The Zen of Bonnie'fun.

Post by **Pat** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:03 am

I've had this Bonnie' for a little over a month. During that time I've managed to put a quick 4,000 miles on it.
What a FUN bike!
I'm telling ya, if you're a true motorcycle enthusiast..... you owe it to yourself to find somebody with a drug habit and owns a new Bonneville, needing to sell it cheap.....

In addition to being just plain fun to ride (absent ANY drama), you would have to grow accustom to complete strangers approaching you while you try to saddle up. Get used to arriving late if you plan to stop anywhere along the way.

The novelty of motoring along at the speed limit, not exceeding it, is a new experience for me. The little 800cc doesn't like to be spun up unless it's been running for a few hours, so you just kick back and go for the ride. But get this thing out on the back-roads where curves are marked at 20 to 35 mph, well..... lets just say that you can be made to feel like you know what the hell you're doing. It's nimble in a short wheel-base sorta way, but the factory suspension lacks terribly.

- This is the blessing, and the curse -
There are plenty vendors who carry lots-o-stuff to make of your Bonneville what you want...... and you WILL!
Read: ka-$hing, ka-$ing, ka$hing!
I have managed to put two month's worth of mortgage payments into my bike already, and I'm digging it!

This is something I may keep in my garage for YEARS to come, and I have NEVER said that about ANYTHING before! If you have some extra money (yeah right, like there's really such a thing), and room enough for an extra bike in your garage, get a Bonnie'...... they're that much FUN!

BobFV1 · Post by **BobFV1** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:24 am

Pat -

She's a beauty! I especially like the bar-end mirrors, shiny rims, and the detail on the motor case. I'm sure you are getting a lot of attention of the female variety with that thing.

Wink, wink - nudge, nudge - know what I mean?

mnnden · Post by **mnnden** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:26 pm

Pat, VERY nice, you really have some artistic talent, Den

rivi7777 · Post by **rivi7777** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:54 pm

Hey, what's with the white tape on your black fork legs?

Looks fantastic!

Post by **Pat** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:17 pm

Leave it up to Rich to ask 'bout that white tape.... it's not, it's Black!
It's that stuff we put on our System Cases that looks Black during the day, and WHITE when a headlamp (or camera flash) illuminates it. I put it there to protect the lower Black legs from inevitable chips.

By the way, I had to buy another leather Pony Express bag to replace the one I lost. THIS time, they will be attached to the rack with leather straps, not cheezy sip ties.

Post by **JCsman** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:38 pm

Dod Gammit, Pat!

I was at the Birmingham, AL BMW dealer today (Bogarts) to pick upo my Raodster and saw a Black Bonnie on the lot. Your picture flashed through my brain and motolust struck at full tilt boogie.

(Even the guy that gave me the ride - totally scared of bikes - thought it was beautiful!)

My wife gave me the R1150R for a Christmes present a couple of years ago. How do I tell her how nice the Bonnie would look in the garage - while she still is paying for the Roadster?

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:20 pm

Great looking bike Pat. Your comments mirror what I've said about my Harley in that we can enjoy riding a motorcycle sanely for once.

It looks like you have bag-attachment brackets on yours. Please post pics of the bags on the bike!

Post by **Pat** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:41 pm

The hard bags are removable and of VERY hight quality. They even look good on the bike
- but -
the don't look period for Bonneville era. That's why I have the small leather Pony Express bags; to carry stuff for everyday needs.... I can slip the hard bags on when I need more carrying capacity or during inclement weather.

Hepco Becker Bags:

Pony Express Bags from Leatherworks:

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:51 pm

Thanks Pat. Very nice; the leather ones are very appropriate.

I have a well-heeled retired friend who owns half a dozen bikes, including several BMW's and the Bonneville. He says he rides his Bonny the most.

Post by **Pat** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:12 pm

Thanks..... I can't believe how much I enjoy this Bonnie'.....
It just doesn't make any sense, given the high tech' stuff out there; of which I've had a few.

Know this though, I still LUST after a Dyna Glide ST, complete with it's weird fairing and ugly expandable nylon bags.... If ONLY I could find one with low mileage that hasn't been butchered with excessive chrome and/or "performance" parts.

Sure modern is good, and I look forward to see how BMW will be pricing it's 800cc parallel twin, but "back to basics" has a charm that is simply timeless.....

Post by **socalrob** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:18 am

Pat, that bike says Motorcycle to me. So timeless with the twin motor, spokes, standard rear shocks. What a bike should be. Its almost too bad time marches on.

I also vote for the leather bags, look good on the bike. I bet alot of people think its vintage.

Post by **Pat** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:09 am

It's funny, as soon as I strap the leather bags on...... it transforms a 2005 Bonneville into a retro classic. The guys on one of the other sites who appreciate "British Iron" liken it to a Vilocette(sp?).

If/when I get a second bike in the garage, I'd like to replace those cans with some straight (baffled) TT pipes on and add some extensions that end with an old school wing tip (can't recall, I THINK that's what they're called). In addition, I'm looking for another seat pan so I can do something to mount a solo spring saddle and passenger P-pad.

The Bonnie' is not to be mistaken for anything more than a "fun" bike. It has it's old world charm, and some potential with an upgraded suspension. But it's not an all day touring machine, nor will it keep up with modern-day crotch rockets. However, I was surprised when a buddy sent me a picture of a simple Bonnie' that he said absolutely 'CLEANED HIS CLOCK', 'SPANKING' everybody on the track, when he attended (yet another) CLASS session. As it turns out, when I posted the below picture, somebody recognized it as one of the "top runners" in the Thruxton races.

vintagecycle · Post by **vintagecycle** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:45 pm

Heh-heh-heh......I had the honor of riding this very machine this past weekend. Sir Pat turned me loose on the streets of Stockton and I never looked back! First, I must say, I have been wanting to take one for a spin since 2001 when they were introduced so this was a long anticipated ride for me. Added to the excitement was the fact that Pat's bike has an awesome sounding set of D&D pipes fitted. Imagine my delight when I pulled out of his neighborhood and promptly found an overpass to ride under so I could goose it and get the full stereo-phonic experience. In fact, I found myself looking for oppurtunities to blip the throttle with the clutch in whenever possible. It was an absolute gas to ride this bike......now I want one!
You'd be amazed at how torquey and smooth the engine is too! Much smoother than a boxer engine, with a silky smooth transmission and clutch.
Thanks Pat!

Post by **Pat** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:01 am

You are MOST welcome Dan...... great ride along the river outa Sac', wasn't it.

And I looked longingly upon your Silver Roadster while it was parked in my drive-way. When you drove off..... oh the sweet sound of your factory can and the Bavarian mechanicals. Sounds just like a motorcycle that'll be on the road for an easy 100,000 miles!

Funny too, the guy who recently moved in next door with my neighbor, watched you ride away and yelled over to me,
"Hey Pat, now THAT'S the kinda bike YOU should be riding! That's a BMW isn't it?"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:43 am

If he only knew how many miles you've already logged on a Beemer........sheesh!

Post by **machew01** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:22 am

Some of my best memories are of the countless hours I spent on a '68 Bonneville. No motorcycle's song was sweeter, more mellow, or as intoxicating.

mac