Hillclimb in Freemansburg, PA

Hey folks, just a quick update here. Been out riding a lot lately, though nothing really new to review just yet. Here's a quick video compilation of the Freemansburg Hillclimb. If you get a chance to go, they have it twice a year.

Check out their site at Bike Hillclimb.

Motorcycle Review: Triumph Bonneville

 The classic lines and styling of the Triumph Bonneville harken back to the days of Steve McQueen and Marlon Brando. Much like its predecessor, this new Bonneville is ushering in a whole new crop of riders looking for fun out on the open road. Below is a review of not just a motorcycle, but a cultural icon that has endured for more than 5 decades.

(Please note that the photographs are of a 2010 model-year Bonneville Standard.)

-Engine: 67bhp, 57ft/lb torque, 865cc parallel twin. This is a smooth, torquey motor with plenty of pep and enough power to easily hit triple digit speeds without even realising it. I was greatly impressed with how smooth the bike felt at idle and at speed. There is minimal vibration and a nice burbly sound from the twin tailpipes. For those looking for a louder setup, there are several options available from both your local dealer and the aftermarket, including Arrow and Vance and Hines. Power is more than sufficient for most riders, though it certainly won't knock your eyeballs out the back of your head. I never struggled to keep up with traffic or in merging on the motorway during the test.

Serviceability appears to be fairly simple as well: valve checks are shim and bucket, and with the naked design of this bike, even oil changes should be a breeze.

One other item of note here is that the particular bike shown is the base model, and brushed or chromed case coverings are available separately, or as standard on the SE and T100, respectively.
4/5

-Chassis/Handling: Comes standard with Metzeler Z4 tyres. A very grippy, safe, predictable combination of nimble handling and a fairly smooth ride. Suspension is firm without being harsh, and the twin coil-over springs in the rear help to smooth out bumps and ruts in the road. Overall handling is excellent, and due to the bike's fairly light weight of 495lbs wet, makes this an excellent beginner bike for those who don't want a cruiser, can't fit on a dual-sport, and who aren't interested in a sport bike.
4.7/5

-Comfort and Ergonomics: As you may know, I ride a fairly large sport-tourer. In testing this bike, I found myself constantly amazed at just how comfortable a small, naked bike can be. For my 5'10" 300+lb frame, the bars were just in the right position for a comfortable reach. The seat is firm but not excessively so, and offers good support for longer-distance trips. Footpegs are covered with thick rubber pads to help reduce what little vibration there is. Being a naked bike, airflow and buffeting are there in heaps and buckets, but windscreens of various heights are available.

The relationship between footpegs, seat height and bars is often the deciding factor for many motorcycle shoppers. In this case, the riding position is very upright, relaxed and comfortable. I was easily able to flat-foot both feet at a stop, and I'd surmise that anyone under 6'3" or so would feel right at home here. The low seat height of 29.1" also means that those of a smaller stature should be able to easily fit on this bike without issue.
4.5/5

-Features and Build Quality: As mentioned above, the bar height was just right for my riding style. Judging by the setup, it appears possible to change out the bars if desired. Switches are all standard-fare, and nothing really stands out as being out of place or poorly designed. If anything, the few plastic bits there are on the bars feel very nice. Chrome is even and appears to be of excellent quality. The paint finish had no visible orange peel, and had a deep lustre and excellent shine throughout.

I was disappointed to see that on the base model Bonneville, there is neither a tachometer nor a temperature gauge on the instrument panel. It consists merely of a speedometer and warning lights for oil, low fuel, check engine, neutral, high beams and directional signals. Surely, in 2011, all bikes would have a full complement of dials. Seems not to be the case here.

One other interesting thing about this series of bikes is that their seats are interchangeable, meaning that a Thruxton seat and cowling will fit on the Bonneville, turning it into a quasi-café racer, if so desired. Multiple combinations are available, and the Triumph accessory catalogue is loaded with options to help drain your wallet. (Of note, right now, there are several good promotions for free accessories at the time of purchase, so check with your local dealer.)
3.5/5

-Utility: Not much to mention here. This is a classic standard bike. Saddlebags are available as well as some small carrier racks for the rear. There is a strap across the top of the rear of the seat which can be used as either a grab handle for passengers or as a tie-down for small parcels or cargo nets. Further, due to the fairly small tank shape, I'd only recommend small tank bags as anything bigger will hang over the edges fairly easily.

-Range:  With a 4.2gal (US) tank and an estimated 50mpg, range for this bike should be close to 200 miles. Not bad for a small standard and certainly more than enough for an entire Saturday worth of riding.
4.5/5

-Price: $7,699. This is right in the middle of the pack of small cruisers and standards from the likes of Suzuki, Kawasaki and Moto Guzzi. For this kind of money, however, I would like to see a full gauge cluster as standard. Furthermore, for newer riders buying their first bike, this price may be a bit too steep for their first go into motorcycling. The good news is that many other riders started out on Bonnevilles, so good used examples can be found for considerably less. As a weekend fun bike, this represents excellent value for money for those riders looking for a light, nimble, simple and yet surprisingly comfortable machine.
4/5

Overall Rating - 4.1/5

TL;DR - The Triumph Bonneville is a fantastic bike for beginners and seasoned riders alike. Its fairly low weight, nimble handling and easy serviceability make it an excellent choice for beginners, a great short to medium-distance commuter, or for those looking for a fun bike to take out on their day off. Well worth looking into.

(Test motorcycle courtesy of Triumph Metuchen.)

Quick update

Hello faithful readers!

Sorry for the continued lack of reviews and updates. A move is in the works right now, and I should be in my new place by the middle of March.

I've tested the HJC CL-Max, and will also be doing a review of the Schuberth C3 fairly soon. May even go so far as to do a comparison of these two opposite end of the spectrum modular helmets.

Stay tuned, more to come!

Slow Winter, new reviews coming soon!

Greetings Dear Readers!

Sorry for the dearth of posts lately. It's been an agonisingly slow and cold winter this year. With snowfall reaching 24" in the last big storm we've had, and temperatures well into single-digits, I've simply not been riding at all.

However, fear not! New reviews are coming soon as well as some maintenance and tech tips, ride reports and hopefully a long trip or two.

The first new review should be up by next weekend, and I'm hoping we'll thaw out enough up here in the Northeast to post a long-distance review of my new HJC CL-Max helmet I received for Christmas.

Stay tuned for more!