I was looking for a first bike after obsessing over them for years (the whole family are bikers). I was origionally looking at something small and nippy like a Beemer and came across a Triumph Speedmaster.
Chatted it through with the missus and my mum and she (my mum) said "if you buy that piece of dog ****** plastic on wheels i'll disown you"
so i bought a Triumph
for reference, my mum is just shy of her 80th birthday and still rides a Norton.
regardless the America has been a fairly forgiving bike to this learner and i've certainly enjoyed chatting to the locals about it (you'd be surprised how many of the old fellers around here rode triumphs when they were kids - i'm based in the midlands).
when the missus passes it's going to be a Bonnie or Thruxton for her (whether she likes it or not).
Ant
