
It's a Triumph Bonneville SE
It has a 29" seat height & a narrow seat
Three questions:
* Could I learn to ride it?
* How does it handle at 70 mph?
* Would it require constant tinkering?
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Not thinking of giving up my GT200, but wow!
![]() It's a Triumph Bonneville SE It has a 29" seat height & a narrow seat Three questions: * Could I learn to ride it? * How does it handle at 70 mph? * Would it require constant tinkering? |
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Re: SSR: Such a Cute Little Motorcycle!
Three questions:
* Could I learn to ride it? - Don't know. Can you? * How does it handle at 70 mph? - Better than any scooter. * Would it require constant tinkering? Not if you can afford to have it serviced. |
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Harvey wrote: It's bigger than you think. 440 pounds. |
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The Bonnies are an old design, so handling at speeds can be a little tricky if your setup isn't right. It's safe, mind you, but like bikes such as the Ducati 696 and that POS Aprilia Shiver handle much better.
If you're looking for a simple and stylish city cruiser that occasionally tackles a hill, and have been waiting for an excuse to whip out that old leather jacket you wore during your rock-a-billy days, then go for it. |
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Krylon88 wrote: If you're looking for a simple and stylish city cruiser that occasionally tackles a hill, and have been waiting for an excuse to whip out that old leather jacket you wore during your rock-a-billy days, then go for it. and I'm inseam-impaired And I would definitely need to learn to shift, to get a motorcycle |
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L from Jersey wrote: Harvey wrote: It's bigger than you think. 440 pounds. Regardless, before falling in love, try to paddle one around the parking lot. Harvey |
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Harvey wrote: L from Jersey wrote: Harvey wrote: It's bigger than you think. 440 pounds. Regardless, before falling in love, try to paddle one around the parking lot. |
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I know Chazzlee was thinking of one, but he found out they were bigger and more expensive in real life than on the internet.
They sure are beautiful, though. Harvey |
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L from Jersey wrote: Krylon88 wrote: If you're looking for a simple and stylish city cruiser that occasionally tackles a hill, and have been waiting for an excuse to whip out that old leather jacket you wore during your rock-a-billy days, then go for it. and I'm inseam-impaired And I would definitely need to learn to shift, to get a motorcycle |
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L from Jersey wrote: Krylon88 wrote: If you're looking for a simple and stylish city cruiser that occasionally tackles a hill, and have been waiting for an excuse to whip out that old leather jacket you wore during your rock-a-billy days, then go for it. and I'm inseam-impaired And I would definitely need to learn to shift, to get a motorcycle ![]() http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/2009-Boulevard-S40.php I have a 28 inch inseam and I could flat-foot this motorcycle easily. Comes in a lovely perl white color too. |
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but the suzuki is no where near as cool. with the shit economy, you can find great deals on bonnevilles and daytonas too.
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L from Jersey wrote: And I would definitely need to learn to shift, to get a motorcycle |
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BleuBelle wrote: Look at the Suzuki Boulevard S40 650 single. Nice entry level motorcycle, and recommended by my MSF instructor brother. ![]() http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/2009-Boulevard-S40.php I have a 28 inch inseam and I could flat-foot this motorcycle easily. Comes in a lovely perl white color too. but it bothers me that the mirrors & headlight seem so small Can they be swapped out? And yes, Xantufrog, all of my cars have been manual shift It's the learning part that worries me--I don't multitask as well as I used to |
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GuzziGuzzi wrote: the stock seat is not at all comfortable. IMHO Bonnies are nice bikes. that you're talking about? |
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The Ducati Monster 696 is tiny compared to the Bonnie. It weighs about 100lbs less - 355.
It also is Italian... ![]() |
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chad wrote: don't be scared to shift. it takes all of about 10 minutes to learn how to do it. I've said it before: if you were required to drag a knee or scrape a peg during a MSF before being passed there'd be a lot fewer accidents involving bikes. People do not drag knees or scrape pegs because they are scared the bike will fall over. As long as you are scared then the bike owns you, rather than you owning the bike. |
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Desmolicious wrote: The Ducati Monster 696 is tiny compared to the Bonnie. It weighs about 100lbs less - 355. Incredible looking, though! ![]() |
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Re: SSR: Such a Cute Little Motorcycle!
