|
|
Snowdens Secret posted:The 60 degree V ain't bad either I think 52 degrees is better.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 21:37
|
|
|
No honest man needs more than one cylinder.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 21:59
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 28, 2024 05:04 |
|
|
90 degree twin supremacy forever.
|
|
#
?
Jan 22, 2014 22:30
|
|