Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Member's Rides 2005 TBA

September 18, 2015 to most is just another day. To me it started out as a day to take off work to ponder my 56th birthday. Woke up poured a cup of coffee and got on the computer. I go to Craig’s list about every Saturday morning and look at guitars, motorcycles, and boats. Mostly to see what is of interest and dream. On this Friday nothing new in the guitar area so on to motorcycles. I was 6 bikes into the first page when she caught my eye.
2005 Triumph Bonneville America-Green-2843 miles-$3500.00. I look at the 5 pictures.
Honey come here and look at this? What do you think? If you like it, Buy it!!!
As I look up on the wall at a picture of me sitting on my father’s 1958 Triumph 650 in 1961 I e-mail the address listed telling the owner I live about an hour away and would like to see the bike and give him my cell number. Another cup of Joe, a quick shower and off to the credit union. No problem they say so I am waiting for a call. Then I find the bike on e-bay and a couple other sites. That evening I get on Craig’s list and send another e-mail. I am a serious buyer give me a call.
While we are waiting for the call I will give you a bit of background.
Got my first bike at the age of 14. It was a 1968 Bridgestone 175.
Bought a Honda 1977 CJ360 new, rode it till I joined the Air Force in 1979.
1984 and I am out of the military and on my 1979 KZ650.
In 1986 bought a Suzuki Madura 700.
Got married in 1988. Built a house in 1992 sold Madura to buy furniture.
In March of 1995 put down a $500.00 deposit on a new Sportster. April 1, 1995 my wife informed me she was pregnant with our first child. Told Harley dealer I was cancelling order. She told me the refund was nonrefundable, and asked why I was cancelling it just 2 weeks after ordering it. Told her my wife was pregnant. She gave me back the $500.00 and a kiss.
April 2015 my son is now 19 and my daughter is 14 and my wife tells me we need to start spending more time together and I need to buy a motorcycle. God I love her.
Across the street from my office moved in the new Indian Motorcycle Dealer who is also the Victory, Polaris, and Triumph dealer. I went in to look at the Thunderbird LT. Did not really like it. The tank is too wide. Sat on the America and liked the feel. Sat on the Chieftain and fell in love. Got home and made the Chieftain my background on the computer.
I loved the Chieftain, but it kept bugging me. Getting back on a bike after 23 years. Why do I want a 900 pound motorcycle and how am I going to swing those payments. The summer got busy and my dream didn’t get any close. Then summer was over and my birthday was here.
Saturday September 19th wait, wait, and wait. Did he sell it? E-bay is up to $2075.00 with a week left does he want to let it play out? 1:30 I get a call from Larry who is the owner. His son listed it for him and had just called giving him my number. I tell him I will be right there. 2:40 I am ringing the doorbell. 3:00 we close the deal with a yes sir and a handshake.
Went down and picked her up on September 23d. Rode her home. As I drove her through dusk and into darkness she is everything I hoped she would be. As I cruised down the road it crossed my mind how much I had missed this freedom. This 500 pound motorcycle feels just right to me and green is my favorite color. My only other wish. That my motorcycle jacket from 1992 in the back of the closet still fit.
http://s612.photobucket.com/user/Bobill5...?sort=3&o=0

Happy belated birthday Bill. Nice story & an even nicer bike... Enjoy :-)

Congratulations.....and welcome to the fold.
I understand where you're from on this.
At one point in my life I was homeless.... worked my way back over the years and vividly remember that feeling of finally being back on a bike thinking " this is where I belong".
May the sun always shine for you.... whatever the weather.
Al

Congrats, however we need some pics or it didn't happen...

Hey, you're wearing the same dress as me.
One of us should go home and change.
Al

that's a good story, I like it! welcome to the forum and congrats on your new love affair!

I am kinda new here. Posted the pics on my facebook then put link here. I may have to find another place to post pics if you cannot get to them. I will do some reading. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sign up with photobucket and load your pictures there, from there you can copy the image code of the pic desired, paste the code after clicking "img" in the box on the posting edit page. If the internet gods smile upon you, your pics will appear in your posting. There are several, probably better, guidelines on here, but that's the jist of it.

ok photobucket seems to have done the trick.

