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
Mama Tried Motorcycle Show
Start of Day I took an Uber-X cab to Vosges Chocolate on the north side of Chicago on a cold Sunday morning, February 22, 2015. There I met about a hundred other motorcycle enthusiasts to board 2 chartered buses heading to the Mama Tried Motorcycle show in Milwaukee,...
International Motorcycle Show – Chicago
I am honored to participate as a representative of the Castrol-Triumph-Bonneville Performance AMA Pro Flat Track race team at the International Motorcycle Show in Rosemont, IL on Saturday and Sunday, February 14-15th, 2015. I will be in the Triumph booth area both...
Thruxton Dyno Tune Experience at MCC
If you follow this blog, you know that the 2012 Triumph Thruxton I purchased from Bill in November 2014 already had these performance modifications:BC Predator ExhaustsRemapped EFI for Predators done by MCCAir Injection RemovalSince I've owned it, I have...
WindyCityRATs Holiday Party
Last night I had the privilege of attending the holiday party for the local Riders Association of Triumph owners called WindyCityRATs. We were hosted at the location of oldest Triumph dealer in the Chicago area called Motor Cycle Center, located in Villa Park, IL, by...
I try the Dunlop Roadsmart II tires
As previously noted, I recently purchased a 2012 Triumph Thruxton 900. It had only 137 miles on it and the original Metzeler tires. I noticed right away in riding it that the tires do not grip and handle as well as the Dunlop GT 501's on my 2008 Bonneville....
Taking a Triumph Bonneville 865cc Engine to 1100cc
I had over 63,000 miles on my 2008 Bonneville 865cc engine and it needed a valve job. So, instead of doing that only, I decided to send the entire engine to Bill Gately of Bonneville Performance, for a complete engine overhaul and upgrade modification! My final...
Triumph Thruxton OEM Airbox Modification
Regular followers of this blog know that I have already written about replacing the airbox on a standard 2008 Triumph Bonneville using the British Customs Airbox Removal Kit ($295 with filters and brace, $189.95 with just the battery box). Now that I have added a 2012...
Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride
I had the privilege of participating in the 2014 Chicagoland Toys for Tots motorcycle ride and parade on Sunday, December 7, 2014. along with an estimated 40,000 other motorcyclists. I decided to meet my buddy Dan at Motoworks Chicago before heading south on Western...
Traxxion Front Fork Suspension Kit for the Triumph Bonneville
After attending a Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic in 2009, I decided to upgrade the suspension on my stock 2008 Bonneville to improve my ability to control the Bonnie. Racetech suspension was recommended by the course sponsors, so I did some research and then...
New Triumph Twin Models for 2016?
This past week you may have seen thee "leaked" photos on Facebook and other social media sites of a possible new Triumph twin prototype photographed in Spain. It appears to be fairly well developed and near completion. Visor Down posted this article: New 1100cc...
Motorcycle Awareness Video – A Second Look
It may be a little corny, but the message is solid. Please watch and take to heart. Credits: Department of Licensing, State of Washingtin
Triumph Factory Custom Build-Off
Have you all seen this contest online yet? Triumph decided to host a contest pitting 2 volunteer teams against each other using some stock Triumphs as foundations. It has turned into Bobber vs. Scrambler. The deadline and unveiling was in Milan on November 4, 2014....
2012 Triumph Thruxton 900
Well, I've gone and done it again... purchased another Bonneville! This time it is a 2012 Triumph Thruxton, black with gold trim, that I found for sale on Chicago CraigsList. The original owner, Bill had purchased it new from Motor Cycle Center in 2012, put on exactly...
Windy City RATs Fall Ride
On Sunday, October 26th, I met up with 4 friends from the Windy City RATs group for a ride up into the Kettle Morraine area of Wisconsin. We had great fall weather in the upper 40's and lower 50's, and mostly sunny. I left my home around 7:30 AM and rode west to ward...
Fall Moto Ride 2014
On Saturday, October 18, 2014 I rode my 2008 Bonneville to meet my friend Lee at the Dunkin Donuts in Lombard, Illinois. It was a typical overcast and cold fall Chicago day in the 40's and 50's with some drizzle and plenty of wind. Perfect for a day ride into Southern...