Featured Unexpected Bonneville in the bagging area!

As some of you know, I sold my Trident earlier this year and have just sold the Enfield over the weekend. The plan was always to get another Bonnie and I have been internet searching for a few weeks now with a number of bikes earmarked as possibilities.

Decided on the SE rather than the T100 because I fancied the change and I like the idea of better turn in with the 17" front wheel. (lets face it they're easier to clean!)

Noticed that my local dealer had one in stock for the same money as most of the private ones on autotrader and ebay and so went to have a look at it today. Test rode it, haggled a few quid off plus a T shirt and bought it. As it had just been serviced - they asked if I would like to ride it home today. I said yes. 2012 with only 1800 miles on it.



Remember - orange is the new blue!
So here it is and hence the title of the thread.....

 

Had to look at photos of one on Jack Lilleys site as my dealer hadn't even posted pics. Looks so much better in real life!

 

Sorry crispey, the Thruxton remains an exclusive bike for the chosen few! Hope to get over to Loomies soon - will let you know.

 

Previous owner became ill and was less able to ride, so he only managed 150 miles from 2014 to 2015 and only 8 in the last year.

 

Hopefully the guy is going to make a recovery in the near future - the dealers have a new Street Twin with his name on it!

 

I did wonder, especially as my registration was HX04TZA!
Lots could have been changed after the accident but mine had short mudguards, British Customs indicators and Lucas style rear light as well as a black cam cover, bar end mirrors and a different rack.


It did look like this - parked next another identical 04 bike!

 

First modification - tank pads.


Second mod : fork gaiters. Looks like a proper Bonnie now!

 

Yes, they are on the shopping list (it's started already!)
Not sure what to go with yet. They fired up a Thruxton at the dealers fitted with TORS in the same style as mine - sounded pretty good so that might be one option.
I also plan on changing the rear shocks as the ride is quite harsh compared to the Tiger - it crashes through the bumps and I can really feel it with this bike a lot more than I did with the T100. That may be due to the slightly different geometry between the two models and also with me being a bit more experienced. Probably try the TEC ones as I've heard more good things about them than bad.

 

Trust you to find that!

 

Fitted some bar end mirrors today. The stock ones are actually quite good in terms of visibility but they do stick up a bit so I thought I'd try the bar end route. Cheap and cheerful off ebay (under a tenner) they seem well made and fit well. No vibration even at 90mph and the convex shape means you can see more. I think biglad had these on his Bonnie.