Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Need honest unbiased opinions

Ok my dad called me up today and informed be he is real close to buying a Triumph America. He went and test drove one today and asked me if I could find out honest, handson info about one. So i did a google and found this site. The dealer is asking 7900 for a 2006. So please give me any info and honest feedback.

this bike is worth every money to be honest

It is an absolutley awesome bike. Extremely reliable and great to ride. It is a cruiser that can handle like a sportbike. The weight distribution on the America and the Speedmaster is almost perfect to get the bike to do any kind of riding you want. Even though the motor is only 790ccs, it has plenty of torque and power. If your dad decides to drag race a harley sportster (either the 883 or the 1200) he wil blow him away (I know from experience). The price is right too. That is Triumph's sticker price.

Soren

One more thing that is very important. The ergonomics of both the Speedmaster and America are terrific. The difference between the two are how comfortable you are with your hands closer or farther apart. The forward pegs are just right and leave you in a very natural position. You can ride that bike all day and feel very good when you get off.

Another thing about the power, there is no problem cruising at 80+ mph. These bikes are strong and built to ride, ride hard, ride long, and ride all day.

Last summer one of the guys here (Speedracer) he with his wife on the back of the bike, rode all the way from Portland, Oregon to Sturgis. I am not sure how many miles that is, but it is a very long ways and they didnt have a single complaint about the bike.

Soren

I did a count just for fun a while back. Have owned 22 motorcycles from dirt bike to Road King and everything in between.

Depends on what he wants it for.

It has a chain and is a P-twin vs. a shaft and V-twin. Chains need maintenance shafts are sealed units and do not. Chains make noise shafts don't and our bikes vibrate a bit more than a V-twin.

The Triumph Bonneville America has a motor that is like granite, you can't break it. It performs like no other bike out there, the center of gravity is perfect and it simply looks great. The Speedmaster is the same but a bit more torgue and a bit less top end with drag type bars.

If he wants a small cruiser that is eye catching and runs well Triumph would be a good choice.

I have no buyers remorse about my bike. Would buy it again tomarrow. It is in a class of its own.

He will not be sorry. The only thing that I can think of to be a negative about our bikes is this. For some reason they do not hold value as used. There are great values to be found out there on used TBA's. I bought mine in 03 for about the same price. By the time the dealer adds on tax and shipping, the price is close to 9000 or more. A used one can be had for less than I still owe on my loan now. It is sure nice to have a new one though, the new bike grin is much wider. TR

Apart from Grzeg, I notice all the replies are from our brothers across the pond, and they are right, you can ride it all day. What they can't say is how great it handles on our roads. I bought mine last April, going back to crusiers after 20yrs. Triumph have really hit the mark, a crusier that is just at home on the motorways or country lanes!!! It is a wonderful machine. The only other thing you really need to think about is - Do you need one as well, cause you will lose your dad if he gets one!!!!

Paul

Not sure where you are located but for a comparison I noticed in Cycle Trader, Triumph of Chattanooga Tn. is offering new 06 Americas for $6983 and they dont charge any additional fees- freight set-up etc. BTW- great choice!

Oh and forgot to say HAGGLE, I got £500 pound off mine, plus alarm, sissy bar and 20% off exhausts. Then give him this site address. Always good to have someone else along on rides!!!

Check out the photoposts to see the wide range of options for this bike. You can bob it, cruise it, tour it, or strip it naked. The only drawback is you cannot get a blue one new!

It sure doesn't take much to get this hornets nest stirred up about one of our favorite topics, does it. Just make sure your dad is computer literate enough to contribute on this site, and buy two of them. Can not go wrong!!!!!!!! TR

like saxtron i have owned many bikes in my life, and like everyone else here has said, he wont be sorry!!! if he has never ridden a day in his life, he will find it as being a great bike, likewise if he has been rideing for yrs, he will love it!!! it is most comfortable, it is reliable, its a old marquee with a great heritage that gets attention wherever it go's (and sometimes that can be a drawback to someone getting this bike hahahahaha) i go to bike nites and gatherings (includeing parking lots and red lights) of all kinds and someone always want to talk to me about my Triumph. i have a 72 and now a 2002 (both Triumph's) both will be in my life untill i die. i cant remember all the other bikes i have owned, thats how irrelivent they were h.d.s to suyahokaw's... gone!! but i will keep my Triump's!!!! just be sure and let him know about this site so he can get all the info about how to tune it for max performance and hey anything else he wants to know about hahahahahahaha like others have said, if you dont get one also, you may not see much of him for awhile hahahahha this bike is VERY addictive, really, i aint kidden, its like A DAM DRUG!!!! ONCE YOU RIDE IT you have to ride it again and again and you find that you cant stop!!!!! maybe we need a clinic hahahahaha all kidding aside, trully, this bike has more character than anything out there today...bar none!!!!

oh...and where ya at????

