Best Bonnie ever?

**Big Dave** · 29th May 2009, 18:05

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

The slick silver one

and nice to know lol

-Indy

Interesting motorcycle Indy - great looking thing.

You should go to RAT night.

**Indiana_Jones** · 29th May 2009, 19:27

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Interesting motorcycle Indy - great looking thing.

You should go to RAT night.

That they are

When are the RAT nights?

-Indy

**Big Dave** · 30th May 2009, 00:36

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

That they are

When are the RAT nights?

-Indy

If I could remember that I would go more often. I think it's 3rd tues of the month at the bar across from the library.

**Indiana_Jones** · 30th May 2009, 16:08

Originally Posted by Big Dave

If I could remember that I would go more often. I think it's 3rd tues of the month at the bar across from the library.

Which library would that be?

-Indy

**Big Dave** · 30th May 2009, 19:12

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

Which library would that be?

-Indy

The one with the books.

**Indiana_Jones** · 30th May 2009, 19:31

Originally Posted by Big Dave

The one with the books.

You donno do you? lol

-Indy

**Big Dave** · 30th May 2009, 20:23

Orclund city library - directly across the lane.

**invisiblehand1** · 31st May 2009, 12:13

intrigued that this debate is still going on.

I will try and explain why i find the hinkley triumph to be a fat UJM.

I tried to buy one. As you can see I already have a Meriden T140 (lightly customised with decent brakes). I took my old NTX trailie down to motorad last summer to get it serviced for a re-vin. While there I saw the cool offroad bonnie they had there, in the "right" colours of lime green and silver. It was a very good price, and this is the new bonnie that most did it for me.

Immediately thoughts of trade-in and increased debt swung into action. I borrowed the scrambler for a test ride. I filled it with gas and took it for a spin round the bays.

It IS fat, and weighs about 40 kg too much for a twin. The engine makes a sewing machine noise and doesn't seem to have any character. The suspension is a bit squishy, but works fine, the brakes are light and work fine too. It did things in a pleasant, no nonsense and capable way.

I tried dropping a gear and hoofing it, more sewing machine noise, and it quietly got on with the job.

As the ride went on, I found myself realising that at probably 5-7k more than the NTX it did nothing more competently, and wasnt really engaging with me emotionally.

I took it back, and took the Guzzi on the same route. BRRRRRM, motorcycle noises happened, I got real feedback from the engine, frame and forks, the brakes work fine, if slightly wooden brembo feel, and really no more dive than the scrambler (Ok a bit more). FUN.

I then went home and got out my T140 and did the route again. Woo hoo. proper noises. Better handling than the hinkley. lots of that lovely low-down grunt with the triumph bark (bike has peashooters). Undoubtedly not as grunty as the hinkley, but you feel it more. The brakes work (Hyde does that for you) the gearbox is nice (except it will never find neutral at rest) the clutch is heavy and the brakes do lack feel. Its more tiring to ride, and I probably would never be brave enough to just hop on and ride to Auckland.

But the T140 and the NTX are still in the shed, and i bought an old sporty to play with as a day-to-day bike - which promptly died by the side of the road in masterton, and I started to learn about vibration and electrical connections.

All my bikes are "alive" and thats how I like it these days, they are only toys and i want my toys to give me something back.

If a bike was still my only transport (as they were between when I was 16 and 28) then I would still buy a Guzzi over a hinkley triumph. (have now had 4 guzzis). The carbed jackal is everything the triumph tries to be, and just does it all better.

Now the speed triple - thats a different kettle of fish. As someone said earlier, the new bonnie is a copy, not the real thing, it doesnt stack up against its contemporary technology, and thats the only test that matters. The speed triple does stack up, and thats the one that will be the classic in 30 years time.

Just my 0.2c on a horrible wet sunday

**Edbear** · 31st May 2009, 12:54

Originally Posted by invisiblehand1

...Just my 0.2c on a horrible wet sunday

Nice and sunny up here...

**invisiblehand1** · 31st May 2009, 14:16

hell I'm in wellington, and its just started snowing! mostly sleet, but its been hailing all morning. Snow at the end of May - damn, when's the global warming going to turn up. I've been out sweeping the deck and frozen my bits off, even the dogs won't go outside.

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th September 2009, 08:26

Bonnies make me wet.

-Indy

**rosie631** · 14th September 2009, 08:45

Originally Posted by pritch

When I decide (or circumstances decide for me) that I'm too old and doddery for the VFR then a Bonnie seems the likely replacement. The new one with the 17 inch wheels might be the go, if somebody actually makes modern rubber for it, and the smaller wheels don't reduce ground clearance too much...

Same here. A Bonnie is going to be my retirement bike ( no offence intended to anyone that rides one) Probably the T100

**Bounce001** · 14th September 2009, 13:20

The best Bonnie ever is my one!! It is a 1974 T120V. And yes it is a very rare bike, mine is one of the last 1500 ever made. Beautiful to ride. Cars hear you coming and move out of the way, small enough to fit between cars in the trafic, sits on about 60mph all day and loves those windy roads.

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th September 2009, 18:17

Originally Posted by Bounce001

The best Bonnie ever is my one!! It is a 1974 T120V. And yes it is a very rare bike, mine is one of the last 1500 ever made. Beautiful to ride. Cars hear you coming and move out of the way, small enough to fit between cars in the trafic, sits on about 60mph all day and loves those windy roads.

Show off lol

-Indy