I was born in '54 and grew up in a time when most of the best motorcycles were parallel twins and they were always my favorites. I especially liked the looks of Triumphs but rode Hondas because of their exceptional dependability.
In the Spring of '09 I hadn't ridden for a few years and my wife was encouraging me to buy another bike. I didn't think I'd like any of the news styles so I googled 'retro motorcycle' and saw a photo of the new Bonneville for the first time. The bike looked like it was custom built for me. I remember saying, Uh oh.
The more I read about this beauty the more I liked it. I was especially drawn to the 2008 black and white T100. I called the nearest Triumph dealer and they had a brand new one. My motorcycle qualification had expired so I had it delivered.
The controls were the same as on my Hondas and the bike was the same size and weight as one of my past bikes. So the first ride was easy.
The low-end power surprised me. The new Bonnie has a big (for a parallel twin) 865cc dual overhead cam engine, tuned for the smoothest power band I've ever experienced. My Hondas had little power until they were revved pretty high. My Bonnie started pulling hard at about 4K!
The Bonnie is so smooth that it feels tame. But if you hold onto the gears and get the revs up, 0-60 in five seconds is easy, even with a completely stock bike.
The bike handles beautifully. It just goes where I point it. My favorite kind of riding is on unpredictable back roads and the Bonnie loves them.
When my wife rides with me the motor doesn't seem to pull any differently and the brakes are the best I've ever had. I've never before been so comfortable with a passenger.
Also, the Bonnie is the same weight as a Honda four I had but seems less affected by cross winds. It seems to have a very low center of gravity. It has no steering damper so wind-buffeting of my arms can make things a little shaky at highway speeds. Otherwise it does fine on the interstate.
For an all-around motorcycle that you can ride on just about any kind of road, I don't think you can beat the new Bonnevilles. I wouldn't be comfortable riding a cruiser or a crotch rocket on some of the roads I ride.
It's the best bike I ever had and I expect to ride it every day I can for the rest of my life.
Reviews are provided on an "as is" basis with no warranty and should be considered entertainment only. Reviews should not be used for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to, making decisions about any referenced vehicles, products, modifications or other information.
