Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Born again rider... hopefully on a Bonnie America?

Hi all,

Just registered and would like to shout out a big hello to everyone owning a Triumph in all corners of the world (in my case, London UK)!!

A few stats, as I think they'll probably help you answer some of my questions further down.... I'm 26, haven't ridden in over 6 years and dying to get back on a bike. My only other bike (please don't laugh) used to be a Yamaha XV250 which I really loved as an entry bike, but I absolutely fell in love with the Bonnie America.

Just to get that out of the way, I'm not one of them 'Let's get a brandnew motorcycle after six years in a car, go straight to the motorway and get killed before the clock even hits 50 miles' sort of person - I've registered for a refresher training course and will take it very easy, probably getting used to riding on a second-hand 500cc Honda or so. But in the long run I'd like to go for the Bonnie since she's a friggin' beauty and a gorgeous piece of Britain on two wheels!

Now, you'll probably be amused to hear that I'm a rather short guy (5'9) and a lightweight at that (9.6st) which worked absolutely fine on the Yamaha (which weighed just 286 pounds - British that is - dry)... Big question is now, will that be alright to handle a Bonnie America? Seat height shouldn't be so much of a problem, but I read the footrests are right at the front. I don't consider myself a total newbie but I really don't fancy falling over at every red light!

So, if you guys are in a similar situation or feel you've got some opinion as to how 'tall' one has to be to ride an America, I'd be grateful for any input. (I hope I didn't come across as a total rookie now )

Cheers, and safe journeys to all of you,

Jay

Welcome aboard! The America shouldn't be any problem for you. I ride around with people about your size, they handle the bike without any trouble at all. Just take it easy at first, practice where there's no traffic.

Hey Lonzo,

Thanks for the quick reply - glad I found this site! (There wasn't much else around for that matter )
Can't wait to do some training lessons... let's hope the notorious British autumn weather will play along!

All the best,
Jay

Welcome aboard Jay.

The America is ridden by a few guys and gals on this site of a similar height and weight as yourself.

Try one out as much as you can.

You'll love it and end up buying it and meeting up with us lot and having a great time and ... well just do it mate.

Keep us up to date with the progress and come and meet us all.

This really is a global family here.

Come on in, the waters fine ....

Jay just go for this bike !!!!!

You should be good to go. Put one of Brent's "thin" seats on it if you need a few inches of ground clearance, or just trim off some foam on the stock seat, there is plenty of extra room under the cover. Welcome!

Heya Jay

Welcome to the club, and let me say you have excellent taste. I'm 41 and I hadn't ridden in about 15 years before I bought my TBA (has it REALLY been that long? Surely it was just yesterday!), however I did have a bit more experience than you, having previously been a motorcycle courier for many years. I'm also a short-a$$ levelling out at 5'8. My experience with getting on the America after a break was that it handles easilly and doesn't feel at all heavy or awkward. The pegs ARE fairly far forward and I found that stretching my legs out to them caused me a pain in the hips after a while but I got around that by having the dealer install footbards before I picked up the bike. With these I regularly ride hundreds of kilometers a day and use my bike EVERY day. In fact I recently returned from a 6 day, 2500km ride with a mate without any drama.

I've since used a friends TBA without the 'boards and it no longer causes me discomfort so I put it down to a lack of practice & unfamiliar exercise, but I'd still recommend the 'boards. I've owned my bike since Jan 04 when I purchased it new, and wouldn't swap it for any other bike currently on the market.

Hey folks,

Once again thanks all - I'm really stunned by the responses! I'll let you know how the training goes and can't wait to go on a few quick tours come spring!

-J

Hey! Welcome!

I'm about 5'9" I think, and really don't know how heavy I am. (If I don't know I can't get paranoid about it.) But take it for a run. I guarentee you'll either love it or hate it. I hope it's the first one....mainly so that if you meet up with us, I won't be the youngest one anymore...!

You won't fall over at lights, unless you've got a really long body and diddy legs. I'm about a 31" inside leg and have no problem reaching the floor. You just have to remember the pegs are not under your arse...

