Featured 2022 Bonneville Speedmaster, First Impression

Just checking that you know to cancel indicators by pushing the button in?
At least that's how it is on my 2018 Speedmaster.

Enjoy your new bike! I love mine, done 30,000 miles in 3 years and off Scotland soon for another 2,000

 

I find a flyscreen sufficient, but I ride with a full face helmet. Great to hear you’re loving the bike, as like brown mouse, I have 30,000 km on mine.

 

Awesome write up the excitement is well communicated
I can understand as I'm also a new triumph rider, a Tiger in my case

 

Interesting isn’t it, because you hadn’t ridden for so long you didn’t know that modern indicators are cancelled by pushing the button inwards, that’s the fault of the seller, they should have taken you through the controls in detail and not assumed that you would know.

 

I ride with a full face helmet and no windshield of any kind. I find 60mph comfortable all day and 70mph doable for an hour or so. This assumes no significant headwind.

I've tried a couple of sizes of the Dart flyscreens but found the sound of the turbulence too noisy and tiring.

 

Thank`s for sharing your impressions with us. Enjoy your ride!

 

Welcome to the forum! I have also returned to riding again after a long period of not riding...my last motorcycle was a 1973 Bonneville 650. It was the Canada colour scheme for that model which came with a red and white tank.

In 2019, I purchased a 2018 Bonneville Speedmaster ( red tank like yours) and have not looked back. Every moment on the bike is like a breath of life re-lived over again.

I had not been on a motorcycle for 4 decades so the first time I rode the new Bonnie ( home from dealership) I was surprised at the power and then the wind....and to hold on was a little concerning. I soon decided that a windshield was best for me.

I got the Triumph long haul windscreen and find it very good at reducing wind fatigue on long rides. IMHO it is not that bad looking and it suits the bike. Also...it takes 5 minutes to remove it if you want to ride with out it. 4 bolts and thats it. So, one could use it for long trips or take it off for slower rides around town.

I have done long 400 mile trips with the Triumph windscreen and at my age I appreciate not having to hold on for dear life for 6 hrs. It makes the bike more enjoyable. Having a good full face helmet, and using hearing protection, the wind noise is minimal. Also, I find the windscreen keeps the rain from pelting you like bullets when riding at speed. Getting flying insects in the helmet are also not a problem when using this screen.

Hope you enjoy your new Bonneville like I do! Definitely the quintessential motorcycle. Not perfect, but very close.

Ride safe,
Sandra

 

Congratulations on your new bike, kevin, and on your return to riding! Your bike is a beauty. Thanks for sharing a photo of the two of you. And also for sharing your excitement as well as your thoughts and opinions so far.

I'm in agreement with many of the responses regarding windscreens and helmets. And, as Sandra indicated, hearing protection. I like having a windscreen that has a quick disconnect option that provides an easy way to ride with or without it. Over the years I've been riding (not all that many, about 10) I slowly moved from wearing an open face 3/4 helmet quite a bit and a full-face sometimes to pretty much always wearing a full-face. There are great reviews out there and most do talk about the quietness factor. I also started out only wearing ear plugs on long trips but now wear them on every ride (yes, even with a full face helmet) after reading up on the damage that wind noise does to one's hearing. I do regret that I didn't start wearing ear plugs from the get go. I have multiple pair but the ones I like the best are called Ear Peace. They make different ones for different applications. I have their Motor Sports ear plugs as well as their Music ones for when we're at a motorcycle rally and go to a concert.

Please continue to ride safe, enjoy yourself and your new bike, and post more ride reports and photos!

 

Hi @wkevinm welcome back to riding. The speedmaster is a great looking and very capable motorcycle. As you have already discovered you will get many really enjoyable miles on your new bike. Ride safe mate

 

Welcome, great bike in a great color.

"The ride is firm, I am not sure how far I could go without getting off for a rest, a couple hours may be the limit."

You can adjust the preload to soften it up. Just pull the seat off and the drop the shock adjuster down a couple of notches. When the shock is new it the adjuster is stiff but once you move it a couple of times it gets easy. The adjustment tool is stored under the seat.

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

Wkevinm
That i bet was a well though out reply.
Joe.