I bought the 2001 Triumph Bonneville in April, after a wait time of about 3 months. Since then, I've put about 5500 miles on it, commuting 80 miles a day on a busy highway in California (which means I split lanes alot). It is my first bike, but I have put about 1000 miles on a friend's Ninja 500, and ridden a couple of other ones.

First off, this bike does grab attention. If you like retro looks, or nostalgic for a simpler era, this is the bike to get. When I was looking, I considered the Kawasaki knock-off, the W650. I expect the W650 may be a bit more reliable, and easier to service, and certainly having the option of a kick-start is fun. While it's a great looking bike, it doesn't touch the Bonneville side by side. The Bonneville retails for about $300 more, but you do get a larger engine (790 cc vs 650), better brakes and tires. I have read that the W650 is a bit more unstable at lower speeds as well. The first month I had this bike, every other day I got comments from people at stoplights about it. Actually, this past weekend, someone was trying to guess the year (he said 1972), and his jaw dropped when I said it was a 2001. The styling, and the design captures the spirit of a vintage Bonneville almost perfectly! Even Harley riders will give me a nod or a wave.

This bike does have power, albeit not as much as it's siblings in Triumph's classic line. But for my first bike, it really does pull well, and acceleration is smooth! I enjoy the riding position (I'm 5' 10", about 155 pounds), and find it comfortable. My wife, who is 5'3" can legally ride the bike (she can touch both feet to the ground, using her toes), but it is practically too tall for her. The brakes are smooth, and strong, and I enjoy the handling. It took a bit getting used to, after riding my friend's Ninja for so long, since I am higher up, and the leans seem more exaggerated, but that just becomes more fun. The ride is a little rough, you definately feel bumps in the road; I have my suspension set on standard, and am considering softening it a notch. This bike does do 100 mph comfortably, but it is hard to try to push it beyond. It sticks to the corners decently, and I have scraped a foot peg without issue. It's not a racing bike (hey, it'd DEFINATELY need a tach then), like it's predecessors. Although I have heard of a turbo-kitted Bonnie that has 100 bhp...

I rode this bike for about a week on standard pipes, and then got the performance exhaust. There is a noticeable difference in the power boost, but the improvement in sound really makes it worthwhile. It's audible now, but not annoyingly so.

One big complaint is the lack of a tachometer! On top of that, there isn't an aftermarket option for one. As for reliability, I had electrical problems, to the point where the bike would cut out on me. After being in the dealer twice, I found the problem on my own. The dealership never tightened down the battery terminals! So for awhile, I was blaming bad English engineering, but it turned out to be American mechanics. This should not reflect on the bike at all.

However, the reflector on my headlamp did snap off at one point, and will be replaced under warranty. There was a bit of oil-leaking on the crankcase the first week, but after the dealer tightened it down, I haven't had any problems. It does take time to order parts, usually around 2 weeks, if it's not in stock (and usually isn't).

I don't really like the location of the handlebar lock. It's not attached to the ignition key, but a separate lock on the other opposite fork. You have to push it in, to lock the bike, and it can take awhile to get it to lock. I've ended up never using it, but probably should be.

By the way, the lack of a kick start is probably driven by the fact that it is illegal now to manufacturer bikes with kickstarts with a displacement larger than 650.

All in all, I love this bike! I'd probably buy another, if Triumph came out with a new model and colour scheme I fell in love with, but of course I have the wife to deal with on that issue.

Ride safe!
Baldwyn

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 6999
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001