And don't worry we were all new at this at some point... Some of us still don't know what we're doing.

Greetings and welcome Jay. You are in a very similiar position that I was in 3 months ago. I have been off two wheels for 7 years and was dying to get back to two. I looked at Triumphs, as I don't really like Hogs, and focused in on the America. Being 6'2" and 200 lbs I was hesitant that a 790 cc bike would work for me. My concerns were very quickly extinguished as I've had my scoot on the highways around here and topped over 160 km. At a recent meeting of Western RAT in Vancouver a bunch of Guzzi riders were drooling over my scoot and paying it the tribute it deserves. The America handles like a dream and it can move my carcass at a good clip through the mountain passes on the way to Whistler. Like the Reaperwear shirt says " Life is short, eat dessert first" as an America rider myself the America is the sweetest dessert on the Triumph menu. Live to ride and ride to live!

Jay,

I bought my Speedmaster 2 and a bit years ago, having not ridden a bike for over 20 years - my last bike was a Yamaha RD350LC - so after just a 6 year break you should be fine

You've done the sensible thing in getting a refresher course. I did a day's training, but only after I'd had the Speedy about a year! I learnt quite a bit, it was very well worth doing.

In my opinion the Speedy / BA is a very good "born-again" bike. Powerful enough to get out of trouble, but not so powerful that it'll kill you as soon as you open the throttle. Very forgiving in corners if you make a mistake, and very easy to handle.

I've just sold mine, and while I love my new bike, I would have kept the Speedy as well if I could have afforded to. I think I'll be buying another one in a few years time when there are some cheap* old models around.

Enjoy it when you get one

*Anyone who's selling a Speedy - Please don't PM me with details, I mean cheap as in £1500 - £2000 cheap, which means I'm happy to wait and pick up a tatty '03 model in about 2009

I'm a little over 5'6", about 155 lbs. Have had no trouble handling my BA. With short legs, I opted for the foot boards as the forward pegs were a stretch. The boards cured the problem. At 5'9", that shouldn't be a problem for you. I got a Corbin seat and, while pricey, it was a worthwhile investment. Go for the BA, you'll love it.

Yeah who you callin' short? I'm 5'10", I've never thought of myself as close to short! The extra three stone I have on you isn't in the leg-muscles either ( ), but have no problem on the Speedmaster. And I'm a total (well, 4000 miles now) noob with the Speedmaster the first bike I've had above 125cc, no problems there either. The bike could stretch me a lot further, and will I'm sure when I feel competent.. for now it's more than enough.

me...5ft7" with a short leg- you...well you are a giant...good luck with your choice

what I meant to write was 2 short legs

JayS

Go for it. You will not regret it.

Welcome to the club. People from all over the world are on here. Now where are you, North, South, East, West London. Im from Hounslow originally.

Hey,

Thanks again for your overwhelming responses! That little doubt I still had about going for this dream bike has now been brushed off for good

Arsenalguy, Maida Vale here, but currently at the office in Brentford (so just a 5-min ride away from Hounslow)!

I'm originally from Austria, and probably loads of you guys have had the opportunity to go for a cruise through the Alps, but this is something I'm really looking forward to.... There's some awesome routes I can tell you! But I can't wait to go and explore Blighty by bike since I haven't been to many places here (Norfolk - which I'm sure is a cruiser's paradise -, Bristol, Sussex, Birmingham).

What really surprised me after getting back on track with motorcycles/cruisers was that there hardly seems a market for 250cc or even 500cc any more.... or was I not looking hard enough? The smallest cruiser >250cc Yamaha now do seems to be the 650 DragStar. Any particular reason for that? Or is it just in the nature of bikes being developed now with ever more bite in mind?

Cheers,
-J

Great to hear your born again...your in good company..Put the floorboards to it & the heal & toe shifter..you put that on it& you'll really love it..you do that & you'll never go back the other way..I weigh 158lbs & my Speedmaster with America bars is just right for me..I thought the otherday-if there was ever a bike God made for me -this one is it.Your going to love it-Put a 19 tooth primary gear on it & have at it!! ...nice riding to you!

