Well, the bike came back home today, wth it's new fuel line installed and back to its rumbling best. Such a sweet motor. Oh, and I've fitted some more billet options from Motone: Black cover for the clocks (need to order a black bolt) Union jack reservoir cover Fuel cap Chain guard One more to go for now, but I need to take my time with that one!
Bee-yoo-tee-ful, @learningtofly!!! I've been outta town and just now saw your thread about your new Bonnie. It is outstanding and I love your taste in "farkles" and mods. Looking forward to reading the rest of this thread now.
Terrific photo! That background compliments your Bonnie quite nicely. Very nice bags for around town, too.
@Woodtickgreg and @learningtofly: The bike looks great and I can only underline your arguments. But our T120 is a beauty and a biest! The excelleration and the movement forward is mostly underestimated by other road users. Depending on its beautiful look, the slim appearance nobody expects this explosion of performance when you "motivate" your Bonnie. Riders of "Japanese rice stovers" (sorry for that, I am riding one too) or drivers of big cars are more then surprised when you "push" your Bonnie to it's nearly maximum performance. Then the "biest" is on it's way. I know that this kind of riding is not the normal behaviour with a Bonnie, but it is possible every second.
Ah, thanks Sandi... glad you like it I spent weeks considering the bag options, Sandi. Happy I made the right choice, albeit these would be even better if they had a carry handle!
I know exactly what you mean, Markus - its a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing. I've been riding mine quite "progressively" and its got so much low down power that you couldn't want for more.
Glad you made the right choice, @learningtofly! I can relate to spending weeks to decide on a purchase. And I also understand thinking bags could be better if only the manufacturer included a carry handle. Before I decided on the Tour Master bag I now use, I looked hard at a Nelson-Riggs bag. I have one of their tail bags on my Speed Triple and love it. And it has a carry handle. But the bag I was looking at for my Street Glide was bigger and needed a carry hand and, nope, no carry handle. Weird. Sometimes I wonder if the designers actually ride.
Well, today I managed my longest ride since becoming ill at the beginning of February; 55 miles out to Epping on a lovely B-road route that I carved out for myself last year. It's my favourite local route, in fact. What can i say about this bike, save that it really is a wonderful machine. I'm so happy my hand was forced, because this will be the bike I see out my riding days with.
@learningtofly, after all you've been through and continue to face, I'm thrilled to know that you are so happy with your new Bonnie! You deserve a break...as well as a lovely day out on the bike. Looks like that's just what you got! I'm glad you're feeling well enough to start breaking in that new black beauty.
Thanks very much, Sandi. Going out right now takes a fair bit of planning (and food management), but when it comes together it's worth the effort. The new drug takes 3-4 weeks to start working properly (assuming it does work, of course), so fingers crossed that it becomes easier and easier as the weeks go by. As for the bike... well, this is it now for me. Ironically, when I bought my Street Twin five or so years ago, the sales guy was trying to sell me a T120 but I found it a bit too intimidating at the time. Shame, because I'd undoubtedly still have it now had I listened, and I'd also have a lot more money in my bank account!
I'll be praying that the new drug works for you! I'm glad you can get out on your bike even though it takes more planning on your part. I'm sure that it's well worth it and that you find riding pretty therapeutic, too. So glad that you are so very happy with your T120 Black!
Well, the year that just keeps on giving has just got even better! I was out for a bimble on my beautiful bike yesterday, and some idiot in the car just in front of me - completely without warning - decided to make a sudden right turn as I was filtering past him. I was completely T-boned, went over my handlebars as well as his bonnet, and as I flew through the air remember thinking “Jesus, this is going to be like one of those YouTube videos“! Long story short, my bike is totalled and I ended up spending the day in hospital . I had blood test, ultrasounds, x-rays, ECGs, dye infusions, scans, testicular manipulation and a finger up the arse before being allowed home some hours later with no permanent or serious injuries. However, I have traumatic muscle damage to my back (I landed on my back and the back of my head, unfortunately wearing the one jacket that I own without back protection). Lost a bit of skin on one arm too, although I was barely even aware of that due to the pain in my back. To say that I’m in bloody agony would be an understatement. My back goes into spasm the moment I try to move and the rest of my body is now starting to hurt (yesterday the pain was masked by stress hormones and I guess the state of shock that I was in). I don’t know how long it’s going to be before I’m free of pain, and I have no idea what further pain is going to be caused just negotiating my insurance settlement; I have no gap insurance and I wasn’t able to get my extra/options covered as the additional premium was ludicrously expensive. What I do know is that my riding season is over, and my perfect bike (which I’d made a reflection of me, and which represented a small win in a very difficult phase of my life) is gone for good.
Bloody car drivers. I feel your pain and I hope you make a full recovery in the coming weeks and months. It could have been a lot worse mate.
HOLY SCHMOLEE - that's taking your forum name far too literally!! Really sorry to hear that news - especially on top of everything else that's happening in your life right now, and equally especially in view of all the time, love and attention you've given to that bike ..... something the insurance company/ies simply will not see fit to consider. I guess the ONLY crumb of comfort is that you are still around to tell the story and will, I'm sure, in the fullness of time, make a full recovery from all this. Live to ride, as the saying goes. I really do hope that this all passes - satisfactorily - as quickly and positively for you as it possibly can. Stay strong, get well and keep us updated.
I am so sorry and so upset to read about your accident, @learningtofly. My heart breaks for you after all you've been dealing with health-wise. And now this. I'm sure you're pissed about the driver turning in front of you and also devastated that your new beautiful baby was totaled. hope that the pain you're in--your back in particular--is short-lived and that you heal up completely. Good luck negotiating with your insurance company...which doesn't sound pretty. Most motorcycle insurance policies in the U.S. include up to a certain dollar amount of after-market parts and even riding gear but unfortunately it doesn't sound like that's true in your case. Hopefully you'll land a sympathetic insurance adjuster who will go to bat for you. As I was reading your post, this Nietzsche quote came to mind. But, geez, at the pace you're on, you will be The World's Strongest Man! And please know I have officially moved you to the top of my morning prayer list. Hang in there, Tony.
Thanks all for your comments/wishes. It really does feel like i'm being tested at the moment - in fact, it started last summer when I had my holiday troubles and has just seemed to get worse and worse. Incredible really. Anyway, I got up this morning after very little sleep, and my back feels just a little easier; not so quick to go into spasm, and when it does the pain is slightly less intense. That's very welcome indeed, because coupled with my colitis the situation has been pretty much impossible to manage. I'm hoping that, as my body determines that the danger from the original trauma has diminished, the spasms will stop and it'll just be sore for a while (fingers crossed, anyway). I've initiated the insurance claim through Carole Nash, who have effectively now passed it on to Aviva (who should be n touch with me today/tomorrow). It seems that everyone is happy for North London Triumph to deal with the repairs (or, I guess, replacement) of the bike, and they know that if it turns out to be the latter then I'll want all my extras/options removed from the bike and reinstalled on the replacement. That said, any damage might be repairable - I should know soon enough. Given the above, and that I'm very much aware that - following the impact - I was airborne long enough to contemplate exactly what was happening , I need to consider myself very lucky indeed. The outcome could have been substantially more serious. Oh, and on the subject of meds, because of my colitis I'm unable to take any non-steroidal painkillers - that just leaves Paracetamol, which is pretty rubbish, along with Diazepam as a muscle relaxant. Shame, because any of codeine, co-proxamol, ibuprofen, etc would have really helped, I'm sure.
Sorry been on holiday and missed this. So incredibly sorry to read your news. All that @Sandi T has said goes for me too. Get well soon.
