Featured The Beauty Is Here!

Well, I managed to get out for a short while over the weekend, between rainstorms and tummy aches, and having got the bike to a state of modification identical to its predecessor. I do think it looks great (the only crash hangover being some scuffing to the saddlebag on the far side, which admittedly is making me twitch a little).



I do have some final mods in mind, namely a tail tidy/LED turn signals and new end cans (almost certainly the Remus). However, I'm going to live with it as-is for the rest of this year, and then plan to make those changes next Spring. It's classically beautiful as it stands, and I may just change my mind on either or both as I spend more time with the bike.

Oh, I've also bought a new full face helmet (the Hedon Heroine Racer 2.0 in Macadamia) as a response to taking a slightly more risk averse approach to such things ( I was lucky to pick it up for £540 in the summer sale, because they ain't cheap). Hedon are also making a decision as to whether they will replace FOC the 2019 DGR prize helmet that I was wearing at the time of the accident, so fingers crossed (if you don't ask...).

(Oh II - I'm still far from comfortable when riding, and have a feeling it's going to take me a while before things settle down a bit.)

 

That black beauty looks great.

You'll probably get used to the scuffed saddlebag pannier and feel comfortable again the more miles you get under your wheels.

IMHO don't do the tail tidy, I'm probably going to insult a lot of my fellow forum members but I think the tail tidy route is becoming a bit cliched and doesn't match the classic look. So I've put my own money where my opinion is and replaced the standard "bobbed" rear mudguard and "cat's eye" taillight that Triumph fitted to my 2018 Street Cup, with the standard rear mudguard and Lucas style taillight from a 2018 T100 to give it a more classic look, and I love the way it looks now; it's also more practical in the wet.

Anyway, your bike your choice.

Enjoy your new ride.

 

It looks great brother. Funny how sometimes we get knocked down a peg and it takes us awhile to get back to where we were and feel comfortable on the bike. That happened to me all the time on dirt bikes, get cocky and over confident and then crash, mess up the bike, get hurt and take time to heal and say oh, I guess I'm not as good as I thought I was. And slowly build my confidence again. Stay safe and enjoy that new ride at your own pace brother.

 

Yeah, you probably gathered that I'm starting to think similarly... well, if you didn't I am

The back end and the large turn signals are so reminiscent of past models that I almost think it would be a crime to remove them (and if I wanted something that looked more modern I'd have bought a Speed twin). In fact, your replacement tail should look pretty much identical to min, I'd have thought.

Thanks, btw.

 

Thank you, and yes - probably just need to give it a bit of time. Weird feeling, though.

 

Thank you. First time I've been involved in a bike accident in a total of about 15 years of riding all in... not surprising it's had an impact, I guess.

 

"It's had an impact, I guess". No pun intended, @learningtofly??

Sorry I'm so late (back) to this thread. Catching up after a week and a half on the Sturgis trail and then immediately going back to work. Your bike looks grand! I'm so happy that things worked out well on the motorcycle part of your accident. How is the human part? Are you all healed up? And how are you doing with your other physical challenges? I hope you're feeling good enough to get some miles on your black beauty. BTW, I'm typically a tail tidy advocate but with your bike, I agree with you and with @RevPaul, keep it traditional.

 

Thanks Sandi, and noted re the tail tidy

On the health front, the accident injuries are fully healed thanks, although I suspect I'm going to have a slight scar on my left arm where some part or other of the bike landed on it. On the more chronic health issue, no - sadly no progress there and my IBD team are now considering next steps. Not looking very positive, unfortunately, and I suspect that I'm heading inexorably towards surgery. Consequently, I've been limited to short local rides only, and then only when I feel well enough

PS LOLZ @ "impact"

 

Thanks for the update, Tony. I'm happy to hear that your accident injuries are fully healed but am so very sorry to learn there's been no positive progress on the IBD front. I'll continue to pray for you and also send positive vibes across the pond. I am glad that you're able to get out on your new bike some even if it's short rides when you're up to it. Hang in there.

