RE: [emrat:3132] Thunderbird or not

The Bonneville reminds me of the 1985 BMW 800cc bike that I used for a lot of long distance touring (along the California coastline twice). I was pretty much satisfied with the bike as a one-up machine. However, on my last trip to California my wife was a passenger. By day two she was ready for a change. After that trip I moved up to an ’87 Goldwing (the last year of the 1200cc model). Although not a fast bike, with only a top speed of 90mph, it was extremely comfortable for a passenger. My wife loved it.

I got back into biking in 2007 when I purchased a used 2007 Bonneville knowing that my wife would no longer be a passenger. The Bonneville was a definitely a modern improvement over my old ’82 BMW. After a year on the Bonneville, and while riding with Garth Webb, who had an 1150 BMW, I noticed a lack of power in some circumstances when my Bonneville was fully loaded for camping and touring. As a result I moved to a BMW 1200RT. The BMW is not that much heavier, but the comfort and power difference is substantial. It’s an easy bike to pack, and after 25k miles I still love it. On long trips I frequently average 52 mpg even when setting a fast and aggressive pace. I later picked up a 1200GS, which is the bike I took to Alaska. The GS is not quite as comfortable in some situations, but it is an extremely versatile bike. Although it has basically the same engine as the RT, it averages about 6 mpg less than the RT, probably because it is does not have the more aerodynamic fairing and luggage that benefits the RT.

Just my two cents.

Jay

From: emrat@googlegroups.com [mailto:emrat@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of MARK DOYLE
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 8:04 AM
To: Tim Green
Subject: RE: [emrat:3129] Thunderbird or not

I get a very consistent 39-41 MPG with my '05 Rocket.Easy on gas...hard on tires.

From: lowrtax@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 22:31:48 -0700
Subject: RE: [emrat:3128] Thunderbird or not
To: mark30520@msn.com; emrat@googlegroups.com

I never ride 2 up so I don't know about it but my Bonnie will keep up with any thing with just my 170 lbs but I did upgrade the shocks toHagons. If you ride 2 and can only have one bike its is either the Rocket or BMW 1200 RT, very light and powerful and gets 55 mpg even loaded.

Sent from my Windows Phone

From: MARK DOYLE
Sent: 10/28/2013 3:30 PM
To: Tim Green
Subject: RE: [emrat:3127] Thunderbird or not

I have had a Rocket III since 2005.I bought a Scrambler and loved it but couldn't justify two bikes so the Scrambler went to a new owner.
It all depends on the kind of riding you want to do.
A Thunderbird would have been my choice if they would have had it back when I bought the Rocket. Maybe.....
Mark D.

From: jeffswalters@msn.com
To: emrat@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [emrat:3126] Thunderbird or not
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:06:03 -0600

You are probably right. The new bike just makes me want 2 bikes.

From: mark30520@msn.com
To: emrat@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [emrat:3125] Thunderbird or not
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:47:56 -0600

That's a nice looking Bonneville!!

If you are this much undecided,you should probably keep it.
If the new bike doesn't just totally make you want to forget about the old one,you're not ready to move on.

That has always been my mindset when making this decision.

From: jeffswalters@msn.com
To: emrat@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [emrat:3124] Thunderbird or not
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:38:45 -0600

Just hard to beat the looks of the Bonneville. I just am not so sure that I want to let it go.

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:40:53 -0700
From: martinjmpr@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [emrat:3122] Thunderbird or not
To: emrat@googlegroups.com

Jeff: As far as two-up riding goes, I don't think I'd make a Bonnie my first choice for a lot of two-up riding, but if it's mostly you and the misses just rides occasionally, I think it's fine for that. Perhaps stouter (and more adjustable) rear shocks/springs could be put on to account for the weight. Power-wise, I think it's more an issue of "expectations" than "needs."

I've been riding long enough to remember when anything that was 750cc or bigger was considered perfectly suitable as a cross-country, two-up "touring" bike. Nowadays, a 1200cc is considered "mid-sized." Has riding really changed? Or is it just the perceptions and expectations that have changed?

Martin

From: JEFF WALTERS <jeffswalters@msn.com>
To: "emrat@googlegroups.com" <emrat@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 12:21 PM
Subject: RE: [emrat:3121] Thunderbird or not

I may be leaning on keeping my Bonneville and doing some minor modifications to get the bike to "do everything" that I want it to do.

