Airhead vs. Bonneville question

[almostblue]

I'm thinking of adding a Triumph 750 (1977-79) to the stable. Anyone know how they compare performance-wise to an Airhead? Obviously, Triumph engineering is no match. But do they perform like an R75 or thereabouts?

[ccolwell]

I recall my '77 having more power and being narrower and lighter with more unpleasant vibration. And being a POS that I nicknamed the Motorcycle from Hell. I wouldn't have another unless it was a very good restoration that was much better than new. Those were really crappy years for Triumph, the company was slowly going under. You're better off looking at late 60's, early 70's.

[GSTom]

You may want to look at a new one (Triumph). They have solved the problems of the past, yet have retained the look and feel (minus the obnoxious vibration) of the original. They are reasonably priced as well.

[osbornk]

BAck when they were late models and ridden, they were often seen broken down beside the road. They also vibrated very badly. Some (or probably most) of the problems were the Lucas electrics. Lucas-Prince of Darkness.

[Richr8]

You may want to look at a new one (Triumph). They have solved the problems of the past, yet have retained the look and feel (minus the obnoxious vibration) of the original. They are reasonably priced as well.


:thumb They're sweet!

[Isamemon]

I had an earlier bonneville ( 60's) and it was an oil leaker, but I was also driving english cars, so oil leakes were normal, almost expected
if you did not see oil leaks, better check the fluid, it might be all gone
had a norton too, that was a cool bike

but at the time, I prefered the bonnie over my friends that had hogs and other strange bikes, the jap bikes had not come on full steam yet
bmw was an oddity and rare

and not only is lucas the king of darkness, its why english like (expect) warm beer
lucas electrics in their refrigeration

[lenrt1200st]

I traded my 2002 Bonneville in on a R1200ST last March. I miss the simplisity of the Bonny. However, there is no comparison between the two, Triumph has decided to meet a price point w/ the Bonneville, so shocks and fork spring/damping were easy targets for the bean counters!

The "fixes" for suspension, engine performance, and other goodies are easily installed and relatively cheap. So, improving the ride and handling and/or tailoring the bike to your preferences is simple. Check out New Bonneville and the Triumph website for mods, models for sale, and chatter on the bike you're contemplating.

In three years, I put about 18,000 miles (Ohio and PA) on the Golden Jubilee addition I had. She could scare the puddin out of me on a sharp, sweeper curve, by pogoing on the el cheap-o OEM suspenders, but she never dumped me! I had absolutely zero maintenance problems w/ the bike.

Caught more than a few grins and commments at fuel stops. "Hey, is that a Triumph Bonneville? I used to ride one of those. What year is it?"

If I were you, I'd look into a 2001 to 2004 version of the T-100 or Throxton before going too much farther.

I can not afford to own more than one MC, so the ST is nearly perfect. But, if i could swing it, I'd have a late model Bonny in the garage for those times when I ride to make time stand still, not to make time.

Len

[almostblue]

I'm sure the new Triumphs are better but they don't appeal to me. I don't like new things.

The point is, I have a really nice '77 Bonneville on the line. I'm trying to decide whether I should buy it. It has all the right improvements such as konis, fork springs, better carbs, period aftermarket exhaust and nice paint. But would it be a disappointment for someone who rides an R100/7 and various Jap superbikes?

[osbornk]

Older British vehicles whether they are a car or motorcycle are a great toy for play but they are not good for everyday use due to their lack of dependability. You need a dependable everyday vehicle to use while you are waiting on parts to complete the frequent repairs. A trailer or tow truck is also very handy to have. I've had 3 or 4 British cars over the years and all of them sat for months waiting on parts that were hard to get and expensive or no longer made. I was a slow learner. I finally learned to not buy a vehicle made in France, Italy or England regardless of how good the deal was or how well it ran. Life became simpler.

[6659]

If I had to make the choice, I would stick with the R100. If you take off all the accessories and then put on lower handlebars and change the mufflers to some throaty types, you might get a bit of English feel to it.

I have a friend with 3 Bonnevilles from the late 70's in the garage, none working so he rides his BMW instead.

[lazywizard02]

Well once you've got one........They are hard to get dispose of. There are those moments when it is just the right bike for the ride. There are plenty of parts available and several websites for the afflicted. In Dallas use:

http://www.rpmcycletx.com/ and also

http://www.northerneagle.ca/SITE%20INDEX.htm

http://www.moorescyclesupply.com/
http://www.triumphbonneville.com/
http://garagecompany.com/

http://motors.search.ebay.com/triumph-motorcycle_Motorcycle-Parts_W0QQfclZ3QQfmmdZbonnevilleQQfmmkZtriumphQQfr ppZ200QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQsacatZ10063QQsadisZ500QQso findtypeZ22QQsofocusZbs
http://www.amalcarburettors.co.uk/

http://www.ntnoa.org/

[sportridertex]

I had a 1979 Bonneville for awhile, nice looking bike, but not really a keeper, i'd prefer a BMW of the same vintage now.

