Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge 2008 America

For me the America peeked in 04-05 with wire spoke wheels, slash cut silencers, and primer gray engine, it was exactly what I was imagining when I found it and I was lucky enough to rescue a used one 2 years later when I could finally afford one. But that is what I love about motorcycles, so much wondrous variety for so many different people and tastes.

I'll second the 02-06 as the America as I feel it should be!

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For me the America peeked with wire spoke wheels, slash cut silencers, and primer gray engine

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I'll agree with all of that except the spoke wheels bit. Nice as they are, I really like the new cast wheels. Easy cleaning and best of all TUBELESS TIRES.

I love the spoke wheel look I don't like spoke wheel matinence and seems Triumphs spoke wheels chrome left something to be desired.

Yeh I agree, love the spoke look, not much into mags of any sort on bikes.
Hoffo

sharp lookin' bike



Trev

Nice lookin' bike Hoffo. I personally like the new tank styling tho I still prefer the old. From the side the new one is a bit reminiscent of the VTX1800 tanks which always looked a bit more aggressive.

If you're on the next ratbags run you can probably expect Stewart to poke round your bike making sure all his bits'll fit the 08's... and me to poke around it just to check it out.

They stopped making it in green in 05, then the rest changed with the 07 model. Forgot to mention that before.

Gidday Matt,
Gotta catch up with both of you bout the LED taillight replacement and Stewart re purchase of chrome goodies.
Do you ever go to Elizabeth St. Acacia Ridge on friday nights - massive Hot Rod & Street rod meet sometimes can get about 200 customs & restorations down there it's on every friday night & everyones welcome, I usually take down my silver commando but tonight i'll take down the America,
Way better than Harry's Diner on the northside.
If you are doin nothing ride down I'll definitly recognise your bike.
Hoffo

If I remember, lack of change is one of the reasons Triumph went belly up back in the late 70's early 80's!!
I think it a good looking bike!

Skip

It's not lack of change persay, it was lack of research and development in the technology not the style that killed the Brits and Harley in those days. Mr Honda was making a far superior machine and the afore mentioned were using technology from the 30s still. I think by losing the knee pad indents they lost a key design feature that makes a Triumph a Triumph.

One thing you have to remember is thet we are already Triumph people. I wonder what non-Triumph people will think. Maybe they have not been so interested because of teh retro-designed tank? Tough to say. Too bad we do not know any Triumph marketing/design people around here.

Soren

Agreed totally Soren/Ian, take Harley for example back in the early 80's - thay were going broke until Willie took over and started listining to riders, now look at where the company is, perhaps a lesson to Triumph exects of what happens if they listen to owners/riders.

Firstly, congratulations on the new purchase and thanks to Hoffo for posting the new 2008. Probably the first info anywhere.

From the pics the tank is not to my style but it is not that bad. My opinion is the streamline shape suits more of a v-twin. Both Tank and Logo appear to be a la Suzuki Boulevard. The current higher tank design appears to be more suited to the upright nature of the engine.

Have to look at one in the flesh prior to finalizing my opinion.

I don't have a problem with the tank. It seems a small thing to worry about. The bike blends well together and is still a work of art. I like the wheels. My 01 BA would look good with those wheels.

Took the 08 over to a mate of mines the other day- he has an 07 model and put them together. Not much difference but the thing that was really noticable (apart from the tank shape & badge) was the seat, it's a lot more comfy on the 08 model ,seems to be more dished out at the bottom, it makes the position a lot more sit in & not sit on.
I thought that when I first picked up the bike from the dealers. It wasn't until we sat on both seats side by side that we both agreed that the new seat is more comfortable
In the end it doesn't matter if you got the first or current model they still are a supurb ride, and a credit to Triumph.
Hoffo

I stood next to this very bike yesterday (one just like it), and must have been too close to it, as I never noticed the tank!

I remember seeing the colors, and the wheels, but I admit I was looking more at the Tiger next to it.

What a difference!

Yep, they're both gas tanks.

Soren

With tank consoles and forward mounted speedos...

Guess i'm on my own when i say i'm not a wrap for the knee pads on the new bikes. Whilst i can see the traditionalists point of view, i just dont like the rubber over a beautiful new paint job..

After reading this thread it reminds me why I love motorcycles so much. There is so much one can do to a motorcycle to make it their own. Some like lots of crome while others the less the better. Some can't do with out knee pads while others got to have spoke wheels. You got folks that got to have more than one color and others who think any thing other than black is flat out gay! You have chopper guy, touring bike guy, off road guy, sport bike guy, or gals if you like, the list is seamingly endless. That is why I think motorcyclist seam to have more passion and a connection to their machines.

I have no clue why people are hating on the new tank...you can still put pads on it even though theres no indent...and the older triumph tanks were more fat and round anyway. So stop hating..I like the new tank...I think they should have trashed the console idea and get rid of the seam...then we'd have the perfect tank...face it guys...02-07 tanks are ugly...I can hate on my own tank but Im sure not going to hate on some dude's brand new one. Hmmm....IDEA!

* Marches directly to a junk yard to purchase an old 1950's Triumph tank... *

....to be continued.

Hi Brian T .... I was told that it's not safe to mount a centre stand on the BA / Speedmaster as the stand might spring down and hit the road if you go over a serious pothole. The main bike frame of the BA is the same one used for other Trumpy's that have higher ground clearance and don't have the same issue, so they come fitted with centre stands. Maybe someone else could shed more light on this.