L from Jersey wrote: Not thinking of giving up my GT200, but wow! ![]() It's a Triumph Bonneville SE It has a 29" seat height & a narrow seat Three questions: * Could I learn to ride it? * How does it handle at 70 mph? * Would it require constant tinkering? *BEAUTIFULLY *YES, but that is what a Bonneville is all about. Go for it, you won't have any regrets. |
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L from Jersey wrote: Neh!... Those guys are magnificent, but not easy to ride You can think I'm being an ass, and maybe I am, but it seems you want something that you can hop on and off and looks cute and is simple to ride. A motorcycle ain't that. Some are easier to handle than others due to weight and ergonimics, but no motorcycle is easy to ride. They require constant attention and effort and will put you at speeds where shit is HIGHLY dangerous in a split second - can you decide whether to shove your gear lever down two clicks and dump the clutch at 70mph in order to get up to 90 to get out of a bad situation on the interstate rather than braking (which is someones first instinct and usually results in crash - boom - dead)? Are you going to be willing to learn to scrape your knees on the ground countersteering it? Will you know to shove the right bar forward in order to turn right to avoid something in the road in less than a blink of an eye? They aren't easy. If you're looking for easy take the bus. You can sleep and read on it. Dick? Maybe, but I may also save your life. |
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Desmolicious wrote: The Ducati Monster 696 is tiny compared to the Bonnie. It weighs about 100lbs less - 355. It also is Italian... ![]() |
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CORSA IFP wrote: L from Jersey wrote: Neh!... Those guys are magnificent, but not easy to ride You can think I'm being an ass, and maybe I am, but it seems you want something that you can hop on and off and looks cute and is simple to ride. A motorcycle ain't that. Some are easier to handle than others due to weight and ergonimics, but no motorcycle is easy to ride. They require constant attention and effort and will put you at speeds where shit is HIGHLY dangerous in a split second - can you decide whether to shove your gear lever down two clicks and dump the clutch at 70mph in order to get up to 90 to get out of a bad situation on the interstate rather than braking (which is someones first instinct and usually results in crash - boom - dead)? Are you going to be willing to learn to scrape your knees on the ground countersteering it? Will you know to shove the right bar forward in order to turn right to avoid something in the road in less than a blink of an eye? They aren't easy. If you're looking for easy take the bus. You can sleep and read on it. Dick? Maybe, but I may also save your life. You don't do this on a scoot?? What the hell are YOU riding??? If you're going over 10 - 15 mph, you have to be countersteering, otherwise you're in deep shit. And that is whether you are on a motorcycle, scooter or a bicycle, at speed. The major difference is that big wheels are less "flickable" than small wheels. Big or small, two wheels all obey the same laws of physics. ⚠️ Last edited by EN82pg on UTC; edited 1 time
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EN82pg wrote: You don't do this on a scoot?? What the hell are YOU riding??? I do it on a scoot but from the tone of the person asking the question it seems she doesn't. Maybe she can come in and explain countersteer. Not to mention no, I don't downshift on a modern scooter (do sometimes on my vintage) and I also don't look to get that scooter from 70 to 90 in a hairy situation, but it's also more likely that on a scooter I'm in the right lane, instead of in the middle or left, which also gives me an out (emergency lane) BECAUSE I know I don't have the power to tap into to get out of the sitch. But since you asked I've got a 90+ mph vintage P200, a 120+ mph 73 RD 350 2-stroke, and currently a 1000cc Ducati I have no idea how fast it goes. Any more questions? Hey you guys can go ahead and tell someone to "go for it" and that learning to shift is "easy" when it's pretty clear the OP doesn't know much about motorcycles or the principles of riding them. You can also attend the funeral. I would never and I never have recommended anyone get anything over a 250cc motorcycle for their first street bike. There's too much to learn to have to learn it on something that can get from 0-60 in a couple of seconds. 250cc first, ride it for 5000 miles then upgrade. Period. Anyone who doesn't have the patience for that and want to learn the I will not recommend they get a motorcycle - plain and simple.
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The 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, Now there's a bike.