Thanks

Great story, and great pics of your Dad's and your bike! Congratulations, Happy Birthday and welcome!

Here's the '58 in '61

Nice write up and good choice on the bike! Welcome to site.

Welcome to the Zoo.

Nice story Bill, cant beat a happy ending, and happy birthday..

Congrats, Great write up. Enjoy your new bike!!

Dad raced the bike on the flat tracks on the weekend. They did not buy a car till my brother was born in 63. I have a picture of my dad on it new. I will find it and post it.

Great story and pics! Got quite a few accessories on your '05.

2005 BA

Ya the gent I bought it from did not add anything.He thought it was stock other than the bags and backrest. I did not know. He bought it with 2500 miles on it.It had 2843 miles when I got it and the saddlebags were still in the box when I picked it up.

I compared it to some stock pictures. Best I can tell she has over $2800.00 in accessories.

I am probably going to sell the saddlebags and put on some hard lockable bags. If anyone has a good suggestion on a windshield I want to add one to knock the wind off my chest. Don't want a full screen, but something that works.

excellent pic. enjoy the '05

A Triumph Summer Screen with fork lowers from Fast Eddy. The wind will be off your face and chest with little or no buffeting, once you have the lower deflectors placed right. Also, you aren't pushing a jib sail as with the larger screens, a real plus on variable windy days.

Took my daughter Kate on her first real ride this weekend.
Went to grandma and grandpa's house.
We did little over 300 miles.
Kate said she had a numb butt when we got there, but she jumped right on the next morning.
Dad loved the bike.
She is wearing my fathers racing helmet from 1958 in the pics. My head is too fat for it.
She is 14.
The helmet will be my Avatar as soon as I figure out how to do that. Kate's First Ride

Cool story. Welcome aboard!

I have two daughters, a little older than fourteen though, who dont mind getting on behind their old man and going for a ride, it's nice feeling.

Damn...you're right...I hate that, when somebody else is right.
Al

I can't quite see,what's that on the clutch side handlebar grip of your '05? and what's that tank on your dad's '58?,it doesn't look like a standard Triumph tank.

I will ask my dad about the tank. I fell on black ice last winter and messed up my left wrist. That is the brace I wear when riding on the grip. Holding in the clutch seems to bother it. Guess I am bad to the bone lmao.
Kates First Ride Pics

That's probably what I need. I have De Quervain's syndrome in the tendons of my hands, the clutch hand is the worst.Had all the cortisone I can have.An operation is next,which I DON"T want.

Yep,it could be.
I thought it looked similar to the Jawa tank I had on my T110 Chop.
Also like a VLX Honda but of course it couldn't be in 1958!
They didn't make them until about 1992 I think.

That was a great story.The bike looks great,that's the colour and bike I had my eyes on,but there was somthing about the speedy that got my attention when I went to take one out.Welcome hope to read more..

God blessed Central Indiana with a beautiful day today November 15, 2015. There will not be too many more days that are in the mid 60's with a cool, but not cold breeze. Kate and I took a couple hours off to go out and enjoy it.

It was like being in church this Sunday.
Pictures from the Fort

Nice story and nice pics. That bike was meant to be yours.

Spring 2016 and she is cleaned, polished, and ready for summer. Kate and I went for a ride today and had a photo shoot. Added a Tour Pillion, Tourest Backrest, Chrome Levers, LED lights for console, and a clean and shine any gunny would pass. Got an Alley Cat screen from Eddy,but not on yet. I highly recommend the LED console lights from Eddy.

Spring Slide Show 2016

Garwood Green? I might buy into British Racing Green or Goodwin Green. 'Cept for a clerical error, 'Lookin' Good Hollywood'.

Actually, I believe Triumph denotes the color of Billy's bike as "Goodwood Green" and which I believe they named after the Goodwood Circuit road racing venue in England. This track is especially famous for vintage car and motorcycle racing.

(...btw, nice pics there Billy...looked like a great ride)