Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Long Distance Run Around

Ok & hey to all. New to the forum but not to riding as I have over 40 years in the saddle. Road my share of early 60's & 70's Trumpet & Beezers then got hooked on Guzzis. Still have 2 of them & ride regular but like me they are gettin old & wore out: one is 37 & the other 34 and I'm pushin 60.

What I would like to hear about is anybody who has put some serious miles on the Bonnevilles because after 30 years of Guzzis I think I want to try something new.
What's the longest ride you have taken?
What is the most common failed parts?, etc.

I don't care about hiway cruisin as I prefer backroads even when doing the long distance run around. I do like to ride for long periods of time at 75/80 mph(I've got a 300 mile bladder that drives other riders nuts). The Guzzi's have 6 gal tanks and go about 300 miles on a tank, I've gone out on a Sunday and had to fill up and been mostly empty when I got back to the house. Anybody else ride like that?
I would really appreciate any feedback as I am ready to buy new and honestly the new Guzzis just don't do it for me. I considered the Harley Nightster but I really like to lean without wobbling so it's a new Bonny or fix the old Guzzis again.
How about some feedback?
Thanks, Trout

Longest ride is going to be Bedouin, or Thomwill, or Moe. Coast to coast.

CCRider at NewBonneville Delphi forum has well over 100,000 miles on his 2002 Bonneville with hardly any problems. The Bonneville has pretty much the same engine as the America or Speedy, well except for the timing.

A tank of fuel will only take you about 125 mile, but hey! two hrs on the highway and it's about time to stretch the legs.

Guzzis are cool, but they're not Brit Iron, Chio baby.

Not really long like I used to do on my old Triumph but I have ridden from north east PA to Florida and from here to Laconia NH, Virginia a couple times, among some others and neither of our 04s skipped a beat even in the driving rain or blistering heat, and I do mean blistering! We are headed to the Canada side of Niagra Falls end of July if the plans come together.

Several folks here have 500-800 mile day stories to tell. The America is a capable tourer, esp. if set up for it. I have a bigger bike for two up touring, but would not hesitate to head back out cross country on my 2007 America.

Just waiting for someone to dare me.

Anybody?

Bring it.

Nice to hear another Guzzisti on the board. I think the America will get you what you want, but not that 300 mile range. 150 miles on slab, 130 on lesser roads.

I ride 300 to 500 miles at a time often, that isn't even a very long ride to me on my SM or Wendy on her BA.That's just a Saturday putt.

The OL had a nightster for a while. At least at that time, there were no oversize tanks available that would fit and it went about half as far between fills as my America. BTW, my America is one of the older ones with the smaller tank.

300-500 miles a day is a breeze on these bikes, I have done over 1000 in a shot on my America. Range is limited in the tank, 120-140 miles is about all you can expect out of a bike with carbs. But really one tank of gas is just getting warmed up, or a relaxing ride after a day on the job just to remind you what all the hassle of work is for.

I went from Des Moines to Los Angeles & San Diego last fall on a work related trip. I sort of took the long way. About 2,400 miles in 3 days on the way out, 2,300 miles on the way back. I learned a few things, DON'T buy an aluminum sprocket. It can go from showing a little wear to no teeth between San Diego and Winslow Arizona. (Thanks again Fast Eddy.) I've never gone more than 970 miles in a day but I have 56,000 miles on the 2003 TBA in seven years. That's living in Iowa and having four months of really crummy riding weather. The bike has never failed me (Stupid sprocket excepted.)

I regularly take 600 to 750 mile day trips. I usually go onto reserve between 145 to 150 miles running 70 to 75 mph and assume another 20 miles after that. So far so good, never had to push the bike or hitch hike.

As for handling, we won't keep up with the sport bikes if they push too hard but the tourers won't leave us and other cruisers can't keep up.

An EFI America will get you at least 150 miles before reserve on a trip. Plus another 40 miles on reserve. I get 150 miles doing short commuting and I'm an aggressive rider.

Love the 'Long Distance Run Around' and also 'Roundabout'.

I regularly do 300 to 400 mile rides. Me and the wife went from Iowa to Key West two years ago, loaded down. Absolutely no problem.

There ya go Eric, straight from Thanassis, a man who's ridden his Triumph all over the continent of Europe, and points beyond.

Btw Eric, Thanassis here is not ONLY quite the motorcycle world traveler, but on his off-hours occasionally substitutes for that guy who does all those Dos Equis beer TV commercials...yep, and just like that guy:

If he we’re to give you directions, you would never get lost, and you’d arrive at least 5 minutes early. AND, he once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels.

Yep, you guessed it...Thanassis here is the OTHER "Most Interesting Man in the World".

(...and as they BOTH are known to occasionally advise..."Stay thirsty, my friends!")

Howdy!