 

Thank you

 

I've got a couple of questions about the additions you've made to your T120, namely the saddlebags (or are they panniers?). This may well have been discussed earlier but what make are they? I can't tell from the pic. How do they fit to the bike? And do the shocks have a remote reservoir? The shocks on my Street Twin do have a remote reservoir which restricts the choice of panniers (or are they saddlebags?) and I'm wondering if those ones would fit. Cheers.

 

Actually, I think both panniers and saddlebags will do nicely!

Anyway, they can be found under SW-Motech’s range just here. Personally, I think they’re the best bags in terms of both quality and style for the Bonneville range, the only thing to bear in mind being that if you want shoulder straps you have to order them separately (that is, they don’t come with the bags as a matter of course). I can confirm that I’m using mine with rear shocks - Fox - that do indeed have remote reservoirs, and there’s no issue in terms of them clearing the rails/carriers. I’m also using the smaller size but have already conceded that I should’ve got the larger bags as they’re probably a little bit more useful.

In summary, I can’t recommend these panniers, or indeed saddlebags, highly enough!

 

I did mention elsewhere (it was a bit of a thread hijack, though) that I'm seriously thinking about custom paintwork for the T120; partly just because I'd like it to be "different", and partly because this should be the last bike I ever buy so I feel free to do with it as I please.

This is the kind of thing I have in mind, but I'm mulling over whether to just go with the tank or to make it a bit more of a complete transformation (and include both the front & rear fenders and the two side panels). Any thoughts?

 

Hi @learningtofly - first question has got to be why this will be your last bike? Never say never . That said, if this is to be your last and you’re looking to be different, that colour looks great but you’ve got to go for all the panels and not just the tank surely. All IMHO obviously as each to their own

 

Well, I'm 63 now, and the T120 was selected with that in mind (in other words, I'm not going to go more sporty and I didn't see anything that fitted the bill more perfectly). My plan, therefore, is to keep riding it until riding itself becomes too much of a physical challenge (I'd settle on another decade very happily, tbh)!

 

I like that color. But I think if I was to do it it would be the tank and both fenders, I dont think I would do the side panels and just leave them black. But to each their own, we all have different taste.

 

I agree, you have loads of time to make a decision on your last bike. I’m 70 and I’ve had seven bikes since I was your age. Of course it is your decision on your bikes, but for me you have loads of time.

 

That is a gorgeous choice of colour, looks to me to be reminiscent of the smoked red colour that BMW used on the R100 RS & RT in the early eighties.

I’d do the tank (with the badge in your photo), the front & rear mudguards and the headlight bowl but keep the side-panels and front mudguard brace standard. I’d keep the standard Lucas style rear light and the standard indicators, but with the Triumph clear lens kit on the indicators.

IMHO you’d then have a classy modern classic with the moody look of the “black” model.

Looking forward to seeing what you do.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Paul. I like what you’ve proposed and it’ll inform my own slowly developing ideas going forward.

 

I'm going to have to disagree with you on one point you made there Paul. Love the colour but not that badge on the red (or is it maroon?) tank in the photo. Why use something that's found on 1000's of other Triumphs? Especially if you're looking for something a bit more unique, which is surely the point of a custom paint job. That particular badge has always looked cheap to me, like an aftermarket stick-on. If you're paying someone many £100's to paint the tank etc then ask them to paint the logo. Google Triumph logos and choose one you like, ask the painter for their ideas or design your own. You know it makes sense

Incidentally, I came across 'Bad Dog Paintwork and Servicing' at the Stafford Show, run by a chap called Jake. The standard of his work is excellent. He actually had a custom-painted Bonneville tank on his stand (it may well have been for a T120) which had a fairly traditional Triumph logo but done in gold leaf and looked fab. The tank was for sale but no, I can't remember how much. Check out his website: baddogpaintwork.com
If you still haven't made your mind up by next April then head on down to the wonderful Bike Shed show in London, where you will see plenty of original ideas you can pinch.