Best Bonnie ever?

[xwhatsit]

What OTHER famous motorcycle make also celebrates a 50th anniversary this year (2009) and what was it??????

Honda Super Cub!!

Actually no, they were 1958 as well.

Still in production though, almost unchanged. OHV to OHC... new headlight... that's about it.

[Motu]

So what year did they go OHC? At one stage they were practically given away (in my case,it was given to me) but now they fetch crazy prices.I sold mine for $200,which I now realize was too cheap.....but $200 profit after 10 years use isn't too bad.

[Paul in NZ]

The date in question... 3rd june, 1959....

ANYONE or ALL of you jap superbike riders ought to worship this date!!!!

[xwhatsit]

The date in question... 3rd june, 1959....

ANYONE or ALL of you jap superbike riders ought to worship this date!!!!

First Honda four? I thought they were still using twins in the IoM around that time though...

So what year did they go OHC? At one stage they were practically given away (in my case,it was given to me) but now they fetch crazy prices.I sold mine for $200,which I now realize was too cheap.....but $200 profit after 10 years use isn't too bad.

According to the literature I've got, the first OHC was the C65 in 1964... in 1967 they rationalised most of the range (C90 engine had wider cases, wasn't until the 12V square-headlight C90 that they did a 90 in the original cases) with an OHC for everything.

Yeah they go for silly prices now. How can you predict what to hang onto though

[98tls]

First Honda four? I thought they were still using twins in the IoM around that time though...

According to the literature I've got, the first OHC was the C65 in 1964... in 1967 they rationalised most of the range (C90 engine had wider cases, wasn't until the 12V square-headlight C90 that they did a 90 in the original cases) with an OHC for everything.

Yeah they go for silly prices now. How can you predict what to hang onto though

Not sure on the first but the 750 came out in 69.

[xwhatsit]

Not sure on the first but the 750 came out in 69.

Talking about racebikes... all the same engineers who built the Honda GP bikes built the 750 and the CBX and the 400F and all those cool things.

MV or Benelli for that date? First transverse four? Time to get out some books heh.

EDIT: I was close enough, June 1959... first Honda excursion to the IoM TT... motorcycle parts in suitcases... beginning of the end!

[Big Dave]

One of the original Sandcasts.

[98tls]

The date in question... 3rd june, 1959....

ANYONE or ALL of you jap superbike riders ought to worship this date!!!!

Are we talking the 59 125 Honda at the Isle?

[Paul in NZ]

Are we talking the 59 125 Honda at the Isle?

Yes - give this man a virtual beer...

Honda was the 1st Japanese motorcycle maker to enter a GP. The won the manufacturers team prize in this one event they contested in 59.

They contested every round in 1960

In 1961 they won their first GP, their first TT and their first world championship. By 2005 they had won 600 GP's!!!!!

Joey Dunlop, Cros, gawd, the whole modern era started 50 years ago...

[Beeza]

The 1969 Bonnie T120 is the best ever.

[Brian d marge]

What a daft question Dave.... Best? Best in what way?? Fastest around a track? Most expensive or sought after, most reliable?

Modern technology and design learnt from the mistakes of the past and produced on todays computer controlled engineering equipment makes a new bike 'better' in many ways. Even a cheap 250 now is 'better' in many ways. The British industry failed because it lacked the ability AJILITY (not the right word, they had the ability, just not the cash to invest) to leap into more modern designs that people wanted. So yes, a modern Bonne is better in many ways as a commercially profitable motorcycle - but is it better at being a bonneville, erm nope.... Even Triumph call it a retro bike so its really just a shadow of something that was great.

now here is were we go off course ......

The true test is, would it sell if it was made by Honda? Yes, but it would sell in W650 numbers (ie not many)....

nice call but i don't want to buy a Honda I am British and want a British bike , So is the thing any good or an over priced piece of sh#$%&'&

So what IS the best bonnie? Again, hard to say because production covered such a time of social change. 1959 was a very diferent time than 1969 or 1979, far more so than from 1997 to 2007.

Very true

Pre unit bonnies make it onto the 'best' list because they were wild and wicked and arrived at the time when they were needed. Motorways arrived and austerity was ending, people bought motorcycles as toys and they no longer had to go to work in the pit evey day and take the family on holiday to Blackpool with a huge sidecar, a Mini did that cheaper and better. Motorcycles started to be less general and more specialised sports bikes, tourer, scrambler etc

true

By 1967 the handling was sorted and 68 to 70 they stopped OK too. A 68 to 70 are the years in the period when the bonnie still mattered.
yup ,,they did handle to , not as sure fotted as a duke ,they flexed a bit BUT they turned in quickly , and were good round the English lanes , the SDukes were slow and a BYatch to turn in , BUT on long sweepers were Planted ,,,,


73 saw the T140V which was a better bike in many ways but it from around 72 you could get the last 650's as a 5 speeder as well, the T120V is a brilliant bike to ride!