[Bensonhurst]

I have 4 bikes; 2 bonnies and 2 BMW's.
Of the four, the most fun to ride is the 77 bonnie, I bought it new and I'll never part with it.
I also have a 2002 bonnie and it's, also, a lot of fun.
Whenever I take an unplanned ride it's usually one of the bonnies that goes out.

more info and pictures = http://allegretti.us

[mrocket49]

I have 4 bikes; 2 bonnies and 2 BMW's.
Of the four, the most fun to ride is the 77 bonnie, I bought it new and I'll never part with it.
I also have a 2002 bonnie and it's, also, a lot of fun.
Whenever I take an unplanned ride it's usually one of the bonnies that goes out.

more info and pictures = http://allegretti.us

I agree. British bikes are a gas to ride. Reminds me of the old muscle cars of the 60's. I think a British bike and a BMW are a great combination, when you get tired of working on the British bike, you can just jump on the Beemer and go for a ride.

[Rollifahrer]

I had a used 72 Bonny in the late 70's, then a brand new 79, because beemers were a little too expensive. I was in a wreck with a left turning car: totalled bike and waited 24 years to ride agian. Long story short, the R65 is the redheaded step child of beemerdom, but the nimble handling and sweet exhaust note take me back to "the days". I have an oilhead, but would keep the 65 if I had to choose. I sometimes think about grabbing another bonny for nostalgia, but I'll stick with BMW for riding, even a lowly naked R65.

[bprigge]

I have a 76 R75/6 daily driver. My brother had a 70s 750 Bonnie in pristine condition until last summer. I took the Triumph out for a 20 minute ride last year before he sold it and came away really impressed with and happy with my airhead. The Triumph had practically no suspension, was a shaker, had a hard seat and made a lot of engine noise even though it had new pistons and a fresh bore job. The Triumph did of course have those beautifull British twin lines and was very pleasant to look at. I also personnally owned a 1963 Triumph single carb 650 (can't remember the T designition, maybe a T110) This was back in the late 60s. It leaked, it shook, it was hard to start and sounded like the pistons where changing holes. I loved it then but would not put up with it now.

Bruce

[Rod Sheridan]

I had a 650 Bonnie in the early seventies. It looked great, sounded great and taught me a lot about repairing bikes. It needed a rebuild at 20,000 miles.

I then bought an 850 Norton Commando, that I still own. It was faster, smoother, had better suspension and brakes than the Bonnie, and taught me a lot about repairing motorcycles. It has 45,000 miles on it.

Noticing a theme yet?

I also owned a 74 R90/6 which taught me a lot about repairing motorcycles, although normally at home, during the scheduled maintenance. In 298,000 miles the R90 brought me home from every trip except the last ride. (Rear ended by a guy yakking on a cell phone while piloting his SUV).

It took almost a year to find a replacement R90/6 (this was 2002), and I'm now working on getting it's mileage into the 6 figures.

The Norton? It has better brakes, suspension, gearbox, frame and clutch compared to the BMW.

The BMW, well you know what they're like, poor brakes, clutch, gearbox, frame. However it's the one I ride all the time because it's a vintage bike I can live with. Go to Wisconsin for the rally, sure, go to Ashville for the RA rally, sure, ride my Norton to Asheville, not unless I have a backup plan.

So, if you want to buy the Bonnie, go ahead and enjoy it for what it is, a 1950 motorcycle made to the lowest price possible, in the 1970's. It will be fun to own, it will out accelerate your R75, yet will have the same top speed.

The difference, 70 MPH all day on the BMW is routine, the same on the Triumph results in you getting to know the innards of the bike on a routine basis.

Regards, Rod.

[ccolwell]

I'm sure the new Triumphs are better but they don't appeal to me. I don't like new things.

The point is, I have a really nice '77 Bonneville on the line. I'm trying to decide whether I should buy it. It has all the right improvements such as konis, fork springs, better carbs, period aftermarket exhaust and nice paint. But would it be a disappointment for someone who rides an R100/7 and various Jap superbikes?

Run away! Run away!

No, it won't be a disappointment until it breaks down. When they run, they're fun. The operative words being "When they run..."

[almostblue]

fyi: i don't actually own an R75. just using it as a point of comparison. this is my bike ...

[EXR911]

The 500 cc unit Triumph, particularly the competition model (less weight) is a better bike than the 650 or 750 cc Triumphs.

PT9766

[Bensonhurst]

The new Bonnevilles are the best of both worlds, virtually trouble free and a blast to ride.
Triumph has done a great job of moving into the tweny first century. There are lots of new (2001 and newer) with many thousands of trouble free miles.
I like my BMW's but I LOVE my Bonnevilles.


go here for more information and to ask some questions
http://www.triumphrat.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewforum&forum=51



http://allegretti.us/mcy/gj.jpg

[Rod Sheridan]

Dear PT9766, I was curious about your comment of 500CC competition machines being better than the other Triumph twins.

Is that the same sort of comment as being more svelte than a hippo???