Bonnie due to arrive by end of month. Older 2002 carb model. Been a good few years since I've been on a bike and a bit apprehensive - but also really looking forward to it. Bike is a real peach - 2 owners and 4k miles from new, and looks like a new bike. Guy selling is a friend, so bike hasn't been advertised. He also brought it off a friend. Bike has full history and is all original ( not sure if that's good or bad). Can anyone recommend a good back to biking course in Truro area?
Hi Steve welcome to the forum, and congratulations for getting back into biking no doubt some of the Bonnie owners will be along soon with advice for you,that is low miles for a 2002,it will probably need a new battery unless it's been connected to a trickle charger all the time
Hi Steve, welcome in and good to see you returning to biking. Same as above but also oil and filter change and if she has been standing for a while change the fuel and carbs might need a clean
Thanks guys for the comments. I am pretty lucky as the friend I am buying from collects classic cars and also restores them. Whilst its not been on the road for a while its been kept maintained and serviced as part of his collection. I know he has put a new battery on. The tyres are the originals I think. Still look like they have some wear left, and don't look perished at all, but I may change them for peace of mind. What sort of mileage do you get out of Bonnie tyres these days?
Hi Steve and welcome to the Triumph Playground - re tyres I used Avon Roadriders AM26 tyres on mine and found them to be excellent in all conditions and I would get easily 7000 mls out of the rear and much more from the front.
Thanks thebiglad. Sounds like they may still have quite a bit of mileage left in them. I ll get them checked for condition but may use them for a bit if they're ok. I assume they will get picked up on the Mot , which it will have before I pick it up, if the tyres are shot
Hi Steve and welcome - we need more Steve's on here! Sounds like a great buy - I had an 04 Bonnie with 27000 on it and can vouch for the Avon Roadriders as biglad says. Great if your mate has done the regular maintenance but would echo what the others have said about the tyres they are now coming up to 14 years old even if there is plenty of tread left.
Hi Steve, you are planning on using 14 year old tyres? Sorry, but you're mad! For loads and loads of reasons those tyres need replacing with new rubber PLEASE. We really don't want to hear about you being scraped off the tarmac - for the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
Hi Steve, welcome to the playpen. Loads of Bonnie people around here so there'll be bucket loads of help, advice etc. From one born again biker to another, start slow until you gain confidence and, go for IAM, Rospa, or something similar. I was lucky as a mate of mine was a police bike instructor who 'put me through the mill' when I got back on two wheels a couple of years ago. Enjoy and stay upright.
the guys are right about the tyres.bin them. They may look perfect but the last thing you want is to be coming into a corner and the rubber decides to part company with the carcass of the tyre. Most guys would say tyres are old and should be replaced at 4 yrs old or less........ think about it. For the cost of a pair,say 250 max,what is your life worth. welcome back to bikes, i got back about 6 yrs ago ,love it. Stay safe
Hi all, I'll check with the guy selling and will ask if the tyres have been replaced recently. Like I said I know the guy and he is a collector of classics and tends to look after his cars and bikes obsessively. He may well have replaced them due to age anyway, but if not then I shall get a set of Avon Roadriderss fitted. Have priced them up and Dameralls have quoted just over £200 for the pair supplied and fitted locally and I can wait whilst they fit them to the bike. Not sure how that sounds price wise. They are spoke wheels so I assume that means tubed tyres. Thanks all for the advice.
Should also say note the name change - just noticed that very few people use a full name on here, so decided to follow suit. Jogler stands for John o Groats to lands end - cycled it on a push bike with my son in 2012. I fancy doing a LeJogle on the Bonnie at some point in future just using A roads and B roads. Anyone else fancy doing it, or maybe has done it by motorbike?
Hi jogler56 I welcome to you to the forum and back to motorcycling, take it easy and don't get to carried away I am sure you are getting good advice here and would try to keep your bike original but using more than it has in the past a bike that needs to be enjoyed, ride safe.
Thanks Peter and Oscar. I only have one pic on my phone, taken at my mates garage. I will wait until next week and then take some better ones once its delivered. I went to see my mate this morning and he is getting the bike MOT'd on Wednesday and is going to get the mechanic to check and balance the carbs whilst its on the analyser for emissions. He said that the tyres are not the originals as he changed them after he brought it because of their age back then, but he is going to ask the guy doing the MOT for his honest opinion. They are between 3 and four years old by his calculations. As I say I know the seller as a family friend so I know he wont rip me off.
Just tried to upload a pic of the Bonnie - not sure whether or not its worked. I can see it but not sure whether anyone else can!!
Thanks half ton. Its a really bad pic - makes the blue look darker than it is and the light is reflecting badly off the fuel tank, where the paintwork curves - makes it look like there is a patch in the paintwork - which there isn't - and the detailing doesn't show up properly, but then it was only taken using an old mobile. will post some better pics when I actually get the thing.
Its more a dark sky blue - but not as dark as the photo makes it appear! I'll get some better pics in daylight taken outside once I have it. I googled 2002 blue Bonneville and quite a few show up on images, which appear to be the same colour.