TriumphBonneville.org is a personal blog site sharing my experiences in owning, modifying and riding a “modern classic” carbureted, air-cooled, 2008 Triumph Bonneville Black. I share milestones and experiences with various aftermarket products and services, do-it-yourself garage performance and styling modifications.
I also share experiences in following professional and amateur flat track and road motorcycle racing, and taking my own solo road trips and rides with friends and other enthusiasts!
2007-2008
In 2007, a friend gave me a Honda CB750 which I got running and rode around for a year. Based on a boyhood dream, I traded it in on the purchase of a new Bonneville in July, 2008. I have been riding and wrenching on this carbureted British Twin machine ever since, putting on over 75,000 miles.
2013
In January 2013, I purchased a 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750 in Madison, Wisconsin. I share about bringing it down to Chicago, making a few modifications and necessary maintenance and selling it a few months later in the Spring of 2013.
I also include my lowest point… my personal story of a motorcycle accident in November 2013 and surviving with only a broken ankle (thankfully)! I share my physical and mental recovery path, the repairs and modifications to the Bonneville, and the joy of riding once again.
2014
In October of 2014, I purchased a used 2012 Thruxton 900 to ride while I made some major modifications to the 2008 Bonneville. I rode it about 8,000 miles in 2014-2015 and sold it in November of 2015 when I neared completion on the 2008 Bonneville. During that year I made some modifications to the Thruxton, and share those experiences as well!
2016
In January 2016 I took a road trip to Bonneville Performance located near Daytona Beach, Florida, and spent a week putting a BP race-prepared rebuilt engine back in the Bonneville. Bill Gately, the owner, had converted my former 865cc stock engine into an 1100cc race engine, using the same techniques and technologies he uses in building the Triumph factory-sponsored American Flat Track Supertrackers. This experience, fully highlighted and detailed in this site, has been the zenith of my Bonneville experience thus far.
2018
In July 2018 I moved away from the Chicago area to the Madison area of Wisconsin. I now have a larger garage space that will allow me to work on multiple project bikes. My first purchases were a used 2006 Scrambler 900 with only 3,500 miles on it and a 2002 Bonneville with 2,400 miles on it. Project bike #3 is a 2004 Bonneville.
2019
I was able to sell the Scrambler 900 in March. I completed the 2004 Cafe Racer and have it and the 2002 Bonneville up for sale. Over Memorial Day weekend I was able to ride my 2008 Bonneville around Lake Michigan (my third time) with a group of buddies from the Windy City RATs. In June, a new adventure presented itself when a friend was able to purchase a 1977 Yamaha XS650D. With that project completed, I purchased a 1981 Yamaha XS650S and a 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 as project bikes 5 and 6.
In conclusion…
This blog contains my personal experiences, practical how-to’s, and things to do and not to do based upon my experience with the 2001-2015 Hinckley “Modern Classic” Triumph air-cooled twin motorcycles.
I hope you find the site helpful and enjoyable. Your comments, questions, and inquiries are always welcome!
Randy
Recent Posts
24,000 Mile Maintenance on 2008 Bonneville
This summer (2012) I knew I would be passing 24,000 miles on my 2008 Bonneville. This mileage interval requires a more major number of factory recommended maintenance items. If you have a Haynes Service & Repair Manual, it lists the recommended maintenance items....
My Jenks’ Bolts Keihin CVK36 Carb Jetting Experience
Jenks' Bolts, a motorcycle accessories business in the UK has published the best document on Keihin carburetor tuning for the 790-865cc Hinckley twin Triumphs that I have found to date. In previous posts, I have mentioned this document and my experiences with it. This...
My Visit to Hinckley
I went on a motorcycle ride this afternoon, heading west from Chicago out into the western suburbs and beyond. The highlight of the ride was my visit to Hinckley... Illinois! Unfortunately, I couldn't find the Triumph factory! Bummer! View Hinckley Trip in a larger...
Triumph Heritage Tank Badges
I grew to dislike the plastic Triumph badges that came stock on my 2008 Triumph Bonneville. I wanted a more vintage look and a higher quality feeling to the badges. I am lucky in that the 2008 model tank (larger 4.2 gal. in US) has the mounting bolt holes already on...
Lake Michigan Trip 2012
In 2011 over the 4th of July weekend (4 days), I rode around Lake Michigan with a couple motorcycle buddies on my 2008 Bonneville. We travelled up the Michigan side first and returned on the Wisconsin side. This year (2012) we reversed the trip and travelled from...
2008 Triumph Bonneville Suspension
Today I received an email from Kevin who wrote: "Just stumbled upon your site. I like what you're doing with it. We're starting up a site here in DC called DCtriumph.com. News and stories of cafe racers. I personally have a 2008 Bonne as well. Looking at your shots -...
Randal’s 2008 Triumph Bonneville
This weekend, on July 15, 2012 to be exact, I met with a friend named Lee Hoffner who is thinking about purchasing a motorcycle. He wanted to see my 2008 Bonneville and hear about my experiences and thoughts and ideas. I think he's leaning toward purchasing a Triumph...
Airbox Removal in Retrospect
I can honestly say now that the reason the original airbox removal wasn't that impressive is because there is a lot more to this story than I initially understood. Let me explain. Yesterday, on the 4th of July, I did some additional work on my 2008 Bonnie. I removed...
Joker Machine Folding Bar End Mirrors
I finally got the parts I needed to mount new bar end style mirrors on the 1" Superbars from New Bonneville with Gran Tourismo grips from Bella Corse (Sel-Motion). I had to buy the Joker Machine 2-1/4" mirrors and mounts from various sources (Some Joker Machine, and...
Bobbed Rear Fender
Well, I finally did it... sawed off about 4" of my stock Bonneville rear fender. Here are the results. The procedure I followed was to trace the existing curve of the stock fender onto some flexible cardboard. Then I cut out that curve and used the cardboard for...
SuperBars from New Bonneville
I recently ordered and received a product from New Bonneville they call "SuperBars." They are a replacement for stock OEM Triumph Bonneville bars where you can use the stock cables and wires. The SuperBars are 1" OD and measure 29” in width, have a 2” rise, a 5”...
Airbox Removal Kit – Day Two
Well, I am stopping by Motoworks Chicago on my way home today to pickup a couple 140 main jets. I plan to install them tonight and see if they improve the not so good current performance using 135's. I should receive the idle adjusting D Tool and replacement idle jets...
Carburetor Re-jetting and Synchronization
I'm picking up my story after the last post regarding the British Customs Airbox Removal Kit (ARK)... Day One. It turns out that BC recommends 140 main jets and 42 pilot jets for my setup (2008 Bonneville with Air Injection Removed, Airbox Removed and replaced with...
Airbox Removal Kit – Day One
Today I installed the British Customs Airbox Removal Kit (A.R.K.) on my 2008 Triumph Bonneville. It basically required a full day. You should plan ahead and allow plenty of time to do this modification. British Customs Airbox Removal Kit (A.R.K.)...
Classic Lucas Style Tail Light Installation
After purchasing my 2008 Triumph Bonneville Black in April of 2008, there were a number of modifications I wanted to make to it. I do not like the stock tail lights and turn signals as to me they look to large for the scale of the bike. Enter British Customs with...