Jay -
Being even shorter - 5/7 and thats not all legs either, but the BA is a perfect fit. I actually like the forward controls, it just takes a bit of getting used to. I have done nothing to alter the height or foot set up. I changed out the bars with mini-apes, but that's cause I have some shoulder problems that the standard wide beach bars just made my arms ache.
Go for it man, you'll love it!!!!
I have about 22,000 miles in 4 years on mine, and hardly any problems. I probably don't ride as hard as some of the guys, but it gets ridden as much as my work allows me the time off and out in the fresh air.
Becky

I hadn't ridden in over twenty years when I bought my America. I rode it off the dealers lot in a downpour thunderstorm (happens alot in Florida!) and haven't regretted one second in the saddle. That was over 9000 miles ago. I spent that first day (a Sunday) at a large open parking lot just getting used to the feel of the bike. I arrived home a few hours later with a grin that just keeps coming back every time I climb onto the bike. I'm willing to bet you'll love the bike too. Have fun!

I'm about the same height and it fits me perfectly. This is my first bike ever and it has worked out well in that regard too. Go for it. Get a black one though because they are scientifically proven to be superior in both speed and reliability. Women are also 75% more attracted to men on black bikes. It's all very scientific. Look it up!

Hey, Jay,

Greetings from the other side of the pond!

About your leg positioning while on your America... do please consider getting floorboards. While you'll have to move your feet forward to operate the controls, you can slide your legs back so your heels hang over the back of the floorboard and that is a very comfortable position.

I'm 5'13" so my positioning is different than yours, but SWMBO is only 5'4" and the 'boards make is easy for her to ride.

Regards & WELCOME!

America was my first bike ever & I love it. I wouldn't waste any time w/a smaller bike. The america handles great!!! It's not like the Sportster which I hear is difficult on newbies because of the high center of gravity

Good luck!!!!

Hi Jay, welcome to the site.. dont worry about being on the short side, i have no problem with my bonnie.. Its like being in the land of the giants when your with martyn, adey and shawn....

Just go for it Jay, and spend some time with the BonnevilleAmerica UK Crew, you will not regret it

Hi folks,

Thanks ever so much for all your input. I'm going down my local Triumph dealer early next week to have a chat, look at some deals for next year, and yeah, to drool!

The floorboard advice really is helpful, thanks a lot you guys.

Have a great weekend on your Bonnies - I'll join ya in a little while

-J

Right now is one of the best times to get a deal from your dealer too. In the spring you will get hosed for full price on anything. Buy now or in the winter, best deals around. You can buy last year's model for a decent savings if you go new too.

Hi Jay,

I'm 5'3" tall and 120 lbs (how is that converted to "st"? lol), 29" inseam....a dainty, delicate flower for sure, and my America is extremely manageable all around. The forward controls are actually my favorite placement on any bike as I get to stretch out my legs.

You'll have no problem....other than never being able to wipe the grin off your face!

Paula

Hi Dinqua,

Yeah I guess I should do that (especially since I prefer the pre-2007 green Bonnie with the spokes), and have saved up quite a bit but it's not enough
I'll just have to go and see what deal they can offer me.

-J

No, 120 lbs in the US is 8st 8lbs over here.

Quote:

---

Let's measure my weight in beauty, spirit, courage and intelligence...then I weigh 15 MOUNTAINS!!!

---

Until we meet, I'll have to take your word for that.

First Welcome aboard, You'll love it here. I only have a 27.5 " inseam and find My America very easy to Ride, no problem at lights on the road. The only problem is rainy days because I can just sit there and look at her.

ATriumphGoddess - 14lbs = 1 stone, so as Adey says 120lbs = 8 stone and 8 lbs, definitely not15 stone

I'll save the weight conversion issues until I plan a trip to England , lol....let's get back to inspiring Jay to pick up his America!

Oh yeah! Bikes!!

Jay, just buy it man!!!

Hey Adey,

I have now not a single doubt that I'll be riding my own pretty Bonnie some day next near, and I'll make sure to stop over somewhere by the Trent too! :-)

-J