Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Member's Rides New 2002 Bonneville America Owner

Hi all, I just purchased a 2002 Bonnie America and couldn't be happier with it. I've been dreaming about this bike for years and finally got the scratch together to get one. Tough thing is I got 1 good day with it before having to winterize it(I'm in Chicago, IL, USA). I guess I should feel lucky as we usually have snow here as of a month ago and we're just getting it now.

Anyways, here's a couple pics, the first thing I did was replace the stock sprocket cover with a chrome one. I also want to replace the rear passenger foot peg hangers with chrome ones, just trying to find a set at a good price. I also noticed when riding it during the day with sunglasses that the indicator lights on the panel on the tank were tough to see. I've seen kits to replace those lights with LED's and it claims to just be a switch of one for the other; does anyone here have any experience with that? I was worried about how that might affect the battery. Thanks for having me and I look forward to spending some time on this forum.

That's a clean looking bike. Welcome to the asylum.

BTW, during winter, it's permissible to sit on the bike in the garage and make Vroom-Vroom noises as long as there's nobody else around.

I got my first bike, 02 America, in July. Congrats. I love mine. How do you like the seat on that one? I have a similar seat but haven't used it yet.

Hi Michael. Welcome to the forums. You bought THE classic colonial criuser! Funny thing ten years passing as the chrome cover you replaced the gfg with is not oem for your 2002 . What a beautiful motorsickle.

The LEDs draw less power than incandescents. Replacing the lamps amount to removing the tank console (three 5mm bolts) lifting up the console enough to unplug the harness and the console is ready for you to remove each rubber tube, one at a time, and peel back the rubber tube much like turning a sock inside out. Do so only enough to reveal the lamp. Replace lamp with LED lamp and unroll the rubber tube and re-install. Careful when seating the tube in the console. You want it perfectly done so the lens won't pop out on you. Then do the other two. The fourth LED is not included (the one for the highbeam) as that would drive you batty. The Neutral is bad enough after dark...

Haha, believe me, just about every night I go out to the garage and spend a few minutes looking at it and wishing it wasn't 18 degrees outside with ice and snow on the ground.

Thanks for the compliments guys. Voltron, as for the seat, although I didn't get much time on it, I really enjoy it. It's really comfortable and although it's not leather, it has a great look. Despite the fact that it isn't necessarily designed as a 2 person seat, there is that piece that comes to a point in the back that someone can squeeze onto and I was able to take a short ride with my girlfriend on the back without a problem.

And absolutely Moe, I love the fact that 10 years on and the sprocket cover off a 2010 still fits my 2002. Thanks for the info on the LED replacement. Yeah, I've taken the console off and removed a bulb to figure out the difficulty level before I ordered the kit and to check out if I could possibly just order the LED's without having to buy a full kit, but the stock bulb doesn't have a specific number on it like most bulbs do and I was having trouble trying to figure out what LED matches with a 12v 1.7w wedge. I also read something about dual-polarized v. mono polarized bulbs or something like that and that the mono-polarized won't work with the turn signal. So I'm a bit skeptical as to just trying to buy LED's without the kit. So I figure I'm just gonna get the kit anyways.

Next on the agenda after that is getting rid of the stock foot peg hangers and replacing them with some chrome ones...

Welcome Michael! You're in the right place for info and ideas about your bike. This is a great community, in fact I know of quite a few members here who have moved on to other bikes, but still frequent this site. Be sure to check out the BA.com Midwest Rally in July (link in my sig). There is also a RAT group that gets together and does some rides, usually out of MCC in Villa Park. Pretty cool guys. www.windycityrats.net
The LED conversion is on my to-do list. A friend of mine who has a speedmaster did it on his bike and I really like how much easier it is to see the idiot lights.
Good luck with the new ride, you're going to love it!

Kaiser, thanks for the info on the local riding group. Glad to know there's a group like that around the Chicagoland area. I will let you know about the 2012 Midwest Rally; sounds like a good time. And thanks for the welcome findlay

Just ordered the LED kit from FastEddy so I'm looking forward to getting that and installing it.

welcome! Nice bike - looks a lot like mine - for now

I've learned a ton here - you will too if you read now and then.

enjoy!

welcome to the group, nice ride you got there.

Welcome and WOW what a clean bike! Congratulations and safe riding.

edmspeed, thanks for the compliment. Are you an Oilers or Flames fan? Not a good answer to that one this season I guess, especially with nugent-hopkins injured.

And thanks lylesdo, I got really lucky that the bike has low miles on it for it's age (only 2600), the previous owners seemed like they took good care of it, and they did a few upgrades before I purchased it. I'm loving the Staintune pipes it has on it. I picked it up down south so it didn't go through much tuff weather I don't think. I'm looking to spruce it up a bit more with some new parts as well and give it my own personality.

ha! we are just looking for another first round draft choice .....its what we do...(Edmonton)

weird, i was told that the 2010 would not fit the older bikes??? good no know, i have a 2006 and i have the older chrome cover, not in love with the stripes, so i may go smooth before sumer. good to know it will fit.

Welcome, really nice bike, enjoy it!

As for your LED console indicator light question, I have 'em in mine (all but the high beam) & like 'em.

Fast Eddy - LED's

ce7871, yeah, it fit like a glove which worked out great. Would took only a few minutes to put on but I was detailing the bike while I had it off so I cleaned the road grime out from around the sprocket and re-oiled my chain while doing so.

b02s4, thanks for the compliment on the bike, I'm gonna enjoy it. I actually just did the LED conversion the other day, looks great too. Big difference and I'm sure once I get it out in the spring I'll appreciate it even more.