News Blog
Stories, articles, commentary on all things Triumph Bonneville related!
My Mikuni Carbs Don’t Like Ethanol
I am really lucky this didn't happen while I was on the road... I would have been seriously stranded! This morning I rode my Bonnie to the North side of Chicago to visit an Anglican church with some friends. My gas was low, so I filled up at the local Thornton's...
Installing the BP Mikuni Carb Kit and Oil Cooler Kit on Ernie’s T-100
I have previously written about my experience installing the Bonneville Performance Mikuni Carb Kit on my 2008 Bonneville Black. Since then, one Chicago area blog reader named Ervie contacted me because he owns a 2008 T-100, and wanted some advice on doing some of the...
Jason DiSalvo at Bonneville
I ran across this short video on Facebook, taken this past week at the Bonneville Salt Flats. It was posted by Jason DiSalvo who was actually riding that blurred thing in the video. Someone with the Carpenter Racing team took it.... I love the sound track! If you want...
Bonnie Photoshoot
I recently purchased a used Canon EOS 5D from my daughter-in-law who is a professional photographer. I decided to go for a ride on the Bonnie and take some photos in the urban area where I live around Chicago. Thought you might enjoy these...
Tail of the Dragon Moto Road Trip
On Friday, June 13, 2014 I left my home near Chicago on my 2008 Triumph Bonneville to embark on what turned into a 2,600+ mile motorcycle road trip adventure, the longest to date in my 7 years of riding experience. Thankfully, I arrived home on Monday, June 23, 2014...
Burt Munro – World’s Fastest Indian – Video
How can you not admire a 73-year old man from New Zealand, who went for and set the land speed record for motorcycles under 1000cc, on a 47-year old Indian Scout that he purchased new? Simply Amazing! If you want to learn more about Burt and his life, I highly...
Triumph is Back to Racing!
Here is a great article on UltimateMotorcycling.com regarding how Triumph is stacking up this year in the road racing world. It does not mention the Triumph win at the Isle of Man TT races last week by Gary Johnson and the Smiths Triumph Racing team. Triumph Daytona...
AHRMA Vintage Races at Road America – 2014
Like last year, the AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Races are held over a long weekend in early June (JUN 6-8). This past weekend, I connected with 2 Bonneville riding buddies, Lee and Dan, to meet at the Lake-Forest Oasis early on Saturday morning, June 7, 2014. We gassed...
Triumph: The Fastest Growing Motorcycle Brand in America
If you are interested in reading about some of the reasons how and why Triumph has turned into the fastest growing motorcycle brand in America, this is the article to read! Triumph Motorcycles: The Rise, Fall and Revival of an Icon CEO, Greg Heichelbech is the key...
First Isle of Man TT Win for Triumph in 10 Years
An amazing win for Smiths Triumph Racing team today at the historic and some believe to be the ultimate Isle of Man TT races! Gary Johnson won the Monster Energy Supersport Race 1 on a Triumph 675, the first TT win for Triumph in 10 years. Johnson commented on the...
Bohn Body Armor Video
I use this system of under clothing body armor and protection for motorcycle riding, and can recommend it highly!
Bonneville or Bust
One of the things on my "bucket list" is to ride my 2008 Triumph Bonneville to the Bonneville Salt Flats for the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. I "googled" the location and discovered I could get there in less than 24 hours! Google estimates 22 hrs. and 18 min....
A Duc Visits Randy’s Garage
My friend Jordan stopped by Randy's Garage on Sunday, May 18, 2014 with his new(ish) red Ducati 848 Evo! Jordan also has a Ducati Monster that he rode at the Motoworks Chicago Track Day in the fall of 2013. This was my first exposure to his Evo and a chance to look at...
Rebel Gears Rear Sprocket
I really like the style of sprockets that Bonneville Performance uses on their custom street and super tracker bikes. They features round holes which I think would look good on my Bonneville, what with all the hole drilling I have done! So, I asked my friend Bill...
Triumph Branded Kreiga R30 Backpack Fail
In the spring of 2013 I went looking for a waterproof backpack option knowing that I would be doing some longer trips on my 2008 Triumph Bonneville where I might run into some weather. A friend of mine had a Kreiga (UK) pack for his Bonnie that impressed me with its...
Slimey Crud Run – May 2014
Last fall I experienced my first Slimey Crud Run. On May 4, 2014 I experienced my second crud run, the Spring 2014 version. This year I joined up with the Windy City RATs at the McDonald's on Roosevelt Road and Country Farm Road, and we rode up to Team Triumph in...
Ride from Motoworks Chicago to the Springfield Mile flat track race
Attention all Bonneville enthusiasts and owners! Here is an amazing opportunity for you to be exposed to an important aspect of Triumph motorcycle history in the USA, and more specifically in Illinois. I myself did not know this until last year when I was exposed to...
ChiVinMoto Garage Night
ChiVinMoto is the name of a Google Group that stands for Chicago Vintage Motorcycles. I was introduced to the group by Jorge last Sunday when we chatted at the Motoworks Chicago Spring Open House. Following that conversation, I found and joined the group. I discovered...
Custom Side Cover Badges
I have determined that Plast-Dip does not work so well on motorcycle parts that receive constant contact with things like pant legs, gloves, shoes, and whatnot. It simply rubs off too easily... at least it did for me on my side covers. Perhaps I didn't prep the...
Motoworks Chicago Open House
Today I went and visited one of the 2 Triumph dealers I normally frequent in the Chicago area because they about equidistant from my home. One dealer is west about 10 miles in a suburb called Villa Park and their name is Motor Cycle Center (MCC). MCC is where I...
Visit to a Weird Bracket, Revisited
So, it's been almost a year. Almost a year since I finally threw in the towel, trying to successfully install the bracket that I bought from Dime City Cycles. I wrote about that, here. Since that column, I've learned from the sensei's over at TriumphRat.net (most...
Do It Yourself Buchanan Rims & Spokes
If you follow my blog, you know that I replaced my stock 2008 Triumph Bonneville wheels (chrome steel rims) with new ones purchased from BellaCorse. The new set are Excel rims (black), stainless steel spokes and nipples, and Talon hubs (also black). Of course they...
Oral’s Bonnie
Photo of a sweet Bonnie sent in by a follower of TriumphBonneville.org Things Oral has done or plans to do: Remove plastic tank badges and replace with his own design, or the heritage badges - see below! Plasti Dip side covers New exhaust AI removal Here's the look of...
New Sports Handlebars
I recently ordered a new set of handlebars from BellaCorse. I wanted to try a pair slightly lower and wider than my current Western bars. The main reason is that I have suspected that the distance from the end of the bar to where the bar starts to bend is a bit too...
General interest motorcycle news articles and posts.