Doubt you will find many unbiased opinions at this site, we're all enthusiast owners and our America/Speedmasters are one of our passions. If your dad wants a unique bike, tell him to go for it, either version.

As far as the basic engine goes, the motor is pretty much bulletproof. In almost 3 years of being on ba.com, I've never heard of anybody throwing a rod, or blowing up a transmission.

Well there are some things you have to put up with, but it's not as bad as it used to be back when these bikes first came out. If your Dad is one of those people who wants 50 different seat options, or wants to be able to pick up a catalog and order just about anything he wants aftermarket wise for his bike like you can do with Harleys or any of the Japanese cruisers, then he'll be disappointed with an America.

But thanks to people around here who took a chance, or just a tape measure, there's plenty of accessories that are made for other bikes but fit on ours. So if he does decide to buy it, tell him to hold off on those inadequate overpriced Triumph saddlebags, because there's better options out there. Same goes for windshields too. Tell him to look at newspeedmaster.com to see what Brent has to offer, because nearly all of us like to personalize our bikes in some way.

Part of owning a Triumph is standing out from the rest of the crowd, and unique doesn't come in a catalog.

The feeling of owning and riding this bike cannot be easily explained. I still cannot believe that I have one. It rides and handles very well and is a breed of it's own making. Oldest on going motorcycle company in the world speaks for itself. Your Dad will certainly not regreat buying one and we are all here to back that up.

BikerT

These bikes should! be an investment. Damnn cheap today ...

New bikes are great, but as mentioned, re-sale is low. You can find a GREAT deal on used ones with little to no miles on eBay and different traders. Do not be afraid of these bikes used.

I bought new because I was afraid of a used one because I didn't have any experience to pull from with Triumph except their past. Two months after buying mine I wouldn't hessitate buying used. (I have 11,000 pain free miles on mine and I bought it in Aug of 04)

It is the best bike I have owned. I love riding it SOOOO much I have gone on two (slow) rides down a snow covered road this week because I can't wait for spring. Pychotic? maybe, but I never felt compelled to do that with any other bike I have owned in the past 30 years!

Un-biased? I was not "born into" the Triumph family, nor did I grow up with them as some here have. I was converted by look and heritage, then became loyal after I rode it. You won't go wrong.

Well there is one problem with the bike, it will end any shot of you getting your inheritance. Yup he too will become a aftermarket junkie. Now you will have to watch for the signs . Small package from Texas is the biggest danger signal. Next thing you know .... well lets just say when I bought mine I said it didnt need a thing 4 billion dollars later it still needs 'JUST ONE MORE THING". Tell him you cannot find more fun, or a get more attention then on a Bonneville America. It trulys is a classic on wheels.And last he then can hang with us, he will not meet a better bunch of people

I took my 02 america on a vacation this past summer. 8,000 miles in 6-1/2 weeks and other changing oil every 3,000 miles and adjusting the chain it rode like a dream. Even loaded with gear.It really is a great buy and the Ladies and gents on this site make it all the better

Both the America and the Speedmaster are great bikes. I would however suggest he has a look at both before he decides on what he wants. Here is a photo of my Speedmaster with the combo seat and large saddle bags. I have also changed the pipes as this is a must on these bikes if you want them to have the correct sound. I have more photos in my album link below on various stages of change from standard seat and Triumph standard saddle bags. Maybe you might want to check this out to see what types of looks you can achieve with different accessories.

PS. Make sure he gets a Red one they are much faster than the Blue ones

Well thanks for the replies, we are off to buy one.

Got rear-ended on my 05 America on Monday, minor damage, but will require a new rear fender and tail light assy. Service support for theses bikes are dismal in the Atlanta area, as Triumph of Atlanta did'nt even have anyone in the service department, I was told "Uh, ya know what, there's something going on in the service department today, can we call you back?" Which of course never happened. They (Triumph of Atlanta or Freewheelin in Douglasville) can't seem to give me any idea when they can get around to replacing my fender. If you need your bike serviced, better count on a month or two....

Had mine for 4 years next month with over 16,000 miles. It is the best all-round midsize cruiser out there. It handles like a sport bike but then it can be outfitted like a touring bike and driven cross country. The bounus is it doesn't cost $18,000-$20,000 like a big Hardley twin but you still have the class and tradition of a British Twin. Your dad would not go wrong if he buys the bike.

You know, if I were in marketing, I would plant a question like this on a site like this every once in a while for a little free research!

I hope he/they took advantage of the new purchase promotion from Triumph. $500 in free stuff for every America/Speedie/Thruxton purchase before June 30.

Ryan

Post us soon and let us know if we steered your pop wrong. Like I said, there is nothing like a new bike smile. TR

"a. That is list price he should try to haggle if they won't budge on price have them toss in some chrome or bags or something!"

Always some dude from the Granite State try score some free bags!

Sometimes you Boston people aughta try something different that eating baked beans and burping out of the wrong orafice. Eating quahogs doesn't count either. TR