Triumph Bonneville motorcycle questions.

[Eric 951]

Well, the motor rebuild on my Morini will NOT be completed by spring, so I will need to pick up another bike to ride in the meantime. I have been looking for a 750 CAFE-style bike and have checked out a few CBs, but I really like the Triumph Bonnevilles also. I came across a clean 79 750 special with 13K, dealer maintained, rebuilt carbs, new tires, etc. The guy wants 3,100 which based upon my research in my area is NOT unheard of. I was just wondering if anyone on here has a Triumph and can provide some real world advice. I am not shy about spinning wrenches, and know about mainatining oddball bikes(such as the Morini). Just looking for opinions from anyone familiar with the bikes. Thanks...

[Joeaksa]

If you want a bike to ride and one that does not need working on, get a air cooled BMW. Either the "airheads" (up to the R100 series) or the "oil head" (R1100 and up series) they are reliable as the day is long and just keep on going...

[Gogar]

Triumphs are great and not too hard to work on. I'm not too familiar with late '70s, but if they're reasonably the same, they're simple and fun. If a '79 uses Amal carbs, well, then that's a little less fun, but not too bad. Sometimes the slide chanber can go out of round if your carb-to-head flange is not completely flat. You tighten the carb down too tight and it will pull the chamber out of round, and the slide will stick at WOT, which isn't fun. If you get mad, you can put mikunis on it.

But as I said, this is only my experience with late 60s and early 70s, so I'm not sure exactly what on your bike. $3k is reasonable if it's running fine.

Also, if you have a carb-sync-tool, you'll have a better time getting the carbs to match on a bonnie, but you can usually get pretty close anyway.

[Rot 911]

The '79's were not much loved in the Triumph world. That aside they weren't bad bikes and are easy to maintain. Classic Triumph bike prices are rising and even the '79 models are seeing a corresponding rise in price. $3100 is not a bad price. Here is a good Triumph board. My screen name on there is the same as on here.

[nynor]

i am sure there are others with more experience than i...

that said, i have a '77 bonnie that i completely cafe'd, stripped to the frame, powder coated it, reassembled it all by myself. i tried to sell it this summer, but no one wanted to pay more than two grand. the front end alone, in used parts, is worth about that. anyway, take it from me: they are a PITA. after 13 years of ownership, i am throwing in the towel. i wrench on it two hours for every hour i ride. all the electrical has been replaced with solid state and it still sucks. the carburetors suck the worst. i rode it all summer, now the thing needs new rings, new valve guides, probably new jugs. i'd sell it for $2500 right this second. if i can't sell it this spring for about $3K, i'll be parting it out on evilBay.

aside from that, it looks awesome, i get stares everywhere i go, and it is fast as hell.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I bought my '78 CB550K for $300, put another $400 into it. Runs great with a carb sync and the occasional valve adjustment.

I looked at the new Triumphs as well. Nice bikes..

[nynor]

yep, get the honda 750K, or better yet: the new bonnie. by buddy has one and i love it.

[Steve Carlton]

I think the top ends on those need to be rebuilt around every 10K miles and 20K on the bottom end. Not sure about those mileages, but they're probably close. You can get a lot of the Bonneville experience without any hassle with a Kawasaki W650, although not a Cafe Racer stock. The 2001s are the better year. There's also the Honda GB500. Maybe a used Triumph Truxton? I think they were only $6,995 new.

[nynor]

the thruxtons are sweet.

[Eric 951]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am planning on checking it out on Sunday weather permitting. My plan is to just use it this summer and sell it once I am done with the Morini rebuild. I will post back once I check it out.