The bloated Bonney

I currently ride a Harley Electra-Blimp. It's great
for touring, but if I simply want to buy groceries
it's like wheeling the _Hindenburg_ out of its hangar
just for a trip to the corner store.

So I want to get something smaller and lighter for town;
max 400 lbs dry, 600 to 750 cc, which is the upper limit
of the affordable insurance class around here
(British Columbia, Canada). I also want a neutral
riding position, which rules out both sportbikes
and small cruisers (both uncomfortable).

That doesn't leave much choice where I live; one of them
being the Suzuki SV650, or maybe a dualsport XL/KLR/DR 650.

However back in another era when Edward Heath was PM
I rode a friend's Bonneville and was impressed.
The late 60's TR120's weighed about 385 lbs,
so yesterday I went down to the local Triumph dealer...
and saw the bloated behemoth that the modern "Bonneville"
has become -- it was like seeing a formerly trim
actress become a dirigible.

Well I suppose Triumph knows what they're doing;
they're in the business to make money, not to indulge
a handful of retro-geezers like me, and presumably
the Bonneville is meant to compete with Harley's
Sportster.

Still I wish they'd simply updated the classic '69 TR120
with a few creature comforts, or should I say concessions
to Decadent American Capitalism such as modern materials,
a non-leaking crankcase, disk brakes, something to dampen
the vibes (even rubber shock mounts, which works fine
on my Ultra Classic) and... well, oh shit, why not:
fuel injection.

Keep it all under 400 lbs and my Canadian dollars
(for what they're worth) are on the table. Someone
please pass the word to Hinckley.

Regards, Sean_Q_ '99 FLHTCUI
ps. while they're about it: a softer saddle, and take out
that silly kink in the pipes near the mufflers: it's
a motorcycle exhaust system, guys, not a drainpipe.

 

Sean says...

They did, they call it the Kawasaki W650 now.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
Suzuki Bandit 600S (Green with added shit bits)
Yamaha SR250 Delusion (It's "Special")
I ride way too fast to worry about cholestorol.

 

If you REALLY want "that" sort of bike, why not look at the Triumph
Scrambler?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 18:56:48 GMT, "Beav"

Lost: one snipping mojo

 

Except that it's 50 lbs heavier than the Bonneville.

Actually, I am looking for one, despite the weird looking
plumbing on the starboard side by the cyl head.

Sean_Q_

 

I was tired, leave me alone.

<shuffles off feeling like a ****>


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Stop poncing about with all your fancy verbiage and buy the sodding SV
then. Good bike, handy and if you enjoy the odd twisty bit you may find
yourself leaving the good ship Davidson at home.