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...What I would like to hear about is anybody who has put some serious miles on the Bonnevilles because after 30 years of Guzzis I think I want to try something new.
What's the longest ride you have taken?
What is the most common failed parts?, etc.

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Longest ride was 7,500 miles last September, solo. Like you I prefer backroads. Kinda the point of cross country riding eh? Seeing things cagers only dream of. Many times I have ridden from Florida up to the finger lakes of New York State. New Hampshire too.

The failed parts on that New York via Montana trip was, uh, I had my clutch cable too tight. Noticed that in Hot Springs Arkansas. Replaced the clutch a month ago or so btw at 70,000 miles.

One thing about riding these ‘look for fuel at 130 miles on the trip odometer” bikes is that long distance riding on rural roads yield substantially higher mph averages than riding to work or around town. Try 46 vs 40. That means reserve is closer to 150 miles on the trip odometer. This limited range of 150 miles till reserve really only comes into play in the SW deserts and the midwest and Western states. Heck, just say West of the Mississippi River! When rolling slabs finding gas is easy. Rolling rural the zumo 450 is worth its weight in silver. Okay maybe gold!

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The Guzzi's have 6 gal tanks and go about 300 miles on a tank, I've gone out on a Sunday and had to fill up and been mostly empty when I got back to the house. Anybody else ride like that?

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Yes Sir. Tank-to-tank is a main stay of solo riding. When In groups and after a long day riding solo, the century mark is a nice time to stop and stretch. Now in the deserts, or the howling winds, 75 miles is more like it. Nothing worse than a hot wind than riding into a hot wind when the temps are in the 100s.

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I would really appreciate any feedback as I am ready to buy new and honestly the new Guzzis just don't do it for me. I considered the Harley Nightster but I really like to lean without wobbling so it's a new Bonny or fix the old Guzzis again.

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Some words on buying new. No spokes. No tank indents. No classic looks. These motors are good for 100 grand easy. Why not consider buying a used motorsickle with say 15,000 miles give or take 5K? It’ll just be good and broken in by then too.

Having written what I wrote above let me say that the newer models do have two distinct advantages if vanity for nostalgic rides is not paramount. 1. Alloy wheels: Fix flats roadside. 2. Larger fuel tanks for longer rides between fill-ups. That’s about it.

The America is a fine colonial cruiser. The purchase of one is a sure bet for pleasure.

P.S.: Other road related mishaps include the chain guard bolts falling out necessitating the removal and disposal of the guard while en route. The pillion bolt came out once. Grrr. Noticed that at Wattstull Inn in Virginia. A flat battery at the Branch Davidian Compound the second day I owned Cinnamon Girl. (Not really a problem as the dealer in Waco had one charged up and ready to install. ) Humm, Oh Yeah! I tried to do the yute thing once and consequently was looking for a front tire in Jefferson, North Carolina years back.

Picture below was taken in Dublin, GA on my home from the SWTF 2011.

I've ridden from Houston to Georgia the last 3 years. spent one night getting there, rode straight through coming home the first two years, went on to Myrtle Beach this year. Rode 865 miles from MB to Jackson, MS coming home and stopped when the sun got too low and in my eyes.

Yes, you can ride as far and as long as you want to. I hit reserve somewhere between 130 and 150 miles when on the slab, and usually over 150 if backroading. It is speed-relevant.

I've often wondered why I carry any tools.....I can't remember ever needing any away from home, other than the occassional get-off.....

I've put over 73k on my SM in 7 years....hardest decison I may ever make is what, if anything, I might want to replace it with. I keep searching the Triumph model range and for what I use mine for, I think it best suited to my needs still.

" Road my share of early 60's & 70's Trumpet & Beezers then got hooked on Guzzis."

Me too.....though I also made a detour by way of HD's for a few years including sportsters and twin cams before needing to have a bike that's reliable and useable.....hence I bought a new TBA a year back....since put 9k miles on it with absolutely no problems at all and confident I could take it anywhere any time.
Longest single days run was a couple of months back when I put 750 miles on it in a day at high speeds (85-95)on motorways with camping gear on the back.
Only problem was my right heel went numb-because I had it jammed against the footrest mostly (one leg is slightly longer than the other following surgery and anyhow I'm 6ft 4in tall.)
Dont miss my Harleys but do miss the guzzis -dont like the new ones either- so I'm saving my pennies to maybe add a Californai Vintage to the fleet this time next year- though the Triumph definitely stays as my No1 bike-even if I wanted to sell it my wife wouldnt let me-its the most comfortable pillion she's ridden she tells me.
Al

Rode my '08 TBA from Baltimore to Cape Disappointment in Washington state and back. Followed the Lewis & Clark Trail for much of it and included some side-trips. Total: about 7K miles.

Good mileage (47 mpg), didn't burn a drop of oil and the only mechanical problem was the side-stand spring boinged-off while riding over a speedbump on the way back home. Found it and put it back on. Total delay, 11 minutes.