So, something popped up in that Google news feed that Triumph is releasing a 1200 cafe racer. That got me interested as I always had a crush on British motorcycles. The Norton Camando was my #1 teen aged crush, but even 30 years ago I don’t think I’d be comfortable riding with clipon bars and rear foot pegs.
Now the Triumph Boneville, well that would be my speed.
It’s fun to look and think about it but I don’t think so.
Bbbuttt, it just a hundred miles away
I love motorcycles too but I live in mostly cloudy weather (& snow what seems like almost half the year). Where I live, it wouldn’t be worth it imo. Whatever you do, have fun with it!
Dude you only live once. Do it.
They are absolutely beautiful bikes. Would love to have one if a dealer was closer to me for service.
Right, make someday…today.
Here’s the dream bad boy. I never saw on like this.
Note the seat is for one and designed to prevent sliding off the back. Hmmm wonder why that is.
The (Honda) CD185 me and my (first) wife rode had the additional crash bars and, of course, the little pegs for the pillion. I also fitted it with leather paniers which came in really useful when we travelled up the A1 (“The Great North Road”) to Wakefield for a Jethro Tull concert, not particularly because the extra space helped with the tent and so on.
Rather I had tried to adjust the spokes on the wheels, which had tubed tires. I got it wrong and the tubes were duly poked resulting in increasing instability in the rear wheel. Eventually it went so far that we found ourselves travelling up the A1 sideways, the crash bars emitting the most enormous fireworks display that, in the instant, I assume heralded the end of my life and the paniers protecting my wife’s ankles.
Fortunately two truckers behind us brought the traffic to a stop by blocking both lanes and we pulled the bike off to the side so we could get a call in to the AA (regularly placed phone boxes on the road). We still made it to Wakefield, remarkably little mud that year and lots of beer (the festival was sponsored by Theakstons, beer in half gallon containers, plastic of course.)
Hum. Might have told that story before but it kinda sticks in my mind; I’ll never forget the fireworks.
I grew up in Coventry, late 60s to early 70s. I’ll always have two minds about Meriden, but the Bonneville caught the imagination then as now. Norton-Villiers, nah.
