Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Thinking about purchasing a speedmaster or america

I'd like to start by saying that I've been hangin around this website for about a month now, and I've seen alot of awsome bikes.
It's these bikes that have clinched my decision on buying a Triumph. All my friends have Harley Davidsons and nothing about then appeal to me. My only concern about the Triumph is this. Will I be able to keep up with the bigger bikes on longer interstate speed road trips(with or without a passanger)? If I can keep up how high will my RPM's be? I dont what drive down the interstate and feel like the bike is about to vibrate apart due to really high RPM's.
Any feedback is appreciated, and thanks to all the members of this site for the awsome galleries!!
jvanbeek

These bikes don't vibrate, smooth as silk. My Harley friends know my bike is great, some will even admit it! Highway speeds have me at around 4600 rpms, 3000 less than redline.

You have nothing to wory about. These bikes can hang with any big twin cruising the highway.

cruising freeway 75-85 not a problem with or without passneger. Not as comfy stock as the heavy wieghts.You will feel the road more. i'm on an 06 America 790 no tach so cant tell ya rpms. Lot of guys on site with much more hyway experience, i'm sure someone will be of more help to you than this.

You will not be the one having trouble keeping up. I have an '03 America and an '07 Night train. I find the America much more comfortable when the speedometer gets into the triple digit area and it will run all day in the 70 - 90 MPH range with no problems. The only problem you will have is getting away when you stop for gas and everyone ignores the Harleys and gather around telling you about the one they had "just like that" way back when.
Because they use balance shafts in the engine, there is no significant vibration at any speed. When you stop next to a Dynaglide with its rubber mounted engine flopping around all over the place, you will have to look at the warning lights to see if your Triumph is still running. Yes, they really are that smooth.

I ride with a Harley and a BMW ~~ and I have never had a problem keeping up. Never.

I dont understand why people worry about keeping up with harley's. My wifes ex has a dyna superglide, and my 1970 yamaha CS3 (200 2stroke twin) kept up with him no problem. Of course the fact that the yamaha weighed about 1/4 that of the harley probably had nothing to do with that.

Yes, your triumph will keep up no problem!

I ride with Harley riders all the time and there is no issues. When we stop the only bike that draws attention is my America.

I haven't ridden with many other bikes yet, Harleys or otherwise, but i've never felt any vibration whatsoever.
It hits highway speeds quickly and feels comfortable while sustaining them.

She'll hang. Also you will always have the having the prettiest girl at the dance feeling when you are out with your Harley buddies. My Sadie always get the most attention. If you want to get your H.P. and torque jones on you can always big bore it. There won't be a Harley big twin that will be able to hang with you.

I run highway speeds 80 mph = or - for long distances with no problem and little or no vibration. I also can pull away from my friends Night Train with his big bore and 6 speed trand and dyno tune under the seat and all I have is open pipes and Freak with rejetted carbs.Granted I don't crush him but I can slowly pull away and I make his bike look rediculous in the twisties. So I would say add that to the other responses and it's a non-issue.Never had a problem with mine or Wendys bikes yet either. We both have 04s with the 790 engine (I think the better engine due to the cams only)mine a Speedmaster and hers an America.

No problem. I ride with some Yamaha FJR's and I can kinda sorta keep up with them... but they have 145 hp.

No problem at all with the Harleys. My 06 Speedy likes to cruise around 75-85..but she ain't really broken in yet... only 3000 miles.
Same cruising speed as my Harley Softail Deuce (very little vibration), and that's just getting nicely broke in...only 30,000 miles.

The only time my Triumph vibrates is when the carbs need synced. So far only once at the 500 miles checkup. Otherwise, nice and smooth.
I like the SpeedMaster cuase it has a tach. When I'm running with the Harleys I can't hear the engine to shift gears, even with my "off road" pipes...
Mary

Harleys get out on the highways? Ya mean farther than the next tavern?! Believe me, you'll have no trouble hangin with a Hardly. Last summer, on our first trip around Iowa, we did a lot of interstate. Posted 70, every body doing 85 or more. I'm an average sized guy and my wife is a big girl. No problem doing 85+, two up, for as long as I wanted. And at the end of the ride, you'll laugh (quietly) as people walk by your friends bikes to oggle and talk to you about yours. Really. This happens.

How fast do you want to go?
A Speedy or America will run 100mph all day long.
Between the dual counterbalancers and the 270 degree crank,vibration is not an issue.
This is the first bike I've ever owned where the mirrors are always clear.
I picked the Speedmaster because of the twin discs in front, but you can't go wrong with either.

No problem running at high speeds on the slab. We did it 2-up and a full load for hours. Your RPMs will be around 5,000 compared to a v-twin at under 3,000 but no real vibration, more like a buzz. You might miss the weight stability and low-end torque of a v-twin but you'll be ok. A 6th gear would be nice but rumor has it the new Mystery Cruiser will have that.

And for a down under [Kiwi] point of view it's the same, no problem keepin up... Twisties are the best... you won't regret the decision to buy...

I have an 03 SpeedMaster with 33,000+ miles, freak, pipes, and jets. It will embarrass a Harley unless he has added expensive screaming eagle mods. If you want to lower the revs at highway speeds go with a 18 tooth front sprocket, I stay around 3000 at 70MPH. BTW you do not have the option to change ratios with the Harley.

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Thinking about purchasing a speedmaster or america

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Oh dear. Theres your first mistake. Dont think, DO.

You will not regret it, No problems on the highways, and in the twisties Bye Bye Harley.

I own a beautiful Fat Boy as well as an equally beautiful Speedmaster, amongst others. I can say,without question, the Triumph hangs with the Harley all day long. No extra vibes or RPMs. Go ahead and buy one, you'll be very happy, especially at about half the price as a Harley and all the bike!

A slight aside...

I've seen the word "freak" quite a bit lately. What is it (in motorcycle terms)?

The freak is a specific product offered by NewSpeedmaster.com but the word has been muddied up a bit to refer to anything that alters or eliminates the stock airbox to allow for "pod" filters and therefore better performance.

I have a 05 America w/ thunder bike pipes, re jetted carbs and all I can say is Fun/Grin factor is off the scale! You on a Triumph on a sunny day on some back roads the smell of spring in the air, man, just you , the road, It's heaven. Not to mention the looks you get from everyone who See's it. Man does life get any better!!!

I ride with nothing but Harleys and ride to lots of Harley hangouts. I'm the only non HD in a group of 12 that travel on trips and ride weekends together. My America does bother them because it gets attention EVERYWHERE we go and no one cares or spends any time looking at their bikes. There's a huge hangout we ride to on Sundays that's usually about 90% HDs. My bike usually gets more attention than the Boss Hoss bikes that show up. Only the choppers get as much attention.

As far as keeping up, even before the BB kit, I not only had no trouble keeping up, at certain speeds I could leave them. Since the BB, they don't tempt or test me anymore. Unless there's some significant work done on the HDs I know, they could have trouble keeping up with me.