Hi there New to Triumph, new to bikes - not even passed my test, yet! However, i've fallen in love with the Bonneville - been wanting to buy a bike for years and decided this is the year. Anyway - I'm going to buy new from a local dealer and wondering whether more experienced bikers would consider that the Arrow 2:2 exhaust upgrade is worth it or not? Is the weight saving and increase in performance a mute point for a bike of this relatively laid back style? Especially for the almost full k extra in price! Better with TEC, or just the stock Airflow or even just stock? Getting ahead of myself no doubt but interested to hear any input. Thanks in advance.
Yo, I don't have arrows on my 2009SE, so can't say, but I do have Norman hyde, matched to air induction kit, matched to power commander. Then mapped properly by Dyno tester to 13.6 air/fuel ratio. As you are guessing expensive, power and sound is awesome. Suggest you find a Bonnie with arrows fitted and listen. Talk to owner how they are set up especially carburation. If I were buying new (personally I picked mine up VERY reasonable from Ebay) check with dealer re warranty especially if you intend to fit them yourself.
Hi and welcome. Please do not rush it, a Bonnie is a great choice but it will ride different to what you will ride for your CBT and during training. A Bonnie will feel so much more powerful than your training bike but it is not compared to other bikes, it is just different. Once you pass your test, then and only then will you learn how to ride. All you will have learned is how to pass the tests. Riding my Bonnie is great fun and for me I need a break after an hour in the seat but I am a long legged five ten and it is just a little cramped. At the end of my ride the grin on my face is wider than my garage door, a great bike.
Thanks for both responses. Yes - good advice. Probably best to buy just a stock bike and then take it from there. What accessories would you consider to be worth it? I'm definitely going for the luggage rack since I hope to do some weekend camping trips, but how about other options? Centre Stand? Tachometer? Are these worth investing in? Or will a strong arm do just as well and who needs a tacho'? How about the tank knee pads? Gel seat? Any advice welcome!
Hi and welcome to the forum, plenty of Bonnie owners on here who will offer advice, nice choice as a first bike :upyeah:
Hi again My T100 is my first and last Bonnie, its staying with me as long as I can ride. It was bought with Mustang seat and progressive shocks over standard. I have now added a Renntec rack and small top box, its an hours job to fit it but you do need some special star drivers. The only thing I should have bought which is now on my list is a centre stand, its a pain to clean on the side stand due to its lean angle. Tank knee pads will help grip and protect the tank paintwork, a tacho will help in gear changing and especially in running ini if you buy a new bike
That's really useful - thank you. I hope this will be my first and last Bonnie, too. Would you have a pic of your T100?
You are very welcome Sadly I have only just become a Bonnie owner.........so many wasted years. As I have been saying on this, other forums and Facebook............Other bikes my come and go but a Bonnie is for life. At least there has always been a Triumph in my garage continuously for the last nine years, that makes me a newbie compared to so of the other guys here. Do let us know what you decide upon
Having gleaned some info here, I'll probably spend the extra on more practical items and look at other mods like shocks and exhaust later. Loving seeing the following for Triumph and the Bonneville in particular - must be something in it! Thanks again for your replies.
One of the most important things I would fit is a small screen just to make a good days riding bearable as it really does become pressured on open roads.
Hi, The Bonnie was what attracted me to biking - never bothered when younger so more wasted years than ColLamb! Took CBT and rode a CBF125 for a year to get used to riding, then took test in May this year and bought the Bonnie 2 days later. Bought the actual bike I first saw, which is why its a 2004 T100 and not a newer one - but I'm loving the carbs! The Bonnie makes a great first bike but heed the advice of ColLamb and go steady. Totally different bike to the 650cc you'll train with and pass your test on. (hopefully!) I wouldn't bother with Arrows to start or any other mods like suspension at this stage - you'll never know the benefit until you've ridden the stock bike for a few thousand miles. Cheers Steve
Thanks Tigercraft and Steve - sounds like very good advice to me. Advice I'll gladly take! I'm booked in on a Direct Access in October and am very wary of my inexperience and, to be honest, the local road users, but I hope I will take to it sensibly and safely. I won't get carried away with mods but am looking at the few additional practical items mentioned; namely: pads, tacho', luggage rack and centre stand. I'm also thinking that the 'dresser' bars will be a good investment, especially considering it will be a new bike and I will be new to biking! ( good to read your experience, Steve ). Hopefully just in the event of a static drop...........quite like the look, too! As far as models go, I'm intending to buy the standard version with Mag wheels, though I love the T100 look.
I had arrow 2-2 on my mag wheel from new, that & modified the airbox/inlet wouldn't be without that extra stomp, it makes a real difference.
like they said wait and ride the standard bike for a while. I'm holding off the centrestand too. Had one once before so know the convenience of it, but in the end wished I didn't have it as it was the first thing to corrode ... being in such an exposed place, and in the end was just carrying round dead weight as I preferred to use paddock stands anyway. Not sure I can use paddock stands with the Bonneville, but flat jack is the next option. So ... waiting to see how it goes once I've got it.
Some good advice above, I bought a new Bonnie in June (basic version) and intend to get some miles on it then decide what extras or changes I want and fit them spring 2015. Get yourself a Norman Hyde catalogue to peruse over the dark nights, there are also some good internet sites that specialise in Bonnie parts. Enjoy the bike.
