Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Member's Rides Journey for a 2004 Triumph America

I bought a 2004 Triumph America 790cc from my friend's (ChuckYJ's) father. I know Chuckyj has received a lot of help from this forum and swears by it.

Let me tell you about the first time I saw this motorcycle, it was 4 years ago. Chuck's father had acquired it out of Binghamton, NY. I remember seeing it for the first time and being mesmerized by that green paint scheme. I don't care for green vehicles and somehow have owned more green vehicles than I care for. But with this bike, Idk, I'm just in love with it. I told the both of them if they were ever going to sell it, I wanted first dibs. Chuckyj can tell you how I have been chomping at the bit for this bike for the past 4 yrs.

This past spring time, when the little triumph was apart. I found out that I might be able to purchase the bike and it could be a project for me. Things just didn't work out, with my soul a little down in the gutter.

Coming into this fall, I decided that a motorcycle would be handy for traveling my 2 1/2 hr trip to work on my 1962 Beetle. Thus the search began. I knew I wanted a parallel twin and really the only thing in my price range was older XS650. Then I spotted the America on craigslist. I messaged Chuck that morning and went to go look at it that weekend. It was all back together with Speedmaster forks. I wasn't quite there for what they wanted for it and thus led to me squirreling my coin away. I was looking at other bikes too, trying to keep an open mine and all. A few Vulcans and Sportsters, but they just weren't the Triumph. Even my old lady knew if I bought any other bike, I wouldn't be happy with it because it wasn't the Triumph. So on Nov. 2nd, I went over to Chuck's and test rode the America. When I got back from the ride, I knew this was it. The bike I truely wanted. I gave him the coin. I'll be picking it up next week. In my part of the world, filled with Jap and Harley bikes. I get to stand apart from them with my Triumph. A rebel in a sort of way (A special snow flake).

How often is it when you see something you really like and say, "If you want to sell this let me know. I want it." That when it does, you actually have the bread to get it. This time, I can say I was able too!

Looking forward to picking your brains and making the Triumph my own.

Congratulations...and well done for your determination to have YOUR bike, not one THEY tell you you need.
All the best from Triumph land.
Al

Congrats, I love my Green 2005. Have had her for just over a year and still feel like on the honeymoon. This site and members have been the most rewarding surprise second to my bike. I went to the Kentucky Rally and plan on going to many more. Meeting some of the people here have been the highlight of this year.

One thought would be to make sure you get all the extra parts they have.

my bike is under TBA2005 in memberrides. You have any questions please ask.

I am glad you are excited And cant wait to see how you make it your own.

NOW GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE!!

No relay take your time if you need too

Congratulations! I love the look of the front end.

A friend of mines Harley Street glide I was changing the tires on it for him.

always nice to hear a story like yours, better than "just settling" for another bike it somehow means more to you. The green paint looks fine to me, just a suggestion here. Pin striping is a very personal touch and adds class and makes it your own.

Thank you everyone. I'm still riding the high from getting it.
mcfcinusa, I'm thinking of gold Pin stripping to pop off from the green.

Chuck, I'm planning this Friday to the DMV.

Years ago, I just had a '69'Lincoln Mark III painted forest green. I asked him to pinstripe it (with the tape), and he suggested a light green. It was a good choice it didn't clash with the chrome.

Very nice,I know you'll enjoy it.And the color is great,thats the color that got me into the dealership.

My 2005 "Goodwood Green" America lasted 74,000 miles, then went into the "one thing or another" mode to the point I couldn't trust it anymore. I noticed first, around 35,000 miles a noticeable metal to metal sound when I hit the starter button. I'm like, "Oh crap, that don't sound good", but blew it off. I pulled the left side cover off to replace the Sprague clutch when the culprit was revealed. A crack along the topside of the starter gear spindle boss.
Wasn't aware of the repair kit that you can get from somewhere in Europe at the time, so me and my Georgia Tech buddy did some lathe work and made and insert to go into the cracked boss, then coated with JB Weld. As far as I know, the repair is still holding, but the metal to metal clunk is still there. Then the constant "roaring" from the rear wheel area turned out the be the o-ring chain being "kinked" in several areas. With the bike on a jack running and in gear, the chain was a constant blur of veritical movement. Tried everything to fix this, but even a new o-ring chain insisted on kinking and producing this noise. I asked if anyone else experienced this problem at a rally once, they all looked at me like I had 3 eyes! (I don't do rally's well, especially ones I bring my wife too and the folks get wasted drunk watching porn in the parking lot, then hitting on my wife)....
Anyway, the bike then developed a spit and sputter coming from both carburetors. Spent nearly $400 on every component in the ignition system, cleaned and rebuilt carbs twice or three times, took fuel samples, replaced perfectly good filters and hoses, shot wires, by-passed bad grounds on safety switches, verified output voltages and current, cleaned all fuses and fuse block, verified all grounding points, and it still left me on the side of the interstate.
Right now, the bike is at a very good friends house that knows a little more about the bike than I do, but as far as I know, no progress has been made. So for me, to do it again and buy the bike new, I probably would, as 74,000 miles on a very comfortable and powerful (enough for me) was worth it, but it's time to move onto bigger and brighter. Perhaps a new Thunderbird is in my future, it' in the top 2 anyway! (The '05 remains for sale, or may become a complete overhaul project)...If you get more than 75,000 miles from that machine, in my opinion your doing well

There are some really good deal on the older Americas out there. Just think, you could buy one of those ugly red ones and put the green tank and fenders on the new bike. I always thought having two sets of tins would be great.

T-Bird is a nice bike. PES really has racked up some miles on his.

There are great deals on new and used bikes so moving on or up should be no problem. I feel I got a great deal on my new R3T.

I still think we will be seeing some new models in the spring that will be interesting.

Good luck on our search.

P.S. Just kidding about the Red being Ugly Wade.

....I have a brand new/unused Goodwood Green tank kit (A9708062-ZHKA) and a matching rear fender (used), if anyone wants to go the route of buying whatever color bike is available but 'going green'. The only complication is, they are at my bike storage place outside Boston and I am in the UK but they are there if anyone is keen!

The tank kit is like this but in Goodwood Green



I can't remember if the 'flags' are Stars and Stripes or Union Jacks, and I was planning on shipping it back to UK with the bikes, but I don't really need them.

Shipping is not going to be straight-forward. The tank and front fender come in the original Triumph packing (about 30" cube), but the rear fender, is not packed. You would probably be looking at a pallet/freight shipping, and a cost of several hundred dollars just for shipping.