Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Clyde is down!

Update: My shade tree mechanic diploma has been rescinded. To recap my geezer HD (ex Trumpet rider) of 64 yrs and myself of 67 yrs assumed it was a valve spring. Wrong! It was a missing and/or leaking Squirrel Condom on the left side of the Carb. The dealer diagonosed the problem and replaced all the condoms, checked the valve adjustments (all within spec) and synched the carbs and presented me with a bill for $148 which I paid with gratitude.

Since the bike is now finally broken in and correctly tuned it goes like stink on poop. I have had many bikes over the years since 1960 and this one is a bomb. On the way back from the dealers (geezer hauling the trailer and me on bike) I got on it one time in 2nd gear. I got it up to somewhere in the 5K range and it was hauling the freight and was blasting thru 60 on the way to 70 when I ran out of road. What a beast! I will dedicate myself to obtaining a spare 6 pack of Squirrel Condoms which will be a part of the contents of my bags. Tomorrow I will treat Clyde to a good wash and wax, chain cleaning and lube and general fuss fest.

I do not know about you guys but I feel that these Triumphs are the best value out there for a bike. Looks, handling, performance, ease of maintenance and just fun and getting 45 MPG makes riding a bike so much more enjoyable than puttering around in a '85 Ford F-150 which gets 9 MPG on a good day.

My dealer here in Vegs is Pat Clark Motorsports. They sold Pontiacs next door under the same ownership and closed down the car dealership for lack of sales. They moved the Motorcycle dealership into the car store and they have a very large and modern facility. They have about 150 bikes on display from OCC Hogs, Ducati, Moto Guzi, Scooters and Triumph to some other Euro bikes I have never heard of.

They treated me right and have earned my respect and continued business. I forked one of those new Thunderbirds and it did not ring my chimes. I forked a 2010 and a 2009 Triumph Bonneville along with an America and I loved them both. The Bonny seems so small and light to me after riding the Speedmaster for two years. I did like the handlebars on the America but not the overuse of chrome on the side panels and such. I might consider putting an America handlebar on my Speedy and a decent set of lightbars and maybe floorboards but that will be a future project. A clock and a thermometer would also be nice along with a scabboard to carry my favorite long gun to the range.

I have a long and optimistic future with this bike and I have no plans to sell it....it is just too ****** much fun to ride.

Moral of story..............watch those nasty Squirrel Condoms...when they go South....so does your ride.