Hi, Steve here, AKA Saltare, I have had a Triumph for some time, 2005 I think. I have a 1979 Triumph Bonneville and an 2004 Triumph America. The 79 Bonnie has been rebuilt and is getting broken in. The 04 America is just for fun. Trying to learn as much as I can about maintaining these bikes especially the Bonnie. I uploading pictures of each.
Thanks for the Welcome. Always have had a liking for Triumphs. Although I live in Austin, Texas, I was born in Molesworth, England in the 50's. Father was U.S. military, mother was from London. My uncle rode a Triumph in London . My grandmother took me to all the sights in London, either on foot or by bus. Wife and I are trying to put together a London vacation next year.
Apparently, oil changes on the Bonnie are due every 1,000-1,500 miles according to what has been said in various classic bike mags over here. On another subject - are your rear shocks (on the Bonnie) meant to be that way up? I may be missing something (some would say a brain, but what do they know?!), but they seem the wrong way up to me. Might be worth checking with Hagon just to be sure. Anyway, welcome in to this home for the terminally bewildered.
I am not sure, I wondered about that too when I got the bike back from the rebuilder, then I forgot about. Will check into that. If I could make it a wee bit lower, that would help too, I am tippy-toe as it is (5'7")
I thought that as well, but did a google.... and all pictures found show them in that position...... must admit it doesn't look right with logo upside down
They're upside down mate You need to turn them the right way up or the progression of the springs won't work and the dampening action won't work
Think the re-builder went for the 79 look https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1...wYMKHVNHCsgQ_AUICigB&biw=1897&bih=906#imgrc=_ You are right. The modern Hagon replacements should definitely be the other way around, with the logo and adjuster at the bottom
Regarding the Hagon Shocks, I talked to the rebuilder, he said he always wondered too! He saw it on pictures on on other Triumph bikes, so I send an E-mail to Hagon Shocks to get the last word. Now, if an Australian dude saw it, they would say it is right, because it is down under and everything goes backward (like commode flushes) but when an English dude questions it, well those guys are "proper" so I better get it right! Just jacking with you, but will find out hopefully soon.
That's why I was a little bit unsure. I thought that I'd seen that usd look before but was not certain where/when. I feel reassured now.
I learned the hard way , that I can't reverse the shock, since the spring on the shock will interfere with the luggage rack/turn signal assembly. It seems they changed in 1979. Thanks for pointing that out, I may look for a different set of shocks, maybe one I can lower a bit.