From: jeffswalters@msn.comTo: emrat@googlegroups.comSubject: RE: [emrat:3119] Thunderbird or notDate: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:19:28 -0600

Thanks, guys!

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:13:48 -0700From: mjbaca900@yahoo.comSubject: Re: [emrat:3118] Thunderbird or notTo: emrat@googlegroups.com

I believe it will affect your low end. I, personally, have not tried it but it's a cheap modification and can easily be changed back. I have about 14k on my Thruxton and a lot of that has been at highway speeds. Also, as someone who has ridden with Martin, that 60-75 is reached when he is slowing down. These twins have no problem with maintaining speed on highways.

On Monday, October 28, 2013 12:02 PM, Martin Albright <martinjmpr@yahoo.com> wrote:

Rick: No "Dis" intended, the T-bird just is not my cup of tea (and I could say the same thing about other styles of Triumph bikes as well. Viva la difference indeed. ;)

Jeff: Given the Bonnie twin's redline, cruising at 5k shouldn't be an issue. My Scrambler doesn't have a tach but I'm typically cruising between 60-75 and it does fine. I'm at 4 1/2 years and 18,000 miles on my Scram and no issues whatsoever, I'm happy to say. When it's time to replace the chain (I'm guessing that will be ~25,000 miles or so) I may consider going down a tooth on the rear sprocket just to get a little more top speed. The 270 degree twin on my Scrambler is a little different internally than the 360-degree twin in you Bonnie but I can't imagine it would make a huge difference.

From: JEFF WALTERS <jeffswalters@msn.com>
To: "emrat@googlegroups.com" <emrat@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 11:18 AM
Subject: RE: [emrat:3112] Thunderbird or not

Martin, If I run on the freeway at 80 and 85 and turn around 5000 rpm, it is not hurting the Bonneville is it? Red line is at 8000 and i figure that it revs a little higher anyway.

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 09:34:07 -0700

From: martinjmpr@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [emrat:3111] Thunderbird or not To: emrat@googlegroups.com

I don't really know anything about the new T-bird as a rider but in terms of looks, I call it a swing and a miss. It's not that it looks bad, it's just that apart from the parallell twin engine, it looks like every other generic cruiser out there with its teardrop-shaped tank and raked out fork. If that is what you want, fine, but there is nothing about the look of the new T-bird that screams "Triumph" the way the classic twins do.

With 1600cc it is obviously powerful and looks pretty comfy for long rides. Belt drive can be a double-edged sword - needs less (like zero) maintenance when it works but expensive to replace when it needs replacing (so I have heard from Harley guys.) OTOH the chain is a century old technology, that "ain't broke and don't need fixin.'"

I have to agree about the lack of a 6 speed on the Bonnie. My '01 885 Thunderbird (Triple) had a 6 speed, it was one of the best features of the bike. My understanding is that the transmission from the Classic twins is similar to that of the classic triples, meaning Triumph COULD put a 6th gear in there if they wanted to, but they don't. Perhaps its a cost saving measure, or it could be that they figure most classic twin riders are around-town types and the extra gear isn't needed. I sure wish I had one on my Scrambler, though!

Martin

From: Manuel Baca <mjbaca900@yahoo.com>
To: "emrat@googlegroups.com" <emrat@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2013 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [emrat:3103] Thunderbird or not

Thunderbird handles well but is a completely different bike. The bonneville is much more nimble and has better clearance in the twisties. The thunderbird is the best handling cruiser I have ridden. As for tge power, it has been debated on trat whether the tbird is any faster than the bonneville. The tbird has a significant amount of weight when compared the bonneville.

The obvious decision would be to keep the bonneville and buy the tbird.

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

From: Jeff Walters <bbmc.goat.co@gmail.com>; To: emrat@googlegroups.com <emrat@googlegroups.com>; Subject: Re: [emrat:3102] Thunderbird or not Sent: Mon, Oct 28, 2013 1:11:12 AM

Thanks.
On Saturday, October 26, 2013, Curtis Graves <ikonoklass@gmail.com> wrote:
> Affirmative. More powah!
>
> On Oct 26, 2013 9:26 PM, "jeffswalters" <jeffswalters@msn.com> wrote:
>>
>> Just wanted to get thoughts on whether I should sell my bonneville to get a new thunderbird. I love both bikes and can't have two. Which is a better direction?
>>
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The Mouse Club

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

RE: [emrat:3132] Thunderbird or not

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