The 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe, Now there's a bike. Tough choice though...Which one...Hmmmm... |
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That bonneville se is very easy motorcycle to ride. Shifts smoothly and has a flat torque curve. Handlebars are nicely positioned and seating is scooterlike. It'll handle highway speeds no problem and easier than a scooter since the engine is more flexible between 70-90. It is around 900 cc but air cooled so comparable to a harley 883 sportster and I bet a 250 cc 2009-09 ninja-ette would easily outperform it. Just take our time learning to shift, the principles are the same as a car and you already ride a scooter so steering and road awareness are the same.
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CORSA IFP wrote: EN82pg wrote: You don't do this on a scoot?? What the hell are YOU riding??? I do it on a scoot but from the tone of the person asking the question it seems she doesn't. Maybe she can come in and explain countersteer. ... Hey you guys can go ahead and tell someone to "go for it" and that learning to shift is "easy" when it's pretty clear the OP doesn't know much about motorcycles or the principles of riding them. I do know what counter-steering is and I've got better things to do than try to explain something I do by feel and fairly frequently So, do I take it correctly that, in your opinion, a lot of GT200 riding and taking the Advanced MSF Class is NOT enough riding experience for this particular bike? Or is this a "she's just a girl, she has no business on a motorcycle" type of thing? |
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CORSA IFP wrote: EN82pg wrote: You don't do this on a scoot?? What the hell are YOU riding??? I do it on a scoot but from the tone of the person asking the question it seems she doesn't. Maybe she can come in and explain countersteer. Not to mention no, I don't downshift on a modern scooter (do sometimes on my vintage) and I also don't look to get that scooter from 70 to 90 in a hairy situation, but it's also more likely that on a scooter I'm in the right lane, instead of in the middle or left, which also gives me an out (emergency lane) BECAUSE I know I don't have the power to tap into to get out of the sitch. But since you asked I've got a 90+ mph vintage P200, a 120+ mph 73 RD 350 2-stroke, and currently a 1000cc Ducati I have no idea how fast it goes. Any more questions? Hey you guys can go ahead and tell someone to "go for it" and that learning to shift is "easy" when it's pretty clear the OP doesn't know much about motorcycles or the principles of riding them. You can also attend the funeral. I would never and I never have recommended anyone get anything over a 250cc motorcycle for their first street bike. There's too much to learn to have to learn it on something that can get from 0-60 in a couple of seconds. 250cc first, ride it for 5000 miles then upgrade. Period. Anyone who doesn't have the patience for that and want to learn the I will not recommend they get a motorcycle - plain and simple. I have ridden motorcycles most of my life, around 48 years, started at 16. Had a James, war surplus Enfield, Ariel "square four" and several Hondas over the years. Downgraded (no offence) to T&G due to a medical problem. As with ANY vehicle, especially a PTW, you have to learn by doing. Size has not a lot to do with it. If you start on a 1150cc Harley, that is what you become accustomed to. If you start on a 50cc Vespa, well----- |
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L from Jersey wrote: So, do I take it correctly that, in your opinion, a lot of GT200 riding and taking the Advanced MSF Class is NOT enough riding experience for this particular bike? Or is this a "she's just a girl, she has no business on a motorcycle" type of thing? If you are the atypical scooterist (and I don't know you) and you get that thing out and ride it balls out (like Bobo and others and, yes, Lil' Hitler) then yes that may be enough. Sorry if I was set off by your words of looking for something "easy." I don't know you and when reading you like it because it is cute, and you want to know if shifting is easy, well it immediately makes me think you have no business being on a bike, hell much less a scooter. Now you've explained yourself a bit I can as well: A motorcycle is vastly different than a scooter despite obeying, essentially, the same laws of physics. It's harder to maneuver, it's not as flickable, and it is generally more powerful (both in the motor and in the brakes) and takes more strength. I switch between my Scooter, my RD and my Ducati regularly - the Duc will outperform both other bikes (and most anything on the road) but everytime I get on it I am surprised at the difference in it and the others - especially the power curve, the strength it takes to countersteer, and even more so the braking. I think the MSF courses are good, but they aren't great. Too many people pass them and, as a result, too many people get dead. But an advanced course combined with getting your scooter out on interstates, busy streets, riding in all kinds of weather to include rain, heat, snow, ice, etc combined with a full and functional ability to modulate a clutch and shift AND be able to pick that thing up off the road if you ever drop it, then the Bonneville is a good starter bike. It's a bit heavy but the power curve is able