MD First Ride: 2007 Triumph Bonneville T100

Bought a 05 Bonnie new and currently has 19,000 miles. Had a Bonnie in 60's in service and have wanted another one ever since w/o all maint problems of an older bike. Curr Bonnie has been great with no problems. Most of riding on back roads but did take a couple of trips to East coast. Only problem here was talking to everyone at rest stops explaining it is a new Bonnie. Has to be the easiest bike to ride w/o all shifting of the v twins. I am considering buying another one because Triumph is changing them and I think losing the look and feel of the original Bonnie. Great bike!!!!!!!!!

2009 bonneville t100 wrote:

i'm buying my first triumph bike ... actually first "real" bike!
i like the retro look a lot.
Question:
the dealers in cleveland only have the red/white and the green/white color options. they don't have any black/white bikes.
i'm leaning towards the green but am wondering which of these color selections is more of the classic retro bonnevilles ... any help.

I'm not sure if green and white was one of the old Bonnie colors or not. I had that paint scheme on a Yamaha 650 cc Bonnie knock-off in 1970 when I was in CA. If you want to stay close to the old Bonnie paint patterns, then your best bet would be a T-100.
I have a 2005 new Bonnie that I decided to paint in the pattern of the '70 Bonnie Phase III bike; which was always my favorite Bonnie paint pattern.
Here are some pics of my bike. If you read back on this thread, you'll find that it's highly modified. It's the bike that I wanted - it's the bike that I have. No complaints.
[IMG]http://i632.photobucket.c om/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Triump h%20Bonneville/TriumphBonnevil le032506001.jpg
[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i632.photobucket.c om/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Triump h%20Bonneville/TriumphBonnevil le032506008.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i632.photobucket.c om/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Triump h%20Bonneville/TriumphBonnevil le032506012.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i632.photobucket.c om/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Triump h%20Bonneville/TriumphBonnevil le032506007.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i632.photobucket.c om/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Triump h%20Bonneville/TriumphBonnevil le032506013.jpg[/IMG]
Ride safe.
Pocono

Sorry man. You'll have to close up some of the gaps in the picture files that I sent if you want to see the bike.

For each pic, close up the "c om" to "com", close up the "triump h" to "triumph" and close up the "TriumphBonnevil le" to "TriumphBonneville".

Just copy the file as it is now in the post and paste it into your browser window. Then make the changes once your have the picture file in your browser window. Then click "Go" and you should be there.

There seems to be something about this site that doesn't like to accept IMG picture files.

Good luck!

I have a 2004 t100 and athe time writing i ham on my third rear wheel due to broken spokes. the last broken spoke damm=aged the rim, rim tape and the rear brake pipe near the caliper

steve wrote:

I have a 2004 t100 and athe time writing i ham on my third rear wheel due to broken spokes. the last broken spoke damm=aged the rim, rim tape and the rear brake pipe near the caliper

You must be riding on really rough roads. I take my Bonnie to the track at Pocono International and wail the absolute piss out of it and I have to tighten my spokes maybe once a season. Oh ya, and I do a lot of backroad, rr tracks, potholes, etc. when I'm just pottering around. Perhaps you've got a bad set of spokes on your rear wheel. Better have your local Triumph shop check it out for you. What you describe should not be happening (at least not in my experience).

my 2007 bonneville won't turn over. I have spark and fuel... The bike recently just bogged out on me on a ride. seemed to loose all compression any throttle I'd give it would cause the bike to choke and stall. Carbs have been tuned/jetted and running fine for 1000 miles up until this moment. Have not checked compression yet and I'm leaking oil from my valve cover and oil cooler banjo bolt. My best guess is "head gasket"? or valves? What do you think

at what speed does your bike seem like it doesnt want to go any faster?

faster? the bike wont even start anymore. when it died mid-ride I lost all compression literally. any throttle I gave it would stall the bike. Trying to put a compression tester on the bike today but still not sure if that's the problem. does anyone know what psi I should expect. Thanks

I think there's a 24 month warranty... why not try the dealer?

anyone have a serious power loss over 4000 ft of elevation. i have taken many bikes street and dirt in the sierras and have never had such a severe loss of power as i did on my 07 t100 last week. i know it was running rich but this was ridiculos. it would not rev past 4000 rpm but ran smooth below 4000 rpm and would start and idle fine.the bike has 6000 miles on it and is stock except for a staintune exhaust system and was rejetted by my local dealer when i got the pipes. back at 1000 ft elevation the it runs fine. ideas?

sorry about the last post. i did not check it before i posted it.anyway, three things i did to my t100 to make it more enjoyable,bridgestone battalax tires. stock sizes. sportster handlebars.[lower and less of a weird angle on your wrists]. and finally remove your brake pads after 1000mi or so and gently sand the glaze off the face of the pads [dont get crazy].then take a medium file and gently file the leading and trailing edge of the pads at a 45 degree angle till you see an eigth of an inch bevel on each side. then clean your brake rotors with brakeclean and let them dry for awhile before reinstalling your calipers. this will add some feel to your brakes and will also help on aftermarket pads when they lose that new feeling.

Nice thread. Just brought a new green and white t100 home last weekend, so was stoked to find so much info. Have read all 451 posts, special thanks to Ridge and Pocono for their wealth of advice.

My crew back in high school, mid-70s, rode Bonnies, Tridents, Norton Commandos and BSAs. We were enlightened I guess, stayed away from the harley greasers. We were longhairs, not exactly hippies, and evidently had impeccable taste, as i remind my youngsters who listen to doors, led zepplin, pink floyd, the who, etc.

Agree with common lament that the new Bonnie is far too quiet. My wife made me sell my leaking, electrical nightmare 1970 BSA Thunderbolt 650 about 3 months ago, so imagine her surprise (delight?) when I rolled up on a new Bonnie last weekend. She's still not talking to me. Took a bit to get used to shifting on the left, but it sure was nice not having to kick start, and actually having some grunty low-end torque on the hills.

A few questions:

Anyone have trouble seeing around your shoulders with the side mirror placement? I'm 6'1 and 185, built like a greek adonis. Well, maybe an irish plumber.

Love the peashooter style. Does triumph make peashooters that actually shoot, or do i have to go for the baffleectomy? Will triumph do that for me?

Also think i'm going to add the old school grab rail and chrome cam covers.

Anyone know where to buy a davida 3/4 classic jet helmet in SoCal? Nolan n-30's look interesting as well, and much less expensive.

Also, my new owners manual says to stay in first and clutch at red lights. I've always shifte into neutral. Won't staying in first burn out the clutch rather rapidly?

Hey Droog,
As to the mirrors, yep same problem .. thinking of going to bar end style. I can't see the clutch burning out, it's disengaged and oil bath too. The hands get a little cramped though!
I move to neutral if it's long light or I need to scratch something.
...happy riding, Joe

Thanks Joe,

Yeah, I had the rectangular bar end style mirrors on my BSA. Visibility was much better, until I hit about 30mph and the vibration rendered any mirror virtually useless. Vibration was part of the fun, though. You knew you were straddling a beast.

Rode through the hills of laguna all weekend. What a pleasure of a bike. I should of switched from vintage to modern classic years ago when Triumph first got smart and brought out the retro Bonnie.

i have been riding for 38 years. my 07 bonnie is the most fun bike i have ever ridden!!!!!!