Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge How is the America or Speedmaster for 500 mi Trips

Realistically it depends on your weight and size. These bikes are lightweight cruisers. They are great for commutes or short hops and around town or in the country. They will blow and go across country but you're asking about comfort. I'm 6'4 300lbs and personally need a bigger frame under me for long hauls. You lighter guys have no problems in the saddle all day but I do. I got a corbin 20+Kmiles ago, it helped. But a wider saddle to support the additional weight I carry would be great. Now if I lost about 100lbs all would be rosey for me too. I love my bike but later on I'll be on a rocket or some similar heavy cruiser for my serious cross country touring and zipping around town on my 06TBA

My longest single day trek one up on my Speedie was one of around 900 miles from las Vegas New Mexico to Spearfish South Dakota. High Summer hot as can be.

It was a long long hot day but comfortable other than my butt getting numb the last 300 or so miles.

I ripped along from Las Vegas to the pass in southern Colorado @ near flank speed. Used up gas at a frenetic rate on that leg.

IMHO The America and Speedie are outgunned by cruisers with more displacement and comfort featurs for two up long distance cruising. But I know a few here will argue with me on that as long as the day is long.

Well first off let me say thank-you for all the positive replies...this is undoubtedly the best motorcycle forum I have ever been on. I've owned Boss Hosses and Harleys since 1978 and from 1965 up to that time I owned several Triumphs’ but mostly Honda's and Yamaha's. I have also owned a couple of Vespa’s two cycle’s and currently own a 2009 Vespa 250 Super...it is a lot of fun. Try pulling up next to a Harley rider on a scooter...if they are alone they try not to recognize you're there and if their riding with others they make some dumb remark or crack an ego smile to the other H-D riders. Of course I hate to admit it but I do the same to them when I’m riding the Boss Hoss…my way of payback.

Anyway you guys have provided a lot of knowledge and information on how reliable the modern Triumphs are and how well they are built and I really enjoy looking at the members rides section…some very nice bikes there. So now I'm trying to decide whether to buy new or used…

Thanks,
Randy

One precaution there is a weak spot in the cases for the starter gear in the older bikes. It doesn't fail often but it can and the only fix is new cases. One member managed to fix it but haven't heard lately if that held. That weak point was fixed in later models. I have 2 2004 bikes and neither one has had any problems at all and I ride across multiple states often. Moe rides across even more.

Regarding new vs. used: I believe it was Soren who said the best year and model so far is the 2007 Speedmaster. Of course he is biased but I tend to agree. If I lost my 2002 America for whatever reason, that's what I would look for (if I wanted to replace it and didn't just "step up" (oh no I didn't!) to a Rocket III). All it's missing is spoked wheels, but I don't mind the directional alloys and that can be "fixed" for not a lot of money if you're willing to go single disc front.

thanks moe, Dog33, and FriarJohn and everyone else...I noticed several Adventurer's and some older ('98)Thunderbirds on Craigslist and ebay...how are they being a three cylinder vs the twins? Are they ones to avoid?

Nope Randy. Those are also very competent and reliable machines, and actually have quite a few more ponies available on tap than do our Twins.

Personally, I don't think the early Hinckley water-cooled "retro-styled" bikes look quite as nice as do our air-cooled Twins, but that's pretty much a subjective opinion here, you understand.

Fri Oct 31 2008

Also the earlier tbirds where not kind to ignition coils.