Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Just Curious

Hi, I am just curious ...has anyone just left the bike alone and not done any mods to it? Ride it like it came from the factory whether the pipes blue or not. Not mess with any AI stuff or carb jetting and still enjoy the crap out of this bike. I love this motorcycle I've been riding almost thirty years now, but have to admit, I'm a lazy mechanic, Don't really feel like working on the bike unless I have to. I more enjoy just cruising around the local back roads, or taking her on a nice long day(couple hundred miles). It's truly just such an enjoyable motorcycle to ride. Is it just me, it seems like everyones doing stuff to their bike. Don't get me wrong some of the bobjobs I see on here are beautiful, as are the classic looks. Again I'm just curious.

Well. If it were not for the beauty of the internet and its ability to exchange information ....I am sure many of us would be riding stock bikes.

I am no gearhead and without the wealth of info I found here my bike would probably be unchanged.

That being said and hind sight being 20-20. I am sure glad I did the mods. Pipes/jets/mixture screws/snork out/drilled slides.....all have resulted in a smoother sounding , more elegant motorcycle.

And the good part was none of them were all that difficult looking back.

Not tinker with it..... Surely you jest!!!!

Erm....can I kind of put my hand up here....

Until Monday, when I drilled a baffle out, my bike was so stock it was rediculous. The Speedo cable loop is the plastic thing, that hasn't broken (yet). Even the AI is still on - though I am waiting for Brent to send me the bits to remove it.

The only un-original things on it are the sissy bar, the pannier racks, and a clock. But they can all be taken off if needs be.

I've been scared of doing things. I'm even less of a mechanic. But I'm not wanting to buy another bike this year. The one before I'd had a year till I bought the America...and I'm buying a Tiger Cub NEXT year. So mods it is.

The baffle-ectomy makes the sound sound good. Take the AI off - I've ordered the stuff and so I can't bear to see stuff not used.... Beyond that - I'll probably not do much - unless some of the Brits bully me into it at a gathering....just want footboards for Xmas.

Part of the beauty of owning these bikes is their relative simplicity, I LOVE working on these bikes, get a good set of metric tools and allen wrenches and enjoy. I know someone wrote a book about it, but their is a certain Zen feeling I get when working on my bike. I certainly can understand just riding it, but at least put some slip-ons on it!

With the exception of playing with silencers, I have done nothing but normal, routine maintenance. I may be the only person that has not been bitten by the 'blue pipe' syndrom. A hair under 16000, A.I. in place, no jetting, no air box mods - Just like out of the crate.

I believe Bill's bike is bone stock. We gave him some friendly ribbing last year at Pat's The important part is to enjoy it! I have almost as much fun tinkering as I do riding... it's a curse.

Quote:

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I know someone wrote a book about it

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Robert Pirsig...

man, if you want to ride your scoot pure stock, all the power to you. it's a part of the "ride your own ride" mentality. enjoy it the way it is. if the mood ever strikes you know where to turn for ideas, help, and ribbing.

Glad about this link. I was begining to get a bit worried about paying £6K for a bike that seemed to need so much doing to it straight out of the crate. The biggest HD gripe is that you have to spend a lot on upgrades to make it go and stop satisfactorily but the BA seemed to have the best of both worlds, old style with modern engineering. Each to his own, but I might spend the £23 and get the AI done and leave the rest until the warranty runs out.

I just bought a '06 TBA (Beautiful Black Beast) 3 weeks ago. Could have bought anything, rode a bunch of HD's and just didn't want to be part of the herd, plus they just weren't that comfortable. This bike is different, it's unique, it is an absolute joy to ride. Made me feel 18 again when I last rode MotoX (can't believe I waited so long to start riding again. Anyay, I was toying with the idea of not doing anything to it... then I found this site. Now as my grandmother (rest her soul) would say... I'm just wruint (translation... ruined). So many things to do to the already great bike to make it better. My congratulations to Pipedr for not having any bluing. I've got about 850 miles on mine and the left header pipe is already starting to discolor (up against where the header pipe attaches to the head). Kind of makes me mad considering one of the things the salesman told me was that this model had new double wall header pipes which were not supposed to blue. Anyway... long story short, the AI is coming off next weekend when I get my first maintenance done (dealer said he would either try and buff the blue out or perhaps replace it... we'll see). Only other thing I'm doing is putting a set of Thunderbike Long Slash Cut pipes on and I'm done. That is except for the short sissy bar (no rack) and the chrome battery cover, sprocket cover and rear peg hangers (my 500 dollars worth of accessories!). Ride it stock my friend. You still have a bike like none other on the road.

Oh, I've got some miles on her...just cracked 9 grand, and I know I'm capable of doing the mods, probably better than the shop mechanics if I put my mind to it. (Perfectionism sets in)...like I said, I'm just lazy...or when I do get the time, I think, should I work on it or ride it...and the work on it always loses.

I will drill a bit, jet a bit, shim when its time etc. I will not do one thing to modify my bike if it means leaving it on the table and not riding it til I am done wrenching on it. I prefer riding it to wrenching on it.

The mods you see here have nothing to do with function for the bike. It is a fine out of the box with the AI exception.

Most here do the mods for fun instead of function because they like wrenching on them and tinkering.

There are a few that will tell you it won't be good unless you do this or that. Don't listen. It was good the day you bought it. It will be running as long or longer than any of the modded bikes here. You bought a classy hunk of granite. Turn the key and ride it. Only change what you want because you don't have to change a thing.

The beauty of the America is that it is perhaps the most impressive "stock" bike out there - and I may be biased - to the point that you really don't have to do anything to it if you don't want. That's the difference between style and fashion - the TBA is simply stylish. Period.

All I have added since 2003 are EasyBrackets. Other than that, it's still turning heads and I can't leave it for 10 minutes before someone starts checking it out.

Enjoy it as it is or tinker to your heart's content. The good news is that you treasured Triumph will remain a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

Siggy

Post deleted by Grump

I generally try to live by the maxim "If it aint broke, don't fix it". Apart from some long TORS slash cuts fitted y'day (which are awesome I think, can't think why you would want louder) and tall sissy bar for the missus, mine will probably remain stock. If everyone else modifies theirs, why, I'll have a unique bike without having taken a spanner to it!!

All the other bikes I owned, never touched them. But since being around here since I bought it in '02 I have done everything myself. Now that I have a pile of twisted parts and a service manual, nobody's gonna put her back together but me!!
I have the confidence and know full well that If I run into a problem I have several hundred mechanics at my beck and call.
Great feeling, thanks everybody.
ModelMaker

Well, the Trophy is bone-A stock...just because...the Bonnie-A could easily be and I'd be happy with it but something about cruisers invite modifications.....but if I could not do any modifications...would still be happy with the bike.........

Almost totally stock. I still have the AI in place (i have blue pipes). I have only changed two things on the bike, replaced the speedo loop. The rubbber one broke so i replaced it with one of Brents Chrome ones. And i have a custom made (by me) license tag surround. Nothing flash, just black plastic one that has Triumph - Chattanooga written on it.

I keep toying with the idea of doing stuff to it. I would like to convert it to a single seat, put some fish tail pipes on her but thats about it. The mechanical stuff i cant do myself and i dont fully trust my dealer to do it for me, so that explains why the AI is still on her.