Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Ultimately What Made You Decide...

Well this is my story, for years i'd always wanted a yammy virago (my best mate had one in the late eighties) so when i went through my divorce in 2000 i decided thats it, so i found saphire, a '93 750 virago (and she was beautiful), then i added a 650 bandit (for that speed thing that i still had in my bit of a brain that was still 18), but i was not useing both bikes enough to warant haveing two, so i tested the 1200 sportster at my nearest HD dealer, i was so disappointed after so many years of admiration it was hard work and after only 1/2 an hour in the saddle i had sore botty, then by pure chance i stopped at a shop on my way home and outside parked up looking so proud was a red/grey america, i knew they where makeing bikes again but i had never seen america/speedy before, and with a name like america i thought it must have been imported (from the us), so i went searching on line and low and behold there was this new world (i found this site straight after finding out that an america was only 6K gbp), straight to the local dealers, the first time i sat on one i KNEW i had found the ONE AND ONLY. so i sold the virago and the bandit then found her only 30 miles away, not being loved or aprreciated (only 580 miles in 10 months) so i had to save her and set her free, with me holding on for the ride (of my life), i have not stopped smileing since that day, i cannot believe my luck, a beautiful quality ride that is better than the HD and better priced and it is BRITISH, its been so long that britain has produced anything to be proud of, AND I AM PROUD and so so so happy.
I think i've just c*m£, pass me the kleenex please love, thanks.
wayne

notice how we all tell a similer story. its " i knew the minute i sat on her", or the wife said "looks good" or the heritage and didnt want a h.d hahahahaha i took my wife to look at just about every make and she kept saying " naa, does nothin for me" but when i sat on Millie, she just broke out the checkbook and said " ok talk to the man and see what kinda deal were talkin" without skipping a beat, no hesitation. and i knew when i saw the pics and then the minute i sat in the saddle. just an observation as to how similer our stories are as to why we bought this bike and not something else

Now you guys got me all misty eyed and I feel I should "Share" God how I hate that term!!!
In the summer of '02 I saw a picture of a Triumph like I had never seen before. It looked like a ****** motorcycle, handlebars, motor ,seat. No fairings, windsheilds, radios, recliner pillion seats.
I hadn't had a bike since I sold the '79 Yamaha 650 special years before (if you squint hard they both look pretty similar) and the wifey wasn't even remotely ready to hear my tale yet. I cut out a picture of the red one (It's the only one I could find) and stuck it to the fridge. It took her three days to ask why and the pouting period began.
As usual I ended up getting my way and started my hunt. I knew I wanted Black & Silver (heard Red was slow)and found one on E-bay with 500 mi. TOR's and sissy bar & rack (the guy couldn't install them cuz he didn't have any metric wrenches) and bought it for 7 grand.
Since then I have totaled and rebuilt Bonny and we both head off every morning for Cardiac Rehab ( I too have been rebuilt). Not a day goes by that I would change any part of owning a 100th anniversary special edition Triumph Bonneville America (pre-fire) nor will I part with her.
ModelMaker

I forgot what initiated the whole thing for me,shortly before the over heating of my 66 Triumph chopper my friend Tom (demoman) had stopped by with his America and let me take it for a ride. I was impressed liked the look and feel. That is why I went to Hermys with chrome side covers and spoke wheel in my head.

Interesting tales of decision, coercion and determination,. My driver's license is only endorsed for the operation of Triumph twins, guess I'm stuck (in a rut)

jh

Always been a trump man , then down the Island watching the Super Bikes, saw the America on display at the triumph stand and said to the misses I'm having one of them

She said ok..

After owning a BMW K75 for like ten years, I found that I was not riding very much because the bike really wasn't suited to shorter rides. I really liked the Scrambler, but wanted the comfort of a cruiser styled bike. Actually looked at a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 which was really comfortable, but found that half of the parts were made of plastic. Some plastic is OK, but the Kawi was ridiculous, just didn't feel like a quality product. So back at the Triumph dealer looking at the Scrambler, decided to check out the America. Nice and comfortable and by looking on this site and others found that they could be modded to change some of the things I didn't like. So I went for it. Told the dealer to take off the fork shrouds, put on a bonneville sprocket cover, took off the passenger seat. Still want to put the smaller speedmaster front fender on and add a few chrome bits, but overall a great bike.

actually, there is a triumph-dealer just 100 meters from where I live in Oslo. I was there to look at a Ducati but as I just came in the door, there stood the shiny sppedmaster. I was sold right there and then and ended up buying it without eveng looking no more. not regretted it for a second! :D

I nominate this for 2007 Thread Of The Year!

Rode dirt motorcycles in High school, I and most of my friends would dream of having at Norton 750 Commando, some day. Rode a Honda 175 when I was stationed in Korea, Honda CB-500T, while stationed in San Bernardino, CA, 1979. Had not ridden since then. I explored Norton but it's a crotch rocket, HD no way, looked at Honda no thanks. The explored Triumph, first looked at retro line but too much like the motorcycles I rode in the 70's. Then while exploring the Triumph web site looked at TBA, was in right price range. Went to dealer three weeks later had TBA in driveway. Although I was very concerned having not ridden for 27 years. But after driving up and down our dead end street, getting use to tight turns, took her out on the open road. Now 16 months later 18,000 miles, can’t ride enough, but somewhat depressed the riding season will end sometime in November, here in Connecticut.

got given to me as a college graduation gift

Frank

Frank! Wow! I am going back to school! Honey, I just enrolled :-)

I was caught up in the Harley Hype in high school, but Dad always had a thing for British bikes. He ended up buying a 1970 Royal Enfield Interceptor, one nice looking, fast bike.
That's what I learned to ride on. But the tweeking, tickling and kicking got a little old on the old knees, so he sold it off to England to buy a used '03 Caspian Blue America. Easy starting, easy handling, sweet looking ride. I have since sworn off Harleys
Enjoyed every minute on that bike, rain, wind, or sun. Girlfriend had her first ride on the America.
But... !! Hit some gravel on a curve here in June, smacked the guard rail, totalled the front end.
So we sold it off for parts, now Dad has an '04 Speedmaster, and I bought a '98 Speed Triple. Best of both worlds, and we can ride together now. Now, if I can just get Karen to ride again...

In October of 2001 I was riding a Speed Triple but my mate needed something that suited him better then the Italian thing he had. Through a series of circumstanes four of us ended up riding the original America press bikes for the Saddle Soar 1000 miles in 24 hours (Newnan, GA to Daytona for supper, up to S. Carolina and back to Newnan). Coming throug Atlanta that Sunday morning on a emty freeway we where tired but all grining with accomplishment. It took another five years but I was finally able to add the Speedmaster and I haven't looked back!

This Forum!

Of the two, mine had to be a Speedmaster. Read any of the marketing jargon Triumph used when describing the SM in the early brochures and magazine ads.

It HAD to be the SM for me.

Painted a set of tins for a 02 BA, at the time I did not know it came off a Triumph. Long story short the customer was at a bike show not long after and I ran into him.. I fell in love with the lines of the bike. Called Ridge Motorsports on Tuesday at 9am he said he had a left over 05 black on black BA. Gave him the CC # and he brought the bike ot me that night at 9pm. a 200 mile one way trip.

Since then i have had a few other BA a speedy and one legend.. Everytime i buy a Triumph I have to keep my slef from getting attached to it cause it is for resale.

Simple.....My Dad bought an 02. I took one ride on it and started saving my money. Bought an 03 leftover SM in 04.