Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Help and Advice

Brand new lad to your site and have been granted a bike by her in doors(Midlife crisis). I have narrowed the choice to two, the America or a Tiger but i will need to use my wheels for commuting as well as fun. I would appreciate any advice you may have on commuting in traffic on the BA.

Many thanks Karl

Depends on where you are from! I ride 15 miles all highway to work everyday on an America. No problems at all. A lot more comfortable sitting in the cruiser position than reaching for drag bars.
Steve

Thanks Steve for the reply, The answer is 45 miles each way on busy UK roads. I dont want to ride with my hair on fire but does the BA have the grunt to get past traffic?

Thanks Mert

I commute on my 06 speedy virtually everyday that it's not raining when I'm gettin ready to leave for work....
I've got a 25 mile (ea way) thru terrible traffic on highways & or surface streets (the surface streets I take run thru the ghetto) & I have ZERO problems gettin 'round, thru, by or what not....

Thanks FZ25, I have just got it into my head that the America would seem not to be a very practical choice. It would apeer that i am being proven wrong.....I'm glad that i am. What about all that lovely chrome?

I'm commuting over two years every single day a bit town and country roads and motorway never ever had any problem and is more comfy to seat low

I'm like Grzegorz, I use mine every day on busy UK city roads. No it's not practical for it...it's fun!!!!

The chrome, it's a pain at times to keep clean, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks Grzegorz / Gina, No the rain will never stop, not in Bristol it wont!

I am itching to test ride one but have to wait until August to experience the fun. Sorry if these seem to be bone questions, but i am the novice and i guess this is the best place to ask questions rather than from the salesman.

salesman wants sell one and we want you to have one !! and I think bike is practical ...2 year have it 35 k miles done

Oh and Glocs is a big place, which bit are you in???

You have a lot of courage there Mert! The traffic I deal with here is nothing compared to what you drive in.
I used to drive from West Haven to Stratford(1980) evryday in a car and it scared me to death!

Fairford near Cirencester, starting a daily commute down to Tidworth. Not much sun here either.

Where the airshow is. That's all I know about that neck of glous. to be

I just live in Bristol... from Nottingham really.

[goes off to find a map.]

Ah...that should be a fun commute! Get the America. It'll love those roads! If you are gonna carry some stuff for work DON'T GET THE TRUIMPH PANNIERS!!! They are not very big. Keep an eye on eBay. You never know what you might see.

I commute 30 miles a day on an America (rain or shine, hot or cold) and have taken it on several rides of many thousand miles across the US and Canada.
I would suggest you ride each before making a decision. The America is a laid-back comfortable ride, the Tiger more upright. The Tiger will give you a better view above traffic, and if you're tall, the Tiger may be a better ergonomic fit. Also, the Tiger will easily outrun the America and all other things being equal, should go a bit longer between gas stops. They are totally different machines, for different purposes, although both can be made to do anything.

Ride each and make an informed decision.
And have fun riding!

I have an 06 Tiger and an 02 BA. Go with the TIGER. FUN, FAST, and PRETTY. I stated in another thread that it is like a thoroughbred vs a beast.

I commute on my SM 80+ miles a day. While I think there are better commuting bikes I don't mind the SM. As far as traffic, ever been to LI?
I personally think sitting higher is way better for a stop and go commute that requires constantly touching the tarmac and seeing around all the cages. I guess being my first cruiser I'm actually still not totally use to the controls. If I knew I was going to commute and only have one bike I would get the tiger. Better riding position than a cruiser, more power, better handling. It just does not have the character of the SM or BA. My biggest complaint is dirt. The SM gets dirty too fast, I want a commuter I don't have to wash and polish all the time.
I road the new tiger a couple of months ago while shopping for a commuter bike. Just a few minute ride but I was very impressed.

I do at least 104 miles every day (52 miles each way) on my speedy and I love it. Gotta agree with brian here I keep my speed up usually and it has plenty of grunt. I've seen 120 mph but usually I keep it between 85 and 95.

Thank you all very much for your comments, i as suggested need to test ride these bikes. For me there is only one winner when it comes to looks....The BA.

Karl

There is no public road in this country other than the Bonneville salt flats where my America won't easily break the speed limit. The America and Speedmaster are very well behaved and will do whatever is asked of them while the Tiger can, at times, be a bit less than tame. I don't think the Tiger will deliver near the fuel economy of the Triumph twins, and that is an important consideration for commuting.

In the long run, riding comfort is all important, so do what you must to get a test ride on both bikes and then buy the one your bum and back like the best.

My $0.02 worth. Test ride both. Wait a week or 2 then do it again. Mull it over for 2 weeks, then make the choice. Apart from the badge they are in no way the same bikes.

If your worried about the chrome why not go for the speedmaster? You will find that the more you ride it the more comfortable it gets. As for the tiger i am sure they are great bikes but youve got to look at it too. Bit like comparing Eva long whatsiname to Ugly Betty. Cruise or commute in styyyyyle.

If you're really interested in an adventure-type bike, I would look at the Scrambler before the Tiger, it's too tall and goofy looking.