to be handled well and isn't likely to get you into TOO much trouble, but it's a hell of a lot more torquier than your 200 that's for certain and the brakes will get you in a lot worse trouble, too. If you took a MSF and ride on sunny days around town and are afraid to get into traffic or the interstate on your GT then my previous advice stands. Stay away from motorcycles. If you ride a lot and are comfortable doing so, I still make the following: Get a 250 cc Rebel and ride the piss out of it. You can most likely sell it for what you paid for it. Next year get your big girl bike. You'll also be a lot less likely to dump that Triumph after you fart around on a used Rebel 250, too. Do they require people to lay a motorcycle down on its side and pick it up in the MSF? They sure should. ⚠️ Last edited by CORSA IFP on UTC; edited 1 time
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CORSA IFP wrote: I do it on a scoot but from the tone of the person asking the question it seems she doesn't. |
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Big Foot wrote: The 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, Now there's a bike. The 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe, Now there's a bike. Tough choice though...Which one...Hmmmm... I sat on one at Dave's shop in Sherman Oaks. Damn is that thing beautiful. I'd pick it before a Monster as a first bike. |
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louisq wrote: CORSA IFP wrote: I do it on a scoot but from the tone of the person asking the question it seems she doesn't. She used "cute" and "easy." If you want to make a suggestion to go ahead and purchase a death machine, which is what they are, based on someone looking for something cute and easy - go ahead. As I said, you can go to the funeral. I prefer to issue a lot of caution especially since I've known a number of people who have gotten dead because they didn't fully respect and want to learn how to ride. She has since explained she has more experience, and I have since offered different advice. Your post was nothing other than an exercise in typing.
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L from Jersey wrote: GuzziGuzzi wrote: the stock seat is not at all comfortable. IMHO Bonnies are nice bikes. that you're talking about? I don't find anything hard about riding bikes or scooters or driving manual cars or riding geared bicycles. There is nothing to shifting, 10 minutes in a parking lot and you should be golden. BUT taking the MSF rider course is a much better idea. They'll teach you to shift and use the clutch properly. |
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GuzziGuzzi wrote: I don't find anything hard about riding bikes or scooters or driving manual cars or riding geared bicycles. There is nothing to shifting, 10 minutes in a parking lot and you should be golden. BUT taking the MSF rider course is a much better idea. They'll teach you to shift and use the clutch properly. Can you take your motorcycle from 5th gear at 100 mph to 2d gear at 30 mph in 2 seconds and lock the rear wheel and slide it around a corner? Or, alternately, can you take it from 5th at 100 mph to 3d and match the revs exactly in 2 seconds so you DON'T slide it around the corner because you don't need to? If you learned that in 10 minutes then my hats off to you. |
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Hey Mike, are you off work today or something?
I mean, you must be bored if you're wading into the nausea-inducing Modern side to pick a fight. |
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jess wrote: Hey Mike, are you off work today or something? I mean, you must be bored if you're wading into the nausea-inducing Modern side to pick a fight. Hey, your forum, if you are fine with people saying "go for it" like riding a 500cc motorcycle is the same as walking to the store or picking out a new shirt, that's your choice. |
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CORSA IFP wrote: GuzziGuzzi wrote: I don't find anything hard about riding bikes or scooters or driving manual cars or riding geared bicycles. There is nothing to shifting, 10 minutes in a parking lot and you should be golden. BUT taking the MSF rider course is a much better idea. They'll teach you to shift and use the clutch properly. Can you take your motorcycle from 5th gear at 100 mph to 2d gear at 30 mph in 2 seconds and lock the rear wheel and slide it around a corner? Or, alternately, can you take it from 5th at 100 mph to 3d and match the revs exactly in 2 seconds so you DON'T slide it around the corner because you don't need to? If you learned that in 10 minutes then my hats off to you. That's something you get used to with experience. And of course, the trasher you're riding. |
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jess wrote: Hey Mike, are you off work today or something? I mean, you must be bored if you're wading into the nausea-inducing Modern side to pick a fight. Please, go find something else to do. We came here for fun and knowledge. |
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CORSA IFP wrote: Hey, your forum, if you are fine with people saying "go for it" like riding a 500cc motorcycle is the same as walking to the store or picking out a new shirt, that's your choice. So which is it? You can't have it both ways. |
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