The T140V is a better bike (more developed) and justly loved by the alternate biker underground who wouldnt buy japanese but it's not a bad ass fastest thing on two wheels anymore, it's becoming like its owners, safe and secure and moving to the suburbs.... It does not make it onto my list....
Yup and if it didntt snap rear spokes and piss around with its charging , it would have been perfect ( vibration IS manditory , the japanese have Never discovered that ,,,, My old bosses advice to me was ,,,buy an old Brit single and you will always get your leg ovver ! ( he was right )

The new ones, nope... Sorry, loved by chicks with fringes and born agains having a mid life crisis. Acceptable to your wife (who lets you buy it cos it's nice) and about as bad as a nice cup of tea at your mother in laws, you are not going to scare anyone at the local dance on one of these. Its clumsy looking engine looks almost embarassed to be carry the name.

to true ..............

My list....

1960 to 62 (forget the 59's, they were first but had fat guards and the horrible nacelle thing). With difficult handling these bikes were super exciting to ride.

69 / 70 - well I have to.... They are the best combo of looks and go.

1973 T120V Wonderfully effective bike, under rated and RARE.

um......

Thats it....

[Brian d marge]

Looking for the perfect Bonnie I did a Google image search to ensure I got the one with the best lines and classic styling.

I am pretty sure I found a satisfactory ride that most on KB would agree is very special and it appears to be in a most excellent condition - possibly only used on Sunday mornings.......

Many, many hours could be spent gently buffing the body work, adjusting the headlights and rear sub-frame to ensure it purrs along and howls when given a good old fashioned trashing.

Being a Bonnie it may require a drip tray after a ride ........

Photo shop ... sorry

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

]Each Bonnie had pushed the design to it's limits ( the Norton did that better ,, the piston speeds were into lalala land ) - the modern ones don't do that.The 60/62 was a fire breathing monster,this was as much as you could stretch a pre unit to - too much bike for the frame,forks and brakes ( true but the motor was/is capable of much more )

.The 69/70 was as far as the unit design could be pushed - frame,forks and brakes again....it was getting scary to ride it fast. , The design limit of the oif bikes was getting enough performance out of them - by the end of their era (more 10 years before the end) they were so restricted and overweight any 250 would blow right past them.

Yes the frame and forks were getting ..old , the OIL frame inst much more than a Elgi frame , and they went quite well , Mine handled well enough ( forks let it down I will admit )

yes 250 would go past it , but different strokes ,,,my 125 could blow past a Harley ,,, I past my test on a cub , but longed for a 750 ( 650 better , actually prefered the 5ta .but dont tell )

IF the Bonnie 750 was made with today's Materials , and yesterdays design features , with hydraulic pushrods ( like Enfield are doing with the C5 ) awesome ... The C5 looks pretty damn good , ( except for the Disk brakes ,,prefer drum does I )


Ajility , ... but well thats a whole different story ....

Stephen

If you are talking Triumph , yeah 650 ,1970
ish

best bike ..............Royal Enfield Bullet ....period ( all done with a slide rule , and 50 years later I come along with the latest computer and FEA soft wear , and there IS NO FAT on the numbers ,,,,I am ALWAYs amazed ,,,,,, great bike perfectly designed ,,,, YES perfectly , ,,,right place , right time , right price )




But all they develop are new paint jobs.
look the same to me .....
[/QUOTE]

[Brian d marge]

Talking about racebikes... all the same engineers who built the Honda GP bikes built the 750 and the CBX and the 400F and all those cool things.

my last boss was the nut who had his hands in the CBX , We called him teapot because he was ,,,,,, as mad as a hatter ,,,, taught me a lot about being a mechanic though ,,,

I don't miss the Honda speeches though

Stephen

[Bren]

Dave, great read in the latest mag ...The anniversary model looks sweet with the old fashioned seat with piping...

I also like the XS/TX range from Yamaha, and as you well pointed out, it is a good Japanese take on the bonnie style...

The best bonnie for me would be the one that eventually ends up in my garage...still have not decided yet...but I do feel it is a very personal question and subject to personal opinion, likes and dislikes...One persons cuppa tea aint anothers so to speak